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