by A1performance123 | Jun 17, 2015 | Auto Care Blog
Sure, if you can get around the California DMV smog requirements, you sure would like to, right? Well, getting that smog certification isn’t always required. There are some circumstances and some vehicles that are exempt from the rule right now.
California Smog
The smog from California’s highways became so thick in the air that California started requiring that all autos must be certified that they are operating properly. This became known as “getting your car smogged.” You have to take your car to your mechanic or a “Smog Station” to have your car tested and certified. This smog certificate is then turned into the DMV when you register your vehicle. You need to do this every other year.
Exemptions to the Smog Testing Rule
There are some situations where you do not have to go through the California smog procedure. Here are some exemptions to the rule:
- Motorcycles
- Electric Vehicles
- Natural Gas Vehicles over 14,000 Pounds
- Diesel Vehicles 1997 and before and over 14,000 Pounds
- New Cars up to Six Years Old
- Cars Manufactured in 1975 and Before
Where to Get a Smog Certification
You need to go to a Star Station to get your automobile tested and certified. You will need to do this every other year and include the certification with your car registration when you renew.
How to Avoid the Smog Rules
The best way to get around California smog requirements and laws is to buy a car that was manufactured in 1975 or before. These cars are exempt from these regulations and you register them as normal. You just don’t have to get the smog certification in order to renew your registration. So, drive your 1957 T-Bird past the Star Station and wave, because you never have to stop in to say hello in person. For more information on California’s Smog Laws, go to their smog website.
by A1performance123 | Jun 10, 2015 | Auto Care Blog
Since 1972, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has been testing and certifying auto mechanics. They are a not-for-profit certification company whose goal is to keep the automotive industry offering improved skills and services for consumers. When a mechanic is good enough to pass this rigorous testing, they proudly display the ASE Blue Seal logo in their auto shop.
ASE Blue Seal
The ASE Blue Seal assures the car owner that their mechanic has passed the ASE Blue Seal certification testing. In addition to the testing, the auto mechanic must have at least two years of on the job training in an auto shop, or one year of on the job training with a 2-year degree in automotive repair. In addition, the ASE requires that the mechanic retest and pass the certification process every five years.
The testing that ASE creates is a series of tests that are developed by a group of experts. These experts are from various automotive industries. Some of the experts are from auto manufacturers, some are mechanics, and some are aftermarket manufacturers. This group of experts collaborates to create a collection of 40 different exams that test a mechanic’s skill and knowledge. The exams are tough and one out of three mechanics fail. These exams do a great job of discerning the mechanic’s skill and knowledge.
Finding a Good Mechanic
Looking for the ASE Blue Seal makes finding a mechanic so much easier. You know that the mechanic displaying this seal is a very knowledgeable mechanic and will have the skills required to figure out just about any automotive problem you might bring in. Of course, knowledge alone isn’t the only factor to look for. You also want someone who is honest and that runs a convenient and efficient shop.
by A1performance123 | Jun 3, 2015 | Auto Care Blog
Your car maintenance schedule should be driven by your car’s manual. There is a lot of helpful information in that manual and it should be used for more than filling up your glove compartment. Crack it open, enjoy its new book smell and spend some time browsing it. You will learn all about when you’re supposed to be rotating the tires, changing the oil and having your belts replaced. However, there are times your mechanic knows best.
Car Maintenance Schedule
The car maintenance schedule that you follow should be the one your trusted mechanic suggests. The manual will give you general guidelines that will tell you when to plan to take care of certain maintenances, but your mechanic has the final say on when the task should be completed. The reason that your mechanic will override the manual is that your mechanic knows how you drive and in what conditions. There are many factors that are unique to you that the manufacturer is unable to take into account.
So, the manual might tell you to change your oil every 10,000 miles and the air filter every 45,000 miles. However, your mechanic knows you frequently drive on dirt roads and do a lot of start and stop driving. In this case, he will recommend changing the oil every 3,000 miles and the air filter every 15,000. He knows what is best for your engine and he’s not trying to do unnecessary work on your car. Harsh conditions or certain driving habits will require an accelerated car maintenance schedule. Of course, this is only in regards to a trusted, local auto mechanic, not a quick oil change franchise or a mechanic in a strange town you happened across while traveling. You do have to use some common sense on who to trust and always error on the side of caution.
by A1performance123 | May 29, 2015 | Auto Care Blog
Your car manual has a preventative maintenance schedule that you should follow. That might say 5,000 or 10,000 miles between your oil changes. So, why does your mechanic tell you to change it sooner? There are circumstances where you should change your oil every 3,000 miles, religiously.
Preventative Maintenance
The most common preventative maintenance is to change your car’s oil every 3,000 miles. But, will the mechanic tell you it is okay to wait until 10,000 miles? The oil change jockey probably will not. There are some circumstances where you absolutely should not wait until 10,000 miles to do your maintenance.
Reasons to Change Your Oil at 3,000 Miles
- You drive long distances in the hot desert
- Every day you start and stop a lot in heavy, city traffic
- You drive mostly in slow, heavy traffic in cold weather
- You often drive on dirt roads or in a lot of haboobs
- Your vehicle is used for towing cars, trailers or boats
- You have a turbocharged engine
The reason you need that preventative maintenance on your car in the situations listed above is because your car is going to need the additives that are in the oil. After a car runs around for 3,000 miles, those important additives that protect your engine are going to degrade. This is just fine for ideal driving situations. But if you are a little bit hard on your engine with your driving habits or have the less than ideal road conditions, it is best to error on the side of caution and get those oils changes every 3,000 miles.
If you drive like that little, old lady from Pasadena, then carry on. Get your oil changed every 10,000 miles or five years, whichever comes first. Your preventative maintenance doesn’t have to be urgent.
by A1performance123 | May 19, 2015 | Auto Care Blog
Getting a flat tire while you’re driving, especially on the freeway, can be a dangerous situation. There are things you should do to ensure that you can come to a safe stop without injuring yourself or other drivers on the road.
Handling a Flat Tire Emergency
So, you’re clipping along at 85mph on the 101 and suddenly, without warning, you hear an explosion and the telltale thump, thump, thump. Oh no! Well, don’t flip out. Here are some tips you should commit to memory for when it happens to you.
What To Do When You Get a Flat Tire
1. Stay Calm
2. Grip the wheel tightly and hold it steady
3. Resist the urge to slam on the brakes
4. Turn on your emergency flashers
5. Ease up on the gas pedal quite a bit to reduce speed
6. Turn on your blinker to get over to the shoulder
7. Check your rear mirror and side mirrors constantly for dangerously fast vehicles
8. Keep moving over one lane at a time until you’re safely at the shoulder of the road
9. Drive very slowly to an exit, don’t park on the freeway
It will seem like a good idea to park right there on the side of the freeway, but keep driving to the nearest exit ramp to get off the freeway. Sure, you will bend the wheel probably. It is very easy for your car to be hit when it is on the side of the freeway. So, it is worth buying a new wheel rather than losing your life or just your car.
Call A1 Performance Auto Repair
Once you are safely off the freeway and parked on a side road, give us a call. We’ll be happy to take a look at that tire to see if we can repair it. Always remember, safety first.
