Spring and Houston Auto Repair

Brakes are all around the most critical safety feature on your car, which is why it is essential to pay close attention to what the pedal feels like from time to time. One indication that your brakes are not working as well as they used to is when the brake pedal starts to feel spongy, mushy, or soft. You should have this knowledge, especially if you have an older vehicle since it may not be equipped with emergency sensors that can display on your dash. Here are several reasons that may explain why your brake pedal is mush-like or not engaging as quick as it used to: The most common reason behind sponge-like brakes is air in your brake line, which could result from low brake fluid or a hole in the braking system. When air escapes into the line, you will need to have your brakes professionally flushed or bled to resolve the issue. If you suspect this problem with your brakes, our technicians at Ripley's Total Car Care can take care of the problem for you. Damaged brake lines or ca ... read more

Commuting is a customary practice for pretty much all Americans. With some roughly 300 million drivers in the US, you are bound to encounter congested traffic. We are here to remind you that it doesn't have to be stressful. Here are some of our suggestions on how to calm your nerves and chill behind the wheel. #1: Time Management You should see what you can get done the night before work, like packing lunch, taking out the garbage, picking out your outfit, or presetting your coffee machine, so you don't spend your morning juggling multiple chores. You will feel more relaxed once you've crossed those items off your to-do list. #2: Listen to Relaxing Music Listening to chill music can make your drive much more delightful. Choose genres like lofi and classical to lower your blood pressure and anxiety levels.  #3: Play a Podcast or Audiobook Audiobooks and podcasts are great sources to listen to pass the time in traffic. Think of your wait time in traffic as a time f ... read more

Today, most vehicles have modernized cooling systems equipped with multiple heat sensors and electric fans designed to keep your engine running smoothly. However, the reality is overheating can still occur. If you notice smoke-like vapor emitting from the hood or your temperature gauge spiking to the big "H," then you are experiencing an overheating engine. In instances like these, do NOT panic whatsoever. Instead, do the following to keep yourself safe and prevent further damage to your motor:    1) Turn On The Heater It might seem a little odd, but turning on your heater can help when your vehicle is overheating. Blasting the heat draws warm air away from the engine and into the cabin, lessening the strain on the engine's cooling system. In certain circumstances, this step may be enough to reverse the overheating. You'll know if this method works if the warning light goes off or the temperature gauge returns to its regular position.   2) Pull Ove ... read more

  Do you refer to the extension pipe out of the vehicle's backside as the muffler or the exhaust? The muffler and the exhaust are common confusions most people have, considering they are located in the same spot. We are here to explain to you the complexities of the vehicle's exhaust system and answer the following questions: What is our car's exhaust system? What are the parts? And what do they do?    The engine usually ejects the right amount of gases from the combustion chamber that needs to be converted to safe, breathable gases before releasing them into the air. The gas conversion is the exhaust's job, whereas the muffler plays a different role in dampening the engine's sound.    As mentioned previously, the exhaust's role is to make sure toxic gases such as carbon monoxide do not escape the engine. The overall system has multiple pipes that work harmoniously to minimize the output of harmful emissions. The parts involved in t ... read more

We have looked into the consequences of ignoring your low tire pressure warning light and allowing your tires over time to deflate. Carry on reading to find out more about what happens when you ignore low tire pressure warnings! What is the aim of a low tire pressure warning light? The purpose of the tire pressure monitoring system is to make the driver aware of when the tire pressure is low, and as a result, the car has become unsafe to drive. When the light is turned on and illuminated, this indicates that your tire is not sufficiently inflated and your tire pressure is now too low. What are the main negatives effects of low tire pressure? We have come up with a list of reasons behind why low tire pressure is so unsafe for drivers, and why low tire pressure warnings should certainly by no means be ignored. Poor delayed braking and extended braking distances in wet conditions. The danger of understeering or oversteering the car. Elevated risk of tire punctures, or further tire ... read more

Everyone has some bad habits and that applies to driving too. Nobody expects you to be the perfect driver all the time but there are some driving habits that can hurt your car more than others. If you want to keep your car in good working order, it's best to stay away from these bad driving habits: Revving the Engine There's a good reason why you're told that you should warm up your car before driving and it's the same reason why revving your engine right after you've started it up is a bad idea. When your car hasn't been used in a while, you should give the oil a minute or two to circulate through the engine because your car needs to be lubricated to function properly. Speeding Over Speedbumps and Potholes Even though they're called speedbumps, they're meant to make you slow down while driving over them. If you speed over a speedbump or a pothole, the weight of the car behind that kind of drop can cause problems with many areas of your car, like the ... read more

If your car hasn't been running as well, as usual, it might be time for a tune-up. Common signs that something's amiss with your vehicle include leaks, unsightly smells, noises, check engine lights, and less-effective brakes. Below we'll discuss commons signs that your car is due for routine maintenance, as well as common repairs many vehicles require over their lifetime. Squeaking, less sensitive brakes are a common sign that it's time to get your vehicle's brake pads replaced. You should have brake pads replaced every 40,000 to 50,000 miles, depending on your local climate and the way you drive. More cautious drivers are less harsh on their brakes, and get more mileage from their brakes and rotors. Depending on the type of oil your vehicle uses, an oil change is a service that is necessary every 3,000 miles. However, if you have a modern engine (i.e. a new car), you should plan to have your oil changed every 5,000 miles to 7,500 miles. Getting your oil changed r ... read more

Ripley's Total Car Care is Cataltyic Converter Experts We have been involved in Exhaust repairs since 1973 Serving Houston, Spring, The Woodlands and surrounding areas.          

Stolen Catalytic Converters are on the rise. Why would someone steal your Catalytic Converter? They steal Catalytic converters then sell them to Recyclers for the precious metals inside. Converters are made up of Platinum, palladium and rhodium. Palladium is similar in price as Gold. Recyclers will buy used catalytic Converters, then melt them down to extract the precious metals. Toyota Tundra’s are the most common victim we see at they have a high Platinum count and are easy to access by laying down underneath and cutting them with a portable Sawzall. Trucks and Vans are easy victims due to access to converters but… thieves are getting creative and stealing them from cars with minimal access as well. The aftermarket Catalytic Converters we install are a good option as they posses enough precious metals to meet E.P.A. requirements but less than factory converters; therefore, we don’t see them getting stolen as they don’t get as much money from Recyclers. Tom ... read more

Thieves Target Catalytic Converters Feb. 6, 2020—Beware. Thieves are after catalytic converters.  The precious metals that are in catalytic converters (platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold) have made reports of stolen ones rise.  Tommy Ripley, owner of the two-location Ripley’s Total Car Care in Texas, reached out to Ratchet+Wrench after noticing a recent uptick in cases that he’s seen.  Ripley said that in the past month, he’s seen 6 cases of this at his shop, and in the past few months, he’s noticed that it’s happening more. The shop even published a blog on it’s site. He attributes the rise in the price of rhodium, specifically, as the cause for the uptick.  “It’s headed to $10,000 per ounce,” Ripley sa ... read more