San Diego Auto Repair

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

As the warm season rolls up on us, it’s time to take full advantage of San Diego’s most famous assets- its beaches! There are so many beautiful beach spots here in classy San Diego- too many to count in fact! People flock from all over the world to frolic, romp, surf, and swim in our iconic beach stretches. This summer season, you’ll want to make the most of your proximity to these natural wonders and social hot spots. Head towards the coast, grab a spot in the sand, and get ready to soak in the sunshine and good vibes at these top sunny San Diego beaches! Ocean Beach Ocean Beach is a cool little town to walk around in and hang out for quick drink or meal. One of the main attractions is the Ocean Beach Municipal Pier. This is the longest concrete pier on the entire West Coast.  It’s also the site for Ocean Beach Pier Cafe, which is both an awesome restaurant and a full ... read more

One of America’s favorite past times is monster truck spectating. Along with motor cross, tractor-pulls, and drag racing, monster truck events are some of the most popular auto-related extreme sports, and monster truck events have been delighting audiences since the 1970s. These mighty vehicles represent the pinnacle of creativity, design, and extreme performance. There are always monster truck shows going on in San Diego, so be sure to check local listings for event dates and times. Keep reading to learn more about this awesome section of the automobile industry! History of Monster Trucks The development and creation of monster trucks can be traced back to the 1970s, when truck drivers started modding and altering their trucks for performance and looks. Many truck owners began lifting their trucks for events like mud-bogging and “biggest truck” competitions. Larger and larger tires became the hallmark of these super-modded beasts. Eventually, some of these “mon ... read more

Not everyone can or should be a full-time mechanic, but there’s always room to learn more about your car’s engine. The more you know, the better chance you will have at keeping your car’s parts and engine in good running condition. This week, we’ll be focusing on a small but important part of your car—the timing belt. This unassuming part of the engine is key to ensuring that your car runs smoothly and at its optimal efficiency. Read on to learn more. What Timing Belts Do Belts and hoses are some of the most inexpensive parts of an engine. However, if they fail or break, they can lead to some relatively serious engine damage and costly repairs. In particular, your car’s timing belt is a major part of the engine because of its function. What it does is synchronizes and coordinates the rotation of parts like the crankshaft and camshaft. This allows the engine valves to open and close at the correct time during the engin ... read more

Side-by-side ATV racing and touring has really exploded in popularity in the last five years. These allow multiple persons to ride in the same ATV, thus maximizing the fun off-road experience. As with any type of fun-related vehicle, there are varying degrees of intensity you can experience. Some like to ride around casually to see the sights while others are hardcore side-by-side off-road or extreme condition racers. Regardless of your experience level, side-by-side ATVs are yet another way to enjoy offroading fun. Check out these ATV safety tips to keep you riding safe and worry-free! What are Side by Side ATV’s? ATV stands for “all-terrain vehicle”. The most common ATVs are quad-types, which look like motorcycles with four wheels. These are fun to ride and are highly maneuverable, but recently “side-by-side” ATVs have exceeded quad types in popularity. What are they? Four-wheel ATVs with room for p ... read more

Your car’s battery is one of the mainstays of its life and performance. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to start your car, and all the electrical components of your car would be out of commission. Thus, keeping your battery maintained and in top shape should be one of your top priorities. Read on to learn some useful car battery tips. The Battery Recharges When the Engine is Running First of all, a basic rule of thumb to remember is the battery recharges when the car is running. There are many ways this can factor into the battery life. For instance, if you are parked with your car running, there is less of a chance that the battery will be draining during that time. However, if you are parked, the engine is off, and your headlights are on, your battery will drain. Secondly, if you’re taking many short trips that involve you stopping and starting your car engine repeatedly, you run the risk of draining the battery. This is because the battery never gets a chance to ... read more

Well, it's 2016, and we still don’t have a ready supply of flying hoverboards. However, we are seeing an increase in car technology. Remember when cell phone technology was first being implemented in cars? Now these functions are standard features in almost every auto on the market today. This is a great sign that car technology will continue to improve and become reality at a very rapid rate. Here’s a look at some of the most fascinating (and useful) automotive technology features to look forward to! Autonomous Car Functions Cars nowadays can already perform some autonomous functions (automatic actions without the driver’s control). These include automatic braking and automatic parking. Fully autonomous cars probably won’t be available until 2020 (which, in the car world, is not that far away). However, in the upcoming months and years, we should see additional progress in preexisting autonomous car technology, as well as brand new developments. Experts pr ... read more

When it comes to air filters, many car owners are in the dark. What do they do? Can they affect my car’s performance? When do I need to change them? These are all great questions and signs that a person is conscientious about the “health” of their vehicle. Air filters are crucial to your car’s performance, and failure to keep them in proper repair can cause setbacks in your car’s longevity. Here are some pointers to help you understand air filters and how they can affect the way your car performs. What the Air Filter Does The main purpose of a car’s air filter is to ensure that large debris items like leaves, bugs, dust, debris, and other matter don’t get into the engine’s delicate systems. Basically, the air filter is similar to an allergy mask that some people wear to prevent pollen from getting into their systems during spring time. Similarly, vehicle air filters block larger particles from entering the engine intake, allowing only pu ... read more

One of the joys of owning a car is customizing and modifying it to suit your preferences and tastes. There are infinite ways that you can transform your car from stock to an expression of your own personal flavor and individuality. Car "modding" is a hobby that has been around since cars were invented. There are many different “schools” of car customization, and many feel that it’s an art form in itself. Whether for performance, for pure looks, or both, car mods can increase your car’s value and can set you apart from the rest of the pack. Here are 7 of the most popular car mods to check out. Wheel and Rim Mods This is one mod that can have a direct influence on your car’s performance. For instance, wheel size and width can affect grip and acceleration, while a lower tire profile can help to reduce weight. Another popular mod is to go wi ... read more

Everyone loves remote control (RC) cars! These fast, zippy little machines make us feel like little kids again and allow us to race and go off road when we personally can’t. They are truly vehicles for our imaginations—there’s nothing like spending some time jumping them off ramps, doing donuts, and trying tricks with these miniature beasts. They’re also great for trying out mods and swapping parts to make them perform better. RC cars go by many names, including radio control cars, remote controlled cars and other names. The hobby has also expanded to include RC airplanes, hovercrafts, helicopters, boats, drones, and more. At Convoy Auto Repair, we love all things cars and car-related. Check out some of the best RC shops and hobby shops in San Diego. Hobby People 4344 Convoy Street This favorite local RC shop is right down the street from us on Convoy Street. They have a nice selection of RC cars and airplanes, model trains, and other hobby-related items and s ... read more