San Diego Auto Repair

Your transmission is blown. Those four words terrify most car owners, and for good reason. The transmission is the life support system of your car that needs to be well maintained to live a healthy and happy life. Fortunately, transmission repairs don't happen without warning, and if you catch the signs early, the repairs are much less costly. So, what are some of the telltale signs? 1. Unresponsive and Gear Slipping. If your vehicle hesitates, or simply refuses to shift, there's a good chance something is wrong with your transmission. It may feel stuttery, or there could even be a delay between gear shifts. Not only is this alarming, especially if you're on the highway, but it's also very dangerous. 2. Smells and sounds. It's unlikely that your transmission is going to fail overnight. Luckily for you, there are plenty of warning signs. Smell and sound are two of them. If your car hums while you idle, chances are somet ... read more

If you do a lot of driving in the city, as Uber/Lyft drivers and pizza delivery drivers do, you know more than a few handy mobile applications to help you get the job done. We’re looking at the top 5 free driving apps, available both on Android phones and iPhones! 5. Parkopedia -  It’s great to have a program to get you where you need to be, but what do you do when you arrive and there’s no parking? Parkopedia shows you the nearest available parking. 4. GasBuddy - Ever held off on getting gas thinking that your usual spot would be the lowest, and then feel the sting of seeing you could have had your gas cheaper where you were, GasBuddy is for you, letting you know what the lowest gas is between destinations. 3. Roadtrippers -  If you’re doing any traveling over the holidays, Roadtrippers is a great free app for calculating the cost of your travel and the pit stops and detours you’ll need to make along the way. 2. GoogleMaps - There’s so ... read more

Your vehicle runs on many electrical components, and the spark plugs have the important job of sparking electricity to start the engine. As with all other vehicle parts, your spark plugs will not last forever and will start to wear down over time. When the spark plugs are very worn down, you will notice a lack in overall engine performance.  When it comes to your Subaru, keeping it running at its best is critical to protect your investment and to have a reliable ar on the road. After years of driving your Subaru, you may find that the spark plugs need to be replaced. This is typically recommended during a tune-up service or a major service such as a 30,000, 60,000, or 90,000 mile service. Here at Import Auto Specialists, we are the Subaru experts here in San Diego, CA and can assist with all of your vehicle's service needs.  Your spark plugs may need to be replaced if you notice one or more of the following symptoms:  Check engine light has turned on Trouble star ... read more

It may be easier to leave your car parked on the street rather than in the garage, especially if you're in a rush. However, parking inside the garage or under a covered port can have some significant benefits that outweigh the additional time. As the weather cools down, it's time to put some extra consideration on where your vehicle is stored. Not only does cold weather subject your vehicle to damage, but environmental elements can be harmful as well. A garage may feel like a thing from the past, but it's always the best place to park. Below are three benefits to parking in a secured garage.  Protection from the elements. This is an obvious benefit because extreme weather can be your vehicle's worst enemy while it's parked. The sun's UV rays can also damage the paint and wreak havoc on the battery. Rainy weather can attract dirt and pollution that can eat away the paint and attract rust. Frigid San Diego winters can also leave e ... read more

Owning a BMW is an investment, and most BMW drivers are proud of the vehicle they have. BMW models are well-made, high performing, and are definitely a sight to see. They are also very technologically advanced, meaning that they run on very complex computer systems. With the increase in technology in these vehicles comes to chance to run into electrical problems over the time of your ownership. When it comes to modern BMW models, there are some common electrical problems that we see happening often with this intricate vehicles. While these electrical systems can happen with just about any modern car, these are just some of the problems that we have seen here at the shop which are common with BMW: CCC iDrive System Newer BMW models are equipped with the CCC iDrive System, which is a navigation and control system. This can have issues such as rebooting the system on its own, among other faults.  Failing Alternator A faili ... read more

The holidays will soon be here, and with it, the horrors of mall shopping for gifts and the traffic that comes with it… in the time of COVID-19, too. Traffic is going to get hot soon, and it’s important that you keep your cool on the road, whether alone or with your family. Have you ever noticed that the better behaved you are in traffic, the more likely it is that someone will absolutely take advantage of your good nature?  You’re following the speed limit, over to the right to let fast traffic through, letting in anyone who signals. You’re obeying all the rules, and giving adequate braking distance between you and the car ahead of you, when some %#$&# (let’s call this driver So-and-So from now on, even fake cursing is a bad habit) decides to put on their blinker and swerve right in front of you in the very same motion. Then the car ahead of them brakes... and the So-and-So has to hit their own brakes, forcing you to suddenly brake, too, sendi ... read more

Spark Plugs ignite fuel in the combustion chamber to create a small explosion to power the engine. Thus, spark plugs play an essential role in the ignition system. Spark plugs are made of durable material that can withstand millions of explosions. However, over time the spark plugs can become worn and corroded, leading to weaker and smaller sparks. If the spark plugs aren’t replaced, the engine performance will be drastically impacted with a loss of efficiency. In severe cases, worn spark plugs can cause the engine to misfire or fail to fire altogether. Below are five significant signs that your spark plugs need to be replaced.  Bad Gas Mileage  If the spark plugs are bad, you may need to make more frequent trips to the gas station. Faulty spark plugs can lead to a significant increase in fuel consumption, leaving a dent in your wallet.  Lack of Acceleration Power If your vehicle is struggling to accelerate and it takes longer ... read more

Although National Brake Month is actually the month of July, many auto mechanics, including the ones at Import Auto Specialists in San Diego, think October is the most important month for getting your brakes checked out and dealt with if they need repairs or parts replacement. Why is that? You know how important it is to have good working brakes. Losing control of a car in an emergency stop situation is a terrible situation. The best measures in your car -- in terms of not just your car’s care, but your own expenses -- is to be proactive with preventive repairs.  There are a variety of elements around October that make us mindful that people need to attend to their brakes: School’s back in session. With kids back out in the streets, and coming home in the late afternoon, you will once again have to worry about kids suddenly in the road. Not to mention inexperienced teenage drivers learning to drive for the first time in the midst of COVID19.  Halloween is at t ... read more

A vehicle’s alternator is a mechanical component that most drivers have heard of but may not know what it does. The alternator serves the essential function of keeping the car battery charged. It helps supply the power a driver needs to use a vehicle’s electronic accessories such as your headlights, radio, and ignition. It can come as a surprise when your car won’t start and lead you to suspect various causes. If you believe you may be experiencing problems with your alternator, below is a list of a few signs to look out for:  The Engine Smells like Burning Rubber or Wires If you notice an unusual odor of burnt rubber or wires, it could indicate that parts of the alternator have worn out. As you drive, the alternator’s drive belt stays under constant tension and friction. With time, it may wear out and emit an unpleasant smell. If the alternator is overworked, it will push too much electricity through its wires, causing them to heat u ... read more

At Import Auto Specialists, we do a lot of preventive maintenance work for the vehicles that come into our auto repair shop. When people start to compare Asian vehicles with European vehicles, our team will often hear the question, “What’s the main difference between Asian and European vehicle maintenance?”. In this month’s blog, without getting too technical, we will explain the main differences, plus the pros and cons of each category of vehicle. First and foremost, the main, number one difference between Asian and European vehicle maintenance is cost. Asian vehicles are mostly less expensive to maintain than European vehicles. Why is it more affordable to maintain Asian vehicles? Simply put, the parts for Asian cars are less expensive. Plus, their engines are designed to last for high mileage, like upwards of 250,000 miles.  European vehicles, on the other hand, have more expensive parts and the engines typically are not designed to last beyond ... read more