by Admin | Jul 5, 2018 | Auto Care Blog
The car hose that connects the radiator to the coolant system is vulnerable to the wear and tear of temperature, weather and other factors. If it comes loose or splits, you will have a disaster on your hands.
Car Hose
There are several car hoses in your car:
- Upper radiator hose
- Water pump bypass hose
- Outlet heater hose
Usually when people think of the hose in their engine it is the upper radiator hose, which happens to be the one that usually fails. When it fails you will lose your engine cooling system. Your engine could be damaged beyond repair if it overheats, but even if the engine comes out of the situation ok, there are many parts that could be damaged and need replacing.
This problem is easy to avoid. If you check your belts and hoses every season or at least once per year you’re likely to catch a problem before it becomes a very expensive situation. But, most car owners are not going to take the time to do the dirty work of checking hoses and belts.
Hose Checks
The best way to keep after good hose health is to use a mechanic like A1 Performance Auto Repair for your oil changes. You’ll need several oil changes per year and hose and belt checks are a part of the service at A1 Performance Auto Repair.
Of course, if your car starts to overheat, no matter the cause, you need to see a mechanic as soon as possible. Your car’s engine, radiator and other parts will be damaged when it overheats. It is not a good idea to drive it.
A1 Performance Auto Repair
Stop by A1 Performance Auto Repair when you need your next oil change. We’ll be happy to check your hoses and belts to see if they are still in great condition.
by Admin | Jun 15, 2018 | Auto Care Blog
It is a little known fact – you can get a cheap windshield replacement when it is cracked or broken. Actually, that’s not true. You can have it replaced for free!
Cheap Windshield Replacement
Forget about getting a cheap windshield replacement – get a free windshield replacement. It is pretty easy.
If your windshield is cracked, chipped or broken in some other way, you can get it repaired or replaced for free. Your insurance will pay for it. It is easy and there aren’t any hoops you have to jump through or awful forms to fill out. This is how is works.
The Catch
Yes, there is a catch – but not for most people. The catch is that you must have comprehensive insurance. If you have an auto loan, then you were required to buy it when you got the loan. So, chances are good you have it. Some people drop this insurance after they pay off the car to save money, but most people continue to carry it.
How to Get a Free Windshield Replacement
All you need to do is call the auto glass repair near you. Most auto glass companies will waive your insurance deductible, so your replacement costs you nothing.
In addition to the replacement being free for you, they will do the work anywhere. It only takes about an hour, so they’ll stop by your job and do it there in the parking lot. Or, go to the mall and shop away all that money you’re saving and you’ll have a brand new windshield when you return to the car. All for free.
Have a Safe Windshield
It is not safe to drive with a cracked windshield interfering with visibility. If you have a chip, get a cheap windshield replacement or free repair right away. Chips will spread quickly, so get the work done for free by calling a mobile auto glass company.
by Admin | Jun 5, 2018 | Auto Care Blog
Test your knowledge on owning, caring for and operating your car. Are you a grandpa car owner or a young whippersnapper? Only our quiz knows for sure. Test your knowledge of car ownership.
Car Maintenance Tips Quiz
Always Let Your Car Warm Up. True or False
False!
When cars had carburetors, they needed to warm up to get the right fuel mixture going, so everyone sat in their driveways for 15 minutes before moving an inch. Life was simpler then. Today there is fuel injection and that changed everything. Just put it in drive and go already.
Replace Your Shocks Every 50,000 Miles
True!
The average lifespan of auto shocks is 50,000 miles. So, depending on the condition of your roads and how you drive, you might start saving up for new shocks at around 40,000 miles. If you put off shock replacement then the tires, bushings and mounts start wearing away, driving up a bigger repair bill.
Keychains Wear Out Your Ignition Switch
True!
If your keychain has a bunch of keys on it and cute decorative items, it is far too heavy. Using a big old heavy keychain is putting too much weight on your ignition switch. Use a breakaway keychain to remove your car keys when it is time to drive or keep your car key off your beautifully decorated keychain that can open every door in town.
Change Your Oil Every 3,000 Miles Religiously
False!
While it is true that when your daily drive includes dirt roads, dust storms, lots of stopping and loads of debris on the road, you will need 3,000 mile oil changes, but the average driver does not. Your car manual will advise you on how often, but it is usually around 10,000 miles.
Car Maintenance
We hope you enjoyed our quiz on car maintenance tips and maybe you learned something, too. Remember to stop by A1 Performance Auto Repair for all your car maintenance and repair needs.
by Admin | May 27, 2018 | Auto Care Blog
Everyone has their favorite when it comes to cheap reliable cars. But there is one in particular that most people overlook. As a matter of fact, it used to be considered more disgustingly cheap than the old Ford Pinto, but time has served it well.
Cheap Reliable Cars
The car that is constantly overlooked is the Kia, expecially in the cheap, reliable cars category. This is a car that you can drive off the lot for far less than $18,000 brand new. The interior is surprisingly nice, but without anything fancy on the dashboard. It has everything you need and it is a nice ride with a well-made look with the interior and exterior. It holds up very well for about ten years.
While everyone else on the road in Sunnyvale is all about their Acuras and Priuses, save your cash and go with a Soul, Sorrento or Niro. You’ll likely save over $20,000 and get around town just as safely, just as fast and just as comfortably.
Kia has a nice selection for models that use gasoline, electric or hybrids. There are many options to create a car that is your own.
But, the ruling class of automobile in the overall Bay Area are the Japanese brands. Toyota and Honda still control most of the market when it comes to the average person. Even small truck sales are driven by Japanese makes in The Bay Area while the rest of the country always buys American makes for their trucks.
A1 Performance Auto Repair
When you need your maintenance on your car, whether it is a cheap reliable car, Japanese, Korean, American or European, A1 Performance Auto Repair is the place to get it done right. Stop by soon.
by Admin | May 20, 2018 | Auto Care Blog
Here are some important car maintenance basics for your car’s air conditioner. It is important that you don’t ignore your AC, because it could start developing problems during the colder winter months. Here are some tips that will help keep your AC in tip top shape and ready to blast the cold air when you need it on a hot summer day.
Car Maintenance Basics for the AC
It is so annoying when you push that button for a nice cold blast in a super-hot car and you get lukewarm air instead. This can be prevented in several different ways. For a great running AC, follow these car maintenance basics.
Winter Use
Believe it or not, use it or lose it. Running your AC in the winter periodically is a great idea. It keeps your compressor working well and it removes the humidity from the inside of the car. If your windows are fogged up in the winter, run the AC!
Run Defrost
Turn your fan to the defrost mode and run it for 10 minutes or so every month or so. This keeps the mildew cleared out and helps to keep the bad odors out of your car.
Cold Blast
It is a good idea to run your AC once per week whether you need it or not. This keeps the coolant circulating and working properly. So, turn it up to high and full blast, enjoy the winter effect.
Maintenance
Have your auto mechanic at A1 Performance Auto Repair do a check of your car’s AC every two years to catch any developing problems and to recharge the coolant if needed.
A1 Performance Auto Repair Coupons
Be sure to check our Coupons and Deals page for discounts in the springtime for air conditioning maintenance and car maintenance basics.
by Admin | May 5, 2018 | Auto Care Blog |
There are signs of bad rotors. It is usually not a mystery that they need replacing. Although, as time marches on the signs might become less pronounced. Here are some things that might be going on with your car or truck that might indicate it is time to replace your rotors.
Signs of Bad Rotors
Signs of bad rotors include many sounds or vibrations, some of which could mean other things, too. So, here are some tests you can do to narrow down the trouble to see if it is a sign of bad rotors.
Rotor Test While Driving
Drive out to a road where there is nobody else on the road. Accelerate to 30mph then press the brakes somewhat hard, but without completely stopping. Do you feel a strong rhythmic vibration in the wheel while you brake? If you do, it is a sign your rotors are warped.
Try the test again at 60mph. If you feel the vibration only at the higher speed, it indicates that it is a slight warping of the rotors.
When rotors are warped, they usually need replacement. If the problem is only slight then grinding them might take care of the problem.
Noise
A squealing noise can happen with certain brake pads and are not necessarily a rotor problem. Have your mechanic check to see which is causing the squeal.
A grinding noise while braking, on the other hand, is likely due to the brake pads being worn down to the point where the rotor is being ground down every time you brake. You’ll likely have a brake pedal that is lower than it used to be, as well. See your mechanic right away. Your car might not be safe to drive. You’ll need new rotors and brake pads. The longer you wait to repair the car, the more expensive it gets.
A1 Performance Auto Repair
Stop by A1 Performance Auto Repair and we will take a look at your brakes to give you an accurate diagnosis and an estimate for repair. We hope to see you soon.
