San Diego Auto Repair

Car inspections are an absolutely crucial aspect of car maintenance and ownership. Like any complex machine, cars need to be inspected, maintained, and repaired on a regular basis to ensure that everything is in working order and that there are no major issues that would cause a safety or performance problem. Unfortunately, most people don't know how to perform a full car inspection on their own. Which is why it's important to schedule detailed vehicle inspections regularly. Read on to learn more about the all-important car inspection process: What a Regular, Complete Car Inspection Is A regular, complete car inspection consists of a thorough, systematic, point-to-point check of major aspects of the car's structure and operations. These are performed on a regular schedule and are conducted the same way every time, regardless of previous repairs (or whether a point was "ok'd" the last time it was checked). A car inspection ... read more

If you're like most people in San Diego, you rely on your car for many aspects of your life, including getting to and from work, running errands, picking up the kids, and getting around for leisurely pursuits. This means it can be extremely unsettling if your car is being towed. Whether it's a planned tow or an unexpected one, you want to be prepared at all times to deal with the situation. Here are some helpful tips to follow for when your car is being towed: For Planned Tows If you know in advance that your car will be towed (referred to as consensual towing), there are steps you should take to ensure that things go smoothly. A planned tow is usually due to the car needing repair or maintenance. Sometimes, it's because you've been in an accident, and the car is unsafe to drive. Before you have your car towed, be sure to: Remove valuable items from your car. Towing companies generally are not liable for any lost or stolen items during the tow ... read more

An automobile’s headlights and brake lights are some of the most important exterior features. The headlights provide the main illumination for night driving, while brake lights signal to other drivers when you’re stopping or slowing down. For these reasons, it’s important that these particular sets of lights always be in working order whenever operating your car or vehicle. Fortunately, headlight maintenance is generally easy, and even major repairs don’t take that long. Here are some tips for headlight/brake light care for your vehicle: Inspect the Lights The first step to proper headlight and brake light care is to do regular, frequent inspections of the lights. This can be a quick walk-around where you examine the lights for any failures, uneven dimness, and other defects. For brake lights, it can be helpful to ask a buddy to take note while you step on the brake lights. If something is dirty, out of order, or needs replacing, be sure to take action immediat ... read more

For car lovers, video games offer an opportunity to see, drive, and modify cars that would otherwise be unaccessible in everyday life. Back in the days, car games used to be very basic with cheesy graphics. Nowadays, the gameplay and graphics of car games have gotten so advanced, it’s pretty hard to tell the difference between the game and real life! Also, many racing and driving games have actual licensing approval, meaning you can “drive” the actual, brand name care in the game! There are so many categories of car games that it might be difficult to tell where to start. Here are a few of the main categories of car games to get you started: Car Racing Games: Realistic Racing Simulators Realistic racing simulator games, or “sims”, are car games that mimic real-life driving down to the last detail. Everything is basically as it would appear in real life — the car designs and bra ... read more

There are certain things we can do to improve and prolong our cars’ life and performance. For instance, everyone knows that regular checkups and maintenance can definitely stretch out car’s lifespan. But did you know that the way you drive can have a direct bearing on your car’s longevity? The following are some good driving habits that you can develop to make sure your car stays healthy in the long run: Follow the Speed Limit Your car was designed to perform optimally at a certain speed- right around the highway speed limit. If you go faster than the speed limit, you will be putting additional strain on your car’s engine. In addition, you’ll likely be burning through gas more inefficiently. Do yourself, your car, and your wallet a favor, and follow the speed limit. Avoid Heavy Cargo Loads Unless your vehicle was designed for hauling heavy loads, be wary of weighing down your car with lots of weight. Heavy cargo loads can easily put additional wear and te ... read more

Summer is officially here and it’s time to get our boogie on! Summertime in San Diego is unbeatable, and it’s time to get cracking on fun activities and outings. This summer, take full advantage of the weather and try out some of these car-centric things to do in the area. All of these activities are easily accessible, free or very low-cost, and can be done at your own pace. Who knows? You might make a yearly tradition out of some of these! Take the Scenic Drive Did you know that San Diego has a scenic drive that is almost 60 miles long, which wanders through downtown, Harbor Island, Point Loma, Mission Bay, Pacific Beach, and other historic San Diego landmarks? The entire trip takes at least three hours, but you can also split up the drive into different days for full enjoyment. The route is marked by blue and yellow signs with a white seagull on it. Check out ... read more

Most can agree that the college years are among the most exciting times of our lives. There’s so much to do, see, and explore during these energetic years. Having a reliable set of wheels can make college studies more convenient, and also funner! We checked out some of the top car models for students in the Kearny Mesa and San Diego region. Here’s what we found: 2016 Mazda 6 The main selling point of the 2016 Mazda 6 is its fuel economy (26 city/38 hwy!). This is great for students who need to travel long distances, or who have moved far away from home for school. The 6 also has a super-comfortable interior, great safety ratings, and has a classy, all-around look to it. Mazda 6 drivers describe it as roomy, agile, and nimble.   2015 Honda CR-V San Diego students love to take road trips and visit the beach, and pack friends and gear along on their travels. For this crowd, a compact SUV such as the 2015 Honda CR-V is the perfect solution. It’s the perfect size (no ... read more

Washing and caring for your car here in San Diego means that you have to take special considerations in mind, especially when it comes to the weather. Here in sunny California, our cars are exposed to much different conditions than say, out in the East coast. You may know practice some of these out of habit or instinct, but knowing what you can do to prolong the beauty and functioning of your car can help that much more. Read on to learn about some carwash and car care tips specific to San Diego and Kearny Mesa: Exterior Care San Diego has some unique climate characteristics. If you drive to the west towards the beach, the climate can be a bit cooler and more humid due to the coastal conditions. However, the further east you drive, you might start coming up against drier, more desert-like conditions. This can cause earlier wear of certain parts like the tires, which become subject to alternating expansion and dryness, which can lead to early cracking of rubber and other similar parts ... read more

Car paint options can be a mystery to those who don’t know what they’re about. However, if you take a closer look at them you’ll see that car paints are quite simple and straight-forward. There are a few basic types of paint jobs that you should familiarize yourself with. These typically have to do with how the paint catches and reflects light. We’re not talking about color options, as there are just too many colors out there to mention! Read on to learn some basics when it comes to types of car paint. Solid Paint This is your most basic, cost-efficient paint finish that nearly all stock cars come with. Solid paint typically consists of a single color application, followed by a protective lacquer coat (“clear coat”). Solid paint coats are beneficial because they can be repaired easily if chipped and are generally easy to match. Solid paint colors used to come in a variety of colors. However, nowadays we’re seeing more and more conventional ... read more

At some point in your “driving career”, you’ll probably run into a situation where you need to have your car jump started. Like a flat tire, this can occur without warning and can definitely cause an inconvenience. Luckily, jump starting a car is fairly easy, and generally won’t cause any issues if you’re prepared. Knowing what to do beforehand is one great way to ensure you don’t panic or stress out in such a situation. Here are some guidelines and tips on how to jumpstart a car. The Basic Process In order to successfully jump start a car, you’ll basically be creating a circuit that connects the electric power current from the good or “live” battery to the “dead” one. To do this safely, with both cars off, you’ll need to: Connect the red or positive (+) end of the jumper cable to the positive post on the dead battery Connect the other posit ... read more