San Diego Auto Repair

Photo by Olav Tvedt on Unsplash   Get your vehicle's air conditioning system serviced before the family road trips!  It is time for a vacation with your family, and you're planning on taking them on a road trip! But remember that summer can be one of the hottest seasons of the year, and it is always a good idea to be prepared. For this reason, you must have your vehicle's air conditioning system in good condition before going on the adventure.    This month's blog will share why it is essential to have your air conditioning ready. If, for some reason, your A/C is not working, remember that our expert auto mechanics can help you with air conditioning system repair.    Why is it ... read more

Are you looking for something fun to do this Halloween? Nowadays,  you can do much more than just trick-or-treating, as there are various fun-filled, festive events throughout the community. The team at Convoy Auto Repair is here to help, as we have put together a list of family-friendly Halloween events in and around San Diego:    Seaworld's Halloween Spooktacular When: September 21 - October 27, 2019  Legoland Brick-Or-Treat Party Nights When: September 29 - October 26, 2019   Fall Fest When: October 4 - November 30, 2019   ... read more

Most San Diego schools only have a few weeks before classes start up again, and that makes August the perfect time to fit in some last minute road trips before you have to get back to the grind! But even if you aren't in school (or don't have kids who are), there's something about August that just screams road trip season - we think it has a lot to do with the heat! But in San Diego, the real heat doesn't begin until September. If you're looking to heat up the summer before it ends, you'll delight in taking a trip to a hot destination during the hottest season. The desert in the heat of summer offers a dramatic experience for the more determined traveler, and a stunning road trip from San Diego. And if you're looking for a hot summer road trip destination, we have some places in mind - in the most literal sense! Image ... read more

Ever since air conditioning became a standard feature on cars, there has been passionate debate about its effect on fuel consumption. Is it negligible? Is it worth the discomfort? What about rolling down the window? How much fuel does AC really use in a modern car? There are so many conflicting reports and rumors that’s almost impossible to determine a real answer. Here, we'll go over the basics of AC and driving with the windows down (hello physics!), but at the end of the day you may make your decision based on your personal preference on any particular day. (For example, no matter how much money your car might save by not using AC, no one is driving through the desert without it!) Does using the AC use more fuel? Of course. While the quantity can change depending on the aerodynamics of the car, using the AC does use more fuel than driving with the windows closed. This might be an obvious an ... read more

When the AC in your car stops working, it can be hard to quickly identify the problem. Is it the condenser? The compressor? Does it just need a recharge? Does the belt need adjusted? The surest way to know is to grab a friend, pop the hood, and start AC troubleshooting your car's AC problems! (Or, barring that, bring it in and we’ll do the troubleshooting for you.)   Image: Pixabay   Step 1: Determine the exact problem your AC is having. Is your AC blowing hot air? Blowing cooler air, but not cold air on max AC? Now blowing air at all? Not engaging at the motor? All of these problems have a different fix, and it’s important to know which issue you’re looking at. Step 2: Check for leaks - Leaks are the number one pro ... read more

It’s summer time in southern California and San Diego is having a scorcher of a week - and that means it’s peak season for car air conditioning. When temperatures go up, the load on your car’s AC unit is higher, especially if you need to run the AC over a long drive (such as a summer road trip!). Here are some tips to keep your car AC in tip top shape!  Image: Flickr How to ensure your AC stays in great condition Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance We go over this in more detail in our post about the topic, What You Need to Know about Car AC Maintenance, but there are some basic steps you can take that will keep your AC blowing cold, including changing your air filter and recharging your system as appropriate. Visual Inspection This is especi ... read more

It may be fall in San Diego, but it's still as hot as summer. Unfortunately, not every car has air conditioning, making getting in a hot car near unbearable. Perhaps the A/C system is too costly to repair, or maybe the car is just too old. Regardless of the issue, cars without an interior cool-down can be brutal during a heatwave. Here are some ideas of how to cool down your vehicle sans air conditioning. Park in the shade: If it’s sizing up to be a hot day, try to find a covered spot to park your car. This will keep the sun from beating down on it, which leads to a cooler car inside. Buy a sunshade: If you must park in the sun, which is a more likely scenario, have your sunshade ready. The reflective piece placed over your windshield will reflect the light – and heat – from your car. Windows down: If you feel safe to do so, keep your windows c ... read more

Getting the right auto air conditioning service before summer hits is essential in making sure that both you and your car stay cool and run smoothly. Over the winter, a car’s A/C system will often see little or no use, meaning that parts can freeze up, corrode, or fail without a driving ever being aware of it. When the system is started in the summer, it may either produce very little cold air or none at all. If an A/C issue is left unserviced, it can cause not only a lack of comfort, but it can also cause serious damage to the car itself. There are a number of problems that auto air conditioning service can address, and two of the most common are torn or cracked drive belts that turn the air compressor and a plugged condenser, which cools the refrigerant as it is circulating through the system. If either of these parts becomes damaged, a vibration inside the car may result, along with reduced air flow or a ... read more