by A1performance123 | Dec 16, 2015 | Auto Care Blog
Auto care is important. Your car is very expensive and very much needed in Northern California. When it is time to repair something on your car, it’ll usually give you a few hints first. Be aware of these signs that it is time to replace your shock absorbers.
Auto Care for Shock Absorbers
Shock absorbers make your ride a nice one. They buffer those bumps on the road so that you have a pleasant drive. They do wear out, but they wear out very slowly over time. You might not realize that new sound or vibration means it is time. Here are some signs to look for that your shock absorbers have taken all they are going to take.
Longer Stopping Distance
If you’ve noticed lately that when you put on the brakes it takes a bit longer to come to stop then it might be the shock absorbers. When they are sufficiently worn, it can take up to 20% farther to come to a stop. This is a safety issue, so have A1 Performance Auto Repair look at your car to see if it is time for replacement.
New Vibrations
If you are noticing new vibrations while you’re driving, it can mean many things like a bad wheel, rotting tire, or it can mean that the shock absorbers are worn out. Have new vibration problems checked out right away. Sometimes it can be a minor issue, and sometimes it can be a safety issue.
Uneven Tire Wear
When tires are wearing out in odd, uneven patterns, the shock absorbers could be to blame. This isn’t the only reason, but one of the most common reasons for the peculiar wear.
A1 Performance Auto Repair
A1 Performance Auto Repair is here in Sunnyvale for all of your auto repair needs, tire and shock absorber needs. Stop by and get to know us the next time you need your scheduled maintenance.
by A1performance123 | Dec 2, 2015 | Auto Care Blog
A diesel auto repair can be expensive, but many times some big repairs can be avoided. If you take special care of your auto by doing the required maintenance in a timely manner and behave yourself when driving, many major repairs can be avoided.
Diesel Auto Repair
There are many things that can go wrong and lead you right to your mechanic for a diesel auto repair. Diesel autos are the same as regular gasoline autos in that respect. But, sometimes you can do things that will avoid major repairs. Fix the little things and they will not lead to bigger things.
The 60,000 Mile Question
When your diesel auto has its 60,000 mile birthday, it is time to ask if it is time to sell. It is at this point when many diesel autos start to have the big repairs, especially if you drive like your foot is made of lead. If you stop fast and floor it to go, and haven’t been performing the requirement maintenance on time then maybe you should sell it to that auto dealer you never did like.
Blowing Smoke
If your car has been blowing a lot of smoke lately, maybe you should get A1 Performance Auto Repair to take a look at it. It could be something as easy to fix as a dirty air filter meter. When this happens, you cannot get the right mixture of fuel and air, leaving your diesel auto sluggish and making a lot of smoke. If you let it continue, one day it won’t start at all.
A1 Performance Auto Repair
A1 Performance Auto Repair specializes in diesel auto repair and works on most European and American makes of autos. Our certified mechanics will be happy to take a look at your diesel to find the root cause of the problem and fix it. Stop by, we’d love to meet you and your car.
by A1performance123 | Nov 11, 2015 | Auto Care Blog
Getting complete auto care by a mechanic that is certified by the make of your foreign auto is always the best way to go. A certified mechanic knows the ins and outs of your car. This allows him to diagnose the car problem fast and repair it correctly. In the long run, you are always going to come out ahead even if you’re paying more per hour.
Complete Auto Care
A1 Performance Auto Repair has auto mechanics that are certified in many makes of European automobiles as well as other makes. If you’re driving an Audi, BMW, Mercedes Benz or other fine foreign auto, then A1 Performance Auto Repair is the place where you want to get your complete auto care, from oil changes to complex repairs. Certified employees are always on staff to help resolve whatever issue you are having with your foreign auto.
Foreign Autos
You love your foreign car. You love the design, the color, the way it handles. So, of course, you want only an expert to work on your car. You would never dream of driving your Jaguar XK-E into a franchise oil change place any more than you would hand the keys to a pimply-faced kid at a restaurant valet. You care about your car, so you want only an expert to work on it.
A1 Performance Auto Repair has certified auto mechanics for all the big auto makers both foreign and domestic. Drop by the shop so that you can meet the mechanics that will be doing your complete auto care for you in our shop. A1 Performance Auto Repair has an excellent reputation for ethical and expert repair on their customers’ cars. Employees at this auto repair shop will love your car as much as you do.
by A1performance123 | Oct 28, 2015 | Auto Care Blog
A repair shop will always fill up with cars that have a dead battery problem this time of year. Car battery maintenance is something everyone should be doing. As the weather turns colder, these types of problems reveal themselves.
Car Battery Maintenance
Periodically you should check your battery and do a little car battery maintenance. How often you need to do this depends on the age of the car, with older cars usually needing quite a bit more looking after. Here are some things you might want to check with your maintenance program:
Check Voltage
First, make sure your battery is completely charged then check your car battery with an open cell voltage with a voltmeter or a battery tester. It should be 12.5-12.6 volts. If it is less or the battery won’t charge then open the fill caps and add distilled water. If there aren’t any fill caps, your battery is probably a low maintenance battery. Low maintenance batteries have cells that die when the water is low and you have to replace the battery.
Check for Acid Build Up
If you have crusty battery acid built up on the terminal posts or on the top of the battery then put on some gloves, get out the baking soda and tooth brush to scrub it off. Make a baking soda paste, dip in the brush then scrub the posts, terminals and any other place that has the acid. Wipe off when you’re done with your car battery maintenance.
Repair Shop
Most car owners don’t like getting all dirty under the hood. If you are one who would rather have a repair shop take care of the car battery maintenance then stop by A1 Performance Auto Repair. We have all the equipment that will keep your battery in tip top shape.
by A1performance123 | Sep 30, 2015 | Auto Care Blog
Auto repair is just like Facebook, there are a lot of myths to sift through. Let’s take a look at the myths and the facts when it comes to your car.
Auto Repair
Some things you were taught when you learned how to drive might have been a fact at that time. When technology advances, you need to sift through what is now myth and is no longer fact.
You Can Do the Auto Repair Yourself to Save Cash
Myth. Cars used to be fairly simple machines, at least in comparison to today’s average car. It might have saved you a bundle to work on your VW bug yourself, but today it is like fixing that dripping pipe under your kitchen sink. Do it yourself and end up having to call in the expert to fix the pipe and the bigger mess you created. Just have the auto mechanic fix the car. You’ll save more cash that way unless you are an auto mechanic.
Stop Leak Fixes the Problem
Myth. Adding a stop leak product might stop the leak, however, it might clog up some very expensive parts in addition to stopping that leak. Where you might have had a couple hundred dollar repair to do, you just turned it into a couple of thousand dollars auto repair. Have your mechanic assess and repair leaks.
Install a New Air Filter to Get Better Mileage
Myth. When your air filter is very dirty it affects your auto performance, not your gas mileage.
Rotate Tires So That They Wear Evenly
Fact. Tires are affected by the alignment and little quirky things your car has going on. They are going to wear differently on the front than they will in the back. So, rotate your tires every 10,000 miles so that they can wear other parts of the tire, thus extending their life.
Where To Get Repairs
When you need an auto repair, give us a call. We’ll be happy to give you a ride to the shop or tow your car in, if it is within 3 miles of our shop. We want to keep your car running in tip top shape.
by A1performance123 | Sep 23, 2015 | Auto Care Blog
When you buy a car and what seems like right away you need to take it in for a car repair, you might suspect you purchased a lemon. The state of California has laws in place to protect you if you get stuck with a really bad car that is in need of constant car repair.
Car Repair
In order to use the California Lemon Law, the car you took delivery on within the past 18 months or within 18,000 miles of delivery must have one of the following problems:
- At least twice the dealer needed to repair a serious safety issue.
- The dealer tried to repair a serious or non-serious issue four or more times.
- The dealer caused the car to be out of service for 30 days or more.
If you purchased a used car that has a warranty with it, then the Lemon Law applies to that warranty also. Of course, the criteria are going to be different for a used car than it is for a new one. But, suffice it to say, after a reasonable number of attempts to correct the issues with your car the Lemon Law will kick in to help you.
How to Use the Lemon Law
When a car seems to be nothing more than a series of car repair problems, the California Lemon Law will help you if the car dealer will not. The California Attorney General will not be able to help you directly and this is not a situation where you can launch the fight yourself. You will need to find an attorney that will take your case to fight for your rights over the car that isn’t ever going to work properly. Read up on the information about the Lemon Law that the state provides to see if your car repair qualifies.
