Spring and Houston Auto Repair

  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

What's the one thing you would expect car burglars to steal when they break into your car? The car stereo, a cell phone, or that loose change you keep in the ashtray?  All of these things may be, but would you think they would steal your catalytic converter? Catalytic converter thefts are taking place because the converters contain several types of recyclable materials that can be easily “scrapped” for a quick profit.  Thefts of catalytic converters increase each time the cost of scrap metal, particularly platinum, increases.  Houston and surrounding areas have seen an increase in the number of reported catalytic converter thefts. Your vehicle's catalytic converter is a device used to reduce the toxicity of emissions from an internal combustion engine. Catalytic converters have been required by law on every motor vehicle operated in the United States since 1975. It is attached to your exhaust system and is located underneath your car. Catalytic conv ... read more

OBD-II is the new standard of Onboard Diagnostic Systems and are in most cars and trucks on the road today. The OBD-II is a diagnostic computer that is hooked up to your car to control engine functions and diagnose problems. If there is a problem with a component of the vehicle, a trouble code will be given. Here some of the most common trouble codes, what they mean, what symptoms to look for, and some solutions to solving the problem, from the OBD Codes.com trouble code database. P0440 What Does it Mean? P0440 is the trouble code given when the evaporative emission control system has malfunctioned. The EVAP system contains the gas cap, fuel lines, carbon canister, purge valve, and other hoses within the car. The EVAP emission control system prevents fuel vapors from escaping from the fuel system of a vehicle Symptoms: T ... read more

Shocks and struts are two very similar parts that serve similar purposes. Both shocks and struts absorb the bumps in the road and keep the tires of the vehicle on the ground, creating a smoother ride. A car without shocks or struts would bounce all over the road and be nearly undrivable, as well as dangerous. Shock Absorbers Shocks are the oldest form of suspension still used today. They are similar to pistons - tubes filled with hydraulic fluid or gas with a rod inside, connected to the chassis of the car. When the car rolls over a bump, the piston forces the air or fluid through the tube. Only a limited amount of fluid or air can move at a time, which, combined with springs, resists vehicle movement and prevents the chassis of the car from bouncing rapidly. Struts Struts are the evolved version of shocks. They are a component that combines the spring with a shock absorber to reduce production costs and simplify construction. Struts also serve as ... read more