Bourquin Automotive is located in Castroville, Texas, a short drive west of San Antonio. Bourquin is a family-owned, full-service auto repair facility and a NAPA auto parts store.

Brothers, Robert and Keith Schneider, took over the business in 1983 from their grandparents, Hugo and Adline Bourquin, after their grandfather became ill. The business was incorporated in August 1989, and became a NAPA AutoCare Center three years later.

There have been many changes made to the business since the Schneider brothers took over in 1983. The building was added to from all sides. Equipment and computers were upgraded to stay current with the newest vehicles. In the fall of 2004, Robert and Keith took their grandfather’s dream and brought a NAPA Auto Parts Store to Castroville. This instigated additional building changes. A large area was added for inventory storage, counters were added, the air conditioning was brought up to date, and a waiting room for the service area and a showroom for parts was added.

Today, Bourquin Automotive is a 6,000 square foot facility located at 118 FM 471 North in Castroville. There are ten service bays, along with a 400-square foot customer service area, with over half a million of inventory in hard parts. Of the ten people employed at Bourquin Automotive, five are ASE-Certified in: Parts Specialist, Engine Repair, Automatic Transmission/ Transaxle, Manual Drivetrain and Axles, Suspension and Steering, Brakes, Electrical/Electronic Systems, Heating and Air Conditioning and Engine Performance.

Bourquin Automotive provides services for agricultural needs, tires and exhaust and diesel engine replacement. They have been recognized as a AAA Repair Shop for the past five years. Each vehicle Bourquin repairs undergoes an intense quality check before it is delivered to the customer. A shuttle service is also provided.

Bourquin Automotive has installed JASPER remanufactured gas and diesel engines, transmissions and differentials since 2004. Their reasons are twofold: the quality put into the product and the nationwide warranty. “Customers nowadays are looking for a warranty, due to the fact they’re hanging onto their vehicles for a longer period of time,” says Robert Schneider. “We have never been about the price. We are always looking for quality of the product.”

With 90% of their business coming from repeat customers, the Schneiders feel their clientele relies on and totally trusts Bourqin Automotive to get their vehicles back on the road. As to the future of their business, Bourquin Automotive intends to keep adapting to  change as the automotive aftermarket evolves. The Schneiders embrace change and will make it easy for their customers to do business with them in the future.

Friddle: Which automaker introduced the “Sonic”, a new compact car available in a 4-door sedan or a 5-door hatchback, for 2012?

Check our blog next Friday for the answer and another Friddle.

Last Week’s Friddle: Which U.S. automaker built the low-end, base model, Biscayne?

Last Week’s Friddle Answer: Chevrolet

Last Week’s Friddle Contest Winner: Dan Clement - Gilbert, AZ

We left this past Monday for our first show of the season at the 21th Annual Cruisin’ Ocean City in scenic Ocean City, Maryland, which is scheduled May 19-22. Jasper Engines and Transmissions is one of the many sponsors appearing in this year’s event. Visitors can expect to see more than 3,000 Hot Rods, Customs, Classics and Trick Trucks, live on-stage DJ’s, daily on-stage trophy awards, automotive and pop culture trivia contests and special give-aways.

Activities began Thursday morning with the Cruisin’ Ocean City Parade on Ocean City’s Boardwalk. Meet Danielle Colby Cushman, star of the History Channel’s show American Pickers. Danielle will be available for autographs and photo opportunities Saturday 11-4 and Sunday 10-1. The Batmobile will also be on display at the Convention Center all four days of the show.

Visit our JASPER exhibit for the latest product literature and on-line pricing or take a picture with our Wild Vendetta Trike or Cobra Kit Car. Our experienced and knowledgeable sales staff will be on hand to answer your drivetrain component questions. We are looking forward to seeing you here! For more information about this event ‘click’ this link: www.specialeventsponsorships.com

Friddle: Which U.S. automaker built the low-end, base model, Biscayne?

Check our blog next Friday for the answer and another Friddle.

Last Week’s Friddle: Which automaker builds the Panamera, a four-seat luxury sedan with a coupe profile?

Last Week’s Friddle Answer: Porsche

Last Week’s Friddle Contest Winner: Clay Woolley - Springfield, MO

Jasper Engines & Transmissions is aware of several aftermarket relocation and heat exchanging devices being marketed with claims that they decrease the operating temperature of the Stanadyne DS Pump Mounted Driver (PMD), improving its reliability.

These devices often involve modifications to be made to the wiring harness between the engine and the injection pump. The PMD is located on the side of the injection pump in an effort to dissipate the tremendous amount of heat it creates during operation. The fuel passing through the injection pump helps to dissipate that heat efficiently and consistently during all engine conditions. Other methods of cooling cannot maintain this consistency throughout all conditions that may be encountered.

Another issue that arises from the relocation of the PMD concerns the wiring harness. By moving the PMD, the harness may be extended, spliced into, or stretched to make the necessary connections. This causes numerous problems from added circuit resistance, poor connections, and voltage drops across splices. These can cause symptoms that lead technicians to replace the injection pump, or the PMD, unnecessarily. Symptoms like hot stall, no start, and fuel control solenoid DTC’s are all commonly diagnosed as a failed PMD or Injection Pump, and in many cases are simply circuit-related issues.

Each diesel injection pump JASPER sells is coated with a sealing lacquer in the critical areas, including the PMD and the harness. JASPER has spent several years monitoring DS injection pumps that have been returned from the field after being diagnosed as defective. We have determined that relocation and aftermarket heat exchangers are not beneficial to the life of the PMD, or the reliability of the injection pump, as a whole.

(Above left) Relocating the PMD could cause circuit-related issues as the wiring harness is extended,spliced into or stretched. (Above right) Aftermarket heat exchangers are not beneficial to the life of the PMD or the reliability of the injection pump as a whole.

Friddle: Which automaker builds the Panamera, a four-seat luxury sedan with a coupe profile?

Check our blog next Friday for the answer and another Friddle.

Last Week’s Friddle: Which “microcar” company is headquartered in Boblingen, Germany?

Last Week’s Friddle Answer: Smart

Last Week’s Friddle Contest Winner: Kevin Haik - Springfield, MO

The Jasper Engines & Transmissions 2011 calendar is out. We had some great entries sent to us, and a big “Thank You”goes out to everyone that submitted their images.

We’re in the preliminary stages for our 2012 calendar. Do you or your customer have a vehicle that’s calendar worthy? Why not send in your entry? The deadline is August 1st.

Entrants must submit a color photograph (35mm or larger) and information about their unique vehicle, or performance car or truck, along with the JASPER remanufactured product that has been installed. Vehicles should be placed in a “show” type setting. Polaroid pictures and low resolution digital images transferred onto photo paper cannot be accepted.

High-resolution digital images, 8″ x 10″ at 350 dpi, are preferred. All entries will be judged based on adherence to the category, equipment appearance and the quality of the photograph. Entries should be mailed to:

Jasper Engines & Transmissions
P.O. Box 650
Jasper, IN 47547-0650
Attn: Roxanne Sherman

Friddle: Which “microcar” company is headquartered in Boblingen, Germany?

Check our blog next Friday for the answer and another Friddle.

Last Week’s Friddle: British Royal newly weds (William & Kate) departed from Buckingham Palace in what rare, vintage, blue roadster?

Last Week’s Friddle Answer: Aston Martin

Last Week’s Friddle Contest Winner: Roy Kelly - Springfield, MO