San Diego Auto Repair

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

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