Auto Care Blog
Auto Tech Tips
Almost Unnoticeable Indicators Your Brakes Need Repair
Brakes wearing out is a quiet, almost unnoticeable process usually. You drive the car every day and push the brake pedal often. Any change that is going on is so small that its unnoticeable. That’s why when the mechanic tells you that your brakes are in bad shape, you...
5 Car Problems That Cause Accidents
Of course, the most common problems that can cause you to get into an accident are weather problems and driver error and phone usage, but there are mechanical issues that can cause you to get into an accident, too. Here are the most common mechanical problems that can...
RECALL AFFECTS 2.9 MILLION TOYOTA VEHICLES
In January 2020, Toyota announced it is recalling 2.9 million vehicles. If your car is one of the models listed, see your Toyota dealer for repairs. This recall is for an airbag electronic control unit that may or may not deploy your airbag in an accident. This...
Only $100 Reserves Your Tesla Cybertruck Today
If you have nothing better on the schedule today, go ahead and daydream about what you’d do with a brand-spankin’ new Tesla Cybertruck. You can’t buy one just yet, but they’ll let you reserve one for a mere $100. Yay! Cybertruck The Tesla Cybertruck is projected to be...
Most Common Ford F-Series Problems
The most popular vehicles owned in the Silicon Valley are Honda and Toyota models like the Civic, Camry and Corolla. But there is an unusual choice that is up near the top of the popularity chart and that vehicle is the Ford Pickup. Specifically, it is the Ford...
New Rules for Electric Car Rebates in Silicon Valley
In Early December 2019 the state of California slashed their electric car rebate program. If you were waiting to get your Tesla, your rebate might have evaporated. But it is still available for some purchases, just not at the high numbers it used to offer. Electric...
Is Rotating Your Tires Necessary
Our mechanics in our Sunnyvale location of A1 Performance Auto Repair are asked a lot if rotating the tires is something that really has to be done or is it just a way to get more people back to the mechanic for another maintenance charge. At A1 Performance we advise...
Did You Know These Freaky Subaru Facts?
The Subaru brand has some peculiarities, some of these facts you might already know, but some you won’t. So, let’s start at the beginning. Strange Subaru Logo You might have heard about this one before. Subaru is what the Japanese call the Pleiades star cluster. In...
Common Car Problems That Happen to Hondas
Honda owners are a very loyal bunch, far better than, say, Yugo customers tend to be. However, Hondas do have their issues, too. They are not the world’s most perfect car. If you’re shopping for a used car, the following are the types of problems they are known to...
Watch Out for These Dealer Tricks When Buying a Car
There are two types of car buyers. There’s the buyer who loves to go to the dealer to haggle the price on a used car. Then there’s the person who hates going to the dealer so much that they’ll drive that old jalopy for years past its expiration date. For the latter,...
Go Electric and Keep the Mercedes Luxury
When you want to go electric with your car, because it seems to be the right thing to do, but you don’t want to give up all the luxury of your Mercedes Benz, there is now a solution. Mercedes has gone fully electric with their EQC brand. The Fully Electric Mercedes...
Should You Flush Your Car Radiator Yourself
Flushing your car’s radiator is a fairly simple procedure, so you might be tempted to do it yourself to save money. But is that such a good idea? Flushing Your Car’s Radiator Your car’s radiator should be flushed periodically. Your car’s manual will tell you how often...
When to Change Your Windshield Wiper Blades
Windshield wiper blades are something that isn’t discussed much. You’re told how often to change your oil, but how often do you change your wipers? When to Change Your Wiper Blades The simple answer is once per year. The exception would be if you’re spending time up...
Auto Repair Insurance vs Extended Warranty
You might have been asked to purchase auto repair insurance or an extended warranty when you purchase your car or truck. These two things are very different. Which should you choose? Auto Repair Insurance Geico and Mercury Insurance are two companies that offer auto...
Worst Used Cars to Buy in the Bay Area
If you’re doing a little car shopping for a used car, you should probably avoid any of them listed on the worst used cars to buy list. While the price tag might be extremely low, the repair bills will not. Take a look at some of the worst of the bunch. Worst Used Cars...
Know Your Lemon Law Rights
The state of California has a lemon law that protects consumers from getting stuck with a car that has many things wrong with it and the manufacturer can’t or won’t make it good. You do need to take action, so know your lemon law rights. Know Your Lemon Law Rights It...
Car Talk Lives On
It was with great joy that we would gather around the car radio and listen to the latest Car Talk episode on NPR. This informative and always hilarious show about auto repair started in 1977 and was ended in 2012. If you miss Car Talk, all is not lost. The Ways Car...
Big Brother Has Access to Your Car Hard Drive
The future of auto insurance is Usage Based Insurance (UBI). Your agent might have already asked you if you’d like to lower your insurance rates by using a driving app for several weeks for a discounted UBI rate. If you think you can completely opt out of this type of...
