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| Welcome to the Lake Travis AutoCareTM Blog!
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| AARP Magazine Column Says You Can Save Money at an Inedpendent Mechanic! |
In a recent Column posted in the AARP magazine, it was stated "Save $20 an hour and pay less for parts by going to an independent mechanic. Service by a qualified independent is unlikely to invalidate your car’s warranty. But read it carefully, follow the maker’s maintenance recommendations and keep records of service." Thanks AARP for helping spread the word! LT AutoCare can do most of the same work the dealer can, but for less money, time and hassle, all with the same or better quality and customer service. Come by today!  |
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9/1/2010 |
| Save Energy & Money according to Austin Energy! |
In the latest PowerPlus utility bill insert, Austin Energy says, "Pollution from cars and trucks is the leading contributor to Ozone in Central Texas. ... well-maintained vehicles pollute less. A poorly tuned vehicle wastes 10-20% of fuel and can release up to 28 times more pollution as a well-tuned vehicle. Tires with low air pressure can waste up to 5% of a tank of gas. A clogged air filter can cause a 10% increase in fuel consumption. Getting regular tuneups can improve gas mileage, extend your car's life, increase its resale value and lower your car's emissions by more than half."
Call us at LT AutoCare 512-551-0443 for an appointment to check out all your fuel saving and pollution reducing options. We try to recycle everything we can and do our part to help protect our environment. |
Maintenance Tips |
7/27/2010 |
| Fears confirmed: "California accuses 22 Midas shops in 'massive' bait and switch scheme" |
While many local shops and mechanics are honest, the economic times and pressure from management can sometimes skew a tech to recommend fixes that are not needed. Many women especially may be subject to add-ons and services that are not required.
The worst of the bunch blatantly and dishonestly show customers false parts and some even damage your vehicle first, then show you what needs to be fixed.
On the other hand, diagnostics can be tricky especially when one problem may mask another and another. No tech can 100% guarantee that a new part or service will fix a problem. Problems may have several dimensions and take a couple of trips and fixes to fully complete.
Read more: www.WalletPop.com
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7/2/2010 |
| Cheap Oil Changes - are they worth it? |
Again today someone came in wanting an estimate to replace their engine! One of the quick lube places did not tighten the oil drain plug and oil spewed all over the underside of the vehicle and ran dry.
Even when they admit fault, some quick lube places try to force a junkyard engine on the customer to save money. The better solution is a remanufactured engine from a reputable dealer with a 25-30,000 mile warranty...
So the customer saved a few dollars on an oil change, probably got either cheap or overpriced oil, and ended up with a huge hassle that may drag on for months if they ever get satisfaction.
Don't let this happen to you, bring your car to a shop who has trained techs and cares for your car, like LT AutoCare! |
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6/28/2010 |
| Check Engine Light -- Yikes! What exactly does that mean? |
OK, so we lured you in without a good answer to this one... "It Depends!"
Unfortunately, your Check Engine Light (and several other lights depending on make and model...) come on for a variety of reasons... To the consumer it seems trivial, to your vehicle it may be trivial or about to become mayhem...
Your on-board computers works in mysterious ways... Similar to a web form where it finds only one error at a time, when your Check Engine Light engine was on, other tests may well be blocked until that particular code is cleared.
So, if you have more than one problem, the second and more may show up only after a bit of driving time. There is no way around this situation and a recurring Check Engine Light does not mean your LT AutoCare Techs did not do their job. Some problems require several trips back to us, especially if they are blocked by one computer code holding up a test on another component. |
Driver Tips |
5/14/2010 |
| State Inspections require up to date proof of Insurance papers! Make sure you have them in your car at all times! |
We see a minor heartbreak or at least a hassle several times a week here at LT AutoCare. Since we have partnered with Five Star Car Wash we are able to have your car inspected during it's time here at LT AutoCare. However, if you do not have your up to date proof of insurance somewhere in your car, we are not able to have it inspected. The law requires that you have current insurance on your vehicle in order to have a state inspection performed. So please keep your current proof of insurance in your car at all times!
For 'No Waiting' Service and more please follow @LTAutoCare on Twitter:
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Maintenance Tips |
5/6/2010 |
| Extended Warranties - friend or foe? Bring them to LT AutoCare! |
Have an extended warranty? We can handle all the paperwork for you and fight to get you the right parts and labor you need for your service. ----
We just finished up another car with an extended warranty. Warranty companies can be "interesting" to negotiate with and we take the time to inform them of what parts, labor, and preventative actions should be taken. We have always gotten them to pay up -- eventually. ----
We recommend extended warranties for vehicles with a mediocre to poor maintenance record ***or*** those with decent maintenance records but very high parts cost like BMW, Audi, and Mercedes. The other situation where extended warranties can make sense is when purchasing a used car when you do not have full maintenance records.
A personal note: We bought a 2003 Ford Expedition new at the dealer (last time for a new car! NOT worth it...). As we test drive several, my wife Casey had to have that specific color... Out of the 3-4 we drive, that particular one did not 'sound right' to me. So prior to the warranty expiring, I purchased an extended warranty. Well, at 85,000 miles, even with all scheduled maintenance, the engine went and we needed a new engine. Cost us $1,500 and the warranty company paid over $5,000. So they can work out. |
Maintenance Tips |
4/30/2010 |
| AAIA Study confirms Independent Service Centers save you money! |
We already knew this, and you likely did too. Come in and let us show you how we can save you money on your next service!
AAIA has commissioned Lang Marketing to conduct a comprehensive study: Vehicle Repair Cost Analysis: New Car Dealerships vs. Independent Repair Shops in which specific vehicle repair and parts costs are compared amongst the two locations. The findings reveal significant differences in repair costs between new car dealers and independent repair shops, reinforcing the long-standing contention that independent repair shops are less costly and more convenient than new car dealers.
LT AutoCare - Service@LTAutoCare.com
Maintenance Tips |
4/7/2010 |
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| PCs - Drop off your old computers, monitors, printers, etc. LT AutoCare! |
The HeliOS Project http://heliosinitiative.org mission is to provide every socially or financially disadvantaged youth in Austin with a computer. The HeliOS Project is a totally nonprofit, volunteer run, group that strives to get PCs into the hands of deserving kids. HeliOS has placed over 520 PCs in disadvantaged homes or workshops.
We need more PCs! With your equipment and other donations we will have a record year. Bring your PCs, related equipment, supplies, and other tech-related deductions to LT AutoCare during our regular business hours. (We are closed Good Friday through Easter…)
LT AutoCare provides space in our shop at no cost, shares our network of giving people (like this email…), and occasionally provides financial support. Help LT AutoCare help kids and get a tax deduction to boot! If you know of deserving, drug-free families that could use a PC for their kids, contact Executive Director Ken Starks at helios@fixedbylinux.com.
Kids need to access robust applications and websites. The machines we supply must compete with those of other kids, so there are limitations to what we can accept. Anything that goes below a Pentium 4 chipset we just cannot use. We are in severe need of LCD flat panel monitors. Due to storage costs, liability, and transportation limitations we can no longer accept CRT monitors. Working LaserJet printers are always welcome. Nvidia 3D-capable video cards, 40 Gig or better SATA and IDE hard drives, External cd/dvd burning roms. All RAM (memory) especially PC133 sticks, preferably of the 512 size. Laptop RAM is especially welcome in 512 sticks. Functional or quickly repairable laptops. We use them for wheelchair-bound kids or kids that have little space for a desktop in their home. 8 gig or better thumb drives for our kids who are on a waiting list but need to access the files and applications on Library computers or computers at a friend’s house. We currently have a 3 week backlog of kids that need our help. If you would rather provide financial support, we can order these needed items in bulk. Kindly click the blue CLICK&PLEDGE button on the top right of our web. Thank you for being part of what we do. As always, your donations are tax deductable.
Darrel & Casey Raynor
LT AutoCare
2009 RR 620 N Suite 530 (Vineyard Business Center)
Lakeway, TX 78734
512-551-0443 sales@ltautocare.com
www.LTAutoCare.com (Check out our blog with car care tips)
http://twitter.com/LTAutoCare (Twitter for last-minute shop openings & for sale cars)
LT AutoCare Service & Sales Center
Give us a try today!
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Maintenance Tips |
4/5/2010 |
| LT AutoCare seeks your poor, your tired, your puddled vehicles yearning to be fixed! |
Leave your vehicle with us for a week or more! Why would you want to do that? To save money! LT AutoCare needs to keep 2 or 3 'Project Cars' on site to help balance our workload. What's in it for you? We discount our labor by 10%, we can take our time going through your baby piece by piece, we'll give you an estimate for each service as we identify them, and we can shop for parts without paying delivery or expedited shipping. These advantages open up a new level of service: If you have a 2nd car and can spare your daily driver or your 'weekend car' or you are taking an extended trip we will pamper your baby and do exactly and only what you request we do, at great rates, with the time to find exactly the right mix of parts and accessories. Our Techs love a challenge! Recent LT AutoCare 'Project Cars' include a 1972 Ford Mustang Convertible, a 1976 Mercedes 450SLC, and a 1991 Lexus LS400. |
Maintenance Tips |
3/26/2010 |
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