San Diego Auto Repair

Photo by Anja on Unsplash Summer Strut: What Are Your Struts, and What Do They Do? Many components of your car's suspension system work together to ensure a smooth and comfortable ride. One of the most important of these components is the strut.   When your car hits a bump or pothole, the struts compress to absorb the impact. The spring in the strut helps to dampen the rebound and prevent the car from bouncing excessively. This helps to keep your car's wheels in contact with the road, providing better traction and control.   At Convoy Auto Repair, we want to empower you to take great care of your vehicle. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at what struts are, how they work, and why they're so crucial for your car's safety and performance. What Are Struts? First, let's define what struts are. Struts are a type of suspension component designe ... read more

Photo by Adrian Dascal on Unsplash   Our cars are one of the more expensive assets that we own as American citizens; keeping them in tip-top condition will keep their value as high as possible! However, our daily lives can get in the way, keeping us busy with work, family, and daily tasks. Here are some things to look out for as you are going about your day. We put together a list of 10 signs your vehicle needs TLC ASAP!   1. Squealing or Grinding Noises - As our brakes wear and break down over time, they can produce squealing and grinding noises that lead to bigger problems. Your brakes are essential to keeping you and your family safe, so don't overlook this issue!   2. Warning Lights - Lights are often the earliest si ... read more

Good visibility is a major factor when it comes to safe driving. Most people know about external visibility factors like poor weather conditions or dark lighting. However, proper windshield care can help ensure that you can see better even when driving conditions get challenging. Here are some steps that you can take to properly maintain your windshield: Step 1: Clean Major Objects Cleaning leaves, mud, dirt, bugs, and other physical objects off of your windshield is the first step. All of these objects accumulated on your windshield can reduce visibility, and they can be distracting while driving. First scrub off any major physical objects off your windshield before applying cleaners, etc. You may need to peel or scrape certain substances off with water and a microfiber towel. Microfiber towels are great for cleaning glass as they won’t cause abrasions on the surfaces. Step 2: Clean with a Glass Cleaner Formula Even if your windshield is free from dirt and debris, streaks and ... read more

As any pet owner will tell you, four-legged friends are basically family. Despite this, many pet owners don’t take into account their pet’s safety when they are in the car. You wouldn’t let your human family members ride around without seatbelts or leave them in a hot car, but many pet owners do exactly this. That’s why we’ve put together 5 easy tips for protecting your pooch and how to drive safely with pets. Get a Crash-Tested Crate While your dog may love the freedom of roaming around the car and sticking his head out the window, the fact is that it simply isn’t safe for your pet or anybody else in the car. Sudden stops and accidents can cause your pet to fly around like a missile which can seriously injure your pet or anybody else in the car. The safest way to transport your pet in the car is to put them into a crash-tested crate. These crates are designed to withstand hard braking and accidents, giving your pet a better chance of making through ... read more

Say you’re driving down the freeway and you start hearing a weird sound coming from the engine. You really don’t want to drop everything that you’re doing and beeline straight to your favorite auto repair experts in San Diego. Many people are hesitant to trust themselves and their Googling skills before they head to their nearest mechanic, but your mechanic actually wants you to Google your car’s problems! You could save you time and money, and can give the mechanic a good initial idea about the problem. It Saves You Time While Googling your car’s problems can’t tell you exactly what’s wrong with your car, it can save you lots of time when you get to the mechanic. Often, it can help you narrow down the problem so that when you do get to the mechanic you have a general idea of what the problem is and what part of the car it’s located. While you should never assume that you’ve found the exact cause of your car’s ... read more

What Makes a Good Used Car? Buying a good used car takes a bit of research and preparation, but you can definitely find a good deal on a used vehicle and save quite a bit of money compared to buying a new one. No matter what used car you buy, you’ll still have to perform your due diligence to ensure that you buy a good used car and avoid the lemons. Here’s what makes a good used car. Test drive the car Test driving the car on the highway and in the city will help you catch any unreported problems. If you can test drive it on more than one occasion it’s even better. You’ll also get to feel what it’s like to drive the car which is important if it turns out that you don’t like how it drives. Try to take the car up an incline and drive it at least 65 mph to ensure that it properly on the highway and in steep conditions. Get the maintenance record Most responsible car owners will have a maintenance record of their vehicle. Ask the owner to show when oil ... read more

When shopping for a new car, you need to be careful and avoid rushing into a deal. Why? Because with a bit of patience, you can save some money. You will need to do a bit of haggling in order to get the lowest price possible, and, although you shouldn’t expect to save a ton of money, there is always some bargaining room when it comes to the price of a new car. Here’s how you can get the best deal on a new car. Don’t buy on your first trip It’s in the dealership’s interest to close the deal the first time you walk in the door. I ... read more

San Diego might have the most desirable weather in the United States. With an average of 70-degree temperatures all year, and rare days of rain, it’s practically an oasis. For those of us who live here, the steady, reliable weather is both a blessing and a curse. Sure, 70 and sunny is great, but what about some variety? Luckily, we have our local mountains to experience real seasons just a short drive away from home, and there’s always visiting friends and relatives in other states. Unluckily, we don't have much experience driving in inclement weather. Image ... read more

There are some times in life when you don’t have the luxury of deciding when to get a new car. Accidents, mechanical failure, life changes...these things can all mean a quick research period and an urgent hunt for the perfect new or used car. For others, they know what they want and it’s a very particular model, special order even. And for still others, they know it’s time to start the hunt, they have some loose requirements, and they want a good deal. So, when is the best time to buy a car? Image: Flickr New Cars Fall/Wint ... read more

Teens and adult drivers alike are often plagued by the same temptation: checking your phone on the road. It seems harmless to peek down and check your text messages, or to type out a quick “OMW!” to your parents or your friends, but often times, it isn’t. Image: Flickr Did you know: 5 seconds is the average time you spend looking away from the road when you’re texting. That may not seem like much, but if you’re traveling at 55mph, 5 seconds is the amount of ... read more