No matter how much thought goes into creating a new car, flaws in design and manufacturing can create problems with a vehicle. When the government thinks a problem is really serious or especially common, they require the manufacturer to issue a recall notice to Austin car owners and to fix the vehicle, free of charge. The manufacturer then tries to contact everyone who owns that type of car in the Austin area.

If you have questions about vehicle recalls, give us a call:
Lamb’s Tire & Automotive
go to www.lambstire.com/locations for a location near you

These recalls always affect safety, so you need to take them seriously. It’s really easy to find out if a vehicle is being recalled. For links to government sites, look in the AutoNetTV website.

Other website include: carfax.com; autobytel.com; and dmv.org. All of these sites have free recall searches.

Recalls are pretty serious and don’t happen all that often. But sometimes cars have less serious problems that you still might want to know about. In this case, manufacturers issue what is known as a Technical Service Bulletin – or TSB. These bulletins tell service centers how to repair a problem that occurs frequently or is especially difficult.

The pros receive updated information through subscription plans, which are sometimes available in consumer versions too. You can buy access to these for an annual fee.

Whatever your source, pay attention to vehicle recalls to keep you and your passengers safe.

Austin, Texas 78729

512-257-2350

With summer approaching and gas prices rising, people in Austin often ask themselves: “Will using premium gas make my car run better? Is it worth it?” The answer is simple. But first, let’s explain what exactly premium gasoline is vs. regular/unleaded.

Different grades of gasoline have different octane ratings. Regular gasoline has the lowest octane rating and, you guessed it- premium has the highest. Most gas stations around Austin carry a mid-grade option as well. The octane range for the different grades of gas varies by region due to altitude differences.

Engines require different octane ratings because of design differences. For example, turbocharged engines usually require premium gas.

There’s a sticker on your gas tank filler lid that tells you the minimum octane rating your manufacturer recommends. Read your owner’s manual carefully to see if it’s acceptable to use lower grades. Your car will run best on the grade of gasoline recommended by the manufacturer. With some cars, you may be required to use a premium gasoline. Without it, you’ll lose performance, and using a lower grade of fuel could result in serious damage. Want to save a couple of bucks at the pump only to pay it out a hundred fold at the repair shop.

Today’s computer controlled vehicles are optimized to run on the recommended grade of fuel. Using a higher grade than is recommended will not give you any additional performance or better fuel economy.

Additionally, regulations require detergents for all grades of gasoline, so your engine will have the same protection, regardless of the grade of fuel you use. If you do hear some knocking or pinging from your engine, take it seriously and get your car into one of the many locations of Austin’s own Lamb’s Tire & Automotive. It may be a sign that you need a tune-up or some other repair.

In times of high gas prices, we’re all conscious of making our fuel dollar go further as we drive. Be sure to use the right gas for your car. Keep your tires properly inflated, your vehicle well maintained, and you will get the best fuel economy possible.

So what is the most distracting food to have in the car while driving around Austin?

Is it:

1. A Hamburger;
2. Coffee;
3. Donuts, or
4. Gummy Bears

You may be surprised to discover that all but the gummy bears are in the top ten most distracting foods when you are driving, but if you chose ‘coffee’, then give yourself an extra two points. Coffee is the number one food distraction for drivers in Austin and around the country.

Food distractions cause 25 percent of all car accidents; over a million and a half each year.

You’ll notice that all of the top ten distracting food items are in some way, messy. Messy foods are the type of food you might spill,  try to clean up, and then create a very dangerous situation for you and other drivers. If you gotta eat on the run, take five-then drive. You’ll thank yourself later for two reasons, one) you can actually relax for just a moment in our fast-paced world, and two)  you won’t have to worry about getting that donut frosting residue out of your dashboard after that near collision.

Keep drinks in spill-proof containers, so if you must get that caffeine rush before hitting the office you can keep your eyes on Austin roads without worrying about that trembling travel mug spilling in any number of awful places.

So, taking a food break… Or filling out accident reports. Do you really need to ask yourself which you prefer?

Lamb’s Tire & Automotive, along with AutoNetTV, wants you to keep both eyes on the road. Please eat safely and keep your eyes on the road.

Lamb’s Tire & Automotive
go to www.lambstire.com/locations for a location near you
Austin, Texas 78729
Give us a call at: 512-257-2350

Improved fuel economy has two benefits: less fuel is necessary to operate, and there are fewer harmful emissions. With the various options for cars and trucks that run cleaner than ever in the Round Rock area, Round Rock motorists may not realize that the first federally mandated pollution control device came out almost fifty years ago.

Texas motorists around in the early 60′s may remember that the PCV valve, which came out on 1964 model cars. PCV stand for Positive Crankcase Ventilation. The crankcase is the lower part of the engine where the crankshaft is housed and the engine oil stays. The crankshaft is connected to the pistons that power the engine.

When fuel is burned in the car engine, it pushes the pistons down and the crankshaft rotates and sends power to the transmission. Some of the explosive gases from combustion squeeze past the pistons and down into the crankcase.

This gas is about 70% unburned fuel. If it were allowed to remain in the crankcase, it would contaminate the oil and quickly turn into harmful sludge. Sludge clogs passages in the engine leading to severe engine damage over time.

Additionally, the pressure built up can blow out seals and gaskets. So in the old days, there was just a hose that vented the crankcase out into the air. Obviously, not good for our air quality in Austin.

Enter the PCV valve. It’s a small, one-way valve that lets out the gases from the crankcase, and routes them back into the air intake system where they are re-burned in the engine. Fresh air comes into the crankcase through a breather tube. This makes for good circulation in the crankcase. And that gets the bad air out. As you can imagine, however, the valve gets gummed up over time.

Round Rock and Austin drivers that skip oil changes now and then will notice that the PCV valve becomes gummed up even faster. If the PCV valve is sticking in your car, the gases won’t circulate as well, leading to increased pressure in the crankcase. That, in turn, can lead to oil leaks. Fortunately, the PCV valve is very inexpensive to replace at Lamb’s Tire & Automotive in our various locations around Round Rock & Austin. Our experienced technicians at Lamb’s Tire & Automotive will help you decide if your PCV valve needs replacement.

Your auto makers usually recommend the valve be changed somewhere between 20 and 50 thousand miles. Unfortunately, PCV valve replacement is left out of some car owner’s manuals, but at Lamb’s Tire & Automotive, we will make sure your PVC is replaced in a proper and reliable fashion.

All of us Round Rock car owners can do our part for the environment. Watch that lead foot, stay on top of your automotive maintenance, and don’t forget to replace our PCV valve.

Modern cars and trucks around Austin an Georgetown run on 12 volt electrical systems. But today’s vehicles have more electrical components than ever before. This can strain your electrical system, making it hard for the battery to keep up. Think about it: electric seats, seat heaters, power locks, power windows, sun roofs. And then we have all the power outlets for our cell phones, mp3 players, computers, GPS systems, and DVD players.

Not to mention some driver’s jacked up, powerful stereos. Then there are all the engine and transmission computers, traction control, stability control, anti-lock brakes, sensors and on and on. Even the security system is running off the battery while the car is turned off.

Fortunately, battery technology has given us resilient batteries that are able to meet these strenuous requirements. But the fact is, batteries just wear out over time. Eventually, every battery gets to the point where it cannot hold a charge to start your car. It’s in an inevitability; batteries that have developed a leak or simply worn out need to be replaced.

Special safety precautions are taken when working with batteries in the shop’s at Lamb’s Tire & Automotive in Austin Texas. Batteries contain sulfuric acid that can damage your eyes and burn your skin, so safety glasses and rubber gloves are a must. We take the utmost pride in the safety and care of our technicians, as well as your car.

Replacement batteries come in all shapes and sizes. Some cars have limited space that requires a specially shaped battery to fit. Larger engines require more powerful batteries to get them started. Consult your local technician at Lamb’s Tire & Automotive for more information concerning your car’s battery needs. More expensive batteries have a longer warranty and are guaranteed to last longer. As with most things, paying a little more up front saves money in the long run.

Lamb’s Tire & Automotive
For a location near you

Your car is important to you, and keeping it running is vital for many Austin resident’s and other commuters in the Georgetown/Roundrock area. And what better way to keep it running smoothly than by having it serviced regularly at Lamb’s Tire & Automotive! Even though it may just be routine maintenance, you want it done right.

It’s our goal to keep our Austin drivers on the road, and driving safely.  You might be surprised at the amount of money our Service Centers spend every year to make sure our technicians are properly trained.

Lamb’s Tire & Automotive offers a variety of car care services to many kinds of vehicles. We stay up to date on the latest techniques, parts, and how to install and use them properly so that we can care for your car properly.

Each of our services has a checklist of standards and procedures. Lamb’s Tire & Automotive technicians follow these procedures so they can safely deliver a consistent level of high-quality service.

Some services require the use of specialized equipment. Lamb’s Tire & Automotive technicians are trained extensively on this equipment so that they can service your car quickly and efficiently.

Classroom, video, and hands-on training is provided by the company and even outside trainers. It’s not only important that our technicians be able to perform a given task, they also need to be thoroughly trained in inspection and diagnostic techniques. We especially pride ourselves on being able to spot potential problems before they become a serious one.

The automotive service industry has lawful standards for classifying and communicating problems to its customers. For example, it’s one thing to learn that your manufacturer recommends that you change your serpentine belt every 30,000 miles, and another to learn that the belt is on the verge of failure. These standards help you understand the urgency of recommendations, letting you make better decisions of when to service your vehicle.

You may be interested to know that service technicians are trained in compliance with local Austin laws and regulations as well as all federal laws, including environmental regulations regarding the disposal of used parts and fluids.

It’s the goal of our Austin, Georgetown, and Roundrock service centers to provide fast, courteous service. But more importantly, reliable and effective service. Feel free to contact us for more information about available services.

Well-trained service providers, established procedures, industry standards, and the help of our friends at AutoNetTV you the best service experience possible.

Car shopping and buying is always a huge  financial decision and can be incredibly stressful. Especially in Texas, where people commute far and often and take things like their MPG very seriously. Plus, the allure of that new car smell sure is powerful… But what if your current car is still in good shape? How do you know when you’re due for a new vehicle?

Locals who are used to driving a new car every three to five years may be having second thoughts in this economy. For many, the question is, how can I afford a new car payment and potential repairs for my old car that may be out of warranty?

For purposes of our discussion, let’s assume you here in Austin and have a five year old vehicle. It’s now paid off. If you keep it, you fear that there will be some repairs over the next five years, but you really don’t know what to expect. For help we turned to Edmunds.com.

Edmunds.com has compiled maintenance and repair information for cars and trucks. They’re able to use manufacturer’s maintenance schedules and repair histories for the projections, and with this data, they project likely service and repair costs for a particular make and model.

Of course, these projections can’t predict what will happen to your vehicle over time, but they do give you information to use in your decision.

Let’s look at the numbers for a five year old Toyota Camry V-6. In this example, the combined maintenance and repairs for the five year period is $5,748. This works out to an average of $96 a month. The year-by-year averages range from a low of $49 a month, to $124 a month.

So compare $96 a month with a new car payment. And it’s actually better news than that; you would still have maintenance expenses with a new car, so the repair element could be less than half that figure.

Here are numbers for some other five year old vehicles that are popular around Austin:

• Ford Escape – $116 a month
• Chevy Silverado – $131 a month
• Jeep Grand Cherokee – $138 a month
• Hyundai Accent – $85 a month.

And of course, the best way to keep future repair costs down is to take care of all your scheduled maintenance. This is especially important in older vehicles that have had time to accumulate some deposits.

Now, if your vehicle is older than five years, have a chat with your local service advisor at Austin’s own Lamb’s Tire & Automotive. We see hundreds of vehicles through our bays every month and we guarantee we know your car just as well as dealership technicians.

We hope this eliminates some of the unknowns in the decision to keep or trade.Give us a call if you have any questions:

Lamb’s Tire & Automotive - Or 512-257-2350 - For a location near you!

We’ve all seen it.  People do crazy things while driving to, from, and around Austin. A guy shaving in the rear-view mirror, a woman applying makeup, talking on her  phone, and drinking from an gigantic coffee mug. A man in a Santa Claus suit riding a horse on the side of the road. From silly to outright dangerous, all of these are an accident waiting to happen.

The truth is everyone in Austin Texas gets distracted when we drive. Traffic, road construction, and other things outside the car are beyond our control. But there are things that go on inside your car that you CAN control.

Here’s some statistic that’ll give you more insight into common distractions for Austin drivers:

• Drivers who are 16 to 20 years old tend to be more distracted by the radio, CD or MP3 player.
• Drivers who are 20 to 29 are more distracted by passengers in the car, including small children.
• And those over age 65 tend to be more distracted by objects or events that are outside of the vehicle.

People are also distracted by their thoughts. Relationships with family and friends, money and bills, and other factors cause us to lose focus on the road and other drivers around us. Other factors like fatigue and stress make it harder to pay attention to driving – no matter what age we are. So what can we do to manage these distractions?

The first step is to eliminate as many distractions as we can:

• When you get in your car, make sure you’re belted in.
• Adjust the seats, steering wheel, and mirrors before starting the car.
• Check your radio or CD player  and make sure it is ready before beginning your drive.
• Secure any loose objects in the car that can fall on the floor and interfere with your driving.
• If you have a drink, make sure it’s spill-proof and put in a cup holder.
• Contain/secure all pets and most especially children.
• Make sure any children passengers are buckled in. That is the law. Give them some distractions to keep them quiet and sitting in their seats.
• Don’t get involved in any arguments while driving. Pull over if you need to find a toy or break up a fight.
• If you eat while driving, keep it to simple finger-foods that aren’t messy.

Familiarity with your vehicle’s controls before driving is another way to improve your safety. Know how to work the radio, heating, and air conditioning controls by touch rather than sight.

If you have to use a cell phone, try to strictly use a hands-free system. Many parts of Texas have outlawed the use of a cellphone while operating a vehicle. The biggest cell phone distraction isn’t the phone itself – it’s the conversation. Keep conversations brief and light, or pull over if you must. Your reaction time is drastically lowered while talking and driving, so allow more space between you and the car ahead of you.

If you really think you can multi-task in the car safely, that you’re a special driver who is skilled in the art of driving, texting, eating, and shaving all at once – you are wrong. The repercussions for reckless behavior can be deadly; not just for you, but for everyone else on the streets of Austin.

Remember, driving is probably the most dangerous thing you’ll do all day – so don’t make it any worse. Use these tips to keep you and your loved ones safer behind the wheel.

Lamb’s Tire & Automotive

Go to http://www.lambstire.com/locations for a location near you!

Hitting any serious road hazard or just the natural wear and tear of bumps and bounces of everyday driving around the Austin area can knock your wheels right out of alignment. Any time all four wheels are not in perfect harmony means that you’re wearing down your tires, your gas tank, your suspension, and your wallet.

Driving for an extended time  around Austin when you’re out of alignment can be dangerous and expensive. A blow out or suspension break are common results of wheels being out of alignment.

Here are some alignment basics:

The first adjustment is called toe. Do the wheels point in towards each other or away from each other at the front of the tire?

The next adjustment is called camber.  Do the wheels tip in or out at the top.

Finally, there is castor. Castor measures the angle where the front axles attach to the vehicle.

The ideal alignment for your car was designed by its engineers. The Alignment service at Lamb’s Tire & Automotive starts with an inspection of the steering and suspension,  to see if anything’s bent or broken. Then you local Austin technician will look at the tire condition.

From there, the car is put on an alignment rack and an initial alignment reading is taken. The wheels are then aligned to car manufacturer’s specifications.

Your car owner’s manual probably has a recommendation for how often your alignment should be checked – usually every couple of years. If you suspect an alignment problem, get it checked at Lamb’s Tire & Automotive before you suffer expensive tire or suspension damage.

You’ve seen it. We know you have. Everyone has. There’s not much we can do about it. Like summers in the past, the price of gas in Austin Texas is rising.

However, we here at Lamb’s Tire & Auto do know quite a bit about how to make the most out of your gas while driving around Austin. Our tips and tricks on driving habits can dramatically affect your fuel economy. You fuel economy is the fuel efficiency relationship between the distance traveled and the amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle.

There are many techniques to increase your fuel economy, so many that drivers even have a word for this type of fuel-conscious driving: hyper-miling. The first thing you can do is be self aware of how hard and how often you accelerate. Hard acceleration sucks up gas. Gently leaving stop lights and planning smooth lane changes without flooring your car’s acceleration will save you hundreds a year alone.

Accelerate to the speed limit slower, and generally drive  slower on open freeways around Austin. Once you’re going more than sixty-five miles an hour, your fuel economy drops dramatically.

Other tips to remember:

Cruise control is your friend - While some believe cruise control uses more gas, this is a myth. Steady speed uses less gas.

Leave early - Being on time means you don’t have to rush, and therefore, won’t have to break the speed limit and decrease your fuel economy.

Plan errands ahead – Make fewer trips by combining errands, and using less gas.

Fuel filter and fuel injector maintenance – Replacing fuel filters and maintaining your fuel injector will ensure that you get the most out of that increasingly expensive gas.

Schedule an appointment or swing by one of the various Lamb’s Tire & Automotive locations in Austin, Georgetown, and Round Rock areas, to ensure you are getting the most bang for the buck you spend on gas!