Dallas motorists may know that all 2008 model year and newer cars, mini-vans and light trucks in Dallas come with a tire pressure monitoring system. Many slightly older vehicles around Dallas have these systems as well. A tire pressure monitoring system – called TPMS – consists of sensors on each wheel that measure tire pressure.

If tire pressure drops 25 percent below the auto manufacturer’s recommended pressure, the sensor sends a signal to a monitoring unit that causes a warning to light up on the dashboard. When Dallas motorists see the warning light, they know it’s time to put some air in the tires.

There are many benefits to driving with properly inflated tires around Dallas. First is cost savings. Running at the correct air pressure improves fuel economy. Driving on under-inflated tires is like driving through sand – it drags down your fuel fuel economy. You’ll also see longer, more even tread wear so your tires’ll last longer.

Another important benefit of properly inflated tires is increased safety. Under-inflated tires become hotter and that heat can actually lead to tire failure – possibly resulting in an accident. Your car and the tires themselves will just perform better and more safely around Dallas with properly inflated tires.

Local Dallas consumer groups, law-makers and car makers advocate TPMS systems hoping that they will save lives, property damage and inconvenience. While you can’t put a value on saving a life, Dallas motorists should keep in mind that TPMS systems aren’t free.

The systems themselves are added into the price of the car. The batteries in the sensors will have to be replaced from time to time. Parts will break and need to be replaced. In colder climates around Texas, ice and salt are frequent causes of failure.

In addition, there are other behind-the-scenes costs to be aware of. Every time a tire is replaced, repaired, rotated or balanced, the tire technician has to deal with the TPMS system.

Dallas service centers such as Chris Murphy’s Automotive must purchase equipment used to scan and reactivate the TPMS system after every tire service. Because older tire change equipment can damage TPMS sensors, your Dallas service center may need to buy expensive, new tire changers.

Since there is no uniformity among automakers, service advisors need to be trained on several TPMS systems. These behind-the-scenes costs are very real to Dallas service center managers like Wendy Chandler at Chris Murphy’s Automotive.

That’s why the team at Chris Murphy’s Automotive is anxious for Dallas motorists to understand the financial impact of TPMS systems. In the past, we’ve been able to quickly and cheaply provide tire services, and then pass the low cost on to Dallas customers as an expression of our good will. But now even these simple jobs take much longer and require expensive equipment.

Sensors will need to be removed and reinstalled. Even a tire rotation will require that the monitor be reprogrammed to the new location of each tire. When a car battery is disconnected, the TPMS system will need to be reprogrammed.

So when you start so see the cost of tire changes, flat repairs and rotations going up in Texas, please keep in mind that it’s because of this new safety equipment. The team at Chris Murphy’s Automotive just wants to keep you safely on the road – and we’re committed to doing it at a fair price.

It’s important to remember that the TPMS warning only comes on when a tire is severely under-inflated. You’ll still want to check your tire pressure regularly. At every fill-up is best, but you should check pressure at least once a month. Here’s wishing you safe travels.

Contact Chris Murphy’s Automotive for more information about Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems.

Has this ever happened to you? You’ve been blasting the AC in your car all summer, and, after parking in the unrelenting Texas sun on a hot day in Dallas, you hop into your vehicle, turn the ignition and wait for a wave of coolness to pour out of your AC unit—but it doesn’t.  Instead, a harsh rush of warm air hits you and you frantically roll down your windows or even open your doors to escape the heat. Unfortunately, you may be in need of an AC repair service.

There are plenty of signs to tell if you need an AC repair. Even units that still produce cold air may be having problems. That’s why it’s recommended you service your AC unit as part of your preventive maintenance plan rather than running it until it breaks down.

You may want to have your AC checked by an ASE-certified technician if…

-          The air being emitted isn’t as cold as it used to be

-          A funny smell is coming from the vents

-          The air conditioner’s drive belts, compressor, or blower are nosier than usual

-          A rhythmic clicking noise is coming from under the hood when you turn on the AC or defroster

-          The defroster no longer defrosts the windshield effectively

-          Water is resting on the floor of the passenger compartment

-          The cooling fan keeps cycling on and off

If you are noticing any of these symptoms, it’s time for an air conditioning repair service. It should also be noted—if your vehicle was serviced prior to 1992— that the Freon refrigerant used to cool your car, CFC-12, is no longer used in AC units because it contributes to the breakdown of the ozone layer. R-134a, the new refrigerant, can be used in older vehicles by converting the AC to take the new refrigerant.

If you want to avoid paying big bucks to fix your whole air conditioning unit, you must service it as you would any other part of your vehicle rather than waiting until it breaks or has problems. Luckily, our team at Chris Murphy’s Automotive can help you avoid expensive and uncomfortable breakdowns in your AC system with an AC inspection.

Summer will be here before you know it and you won’t want to be caught on a hot day without properly working air conditioning. So, if you find yourself in need of any auto repair or maintenance services in the Dallas area stop by our shop, or call us at (214) 327-6133 so we can help keep you cool this summer.

One Dallas automotive service issue that doesn’t get much attention is driveline service. Drivelines don’t get talked about very much around Dallas, but they’re very important. First let’s define what the driveline is:

Taking a small step back, the power plant is comprised of the engine and transmission. The driveline starts there and includes all of the components that transfer power from the transmission to the wheels.

That’s not really a lot of components, but they handle the full force of the engine. Without the driveline you’re not moving. So we need to take good care of it. The driveline components differ depending on whether your vehicle has front wheel drive, rear wheel drive, all wheel drive or four wheel drive. For purposes of our discussion, we’re going to have to over simplify a bit.

If you are ready to have your drive train looked at, give us a call:
Chris Murphy’s Automotive
11012 Garland Road
Dallas, Texas 75218
Call Us at 214-327-6133

Let’s start with front wheel drive. The point where the transmission stops and the driveline begins is a little blurred with front wheel drive because the transaxle houses both the transmission function and the differential function. The half shafts that send power to each front wheel, come out of the transaxle. The shaft is connected to the wheel by a constant velocity, or CV, joint. The CV joint is protected from dirt and water by an airtight, flexible rubber boot.

So, driveline service would include properly servicing the transaxle and inspecting the CV boot to see if it’s torn or loose. If it is, it needs to be replaced and the CV joint inspected for damage. Repairs may be in order. Besides visual damage to the airtight CV boot, you might hear a clicking noise when turning. Recommended maintenance for the transaxle and CV joints will be spelled out in your owner’s manual or check with your Dallas service advisor.

On to rear wheel drive. The driveline for a rear wheel drive vehicle starts with the driveshaft – that long tube that connects the transmission with the differential on the rear axle. Some vehicles in Dallas have a two piece drive shaft. The shafts are connected to the transmission and the differential with big universal joints. You’ve probably heard the term ‘u-joints‘. These joints can wear out, just like the CV joints in front wheel drive vehicles. You may hear some clunking or feel a jolt when shifting into drive or reverse – if you do, get your driveline inspected.

The differential on the rear axle sends power out to each rear wheel through half shafts in the axle. The differential fluid needs to be drained periodically and replaced with clean fluid. When the seal on the end of the axle is damaged or leaks, the axle will need to be serviced. The routine maintenance item here is differential service. Be sure to check your owner’s manual or Dallas service advisor for intervals.

Now let’s go on to all wheel drive. Remember that the difference between all wheel drive and four wheel drive is that an all wheel drive vehicle is essentially providing power to all of the wheels all of the time. The vehicle may be able to shift more of the power to the front or to the back depending on where you need traction. All wheel drive vehicles are designed to work well on dry pavement. Even some high-end sports cars from makers like Lamborghini and Porsche have all wheel drive.

Some all wheel drive vehicles are designed to work well off-road, but all hard-core rock crawlers are four wheel drive. These guys thrive in mud, sand, rocks and hills – but they don’t work well on dry pavement when they’re in four wheel drive. So they have the option to shift to rear wheel drive only on dry pavement.

Most all-wheel drive vehicles are very similar to front wheel drive when it comes to the front end. They also have a center differential that transfers power to the rear differential. Connecting it all is a shaft from the transaxle to the center differential and another from the center differential to the rear differential. So all of the normal front wheel drive service is required as well as service to the center and rear differentials.

Four wheel drive can be thought of as a rear wheel drive vehicle that can also send power to the front axle. There’s a transfer case in the middle of the vehicle that can be shifted to send power through a drive shaft to a differential on the front axle. So you need differential service for the front and rear differentials and for the transfer case as well.

The bottom line is that the maintenance schedules are in your owner’s manual. Your Dallas service advisor can answer any questions you’ve got. If this is the first time you’ve heard some of this stuff – it’s time to ask someone at Chris Murphy’s Automotive if any of it needs to be done now.

Watch our auto tips video from AutoNetTV.

Buying a new car in Dallas is always a big financial decision. The allure of that new car smell is powerful, to be sure. But what if your current car is still in good shape? How do you decide?

People in Dallas who’ve been used to driving a new car every three to five years may be having second thoughts in this economy. For many, the question is, how does the certainty of a new car payment stack up against uncertain repairs for a car that may be out of warranty?

For purposes of our discussion, let’s assume you live right here in Dallas and have a five year old vehicle. It’s now paid off. If you keep it, you fear that there’ll be some repairs over the next five years, but you really don’t know what to expect. For help we turned to Edmunds.com.

Edmunds.com has compiled maintenance and repair information for cars and trucks. With this data, they project likely service and repair costs for a particular make and model. They’re able to use manufacturer’s maintenance schedules and repair histories for the projections.

Of course, these projections can’t predict what will happen to your vehicle in Dallas, but they do give you information to use in your decision.

Let’s look at the numbers for a five year old Toyota Camry V-6. In this example, the combined maintenance and repairs for the five year period is $5,748. This works out to an average of $96 a month. The year-by-year averages range from a low of $49 a month to $124 a month.

So compare $96 a month with a new car payment. And it’s actually better news than that; you would still have maintenance expenses with a new car, so the repair element could be less than half that figure.

Here are numbers for some other five year old vehicles from around Dallas:

• Ford Escape – $116 a month
• Chevy Silverado – $131 a month
• Jeep Grand Cherokee – $138 a month
• Hyundai Accent – $85 a month.

Now, if your vehicle is older than five years, have a chat with your Dallas service advisor at Chris Murphy’s Automotive. We see hundreds of vehicles through our bays every month and we know your car. See if there’s any particular problem common with your vehicle that you might see over the next couple of years.

And of course, the best way to keep future repair costs down is to take care of all your scheduled maintenance. This is especially important in older vehicles that have had time to accumulate some deposits.

There are special motor oil formulations that help clean older engines and protect and recondition their seals and gaskets.

We hope this eliminates some of the unknowns in the decision to keep or trade.

Give us a call if you have any questions:
Chris Murphy’s Automotive
11012 Garland Road
Dallas, Texas 75218
214-327-6133

If you’ve walked through the automotive fluids of an auto parts store in Dallas, you’ll know how overwhelming the sheer number of products available can be. How do you know what’s right for your vehicle?

As you know, these fluids all serve a function in making your car run as you drive around the Dallas area. Your vehicle manufacturer has specified a particular type of fluid for every system from the motor, to the cooling system, brake fluid and so on. When you realize that not every variation is applicable to your vehicle, the task becomes more manageable.

First let’s talk about why there are so many varieties. Starting with motor oil, we see that manufacturers match the properties of a particular weight or type of oil with the design needs of the engine. For example, engines with sophisticated valve trains often require a thinner weight of oil.

Some vehicles around Dallas come from the factory filled with synthetic oil and the recommendation to use it for life. The safe bet is to always use what the factory recommends. The recommendation is what’s been proven to work in function and durability tests. The recommended oil is also a factor in determining oil change interval schedules.

A good quality oil has more additives that are engineered to clean and protect the engine. They cost a bit more, but are worth the extra protection. If you buy budget oil, you might want to consider shortening your oil change interval.

Sometimes fluids are developed specifically to meet the needs of a particular family of engines. An example would be coolant. Because of the different materials used to build the cooling system, the coolant has to be formulated to protect those parts, which vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, from corrosion. We’ve seen special coolant in Dallas for General Motors, Volkswagen, Chrysler and others.

The same is true of transmission fluid and brake fluid in recent years.

The really good news is that your Dallas service center has databases that tell them the recommended fluids for your vehicle. This takes all the guess work out. If you have some special needs, like a higher mileage engine or want enhanced performance, ask your service advisor for upgrades or additives that’ll meet your needs while being consistent with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Of course, your full-service oil change will top off your fluids. But it’s a good idea to have some of everything at home in case you need to top something off yourself or to take on a trip. Ask your Dallas service advisor at Chris Murphy’s Automotive or check your owner’s manual for fluid specifications.

It’s important to know that there are national warranty laws that say that a manufacturer cannot require you to use their brand of fluid to maintain your warranty. That said, there are two things that may affect your warranty.

Using the wrong type of fluid may void the warranty. Going back to radiator coolant, the correct type protects against corrosion and the wrong type will not. So it’s important to be right.

Also some warranty protections are conditioned on taking care of scheduled preventive maintenance. Please review your warranty if you have questions.

Today Chris Murphy’s Automotive is talking about the proper fluids for your vehicle. It’s become more complicated with changes in automotive design and manufacturing. It’s not that people in Texas are confused as much as they don’t realize how much things have changed in recent years.

If you have questions about the fluids in your vehicle, please don’t hesitate to stop by Chris Murphy’s Automotive. You can find us on 11012 Garland Road in Dallas, Texas 75218.
Just give us a call at 214-327-6133

Let’s take engine oil. Twenty or thirty years ago, there were just a handful of different weights of oil. The weight of an oil is a scientific measure of its properties, particularly its viscosity or thickness.

It was common in those days to use a lighter weight oil in the winter when it’s cold outside. That way the oil would be able to splash around inside the engine and protect the parts before it was fully warmed up. And a heavier weight oil would be used in the summer. The thicker oil wouldn’t thin out too much in the summer heat and vaporize in the engine.

Modern valve trains have become very complicated with more moving parts and small passages than ever before. The valve train is in the top of the engine, so when the car has been turned off for a while, the oil tends to run down to lower areas and the valve train parts are vulnerable at start-up, before the oil starts circulating.

So new weights of oil have been introduced to meet the engineering specifications of these newer engines.

Manufacturers are recommending specific weights of oil. The recommendation is often printed on the oil fill cap. It’s certainly in the owner’s manual. Of course, your Dallas Texas auto service center can look it up for you.

It’s more important than ever to have the correct weight of oil. The wrong weight could actually harm the engine.

Other fluids are also becoming more sophisticated. In the last few years new types of transmission, power brake fluid and coolant have all been introduced for some of the same reasons as for engine oil.

In addition, vehicle manufacturers are now using a wider variety of materials in these systems. Looking at the cooling system as an example, it used to be that the parts were all made out of steel or iron and the hoses were rubber. Now, some parts are plastic, aluminum or other materials.

So the anti-corrosion additives contained in the coolant, or anti-freeze, need to be different in order to protect the different materials used to make the cooling system. If you use the wrong coolant that wasn’t formulated to protect your plastic cooling system parts, they could become corroded and fail. And if you’re using the wrong coolant, your cooling system won’t be covered under warrantee. So it’s important to use the right coolant and to not mix different types.

Your owner’s manual or your Dallas Texas service advisor at Chris Murphy’s Automotive can make sure you’re using the right type. You may have heard of universal coolant. Universal, or global, coolant can be added to other types without harmful reactions. That’s OK for an emergency top off, but following your manufacturer’s recommendation for your car or other auto type is always a safe bet.

In the area of brake fluid, there are a couple of new formulations. It’s important to remember that the new ones aren’t better than the old ones. They’re just different formulations for different vehicles. So if your vehicle calls for DOT 3, using DOT 4 or DOT 5 is not an upgrade. Use the recommended formula.

There are fluid formulations for vehicles with higher mileage. These are special engine oil, transmission fluid, and so on that contain additives to condition and restore seals and gaskets in older engines.

They’re fine to use as long as they’re a variant of the proper fluid. In other words you can use a high mileage engine oil as long as it’s also the correct weight recommended by the manufacturer. Same goes for transmission fluid; as long as it’s the right type for your transmission.

Here’s a travel tip that’ll I’ll bet you didn’t know, and, it might keep you safer…

The average American commuter in Texas spends two and a half hours daily in their car.

The government says a hundred thousand auto accidents yearly are caused by drivers who fall asleep at the wheel. (Aggressive driving is the number one traffic safety concern.)

So what does this have to do with how your car smells while you’re driving around Texas?

Well, which scent did you think makes drivers more alert?

Is it:

• A. Strawberry
• B. New Car
• C. Pine
• D. Warm Vanilla Breeze

It’s C. Drivers are more alert and have less fatigue with pine scent in the car, according to AroMetrics.

And, drivers were less angry with overall improved driving performance with strawberry and pine scents.

And you thought they just smelled nice.

Chris Murphy’s Automotive
11012 Garland Road
Dallas, Texas 75218
214-327-6133

Remember, we are always here to help with any of your car repair needs.  Stop by our shop in Dallas or call us at (214)-327-6133 to set up an appointment today!

* Chris Murphy’s Automotive is proud to partner with Monday Morning Mechanic to bring you helpful money saving tips like these to help you get more miles for your dollar! www.mondaymorningmechanic.com

Recently, Texas has been entertaining the idea of banning texting and driving, and I, for one, think that’s a great idea. Distracted driving accounts for more and more accidents and deaths every year. Over 46% of teens admit to texting and driving.

I might come for the old school mentality, but when I drive, I DRIVE! That is the responsibility that everyone takes the moment the get behind the wheel. You aren’t there to converse, or plan your evening with someone on the other end of a phone line. How can your look at the road and react to road situations when you are looking at the screen of your phone? The simple answer is you can’t.

You have to remember that you aren’t the only one on the road. You share it daily with thousands of others whom could quite possibly be doing the exact same thing you are doing…NOT PAYING ATTENTION. Can you see the problem here?

How important is that text? Is that text worth side swiping another car? Is it worth totaling your car? Is it worth injuring, or killing yourself or someone else? Absolutely not! That text can wait, trust me.

Here’s the deal, Chris Murphy’s Automotive sees a lot of cars in the shop that need some body work due to distracted driving. A near miss sometimes isn’t enough to shock people into stopping texting and driving.

Here’s one more video I suggest your watch. Maybe you’ll get the picture about the dangers now.

When your car has a problem, or just needs some routine service, you might get a little nervous. Your car’s so important to your life in Dallas, you need to back on the road as soon as possible – with the problem fixed right the first time.

If you’ve ever checked into some of the technician training Chris Murphy’s Automotive professionals receive, you may be surprised at how much specialized knowledge and skill goes into diagnosing and repairing a modern car. For example: Today there are four cylinder engines that generate more power than the 1980s-era V-8’s. I mean a new V-6 Toyota Camry could beat Sonny Crocket’s Ferrari in a race to sixty.

Our engines are more and more powerful and at the same time their fuel economy keeps inching up – even with steep Rowlett gas prices. They are also amazingly reliable: Kudos to the automotive engineers at the leading auto makers. But the advances come at the price of simplicity. The modern cars Rowlett motorists drive around Texas freeways are so much more complex from a mechanical standpoint that it makes your head spin – not to mention the electronics.

Some cars have several networked computers controlling most of the engine functions and many other vehicle operations as well. Rowlett motorists take all of this sophistication for granted – but somebody has to fix it when it breaks. It’s a real challenge for Dallas Chris Murphy’s Automotive technicians to keep up, but we work hard to stay ahead of the technology. It requires a high level of commitment on the part of the technicians and the Rowlett service centers as well.

Chris Murphy’s Automotive technicians receive training through a combination of formal classroom training, training provided at Chris Murphy’s Automotive by parts and equipment manufacturers, on-line courses and home study courses.

In addition to the expensive training, there’s the financial commitment for Chris Murphy’s Automotive to purchase the diagnostic and repair tools.

There are many independent certifications available at Chris Murphy’s Automotive all the way up to Master Technician. The ability to repair your car requires a strong combination of training and resources. No one can know everything, so Rowlett auto service centers subscribe to data services, technical libraries and even on-line communities that can help them when they run into a difficult problem.

It’s like those medical diagnosis shows on TV. Here are the symptoms – what’s the diagnosis and treatment? Diagnosis is every bit as much an art as a science. At Chris Murphy’s Automotive, we want everything to be simple, straightforward and inexpensive – but sometimes it just isn’t.

The next time you bring us your car, don’t worry. You’re in good hands at Chris Murphy’s Automotive.