There’s that clicking sound and error code on your dash again. It’s left you longing for the good ol’ days when anyone with a tool box could keep a car running. Then again, do you really miss manually rolling up a window or the bumpier-than-preferred ride? Though a lot has changed in cars over the years, one thing shouldn’t change: you should still be able to make informed decisions and be in control of the repairs made on your car, no matter how complex the problem.

That’s why at Christian Brothers Automotive Round Rock our ASE-certified technicians take continued education seriously. By participating in monthly tech courses, we stay current on all the latest advancements so we can partner with you to help you keep your car in tip-top shape.

As technology continues to advance, cars are becoming more and more complex. Here are three ways that the cars of today are more complex than their predecessors:

1. Electrical and Computer Integration – When you were growing up, your family car probably didn’t have an LCD monitor on the dashboard that seems to be standard in today’s models. Such an obvious external advancement doesn’t even begin to touch on the complex system of electronics and computers built into almost every aspect of your car.

There’s hardly a single mechanical component in your car that doesn’t depend on the electrical system and computers. Today’s car engines wouldn’t even start without the car’s electrical system (Electrical System). Additionally, some cars have more computer code than a Boeing Dreamliner.

With so much of the car being computer driven, sometimes a simple software bug can disguise itself as a major component breakdown. Before you waste money on parts and services you don’t need, let our experienced, ASE-certified technicians give your car a full system check. We will help you understand the work that needs to be done so that you can feel confident you’re making the best decision for your car.

“Friendly staff. Handled a unique situation with my car. Didn’t realize we had such a great auto service this close to me in Round Rock. Will return for sure.” –Wylie

2. Safety – Unless you’ve been in a car accident recently, you probably haven’t thought much about the safety of your car since you purchased it. From airbags, to anti-lock braking, high-speed auto emergency braking, traction control, improved parking sensors, and collision warnings; modern safety features give us all a little more peace of mind and we’re thankful for it. These features and more are what allow you to walk away from wrecks that would have been fatal just a decade or so ago.

We care about keeping you and your family safe on the road. That’s why we offer a complimentary courtesy inspection every time you visit us (Courtesy Inspection). You shouldn’t have to worry about whether everything is working like it should. After we inspect your car, we’ll tell you exactly what your car needs so you can make an informed decision to keep your car safe.

3. Engines -- While we used to only hear of turbocharged bragging rights on sports cars, these days most cars have replaced larger, less fuel-efficient engines with small, turbocharged engines (Engine Services). These smaller engines use less fuel while retaining, or even exceeding, the power levels of larger engines.

Even though the same basic mechanics from the first car engines are still used on your car today, the number of innovations make your engine almost a completely different technology. For example, your car is much heavier than cars of the past and it’s expected to perform at much higher speeds. While the demands on engines are higher, your engine is actually working smarter, not harder. Integrated computer technology allows your engine to optimize what it’s doing depending on whether you are idling in rush hour traffic on I-35 or speeding up to pass a car.

Your engine works hard for you every day and replacing your engine can be costly. Keep your engine happy with routine maintenance. At Christian Brothers Automotive Round Rock we can tell you whether your car is due for any manufacturer-recommended services so that you can be in control of your car’s performance.

“Very knowledgeable and personable. No one ignored me and it almost felt like a family environment. The follow up email with recommendations on repairs was a great touch as well. And long as I continue to live in RR I’ll be servicing my vehicles here.” - Michael

No matter how complex today’s cars get, we care about you being able to make informed decisions about maintenance and repairs done on your car. That’s why we take time to explain what your car needs without using complex technical language. If you’re wondering what you need to do to keep your car running smoothly, come see us or schedule an appointment online. We look forward to helping you take care of your car.

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