Family News
Ryah Lily Jenkins, daughter of Autumn (Ponder) Jenkins and her husband Nolan was born on August 25, 2010, weighing in at 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and 21 inches long!

Be sure to congratulate Brian on the birth of his granddaughter! Autumn and Nolan now have a wonderful addition to their family!

Shop News
We have expanded our factory scan tools to include manufacturer-specific interfaces for Kia and Hyundai. We are able to communicate with these vehicles’ computers as well as Toyota, BMW, Mercedes, Honda, Acura, Lexus, some Jaguars and Land Rovers. These scan tools are in addition to our broader array of vehicle diagnostic and analysis tools. If you have any questions about our diagnostic capabilities, please drop by the shop or call us at 928-3849.

Family News
Brian Ponder, Sr., continues to enjoy a successful rehabilitation after his second knee replacement surgery. His recovery is at about 90%. Everyone’s encouragement and prayers have been greatly appreciated.

The Ponders have more good news. Autumn (Ponder) Jenkins and her husband Nolan are expecting a baby girl on August 27. And Austin Ponder turned 15 and will be getting his learner’s permit.

Autumn (Ponder) Jenkins

Family News
Brian Ponder, Sr., will be heading to Indianapolis, this time to have his other knee (right side) replaced in mid-December.

Brian Ponder, Jr. married Jennifer Boreman on July 25. Autumn (Ponder) and Nolan Jenkins are back working on a cruise ship, touring South American destinations like the Amazon, Brazil, and Panama. And Austin is playing 9th grade basketball.

Brian and Jennifer on their wedding day

Shop News
William is still in rehabilitation working on his fine motor skills; your thoughts and prayers for him during his recovery are appreciated.

We continue to expand and innovate in our new facility here at 915 West Market Street. We are upgrading our factory scan tools with manufacturer-specific instruments for Toyota, BMW, Mercedes, Honda, Acura, Jaguar, Lexus, and Land Rover. These will improve upon our ability to communicate with your vehicle’s computer and analyze troubleshooting data to pinpoint your vehicle’s problems.

With five lifts in operation, including one in a new addition at the rear of the shop for large vehicles (trucks, large vans, etc.), we are able to accomplish more than ever. Other improvements at our new location include replacement of a retaining wall behind the shop. Additional renovations to the customer service office are nearly complete.

Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year!
We at Ponder Auto Repair want to thank our customers for their tremendous support for us over this past year, through the challenges brought on by the fire, recovery, and relocation. We are committed to serving you and your automotive service needs, and we wish you the very best Christmas and New Year holiday!

Our Permanent New Home
We've been very busy since the fire, first, serving our customers and second, renovating shop areas and the exterior of our new building here at 915 West Market Street. Our new location is just two doors down (to the left) from the original Ponder Auto Repair location at 919 West Market Street. We now have five lifts available for sevicing vehicles and may add an additional two stalls this summer.

For your comfort and convenience, we will be remodeling the customer service office soon.

Our front door leads into our customer service office, which will soon be renovated.

Staff News
While our shop bounces back from the fire, we continue to pray for William Stettner's recovery. William will be having additional surgery for some burn wounds received during the fire. We hope that he will be able to rejoin us during the summer.

Brian Ponder, Jr., has moved from the office to the shop, putting his degree to work to fill the temporary void left by William. However, working in the shop is not the only change for Brian. He and his fiancée, Jennifer Boreman, plan to be married on July 25 at First United Methodist Church.

Look for our new sign at 915 West Market Street.

On Friday, February 6, a fire caused by an accident broke out at Ponder Auto Repair. Just three days after the fire, with the help of so many, we were able to reopen. We moved our customer office to the former car wash building at 915 West Market Street, which is the second building east (to the left) of our main building. (See photo below; we are located in the brown brick building on the left side of the picture.)

We graciously appreciate the tremendous support we've received over the past few days from our customers and community. Your visits, helping-hands, calls, messages, and prayers of support mean more to us than you may ever know.

We look forward to continuing to provide you with great customer care to serve all of your automotive needs. Call us at 423-928-3849 to schedule your next appointment.

Read more about the fire and our recovery in these media reports:

Repair Shop Damaged
by Morning Fire
(Johnson City Press)

Tri-Cities Business
Explosion Injures One
(WJHL-TV/TriCities.com)

Back in Business
(Johnson City Press)

Ponders Auto Repair
Reopens After Fire
(WJHL-TV/TriCities.com)

The car wash building and parking on the east side of Ponder Auto Repair will greatly improve our ability to serve our customers.

Vehicle Software
Reprogramming and Updating
Ponder Auto Repair is committed to being the most state-of-the-art repair facility possible. We now reprogram and update most software on most major vehicle lines, including all GM (Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, GMC, and Saturn), all Chrysler makes, Ford, and Mazda. As far as I know, we are the only shop in the area that can do this, so there is no need to go back to the dealer.

Ponder Auto Repair is Expanding
This summer at Ponder Auto Repair was very busy. Summertime tends to be busy in the automotive world with customers traveling and hotter temperatures. But this year seemed to push the limit. I apologize right now if you visited us this summer and you might have felt slighted during one of our visits. Again I apologize for this situation.

To help alleviate this problem, we purchased the closed car wash building down below to help with parking. We will be remodeling the building throughout the winter and spring.

It will be used mainly for larger jobs to free up space in our original location. Also, we have fenced in the back of the building as our "Pick-Up Lot" instead of the lot on the other side of the car wash.

Brian Ponder, Sr.
Knee Replacement
I will be having my knee replaced on December 17th in Indiana...why you ask? My wife is from there, and I can get away from the shop to concentrate on rehab on my knee. My son Brian, Jr. will continue running the shop, hopefully as normal as possible. I will only be a phone call away, and with my laptop, I will still be doing research in helping to repair vehicles as needed online.

If I can be of any service to you please let me know.

Brian Ponder