The auto mechanics and the rest of our team at Import Auto Specialists in San Diego love to educate our customers, and that’s why we write this blog. Any way that our auto repair team can provide you useful information, that’s exactly what we want to do. That’s also why we perform digital inspections and take the time to listen to you thoroughly and what you have to say about your car. Import Auto Specialists in San Diego offers a 3 year/36,000 mile parts and labor warranty on most repairs. We also have a 3 Year/36,000 Mile NAPA AutoCare Peace of Mind Warranty on parts and labor. To make your experience with us even better, when you bring your vehicle in for any major service or repair, you’ll drive away with a vehicle that has received a complimentary full-service! When you are ready for top-quality auto care, give us a call at 858-576-7186, or schedule an appointment today. We hope you enjoy our blog!

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5 Signs It's Time for a Wheel Alignment

5 Signs It's Time for a Wheel Alignment

Regularly scheduled vehicle maintenance can save you huge costs and keep you safe on the road always. Understanding the indicators of an urgently needed servicing like wheel alignment is a key factor. Unfortunately, many don't know what signs to look for and when it's the appropriate time for wheel alignment. Other drivers may ignore even the obvious signs, which is dangerous. Proper wheel alignment is a critical maintenance criterion for your car's optimal operation and your safety on the road. Alignment is adjusting the angle at which your vehicle wheels contact the road surface by streamlining the suspension system. But how do you know it's time to bring your car in for wheel alignment? Warning Signs You Need Alignment Besides improving your safety and vehicle performance on the road, wheel alignment also extends your tire life, lowering maintenance costs. Fortunately, there are several signs or indicators that it's time to schedule wheel alignment. Here are t ... read more

Let’s Take a Moment To Appreciate The Weather And Our Car

Let’s Take a Moment To Appreciate The Weather And Our Car

Photo by Tim Stief on Unsplash Let’s Take a Moment To Appreciate The Weather And Our Car With spring come new beginnings and the potential for a fresh start. Some of us forget that our car is just as important to maintain as everything else in our lives. Spring is a new season, and with every seasonal change, your vehicle needs to have the proper care to prepare it for a warmer climate.    During the winter months, or if you have neglected your car since the holidays, your vehicle would have undergone some significant drainage. Your car is good at telling you when something is wrong, but it's not always good at telling you how to prevent damage. Preventive maintenance is the name of the game when it comes to getting you ... read more

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3 Maintenance Tips That Will Ease the Transition from Winter to Spring

3 Maintenance Tips That Will Ease the Transition from Winter to Spring

Spring is nearly here in San Diego! While the temperature shifts are not drastic between each season, there are some changes you should make with your car. We thought it would be useful to lay out all the car maintenance items you should watch out for this season. Battery Performance - A typical car battery can last anywhere between 3-5 months depending on the quality, the environment it runs in, how well you take care of it, etc. Feel free to drop by our auto repair shop for a battery test. This will allow you to gauge how long before you need to replace it. Oil Level & Quality -  As we all know, motor oil is the most important item for engine performance. Before the summertime begins, it is great to check to see your oil level and condition. Otherwise, it doesn't hurt to come in for an oil change.  Tire Condition -  There are two things that you should check regularly when it comes to your vehicle's tires: pressure and tread depth. To ensure they wear ... read more

Does The Future Look Bright For Auto Repair?

Does The Future Look Bright For Auto Repair?

  Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash Many people like to make assumptions based on trends and current statistics when it comes to the future. We can never make guaranteed predictions about the future, but we can engage in the conversation. Most of us struggle to know all the mechanics that make our vehicles function when it comes to our cars. That is where auto technicians come into play. The Auto Repair Industry has been known as a lucrative business, but does that assumption still hold today?   There are trends in the Auto Repair Industry that can give us a better insight into what is going on. In recent years, the technological advancements we have made in vehicles have made it harder for local Auto Repair shops to keep up with the knowledge and tools to repair advanced vehicles such as electric or hydrogen vehicles.    One trend that is majorly impacti ... read more

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How Often Do I Need to Replace My Windshield Wipers?

How Often Do I Need to Replace My Windshield Wipers?

While most people often overlook their car's windshield wiper blades, they are indeed a vital component when it comes to driving safely—they allow drivers from all around the world to see clearly under a wide variety of unfavorable conditions and circumstances. Since wipers are made of rubber, they degrade rather quickly, especially with extensive use. Due to their nature, you generally need to replace windshield wiper blades every six to twelve months for best performance.   How Do I Know My Windshield Wipers Need To Be Replaced? Below are some tell-tale signs that your wiper blades need attention: When the wipers are in use, they make loud squealing or squeaking noises. Not only is this a sign of bad windshield wipers, but it can be incredibly annoying and distracting to deal with when driving. When wipers are in poor condition, they will cause streaks and smear water with each swipe. As a result, it can worsen your visibility instead of improving it. An overall ... read more

How To Use The Incoming Tax Money Months To Help Your Autorepair needs!

How To Use The Incoming Tax Money Months To Help Your Autorepair needs!

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash As we slide into February, there’s a lot on people’s minds: Omicron, Valentine’s Day, and we’re officially going into tax season now (February until the third Monday in April)   Traditionally speaking, this is a time when we start thinking less with our Want and more with our Wallet, as we hope that the blessing of a good return won’t quickly vanish under a heap of our debts. Some will seize the moment and do their taxes as early as possible, wanting to get the refund doing everything it can for them as soon as possible. Others will procrastinate and wait until April 18th to get their papers filed. Either way, the deadline comes for us all!   Why is Import A ... read more

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Top 5 Fuel Saving Tips

Top 5 Fuel Saving Tips

If you're like the average American, you may feel the pain of increased gas prices every time you fill up. To alleviate the hit your wallet may be taking, you should start thinking about gas-saving tips. Being aware of your driving habits and how they may be affecting your gas consumption is very important in this day and age. To help you save some money and gas, we've come up with these tips and hacks: Planning and Carpooling – You should plan ahead before getting into the car to avoid making more trips than necessary. Also, it's never a bad idea to carpool with friends and family as it can help keep the miles down and save the environment. Utilize Cruise Control – If you frequently drive on the highway, the cruise control feature can help keep your gas consumption down and also help you maintain a consistent speed.  Avoid Speeding – Speaking of speeding, you can simply avoid overconsuming gas by following the speed limit.  Avoid Hard Accele ... read more

Have You Got Your Driving Resolutions Covered?

Have You Got Your Driving Resolutions Covered?

Photo by frank mckenna on Unsplash   New Year, New You, right? Nothing makes the new year's celebration sweeter than having resolutions to strive for. But, as drivers and auto repair specialists, we tend to forget about the joy of goal-setting. In this article, we'll share three of our resolutions for this year, and hopefully, we can inspire you to do the same!   Express more gratitude toward our customers and readers:   Every customer, new or old, is a blessing in disguise. They are why our shop is alive, and we can't thank them enough for it. They are the reason we live our passions and get to provide value in the best way that we know. A humongous thank you to our blog readers because they help us sp ... read more

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Why Is There Smoke Coming from Underneath My Car's Hood?

Why Is There Smoke Coming from Underneath My Car's Hood?

Undeniably, when you notice smoke billowing from under your vehicle's hood, something is wrong with your engine. This scenario could indicate a complex problem that requires expert intervention from your mechanic or a simple issue you can resolve. Most people often mistake steam-like vapor to smoke emanating from the tailpipe. This type of vapor should not raise any alarm because it is due to condensation within the exhaust system. However, you should understand the type of smoke by comprehending its color and smell before you panic. Stop immediately and peep or continue driving to the nearest repair shop. Reasons Why a Car SmokesSpill onto the Car Engine A running car has its engine often hot. Besides, the exhaust also remains hot throughout the drive. A spill from fluids such as motor oil onto these hot areas can result in a cloud of smoke emanating from your hood. The main fluids that may leak from damaged seals or engine parts include the ... read more

Fantastic Gifts for Car Lovers

Fantastic Gifts for Car Lovers

Photo by Atul Pandey on Unsplash     Choosing the right gift for a car lover can be a difficult task. After all, buying a new engine isn’t optimal for everybody! However, the beauty of a gift is not encapsulated by its size or cost but by the joy it gives the receiver. As you’ll learn in this article, you don’t have to bring something grandiose to make your fellow car fan rejoice. It’s often the simple things that are most appreciated.    For The Vintage Collectors:   Sports Car Collector Sign - If your mate is a fan of sports cars, you should definitely check this coll ... read more

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