by Admin | Nov 4, 2018 | Auto Care Blog
Learn how to check your driving record when you want to know if some negative information has been removed or to see if someone has stolen your identity. It is a simple thing to do.
How to Check Your Driving Record
When you’ve been waiting a long time for points to come off your driving record or maybe other traffic violation, the wait seems endless. You don’t have to hire an attorney or ask an insurance agent to let you know. You can check your driving record yourself and keep this private.
It is very inexpensive in California to get a print out of your driving record. It costs $2.00 and you can pay and get the print out on their website.
If you don’t have an online account with the California DMV, you’ll need to start one. You will need to start an account on the Registration Page before you use the link below to get a print out of your driving record.
Next you will go to Driving Record Page on the DMV website. Once you’re on the page, click the start button and follow the instructions from there.
The instructions are for a copy of your driving record for your own personal use. If you need an official print out, such as what you need to apply for a driving job, then you will need to request an official document. This is done by filling out this PDF file and then mailing it in to the DMV. The address where you mail it is right on the form.
Learning how to check your driving record is a good thing to do. You can check your record from time to time to make sure nobody has stolen your identity. Many people keep an eye on their driving record for this reason. A stolen driver’s license or a fake driver’s license in your name can really cause a lot of problems, if not caught early.
by Admin | Oct 26, 2018 | Auto Care Blog
Driving around with worn out brakes is a dangerous practice. Make sure you can stop when you need to stop by checking your brakes yourself from time to time. Most drivers figure out their brakes need replacing far after they needed replacing. Not being able to stop is the end of the road for the entire brake system.
How to Check Your Brakes
One simple check is to look. If you have the spoke type of wheels, just look in there. You should be able to see the brake pad. A good pad will have ¼” or more of thickness. If it has less than that you should bring them in to A1 Performance Auto Repair to have them inspected. Our mechanic will let you know if it is time to replace them.
The high pitched squeal is an indicator letting you know it is time to take your car in to be inspected. Sometimes, inexpensive brake pads will make this squeal from the day they are installed. So, if they have always done that then it is probably just the brake pads. If you start hearing the sound suddenly and even when the windows are rolled up, it is time to get them checked.
When the brake pedal goes a lot closer to the floor than it used to, you’ll need to see a mechanic right away. There could be a lot more wrong than just brake pads. The longer you wait for repair, the more expensive it will get.
Brakes that are less responsive than they used to be could indicate a leak in the system. Look at your brake fluid to make sure it is as full as it should be. If that is normal then have our mechanic inspect your system. It could be one of several different things making that happen.
How to check your brakes is an easy thing to do. If you don’t do it, have A1 Performance Auto Repair check them once per year.
by Admin | Oct 21, 2018 | Auto Care Blog
There is good news and bad news about how to wash a car in Sunnyvale. While the 2017 rainy season broke records and the draught is officially declared finished for now, conservation is still on the table.
How to Wash a Car
Of course, how to wash a car efficiently will require going to an automatic car wash. There is conservation built right into the car wash’s system. It will recycle water and use only the necessary amount of water that is required to get your car sparkling clean. But what if you want to do it yourself?
You can wash your car at home, providing you don’t have an HOA the prohibits it, of course. They city of Sunnyvale and the state of California doesn’t have a problem with you washing your car at home in 2018.
However, that being said, you must have a nozzle on your hose that will allow you to completely shut the water off when you are not using the hose. This means that every single time you put the hose down in order to soap up the car or scrub a spot, your hose must be completely shut off.
You cannot have any water coming out of your hose sprayer at all. So, make sure the gasket between the hose and the sprayer is in good condition and properly fitted. If your sprayer is still leaking water when you shut it off, it might be time to clean sand or other debris out of the sprayer so that the handle works properly. If that doesn’t work then you’ll need to replace it.
Washing the Car Yourself
When you have a very nice car, washing it yourself seems to be the only way it’ll be done right. And of course, some people are very concerned about what an automatic car wash might do to the finish. So, this year, how to wash your car without getting a ticket is easy! Enjoy!
by Admin | Oct 14, 2018 | Auto Care Blog
Test your knowledge with these actual questions from a Sample California DMV test. Are you smarter than a teenage new driver? Let’s find out!
California DMV Test
1. You must notify the DMV within 5 days if you:
A. Sell or transfer your vehicle.
B. Fail a smog test for your vehicle.
C. Get a new prescription for lenses or contacts.
2. You are driving on a freeway posted for 65 MPH. The traffic is traveling at 70 MPH. You may legally drive:
A. 70 mph or faster to keep up with the speed of traffic.
B. Between 65 mph and 70 mph.
C. No faster than 65 mph.
3. It is illegal to park your vehicle:
A. In an unmarked crosswalk.
B. Within three feet of a private driveway.
C. In a bicycle lane.
4. All of the following practices are dangerous to do while driving. Which of these is also illegal?
A. Listening to music through headphones that cover both ears.
B. Adjusting your outside mirrors.
C. Transporting an unrestrained animal inside the vehicle.
5. When can you drive in a bike lane?
A. During rush hour traffic if there are no bicyclists in the bike lane.
B. When you are within 200 feet of a cross street where you plan to turn right.
C. When you want to pass a driver ahead of you who is turning right.
6. A solid yellow line next to a broken yellow line means that vehicles:
A. In both directions may pass.
B. Next to the broken line may pass.
C. Next to the solid line may pass.
The correct answers according to the California DMV:
1=A, 2=F, 3=A, 4=A , 5=B, 6=B
How did you do? Are you an expert in California driving laws or would you flunk the test if you were forced to take it today?
by Admin | Oct 4, 2018 | Auto Care Blog
You don’t have to be in the great white north to take a quick road trip to see the fall colors. You can do that right here in The Bay Area.
Road Trip!
Summertime is over and now it is time for the transition into autumn. When you’re looking for something to do for a day trip or a couple of days on a road trip, viewing the fall colors is a spectacular way to spend the day.
Some places that make for great color viewing that you might not know about are here:
UC Botanical Garden
The University of California in Berkley has a beautiful botanical garden. This garden takes on all the fabulous colors of autumn and peaks in November. Of particular interest are the Asian Area plants that will display a vibrant array of oranges, golds and reds.
San Francisco Botanical Garden
When the colder weather hits, usually as late as November and December, the garden turns into an autumn color paradise. Of particular interest is the Moon Garden which is filled with Japanese plants. Keep an eye on their Instagram account to know when the color changes are starting.
QuarryHill Botanical Garden
This is a wild Asian woodland that can be toured on your own or with a guide. There is an admission fee, but it is completely worth it. This 25-acre parcel of land is a former quarry, that in the late 80s it was turned into a place to let Asian plants grow wild. It is beautiful any time of year, but if you enjoy a walk in the chilly air to view fall colors, this is the little known spot to enjoy.
A1 Performance Auto Repair
Before driving around on a road trip to enjoy the beautiful views and fall color our area has to offer, remember to get your car’s hoses, belts and levels checked first. Stop by A1 Performance Auto Repair ahead of your next scheduled maintenance.
by Admin | Sep 26, 2018 | Auto Care Blog
The cost of roadside assistance can be quite high, depending on what organization helps you. But there are ways to get roadside assistance for free, if you plan ahead.
Cost of Roadside Assistance
The cost of roadside assistance has dramatically risen in the past several years. The worst of it is in and around the San Francisco area. Towing service has taken the biggest hit in price increases. It could cost several hundred dollars to tow your car in, should your roadside assistance call turn into a tow. But, there is a way to plan ahead and get these services for free.
When you own a Mercedes Benz that is still under warranty, you will be able to use their roadside assistance program. You call their phone number anytime 24/7 and they’ll come to your vehicle to help you with the problem you’re having. The truck that arrives has what it needs to help in the most common Mercedes Benz problems. There is no charge for this service, but there are some requirements to be met before you can use the service. If you own a Mercedes, check on their program now, before you need to use it.
Another option is to join AAA for less than $60 per year. This will entitle you to 4 free roadside assistance calls. For some calls, such as the need for a locksmith, a maximum reimbursement for the service will apply. But a lock out of the car doesn’t usually require a locksmith as it is handled as a regular call. There are upgrades to the roadside assistance program that cost a little more per year, but if you need those services then it is worth it.
Sometimes, the cost of roadside assistance can be free if your mechanic does a free tow to their shop in order to repair your car. Give A1 Performance Auto Repair a call to see if they have that promotion active.
