Car Care Tips

  • 12 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Vehicle

    hand handing key to someone else

    The best way to keep your car out of the repair facility with major repair problems is to follow a basic vehicle care maintenance schedule. It is recommended that you make general visual inspections and stay on top of vehicle maintenance items. The skilled automotive technicians at R & D Automotive Specialists, Inc in Lacombe, LA can assist with basic vehicle maintenance and more complex repairs. Feel free to give us a call or come by at your convenience if you have any questions.

  • 3 Minutes a Month Can Save Your Transmission

    dipstick on car

    When it comes to transmissions, your fluid level is essential. Too much or too little fluid can affect pressure, cooling abilities, and lubrication. In order to best care for your vehicle, it's important to know what to look for, so from our shop here at R & D Automotive Specialists, Inc here are a few tips. 

  • A Key Safety Feature of Your Vehicle

    air bag deployed image

    Did you know that airbags weren't mandatory safety equipment in passenger vehicles until 1997? Now, you'll find them in well over 100 million cars and trucks on the road. Since their invention, airbags, along with the seat belt, have played a major role in reducing the number of injuries and deaths in traffic collisions.

  • A Shop that Goes the Extra Mile

    smiling technician

    At R & D Automotive Specialists, Inc, an integral part of our business is providing only the best customer service to our clients. Whether it’s through great communication skills or quality auto repairs, our customers can trust that whenever they come into our shop, they’re being treated with care along with their truck.

  • Avoid Unnecessary Blind Spots

    man adjusting rearview mirror

    There are a lot of drivers on the road today with improperly adjusted rearview mirrors, contributing to unnecessary blind spots and potentially hazardous driving conditions. At R & D Automotive Specialists, Inc in Lacombe, we place a lot of value on efficiency; here’s how to get the most out of your mirrors.

  • Benefits to Cleaning or Replacing Your Headlight Assemblies

    man polishing headlights

    In the old days, when your headlight burned out you just replaced the entire thing with a new glass bulb. Modern headlights are plastic assemblies, with a bulb inserted through the back. What this means, is that the plastic lens that light shines through never gets replaced, and eventually will begin to oxidize and deteriorate due to time, weather, and heat from your bulb. Today you will learn when it’s time to fix or replace your headlight assemblies, what options you have in doing so, and what the benefits are.

  • Buckle Up: It’s the Law

    seat belt

    At R & D Automotive Specialists, Inc in Lacombe, were huge fans of seatbelts. They dramatically reduce the chances of being injured in an automobile accident, and in many cases, they are the difference between a fatal crash and walking away unharmed. But how long has the seat belt been around? When did wearing it become law?

  • Distracted Driving is a Big Deal

    a sign with cell phones that's marked through

    Although driving may seem like an easy, everyday task for most people, there are still many dangers that it imposes on every driver. That is why is it crucial that every driver utilizes safe driving habits each time they are on the road. R & D Automotive Specialists, Inc understands this, and wants to make sure you're driving safely and responsibly.

  • Experiencing A Loud Radiator Fan?

    mechanic working on radiator fan

    At R & D Automotive Specialists, Inc in Lacombe, we know how irritating an issue with your car, truck, or SUV can be, even if it doesn’t immediately affect your vehicle’s performance. One such problematic issue, the excessively loud radiator cooling fan, is a common plague many automobile owners will experience.

  • Factors That Affect Your Fuel Economy

    Person pumping gas into their car

    Fuel economy isn't far from the minds of vehicle owners everywhere. Why can certain cars zip along at close to 40 mpg while others are lucky to get anywhere near 20? As it turns out, there are as many factors that go into how well your ride does at the pumps! Here are the 10 factors that have the greatest impact on fuel consumption.

  • Facts About The First Car

    very old rusty car

    Who created the world’s first car is actually a matter of debate; since the invention of the engine, people had been installing them on horse carriages to make them self-propelled. Even when automobiles specifically designed for engines came around, they were hardly recognizable as a car by today’s standards. However, the first patented automobile, a vehicle specifically designed to be propelled by an engine, was built by Karl Benz and completed in 1885.

  • Gas Cap Malfunctions? Yes, It's A Thing

    gas cap

    At R & D Automotive Specialists, Inc in Lacombe, we know that some of the most elusive issues with any car, truck, or SUV are often caused by the simplest of malfunctions. While you might consider a gas cap fairly innocuous, it can actually malfunction too, prompting a check engine light on your dashboard.

  • Gas Mileage and How To Increase It

    dashboard

    Good gas mileage is something we all want. In fact, many drivers purchase certain cars solely for gas mileage, and almost all of us at least take it into consideration when purchasing a vehicle. While it is true that gas mileage is by and large determined simply by the type of car, there are actually a variety of things you can do to increase the gas mileage of any automobile. The tips R & D Automotive Specialists, Inc in Lacombe want to provide you here are simple and effective steps you can take to increase your gas mileage, often more considerably than you think.

  • Have an Off Track Window in Your Vehicle? Here's What to Do

    Car windows

    Automotive windows are one of those things that you take for granted, until something goes wrong. One of the more irritating issues a window can develop, is dislocating from its track while attempting to roll it up or down. Why does this happen, and how do you fix it? At R & D Automotive Specialists, Inc in Lacombe, LA, we’ve got answers to your questions and solutions to your problems.

  • Hot Car - Suggestions to Cool it Down

    cars parked under tree

    We all love the sunshine but getting into that HOT car isn't always so wonderful even when you have a remote start it will take the breath out of you when the temperatures are soaring. Makes you want to pack your lunch instead of meeting friends for lunch! We decided that you should meet friends for lunch! So we got together and found some quick ideas for you. It isn't much but enjoy the sunshine on us here at R & D Automotive Specialists, Inc here in Lacombe! Call it our fun day fact!

  • How to Avoid Risks with Your Vehicle

    mechanic working on a vehicle

    At R & D Automotive Specialists, Inc in Lacombe, we understand that big trucks mean bigger risk on the road. Here are some tips to remember, to reduce the likelihood of an accident resulting in large repair costs next time you're on the job.

  • How to Fix Foggy or Cloudy Headlights

    headlight of car

    Foggy headlights are a problem that has arisen in the past couple of decades, as we have moved away from glass sealed beam bulbs and into an era of plastic lenses with bulbs inside. While modern headlights are superior to the sealed beam headlights of years ago, they do tend to fog up after years of use. It’s a good trade for far better illumination and easier replacement, but an issue nonetheless. Hours and hours of heat, sunlight, and age eventually cause them to cloud up, which can reduce visibility at night in addition to worsening the appearance of your car, truck, or SUV. From R & D Automotive Specialists, Inc in Lacombe, LA, here are some tips on taking care of your foggy or cloudy headlight issue.

  • How To Get More Miles Per Gallon

    gas tanks

    At R & D Automotive Specialists, Inc in Lacombe, efficiency is a concept that interests us. While your fuel economy is largely dependent on what kind of car, truck, or SUV you drive, there are a variety of tips and tricks to get the most bang for your buck. We’ve provided a few of our favorites here.

  • Is It Time To Replace Your Weather-Stripping?

    open door

    At R & D Automotive Specialists, Inc in Lacombe, we know that a huge part of the ride quality of your car, truck, or SUV is how well it keeps road and engine noises out of the passenger compartment. Few things are more annoying on a long commute or road trip than the drone of tires on pavement, the constant sound of your car battling the air outside, loud semi-trucks, and so on.

  • Is It Wear and Tear or a Serious Problem?

    mechanic checking under hood of car

    It’s not always easy to recognize when your vehicle is suffering from a simple problem that requires a little maintenance and TLC or there is real engine damage as symptoms can be overlooked and seen as “normal.” While not all sounds and smells may threaten the life of your vehicle or truck engine, there are some obvious warning signs that require a vehicle inspection here at the shop right away.

  • Jasper Pref
  • Aaa
  • Acdelco
  • Asa
  • ASE
  • BF Goodrich
  • BG Products
  • Bosch Automotive
  • Bridgestone Firestone
  • Bully Dog
  • Cooper Tires
  • Cummins Diesel
  • Dunlop Tires
  • Duramax Diesel
  • Fleet Services
  • Goodyear
  • Ford Power Stroke Diesel
  • Hankook Tires
  • Hunter
  • Kelly Tires
  • Michelin
  • Mastercraft
  • Motorcraft Parts
  • Sinister Diesel
  • Sumitomo Tires
  • Tech-net
  • Tires
  • Toyo
  • Uniroyal
  • Valvoline
  • Wifi Available

R & D Automotive Specialists, Inc

31035 US-190
Lacombe, LA 70445
Get Directions

location small (985) 882-6692
Email the Shop

SHOP HOURS

Weekdays:   8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Weekends: CLOSED

Make An Appointment