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.
by A1performance123 | Sep 2, 2015 | Auto Care Blog
A car repair estimate is necessary before you get any work done on your car. There are laws in the state of California regarding estimates. These laws were put into place to protect the auto owner and the auto shop from misunderstandings on the cost and details of the repair. Here are some things you should know when your car needs work.
Car Repair Estimate
The car repair estimate might be something the mechanic will charge to do, most will do an estimate for free, thought. Once that estimate is signed by you then the mechanic is held to what he quoted by California state law. If he gets into the job and sees that there is more going on with the problem that originally thought and it will cost more, the mechanic needs your signature to authorize the increased cost.
The auto estimate needs to include:
- Itemized parts
- Method of repair
- Cost of labor
- Cost of parts
- Total estimated cost
Of course, with any car repair it might be difficult to guess what the true issue is before tearing the car apart to fix the problem. If a more expensive repair is going to need to be made, you must give your approval for the additional costs either by phone or in writing before the work is done. If you give a phone approval, this must be noted on the estimate.
Getting Your Car Fixed
Most of the time these days everything will go smoothly with your car repair estimate and the problem is quickly fixed at a reasonable cost. If you picked an unethical auto shop and think you’ve been ripped off, contact the California Bureau of Auto Repair at 1-800-952-5210 and they will investigate the matter. California has many laws in place to protect the consumer.
by A1performance123 | Aug 19, 2015 | Auto Care Blog
Do you need a car repair or does that dashboard icon that lit up mean you just need to check something? There are a lot of icons on your board, some are serious and some are not. Here are what a few of them mean.
Car Repair
Sometimes with dashboard light icons you need to stop driving immediately and call for a car repair, other times you can keep driving and check it when you get to where you are going. Here are what some of those icons mean and what you should do when they light up on your dashboard.
The Temperature Icon
This picture of a little thermometer means that your car is overheating. It sometimes helps to run your heater on high while you try to get to a safe place to pull over. Running the heater can pull some of the heat off the radiator, but this trick is only for trying to get you safely out of traffic. You need an auto repair right away.
The ABS Icon
ABS stands for Anti-Locking Brake System and when that particular dashboard icon lights up and stays on then there is something wrong with your brake system that prevents your brakes from locking up. Have this checked as soon as convenient. It is normal for this light to come on when you start the car then it quickly goes off. If it comes on when you are driving then there is a problem that needs to be checked by a mechanic sometime soon.
Car Doors
This dashboard icon means that one of your doors are not closed all the way. Open and re-shut your doors or trunk until the light goes off.
Get Your Car Checked Out
Get your car repair done at A1 Performance Auto Repair when you are having trouble with your vehicle. Our auto mechanics are certified and qualified to work on domestic and foreign automobiles.
by A1performance123 | Aug 12, 2015 | Auto Care Blog
Car maintenance is a bit of a mystery to some. There is more involved with it than changing the oil. There are certain things that really should be done when winter is coming on. Northern California is mild in the winter, but it does still have a winter. Be prepared by getting these things checked off the list.
Car Maintenance
You need to do a little maintenance to make sure you are ready for those extremely mild Sunnyvale, CA, winters. Here is a checklist to help you complete your to-do list for the winter months. If you are a typical busy person, August is a good time to start trying to get these things done.
Check Wipers for Wear
Windshield wipers wear out. As a rule, it is best to change them out every year as part of your car maintenance, but if you don’t drive all that much then maybe they are just fine for a couple of years. Have them checked by a mechanic or drive over to the auto parts store to pick up a pair.
Pick up an Ice Scraper
It rarely happens, but your windshield could collect some ice on a really cold Silicon Valley night. Better to have one in order to be able to drive home after a late night party than having to sit in a parking lot for an hour while the defroster melts it. Start looking for one now, because they are a rare item in California. You might have to order in.
Battery Check
Batteries checks always top the car maintenance lists. They tend to go on the blink without much warning. Don’t get stranded. Have it checked before you need to work it hard by running lights, wipers and the heater all the time in the winter.
by A1performance123 | Jul 29, 2015 | Auto Care Blog
Brake repair or replacement is costly these days. Many times this type of repair cannot be done while your wait, either. So, you could be without your car for a couple of days. Of course, those couple of days will be during the week when you have places to go and things do. Here are some tips on how to get the most from your brakes and avoid costly repairs.
Brake Repair
It can cost anywhere from $400 to $900 to have brakes repaired, per axel. The longer you put off a brake repair when you need one, the more it is going to cost. Here are some things you can do to keep the cost of replacing your brakes down.
Check the Breaks
You need to get your tires rotated every 5,000 to 10,000 miles and this is the perfect time to have the mechanic assess the health of your brakes while he’s rotating wheels. In order to see the brakes, the mechanic needs to remove the wheel. So, while he has the wheels off, he has a perfect view of what is going on with your brakes.
Repair Sooner Rather Than Later
If your brake pads have significant wear, then have them replaced. Once the pads are gone, the car is going to start digging into more expensive parts of the braking system. The longer you wait, the deeper the damage. By handling the brake repair when it is only the pads that are worn out, you will save a bundle of cash.
Saving Money on Brake Jobs
When you let a brake problem go then there is going to be more damage. If you’ve waited so long that the car no longer stops easily, you are going to run into very expensive repairs. As soon as brake pads are worn out, replace them and save all that unnecessary expense!
