San Diego Auto Repair

These days, the term “going green” is a major catchphrase, indicating better efforts at preserving the environment and lessening pollution footprints. The auto industry has been at the forefront of “going green” efforts, which is evident in the recent influx and advancement of hybrid vehicles and electric cars. These represent a major development for the car industry, as they contribute greatly to a smaller carbon and emissions footprint. Hybrid cars are very popular due to their many environmental and financial benefits. But they also have very specific needs, especially when it comes to maintenance. Read on to learn more about hybrid vehicles attributes. The Hybrid Auto Boom Hybrid cars burst onto the auto scene in the late 1990’s, when the Toyota Prius was launched in Japan in 1997. Other hybrid cars soon followed, including the Honda Insight (launched 1999 in the U.S.) ... read more

Vehicle suspension is an important aspect of every vehicle. It keeps the car balanced, stable, and able to react to maneuvers during operation. It's one of the less obvious systems of your car, but it's one of the hardest working. Without suspension, your car's safety and comfort would be severely compromised. Read on to learn more about this essential system: What is Car Suspension? Suspension refers to the overall system of tires, springs, and shock absorbers that connect the car body to its wheels. The suspension system performs two main functions: assisting with the car's handling and braking, and providing a comfortable ride for the passengers. Without suspension, the vehicle would be at risk for tipping over and passengers would experience a bumpy, jarring ride. Over time, vehicle manufacturers have utilized different suspension types, including: leaf springs, torsion beam suspensions, springs (coiled), air springs, and various gas/hydraulic fluid pressure syst ... read more

The phrase "tune-up" is a nuanced one. You probably hear it all the time in radio or TV advertising. But what is a tune-up? For some people, the phrase conjures up 1950's Grease-style images of hot-rodders fixing up custom cars before a race. However, nowadays the term means something closer to a maintenance check up. It still retains its connections to performance and racing, though: a tune-up typically involves maintenance and repairs performed under the hood rather than on other parts of the car, like tires or suspension. Understanding what a tune-up is and how it helps your car last longer is important, as regular tune-ups are needed to keep engines running smoothly and powerfully. Here are the most important things to know about tune-ups: What is a Tune-Up? An engine tune-up usually focuses on repairing, cleaning, or replacing parts under the hood. This includes: Spark plugs Caps Rotors Wires Fuel injection systems Some tune-ups may involve inspections o ... read more

Domestic cars have always had a solid reputation. Most people think of American car brands as being reliable, affordable, and accessible for the average American consumer. For these reasons, brands like Ford and Chevrolet have always topped the list of best-selling domestic cars. Recently, however, other American car brands have begun to take center stage when it comes to the domestic car market.   Have look at Consumer Reports' 2015 Car Brand Report Cards to see how the different domestic brands are fanning out recently. The report ranked the car manufacturers with an overall score, which is a combination of the brand's "road test" rating and "reliability" rating. The road test score is determined by Consumer Reports' car tests, while the reliability guide provides a predictive indicator of how the car will hold up in the long run. The ... read more

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