Car Care Tips

  • Have you checked your battery? If it looks like this - It's bad!

    corrosive battery in car image

    When you are having trouble with your car or truck starting and you open the hood up to take a peek to see this....you'll see what an overly corroded battery looks like. This happens naturally over time on vehicle battery terminals.  If you are like 99% of normal San Antonio drivers, you don't check your oil or your battery so you don't keep an eye on the amount of corrosion that's building up on your car or truck battery.  Here at Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC, we do and there are solvents that we can use here in the shop during a battery maintenance service that will help slow the corrosion process but nothing that can prevent it 100%. Way before it gets to this point, we will be suggesting you consider replacing the battery. 

  • How are your transmission mounts?

    transmission

    Your transmission mounts keep your transmission in place and suppress vibrations coming from the drivetrain. How do you know when to replace them or when they’re going bad. At Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, TX, our goal is to educate you about your vehicle so that you can drive it safely and prolong its life. 

  • How Low Is Too Low - Let's Talk About Your Fuel Gauge

    gas pump putting fuel into vehicle

    If you drive a car, truck, or SUV that runs on gasoline, there's a good chance you’ve run it low on fuel a few times (or more than a few times,) and maybe even run out of gas completely a time or two. At Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, TX, we like to provide information applicable to you. Running a vehicle low on fuel is something we’re all guilty of, and most of us don’t think twice about it. But, can it be bad for your car?

  • How to Improve The Longevity of Your Tires

    tread on a tire

    Everyone knows to get routine tire care every so often. Tire rotations, alignments, and even replacements are necessary to ensure your tires stay in competent condition and don’t pose any harm when you’re driving. At Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC, it’s important to us that your tires perform well and are safe to be on the road. Routine maintenance is sometimes not enough to get the most out of your tires. Here are just a few tips and steps to extending the lifespan of your tires, so they can continue to take you wherever you need for as long as you need.

  • How to Keep Your Older Vehicle in The Best Shape!

    Tail lights on bumper of older car

    As your vehicle ages, it not only gains sentimental value but a number of maintenance measures arise as well. Vehicles from previous decades have the potential to keep their value and functionality for many years. But how can you make that possible? Here are some tips from Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC to keep your older vehicle running and on the road for a long time!

  • How To Prevent A Transmission From Overheating

    Part of a transmission

    At Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, TX, we know that the key to keeping a transmission reliable and in shape is taking care to prevent an issue in the first place. Here, well explore a condition which has a lot of potential to cause your transmission harm: overheating.

  • How to Reduce Your Vehicle Maintenance Costs

    Man working under the hood of his vehicle

    If you want to avoid nasty and unexpected surprise maintenance costs, sticking to a regimented schedule of preventative maintenance is something you are going to want to get used to. The reason being is simple – frequent maintenance will keep your vehicle in good health, ensuring you get the most out of all those expensive-to-replace parts. While it might sound counterintuitive, the best way to reduce maintenance costs is to stick to a prescribed maintenance schedule.

  • How To Retain Your Car’s Resale Value

    car with for sale sign on the window

    If you drive a performance or luxury vehicle, there are important points to remember in preserving not only your car or SUV, but it's resale value as well. Luxury and performance vehicles depreciate more quickly than other cars. Many who own these cars like to have the newest and the best of the best. In that way, the odds are stacked against you when trying to get a good price for your car. Fortunately, Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC has some steps you can take to ensure you get the most for your car when it’s time to sell. 

  • How You Can Retain Your Vehicle’s Resale Value

    vehicles lined up

    If you own or operate any type of vehicle, you understand the importance of resale value. Some owners keep the same vehicle until it’s time for the scrap yard, but by and large it makes more sense to sell a vehicle and replace it at a certain point. From Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, TX, here’s how to make sure you get the most cash possible when it’s time for your vehicles to hit the auction block or when you're ready to sell it to its next owner.

  • Identifying driveway spots: how to determine what is leaking under your car

    If you drive a vehicle with more than a few miles on it, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed an occasional drip underneath it that leaves spots wherever you park. Identifying what is leaking from your car will help you determine whether or not it’s a cause for concern, and what to do about it.

    There are seven liquids a car can possibly drip: oil, gas, brake fluid, transmission fluid, gear oil, water, and coolant. How do you tell the difference? This article aims to help your know-how.

  • Is it necessary to warm up your car?

    car on road

    If you drive a performance car or SUV, you want to take every measure possible to ensure it stays in good shape and running well. For many drivers of precision-engineered vehicles like BMW, Audi, Porsche, Subaru, etc., warming up the engine is a part of taking care of your vehicle. But is it necessary?

  • Is It Time For New Wiper Blades?

    Windshield wipers are one of those things you never think about until you need them, and by then it’s too late. There’s a good chance you haven’t changed windshield wipers in a long time, so it might be a good idea to inspect them before rainy weather catches you off guard. Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, TX has compiled a few windshield wiper tips here for you.

  • Is It Time To Invest In A New Exhaust?

    Exhaust

    Exhaust systems are one of the most neglected aspects of most vehicles. Exhaust pipes, catalytic converters, and mufflers are exposed to heat, emissions, and road damage. While your exhaust system is fairly simple and straightforward, these conditions mean it is inherently prone to rust and damage. As a result, this system is often one of the first systems you will have trouble within your car.

  • Is Your Vehicle Draining Your Battery?

    battery

    At Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, we know how annoying a dead battery can be. Here’s some information on the subject, that will hopefully help you understand your battery issues a little better.

  • Is your vehicle heater blowing cold?

    heater in car

    The climate control system in your car works hard to keep you at a comfortable temperature. If you’re having heater issues, trust the performance car specialists with us at Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, TX to get you comfortably back on the road.

  • Is Your Vehicle Too Noisy?

    cars in city with lots of exhaust

    Do you have a noisy vehicle? If so, you may need a new muffler or exhaust system from our team here at Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio. The purpose of your exhaust system is not only to reduce the noise but also to redirect fumes away from your vehicle. Redirecting these fumes protects passengers in the car from toxins created by burning fuel.

    Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless chemical that can escape from an unsecured exhaust system, and if inhaled can pose very serious health hazards. If you experience an unusually loud sound coming from your vehicle, it is vital to get your exhaust system checked immediately!

  • Keeping Your Vehicle Shiny and Clean

    Getting your vehicle washed and waxed on a regular basis is one of the easiest ways to preserve its paint and keep it looking nice. It makes you feel good when you’re driving in a clean vehicle. Removing other environmental contaminants such as salt, tree sap, and bugs also goes a long way to make your vehicle’s paint last longer. 

  • Know When To Buy a New Vehicle

    salesman talking to customer about a new vehicle

    Whether you drive a Chevrolet, Ford, or Dodge diesel pickup, there will come a day when you have to ask the question - has the time come to get a new truck? Knowing when to throw in the towel or decide to keep the vehicle you have can be a difficult task. Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, TX is here to help you decide.

  • Looks Like A Problem? YES!

    mechanic working on a vehicle

    Sometimes it is EASY to see if your car or truck needs to come into our shop for professional repairs! 
    1.  You see steam rising from the engine!
    2.  The Check Engine Light is on!
    3.  The engine starts, but there is an odor that is not right.
    4.  You hear grinding or thumping noises.

  • Make Your Fleet Go The Extra Mile

    fleet of vehicles outside of a business

    At Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, TX we know that your commercial vehicles are a vital part of your business. These vehicles are often more susceptible to damage as well. In order to preserve the life of these vehicles, it's important to get your fleet or commercial vehicles properly maintained.

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  • 36 Month Warranty
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Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC

1511 Somerset Rd
San Antonio, TX 78211
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location small (210) 922-2216
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SHOP HOURS

Weekdays:   8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Weekends: Closed