San Diego Auto Repair

Welcome to Import’s April blog.  When you first get into a new car, there’s the adjustment period where you learn what you can about the bells and whistles. Sooner or later, we want to get the most out of our sound system, for great tunes during our commutes. With the fun of experimentation, we sometimes experience the disappointment of a wrong turn that leaves us worse off than when we began. There’s also the other factor to consider: the danger of changing your car stereo system from the factory defaults. It isn’t always an improvement, and can lead to heartache with your electrical system. At Import Auto, we have a few suggestions on what to do to get the most out of your car’s factory-embedded music system (without putting your sound system in grave danger). Leave things as they are. Try to leave the bass and treble settings alone where possible, because those presets were designed to reach the entire vehicle evenly. Adjusting them may shift th ... read more

Welcome to March, and the first moments of Spring!  If you’re itching to get outside, there are so many adventures that you and your family can enjoy. That is why this month, we are highlighting some of the best outdoor events in the San Diego area. Four things to do around San Diego during March: Do you love surrounding yourself with flowers? If flowers make your heart melt, consider visiting the Flower Fields of Carlsbad. This garden is impressive and beautiful in its size and colors. But, be sure to bring your allergy medications for when you start sneezing or experience itchy eyes.  Speaking of gardens, the San Diego Botanic Garden is an excellent destination for people of all ages. With four miles of garden trails and vistas, you, the kids, the grandparents, and extended family can spend some quality time together among flowering trees and plants. Again, make sure you wear a mask and pack extra allergy meds, just in case.  During non-pandemic circumstance ... read more

Welcome to February! We’ve got the Super Bowl in one week and Valentine‘s Day in two weeks. That’s two jam-packed weekends to get through.  As we make our plans for Valentine’s day, we’ve got love and affection on our minds. And the recurring theme is the neglectful car owner who realizes too late they want the car they own.  Over time, you may have become fickle with the love you’ve shown your car. You may have cut corners and refused to give your vehicle the care it needs to survive. Here are some steps to loving your car back to life! Inspection - the first step to solving any problem is identifying it. An assessment helps determine what life remains in your vehicle and what work you will need to do if you intend to maintain the car. If your vehicle is too far gone to come back, or if the cost will exceed getting a new car, this is where you tend to find out. Fluid exchange - if there’s life le ... read more

This December, some new drivers may wake up Christmas morning to find keys to a car in their stocking. As they prepare to move out of the home and on to college, parents are buying their kids used cars, more and more, as their ‘starter’ car.    If you’ve been thinking of a car to pair with your new driver, U.S. News and World Report has done a very comprehensive look at the best used cars for new drivers. Here’s a look at what they found out!   The features most parents want their kids’ first car to have are very safety-focused:   Driver Assistance features - forward collision warning automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and teen driver controls (with notifications for parents) Strong predicted reliability ratings Excellent crash test scores   The things that we most important to avoid were the unsafe elements:   Sports cars - showy cars that go to drivers’ heads High seating cap ... 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

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

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