San Diego Auto Repair

Brakes really aren't optional equipment. And taking care of them isn't optional either. A regular brake inspection is on every car's maintenance schedule. An inspection will check your brake system and let you know if there are any problems. Of course, if you're having trouble with your brakes, get your car into a San Diego or Tierrasanta service center right away. And watch out for these problems: Low or spongy brake pedal Hard brake pedal A brake warning light that stays on Constantly squealing or grinding brakes Vibrations or clunking sounds when you apply your brakes There are two types of brakes: disc and drum. Disc brakes have a rotor that's attached to the axle. Calipers straddle the rotor, kind of like the brakes on a bicycle. Drum brakes are more common on back wheels. Pads, called shoes, push against the inside of the drum to slow the vehicle. There are several things that need to be serviced on the brake system. First, the brake pads and shoes wear out with use, and ... read more

San Diego is a pretty great place to live. We have the beaches, the beautiful weather, and we have even been named one of the best cities in the U.S. for craft beer! But did you also know that we have a ton of awesome auto events throughout the year? Here is our list of the top 5 annual automotive events in San Diego. Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam - What’s better than watching huge trucks smash things? Watch as famous monster trucks like Grave Digger and Bad to the Bone face off in two different forms of competition - stadium racing and freestyle. As always, Monster Jam will be held at Qualcomm Stadium, and this year, it will on on Saturday, January 21st. Ticket prices range from $90 for a Total Access pass to $12 for the Super Value Seats. Big 3 Parts Exchange - This event has been going on for over 45 years now, celebrating ... read more

Most drivers wait for their air conditioning to fail before they service it at Convoy Auto Repair. That’s because many motorists don't really understand that automotive air conditioners need periodic service. Let me share some of the reasons why they fail. First, like every machine, the sedan air conditioner parts need lubrication. The lubricant is actually mixed in with the refrigerant (that’s the stuff that makes the air cool). So sometimes, even though the air conditioner is still making cool air, the oil that lubricates the parts has just been used up: and unlubricated parts can fail in all cars. The air conditioner actually removes some of the moisture in the air. So if you have trouble with fogging on your windshield during winters or during a rain storm, running the A/C on the defrost setting should help. Now on some cars you can’t run the A/C at the same time as the defroster. Don’t ask me wh ... read more

Under-inflated tires waste gas for lots of folks in the Tierrasanta area. Think how hard it is to walk in sand – you just have to work harder because of the resistance. When your tires don't have enough air in them, their rolling resistance is dramatically increased and it simply takes more gas to get from San Diego to Tierrasanta. Always check your tire pressure when you gas up at one of our local Tierrasanta service stations. If they're low – even just a little bit – bring them up to proper pressure. There's a sticker on the inside of your driver's door that gives the manufacturer's recommended tire pressure. And don't rely on your tire pressure monitoring system to alert you to when you need more air. The TPMS system is set to warn you when pressure drops twenty percent below recommendations. That's severely under inflated and you needed more air a long time ago. And if you have a slow leak – get it fixed right away at Convoy A ... read more

Today's Convoy Auto Repair auto maintenance article focuses on your serpentine belt. Your serpentine belt is a long belt that’s driven by your engine. It winds around several accessories that power important automotive systems. Let’s go over them. First, the serpentine belt drives your sedan air conditioning system. It spins the compressor that makes the cool air that takes the edge off the summer heat in San Diego. Next, the belt powers the alternator. The alternator creates electricity that’s used by your sedan’s electrical systems and also charges your car battery. All drivers know that without the alternator, the battery will go dead in a few miles. The serpentine belt may also run the pumps for both the power steering and power brakes. And, on many sedans, the serpentine belt powers the water pump. The water pump circulates coolant through the engine to keep it wi ... read more