San Diego Auto Repair

Hey San Diego, is this thing on?!! This Friday, Split Decision is dishing out some great live music at Tango Del Rey in Pacific Beach. Our good buddy Rich Krantzman kills on the drums, and his band cranks out classic rock hits from Journey, The Cars, and Billy Idol, just to name a few. The show is scheduled to start at 8:30 on April 1st, and you'd be a fool if you weren't planning on attending. Rock On!

Even though the weather in San Diego has been unpredictable lately; one day we have beautiful sunshine and the next, it’s pouring rain... we still have a week’s worth of fun to keep you busy - no matter what Mother Nature is in the mood for this week! This Wednesday, March 30th, is Commune Wednesday, a monthly event that celebrates local art, music and fashion every last Wednesday of the month. Their goal is to celebrate local arts and music while educating people about the harm caused by the tobacco industry, and shift the focus of the younger generation from smoking to creative music and art. This week features a trunk show by Magpie Cacti, art by Jen Fong, musical performances by The Stere ... read more

Weight is the enemy of fuel economy. Everyone here knows this makes sense. Some of us in the area carry a bunch of unnecessary weight, and I'm not talkin' what you see in the mirror. Guys; sports equipment and tools. Ladies; well, just take a look around the passenger compartment and trunk. I think my car has about forty-five pounds of French fries on the floor. All that extra weight wastes gas as you drive between here and there, and everywhere else in between. Lose the junk and save some money. ...And you really only need one of those spare tires

Bad air quality while you're driving around is nothing to sneeze at. But seriously, more and more vehicles these days come equipped with a car air filter. Since they're fairly new on the scene, a lot of folks don't know about them yet. These filters clean the air in the passenger compartment, or cabin, of your car or truck. They do the same job as the furnace filter you have at home. They can filter out particles as small as thee microns. By contrast, a grain of sand is about 200 microns. So your cabin air filer can clean out dust, pollution, pollen and spores, to keep the air in your car nice and clean. And just like your furnace filter, they need to be replaced when they get dirty. Check your owner's manual, but they typically need to be replaced at around twelve to fifteen thousand miles. The filter is usually either under the hood or under the dashboard. Some are a little tricky to get to, so you'll want ... read more

With high fuel prices in San Diego comes lots of gas saving advice. Some of it is really great. Some is myth. And some is just designed to prey on people desperate to save some money on gas. When you get one of those e-mails that's going around telling you how to save gas, try to think it through. Does it really make sense? Does it defy the laws of physics? Do some research on the internet or ask your San Diego service advisor at Convoy Auto Repair. There aren't any magic pills you can drop in your gas tank and the government hasn't suppressed a device you can clamp on your fuel line to make your car run on air. Not even in San Diego! So next time you get one of those e-mails, check it out with an automotive professional. You'll get more bang for your buck with an car oil change or an engine air filter replacement. We're Convoy Auto Repair ... read more

Spring is in the air in San Diego! With longer days and warmer weather, we have some great suggestions on how to enjoy your week; from film festivals to St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, and some free family art fun, this week is sure to be a busy one! The 18th annual San Diego Latino Film Festival is happening now through Saturday, March 20th in San Diego. It features 185 documentaries, feature films, animations and shorts - as well as parties, talks with he filmmakers, and more. The festival is being held at UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas and tickets are still available for purchase. General admission tickets are $10 or you can purchase a $90 film pass, which includes entrance to 11 films, no waiting in lines, and VIP seating. Support the local arts a ... read more

Every vehicle that has a timing belt will require a timing belt replacement at some point during its life. Knowing the signs of a failing belt can help drivers ensure their vehicle receives the maintenance it needs before serious issues arise. Five signs indicating the need for a timing belt replacement include: 1) Fraying or wear on the belt itself. Once the belt starts to crack and split, it is time to have it replaced. 2) Missing teeth. On older vehicles, timing chains rather than belts were used and if any of the metal teeth are missing or broken, a new belt or chain should be installed. 3) Poor fuel economy. A timing belt regulates the timing of engine gears, and if it is not doing its job correctly, will result in odd fuel use patterns. 4) A lack of power. If stepping on the accelerator results in intermittent or low power, a frayed timing belt may be the cause. 5) Mileage. Most manufacturers recommend a ti ... read more

All modern vehicles come with fuel injection systems, so it’s a topic we all need to know something about. All new cars and trucks sold over the last 30 years or so have come with fuel injection systems. The fuel injector is a valve that delivers the gas or diesel fuel to the right place, in the right amount, at the right time; to be mixed with air and burned in the engine. So how many fuel injectors does your car have? There’s one for each cylinder. So four, six or eight for most folks. Some vehicles have 10 or 12 cylinders. The engine control computer makes adjustments to the fuel injector as it monitors the engine and other sensors. Fuel injectors are a pretty sophisticated part. Convoy Auto Repair can help you with a fuel injector cleaning service. What’s the benefit? In order to work right, the fuel injectors have to deliver the fuel at a precise pressure at a very precise time. The fuel needs to be sprayed in a particular pattern as determined by the engine design. Over time, va ... read more

Today at Convoy Auto Repair we want to talk with you about a very important safety issue. This automotive safety warning is coming from a very unusual source: fire fighting experts. You’ve probably heard of E-85 gasoline being offered in the San Diego area. Some newer vehicle models are specifically built to run on E-85 – the rest are not. E-85 gasoline has been developed to fight air pollution and reduce oil consumption. E-85 fuel is a mix of 85% ethanol, a grain-base alcohol, and 15% gasoline. So-called Flex-Fuel vehicles are designed to use either normal gasoline or E-85 gas. The result is lower harmful exhaust emissions to our local community. All gas engines can run with up to 10% ethanol and in fact a lot of gasoline sold in the San Diego area does contain some ethanol. The problem comes when well meaning people without Flex Fuel certified vehicles put E-85 into the tank. At a 15% concentration, the potential for problems arise ... read more