Vehicle Maintenance

  • How Do You Maintain Your Engine?

    man working on car with hood up

    No matter what type of car, truck, or SUV you drive, maintenance is the key to giving your engine a long life. At Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, TX, we focus on keeping your engine running strong.

  • How is the Air Quality in Your Vehicle?

    technician holding a clean and dirty air filter comparison in the front seat of a car

    When driving around town, your vehicle's engine needs clean air to burn the fuel – and it needs a lot. In fact, a typical vehicle needs about 216,000 gallons of air for every tank of gas. All that air passes through a filter that catches the dust and dirt. Eventually, the filter gets completely full, and because the filter can only hold so much, dirt starts getting through. At Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, we want to help you get the best air quality in your vehicle, but first, we want to explain the process of where this dirty air is going. 

  • 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. 

  • 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.

  • If You Have To Turn The Key More Than Once - You Might Have A Problem

    man turning key to car

    If you own or operate a fleet or commercial truck, you know it’s hard to keep everything working perfectly all the time. You have to choose what types of maintenance to give priority to, and what can wait. However, some small problems are indicators that a bigger issue is on the way. At Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, TX, our goal is to keep your fleet going.

  • Is it a bad brake master cylinder or something else

    mechanic repairing brakes on a vehicle

    The time to know if your brakes are going bad is NOT when you go to stop at that red light or on the parkway when someone suddenly swerves in front of you.  It's not always "just" brake pads either, your brake master cylinder could be an issue. How do you recognize the signs that you have a real problem with your brake master cylinder and just what is it?   Here atHillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, TX we not only have the answers, but we also put together a service schedule for you and keep an eye on issues based on your driving habits, vehicle type and your description of issues you are having.  We treat your car, truck or SUV as if it were ours keeping you informed of issues we find so you can get them fixed "before" there are larger repair bills so you can keep your vehicle Newer - Longer!   Below is everything you need to look for and tips on your brake master cylinder.

  • 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 ok to idle?

    push to start button on vehicle

    With temperatures dropping around the country, it’s understandably tempting to let your car or SUV idle to stay warm. At Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, TX, one of our goals is to keep you informed on how to best care for your performance and luxury vehicles. 

  • Is it Okay to Switch Between Oil Types or Grades?

    oil being poured into car

    These days, it seems like the oil options for your oil changes are limitless - full synthetic, blends, conventional, high mileage, and the list goes on and on. We are frequently asked if it's okay to switch between oils, and how you know what is okay to use? At Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, TX we're here to help you answer that question. When it comes to engine oil, the answer to this question can be as complicated or as simple as you want it to be!

  • Is It Time For A Rear Wheel Alignment?

    alignment

    If you've been driving for any amount of time, you’re probably aware that your car, truck, or SUV needs a wheel alignment on occasion. However, did you know that depending on what you drive, your rear wheels may also require attention? Here’s what you need to know about rear wheel alignments, from Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, TX.

  • 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 Diesel Engine on it's Way Out?

    Smoke coming out of muffler

    Diesel engines are known for their durability, but even the best engine has to be replaced every once in a while. At Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, TX, we want you to be aware of signs that your engine is about to call it quits.

  • 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 Not Steering Right?

    steering wheel

    Good steering is an underrated and often neglected aspect of driving. At Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, TX, we believe in making sure you have the best vehicle possible, whether you’re driving across town or traveling long distances.

  • Is Your Vehicle Squealing? We Can Help!

    One of the most annoying sounds known to man is a loud squeal every time you start your car, truck, or SUV. What causes this, and what can you do to fix it? Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, TX has the answer.

  • Keep Your Replacement Transmission Running Smoothly

    Transmission

    Once your transmission has been replaced and you’re shifting smoothly once more, you’ll probably want to keep it running smoothly. Here are some tips from Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, TX to help keep you reliably on the road.

  • Keeping Your Emissions System in Check

    cars in the city

    Your emissions system is more important than you might realize. Even if emissions testing isn’t required in your area, there are multiple reasons to keep your emissions system in good working order. Here’s why, from Hillin's Auto Repair, LLC in San Antonio, TX.

  • Let's Get to The Basics of Your Transmission

    The hydraulic system in your transmission is responsible for telling the mechanical components what to do, and when to do it. In order to better understand how your transmission works, it’s important to understand the mechanical components of it.

  • Looks Like A Problem? YES!

    Lady with car hood up - steam rising

    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.

  • Maintaining the Cooling System in Your Vehicle

    Your vehicle's cooling system is one of the most important systems in your vehicle. Inside your engine, spark plugs ignite the fuel within the cylinders to produce small explosions that propel your vehicle down the road. With small explosions comes scorching temperatures that can destroy your engine if not controlled. There are two types of cooling systems - liquid-cooled and air-cooled. 

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  • Exide Batteries
  • Federated Car Care
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  • Ford Power Stroke Diesel
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  • LMC Truck
  • Magnaflow
  • Motorcraft Parts
  • Pet Friendly
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  • Valvoline
  • 36 Month Warranty
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  • Welding
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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