OIL CHANGES

Whether you are looking for a standard or a full synthetic oil change, Discount Auto and Transmission Repair Auto & Diesel Repair is proud to offer quality oil changes with Mobil 1 oil. Discount Auto and Transmission Repair Auto & Diesel Repair is your one stop shop for routine maintenance.

Now offering State Inspections!

BRAKES

How the Brake System Works

Your car’s brake system is designed to perform only one job and that is to safely stop your vehicle. In order to do that there are three key things needed, a vehicle operator, hydraulic pressure and friction. When the vehicle operator pushes the brake pedal down, the pedal levers and rods actuate the power brake booster. The booster uses engine vacuum or a pump to multiply the force from the operator’s foot to the master cylinder.

Hydraulic lines connected to the master cylinder go out to a proportioning valve or to the ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) module then to each either brake caliper if you have disc brakes or to a wheel cylinder if you have drum brakes. The brake fluid in the lines flows into the calipers or wheel cylinders and the hydraulic pressure pushes the brake pads against the rotors or brake shoes against the drums causing friction which stops the vehicle. To prevent expensive car repair it is necessary to perform regular maintenance on your auto’s brake system.

Disc Brakes

A disk brake system consists of a brake disk, a brake caliper and brake pads. When the brake pedal is applied, pressurized hydraulic brake fluid squeezes the brake pad friction material against the surface of the rotating brake disc. The result of this contact produces friction which enables the vehicle to slow down or stop.

Drum Brakes

A drum brake system consists of hydraulic wheel cylinders, brake shoes and a brake drum. When the brake pedal is applied the two curved brake shoes, which have a friction material lining, are forced by hydraulic wheel cylinders against the inner surface of a rotating brake drum. The result of this contact produces frictions which enables the vehicle to slow down or stop.

Brake Failure Symptoms

When it comes to your car’s safety, brakes are at the top of the list of systems that need to be monitored. These conditions can cause longer stopping distances and difficult stopping in an emergency situation. However many people are not aware of the warning signs that indicate maintenance or repair may be needed.

Grinding: A metallic grinding sound indicates your brake pads are worn through. Continued driving with this condition not only causes further damage, it is also dangerous.

Squealing: A high pitch squeal noise heard at slow speed without brake pedal contact, means that the brake pads are down to the recommended wear replacement. There is a warning tab manufactured on the pad that rubs against the rotor to alert you. The noise usually goes away when the brake pedal is actuated.

Low or Fading Brake Pedal: Do you pump your brakes to stop? Does the pedal sink to the floor when you’re stopped at a light? You could have a leak, and air in the brake lines or the master cylinder is leaking internally. Any of these symptoms can be dangerous.

Pulling to One Side or Brake Drag: This condition is most often caused by a stuck caliper slides or pistons. The stuck caliper will not apply the same pressure as the other. Correcting this condition early on can save rotors from damage.

Brake Warning Light: Red warning light could indicate an imbalance in the system. An amber warning light could indicate a problem with the ABS system.

Remember to have your brakes checked any time you notice any of these conditions. At Honest-1 we have the expertise and the proper diagnostic equipment to keep you and your family safe on the road.

Why Inspect Brakes?

Do you hear your car squeal with pain when you apply your car’s brakes? A squealing or grinding noise should be investigated immediately. Car brake performance has improved in recent years, but a large percentage of vehicle brakes are not checked regularly. Performing brake work on your auto, before you hear those squeals of pain can save you many dollars in repairs. Worn brake pads that begin to connect metal-to-metal can ruin your rotors or drums and add those extra dollars in brake system overhaul.

A minimum of at least once a year the wheels should be pulled to inspect components that can’t be seen. We have seen brakes wear out as soon as 12,000 to 15,000 miles depending on driving conditions.

What We Inspect:

  • Rotors
  • Calipers
  • Brake lines
  • Hoses
  • Evaluate the condition of the brake fluid. If the brake fluid absorbs moisture it will become acidic. This can lead to deterioration of seals, and damage ABS module on vehicles equipped with Anti Lock Brakes.
  • Inspect for leaks at master cylinder, lines, fittings, hoses, modules, and junction blocks.
  • Check emergency brake adjustment

Benefit of a Brake Inspection:

  • Insure the safety of you and your family
  • Find any problems before they become expensive to repair
  • Prevent the possibility of brake failure

A/C CHECK

WE ARE THE HOME OF THE FREE A/C CHECK IN SAN ANTONIO!!!

Stop by today for a super fast Free A/C Check and let us get your car’s air conditioning system blowing ice cold. We have the latest equipment so we can quickly diagnosis all air conditioning problems. We pinpoint the smallest leaks, replace bad electrical sensors, and perform complete car a/c system replacements.

How your car’s Air Conditioning Systems Work

The first component of a car air conditioning system is the gas. The gas used in air conditioners is called Freon. The Freon is put into a sealed system. The Freon is then pressurized using a compressor. As it is pressurized, it gets hot by absorbing the heat around it. The hot Freon is then circulated to the condenser.

The condenser is a device mounted in front of the radiator and behind the grille; it looks a lot like a radiator. The condenser is used to change the high-pressure Freon vapor to a liquid. Air flowing through the condenser removes heat from the Freon changing it to a liquid state or now a refrigerant.

The refrigerant then moves to a receiver drier or an accumulator depending on the type system you have. Moisture is removed from the refrigerant because moisture can freeze causing a blockage. The drier or accumulator are also storage tanks for the liquid refrigerant keeping it from moving out to the compressor and causing damage to it. The compressor is designed to compress gas not liquid. The liquid refrigerants pressure is lowered by an expansion valve for receiver drier systems or an orifice tube for accumulator systems and turns it into a refrigerant gas in the evaporator.

As the cold low pressure refrigerant is released into the evaporator, it vaporizes and absorbs heat from the air in the passenger compartment. As the heat is absorbed, cool air will be available for the occupants. The same blower for the heating system blows air through the cold evaporator and distributes it through the air conditioning ducts in the vehicle.

Air Conditioning Service

When to Service:
Annually before the weather warms
When you notice performance beginning to deteriorate

The Service Includes:
An in depth inspection of lines and hoses
Test and record the systems high and low pressure readings
Check and record the temperature of the air from the air conditioning vents at maximum cool setting
Refrigerant cleansing; because refrigerants are harmful to the environment, we take special care according to our Environmentally Sustainable Actions Certification Program and use the proper recovery machines to ensure that none of the material escapes during service.

Benefits:
Comfort!
By keeping your air conditioner properly maintained you will reduce repair costs for compressor and all other components.

Special Considerations:
The Environmental Protection Agency determined that the refrigerant Freon also known as R-12 or CFC-12 was damaging the ozone layer and stopped production of the material. Now R-12 Freon is hard to find and very expensive. Although most vehicles produced before 1995 use R-12 in their air conditioning systems our Technicians can retrofit your vehicle to the new approved R134a. R134a is a more environmentally friendly refrigerant. This retrofit is more cost effective than attempting to repair the older systems.

R134a Retrofit Service

The Service Includes:
Case by case evaluation on what will be needed
R-12 Freon is recovered along with the R-12 oil and properly disposed according to EPA regulations
The system is flushed
Install the R134a retrofit kit (a small number of vehicles may require different seals and hoses)
Evacuate and recharge the system with R134a refrigerant and compatible oil
Install mandatory retrofit labeling

Benefit:
Considerable reduced cost to service you’re A/C system in the future
Environment protection

Special Issue:
Retrofitting for cost and environmental savings can be done even if your older air conditioning system is functioning. However, a retrofit will not fix a broken air conditioning system.

FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMS

How Fuel Injection Systems Work

In the past, carburetors used to deliver fuel into the engine. Today, most vehicles use a fuel injection system. This type of fuel delivery system uses a fuel injector which is a computer controlled valve that takes pressurized fuel supplied by an electronic fuel pump and atomizes it, turning it into a fine spray, that burns easily. The atomized fuel is sprayed through a throttle body that delivers the atomized fuel to each cylinder through the intake manifold. Several sensors report back to the computer to regulate the rate of fuel injected and burnt. These sensors must be working properly in order for your car to operate properly, Discount Auto and Transmission Repair Auto & Diesel Repair performs diagnostics and auto repairs to all parts of the fuel injection system.

Fuel Injector and Throttle Body Service

All engines using fuel injection require some fuel system maintenance to prevent major car repairs. With today’s soaring fuel prices most consumers are selecting the cheaper grade fuels. High under hood temperatures, lower quality fuel causes some buildup of olefin wax, dirt, water and other impurities which restrict the injector nozzles and disrupt the injector spray pattern. Each fuel injection system has a unique air control design that also creates different levels of carbon deposits which build up over time affecting air flow and fuel atomization. Clogged injectors and carbon build up in the intake system hinder performance and fuel economy. Our honest auto technicians are repair experts in servicing your car’s Fuel Injection Systems.

The Service Includes:

  • Checking car’s fuel pump operating pressure and volume
  • Test auto’s pressure regulator for operation and leakage
  • Flush entire fuel rail and upper fuel injector screens to include pressure regulator
  • Clean and repair your auto’s fuel injectors
  • De-carbon car engine assembly
  • Repair or clean throttle plate and idle air control passages
  • Check vehicle manufacturer’s minimum air flow rate and adjust if needed
  • Relearn on-board computer if necessary

Benefits:

  • Increased car fuel economy
  • Prolonged life of your auto’s injectors
  • Reduction of toxic emissions
  • Reduce internal temperature
  • Better response and performance from your car

FLEET DISCOUNT HEADQUARTERS

***All new fleets receive a 20% discount on Labor for their first time visit***

Discount Auto and Transmission Repair Auto & Diesel Repair is proud to be San Antonio’s Fleet Discount Headquarters! We service Light duty, Medium duty, and Heavy duty vehicles. We offer same day service and service nearly any make and model. We offer a range of services from routine maintenance to major repairs.

All of our technicians are certified and we use state of the art tools and diagnostic equipment. We stand behind our work and most repairs will receive a 36-month or 36,000 miles parts and labor nationwide warranty. Rest assured that your vehicles will be taken care of whether you’re in town or in another state on business through Technet’s Nationwide warranty.

ENGINE REPAIR

Here at Discount Auto and Transmission Repair Auto & Diesel Repair we specialize in servicing, repairing, and replacing engines. The engine is the heart of car, and it works by converting the heat produced from burning gas into mechanical energy needed to move your car around. The starter is what gets everything going. The starter is connected to the engine flywheel. The flywheel sets the crank shaft in motion, which then begins moving the engine’s pistons.

Our mechanics are professionally trained and certified in every aspect of engine repair and maintenance. We have over 20 years of experience working with just about every make and model, so you can rest assured that the repairs and maintenance will be done correctly.

We are happy to service the following:
Camshaft Repair
Connecting Rod Bearings
Crankshaft Repair
Engine Replacement
Front Crankshaft Oil Seal
Head Gaskets
Oil Pan Gaskets
Oil Pan Replacement
Oil Pump Replacement
Piston Rings
Real Main Seal Replacement
Timing Belt Replacement
Timing Chain
Timing Cover
Timing Gears
Valve Adjustments
Valve Cover Gaskets

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Give us a call at 210-486-8333

 

ALIGNMENTS AND SUSPENSION

What’s an alignment and why do I need one?
Alignment by definition is making something even. Periodically, and sometimes after an accident (even just hitting a curb), it’s ideal to have your car’s alignment adjusted. This extends the life of the tires and makes the vehicle easier to drive straight. We look at camber, toe and castor settings in order to identify and resolve your alignment issues.

We often hear:
“My car is pulling to one side while I drive.”
“My car is bumpy when I drive.”
“It’s difficult to steer my car.”
“It seems like one corner of my car is sitting lower than other parts.”

If you experience this while you are driving, we recommend having your alignment checked because none of the scenarios are safe for you and your family. Guess what?

We offer free alignment checks! So it doesn’t cost you anything to find out if this is what’s causing your steering issue.
What’s the difference between an alignment and suspension work?

Alignments have to do with the positioning of the wheels. Think tires not perfectly parallel (The exact factory settings vary per make and model). The suspension is what breaks the impact of bumps on the road. This system of parts also control steering on the vehicle. Still not sure if you need an alignment or suspension work? Why not both? WE OFFER FREE ALIGNMENTS WITH SUSPENSION WORK

ELECTRICAL REPAIR

We offer a wide range of electrical repair services. The auto electrical systems controls a wide range of components in your vehicle including but not limited to the wiring and circuits, the charging and starting system, mirrors and windows, lights, antilock brakes. All of our mechanics are certified and professionally trained to fix your car properly.

Offer the following electrical services:
Electrical Shorts
Fuse replacement
Fuel Gauge Repair
Ignition Switch Repair
Powered Seating Repair
Powered Windows Repair
Powered Mirror Repair
Turn Signal Repair
Windshield Wiper Motor
& More!

Didn’t find what you’re looking for? Don’t worry give us a call 210-468-8333 because we can probably fix that too!

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