The Woodlands Auto Repair

Congratulations on making it to 2021! 2020 was so full of bad stuff, I don’t even know where to begin. The Pandemic? The food and toilet paper shortages? Wildfires in the dry plains? Killer Hornets” Still, we can’t call all of 2020 bad. In most people’s lives, there were moments where we found love, or grace, or achieved something we had worked for over a long period of time. Babies were born, families were joined, people earned degrees and diplomas. It had bright moments, and we should honor those parts of 2020 where we succeeded and survived. As we turn towards 2021, we face certain challenges. We’re waiting on the COVID-19 vaccine to help us get out of this mess. We’re dealing with a potential recession. Many Americans are without jobs, and that has cause many Americans to be without homes. There’s a difficult road ahead, of course. But it isn’t facing one’s problems to dwell on the negatives. 2021 is a challenge to us, to mak ... read more

December is here, at last! We’re finally seeing the back of a tumultuous year. 2020 has been mostly fraught with fear, dread, and worry. People will be talking about how bad this year was for generations, from the pandemic to the job losses and homelessness related to COVID19 closings. This year has dragged on and on. We’ve been forced to shelter in isolation, and cancel so many planned outdoor gatherings, reunions, weddings, and family get-togethers. It’s been unfairest to our kids, who had worked so hard at school all year to find themselves sheltered in their homes all summer long. It would be great to be able to finally let a bad year go and look forward to a new year. And despite the worries of a recession to come, and the vaccine for COVID19 not yet being ready, maybe all we can really do in a bad year is set our minds and our energies on a better year, and a better future, for all of us. Dream a Little Dream - We need to keep on dreaming and hoping that the ... read more

November is the season of giving thanks as the year draws to a close… it’s a time to be with our families and celebrate with gratitude for the journey we took together in the past year. And given the events of 2020, it’s an overdue celebration that may still be difficult in some quarters.  The tradition of Thanksgiving began with pilgrims on the Mayflower giving thanks for the end to a rough journey, as they set their eyes for the first time on the shore of Cape Cod. With COVID19 still a daily reality and with some of our family members still highly vulnerable to disease, it’s a coordinated risk just to put the family together for a day. On everyone’s mind this year will be how much they have to be grateful for.  From our jobs managing to reopen after work shut down, to keeping our homes for the people who’s jobs never reopened… to the ones who got sick and managed to pull through, to the ones who managed to stay healthy and safe ... read more

When we think of the care we put into our cars, we sometimes leave an important area alone until it reaches a critical stage: the tires. At Rusty’s Garage, we know the importance of checking your tires. It’s one of the things we keep an eye on every time you come for service. Caring for your tires is obviously very important, because they carry the weight of your car on them. If a tire blows at the wrong moment, you could get into a terrible accident, or flip your car. But they wear at such an even rate over time that we sometimes forget to check them, especially when it’s been awhile between repair services. Rusty’s Garage highly recommends you bring your car by our shop, or at very least, look into these elements yourself, to see if you might need some work on your tires: Check Your Tire Pressure. In most cars, the correct air pressure for your tires and your spare can be found inside the driver’s door frame.  Check Your ... read more

As we enter September, seasonal changes are going to occur and it will affect our driving.  Kids are returning to the school year, regardless if they’re home-schooling, attending online classes, or reporting in-person and on campus.  The weather also starts to change, bringing cooler temperatures, rain, and delayed traffic. Before too long, the sun will set sooner and trick-or-treaters will be navigating the collection of free candy during the COVID era. Then, the November, December, and end of year holidays will soon follow. Because September is the gateway month to all of these changes, the Rusty’s Garage auto repair team wants to offer some helpful driving safety tips. We know that COVID-19 has reduced many drivers’ commutes. Because so many folks aren’t driving as often, we thought it would be smart to remind everyone of some common driving safety tips: Things NOT TO DO While Driving: Do not text and drive. Do not drive dis ... read more

Summer is here, and with it comes some genuinely brutal weather. Even days that feel sunny and fair can be harsh to your car. Just like with the cold, the heat can be very unkind to your car's performance and stability. But you can combat the weather itself by keeping an eye on some of the major issues for your car and responding quickly to problems as you identify them. Plus, preventative measures ensure you are doing the most you can for the life of your vehicle. The Major IssuesGet a sunshade cover for your windscreen and use it when spending long periods away from the car. This will eliminate many of the issues in the cabin quickly and efficiently. The only real problem you'll have are the hot-fingers as you put it away, but once you do, it's as if you've had hours of shade. Remember to have your cooling system regularly flushed. This part of your car may be easily neglected and overlooked, but you're helpl ... read more

Have you given much thought to the idea of preventive maintenance for your vehicle? Some drivers do, and some drivers don’t.  Maybe we tend to think about preventive maintenance more because we are an auto repair team. But it’s no surprise when we discovered that a lot of drivers who have reliable cars do so because they had their vehicles serviced on a regular basis. Preventive maintenance extends the life of your vehicle, and that is something a lot of us learn as experienced drivers. We remember when we were younger and we wanted to start driving. We wanted the thrill of taking control of the steering wheel, feeling the wind in our hair, and driving as far as our parents would allow. But when we had to deal with our first break down, our first car accident, our first repair bill, we realized that having a car can be expensive, especially when money is in short supply. When talking with our clients, we have found that the number one scary thing that most drivers w ... read more

Have you heard the phrase, “Motion is lotion”? We first heard it from a physical therapist, believe it or not. The idea behind it is when you move around and get into motion, your muscles stretch and contract, your blood gets pumping, and your deeper breaths oxygenate your organs. Thus, motion truly lubricates your body when you get your fluids pumping. But what if we told you the same goes for your car? When you start your engine, the fluids start pumping, your battery gets recharged, and all of the systems in your vehicle become activated as you start driving down the road. Motion is lotion for your car, and those fluids pumping through the entire mechanical system help to keep your vehicle operating reliably. That's why fluids matter. Most people only assume the oil needs to be changed. But there are so many more fluids flowing through a vehicle. The fluids in most gas-powered vehicles include the following: Air Conditioning Coolant Brake Fluid Oil  Power ... read more

We believe we are surrounded by real-life superheroes here in The Woodlands. These superheroes are everyday people who live among us and serve on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis.  As a tribute, Rusty’s Garage has put together a Superhero Spotlight of four individuals who are working hard to keep our community healthy and safe. Allow us to introduce you to them: Dr. Jim Mathis is an orthopedic surgeon who has been serving The Woodlands and Tomball communities for 17 years. Dr. Mathis says that fortunately, the medical staff in our geographic area are not lacking protective gear or equipment needed to fight the Coronavirus. He urges us to be smart, take care of others within our community, and be good about washing your hands. Thoughts and prayers are always welcomed, but Dr. Mathis says the best way to support the community overall is to support local businesses as much as you can.   Chris Mitcham is a Lieutenant with The Woodlands Fire Department. As a firefigh ... read more

We all appreciate knowing that we have a good auto mechanic to turn to when our car or truck acts up. What is it that makes our auto mechanic so good at what they do? With all the different makes and models of vehicles, there are so many variations to each service and repair. Do you ever get curious about what it takes to become a good mechanic? Here is a list of traits that each auto mechanic needs to have to be good at their job. Good problem-solving skills To be a good auto mechanic, the first thing a tech needs is curiosity. What is causing this issue, and why are good questions that often run through your auto mechanics mind as they think of your vehicle's issue. A good tech needs to be able to look at a problem from many angles to provide the best possible solution and to accurately diagnose and repair your car. Perseverance We all get frustrated from time to time. However, a good auto mechanic can not give up when the going gets tough. Eve ... read more