San Diego Auto Repair

Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash   Welcome to the June blog! This month, we’re having a look at some of the coolest cars in television and film.   We’re skipping cars that are mostly made up of the adventurer’s exploits and going to cars that do exceptional things.   5.  Pursuit Special, Mad Max, 1979: Also known as The Interceptor, this was Max Rockatansky’s police pursuit vehicle in Mad Max and the sequels. Set in a dystopian future where gas had run out, outlaw societies form based on fuel dependence and access.  Max’s car had all sorts of custom riggings, including booby traps for those not mechanically minded, to ens ... 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

  Top Gifts for the Car Lover in Your Life    When someone loves their car, often the most thoughtful gift you can give is… car accessories or a spa day!   Car Detailing Gift Certificate to a nearby auto spa is a truly generous and thoughtful gift. There is nothing more satisfying than to climb into your ride and breathe deeply surrounded by a new car smell with gleaming leather and clean carpeting surrounding you. Your car lover will be so grateful when they are driving their sparkling clean vehicle.   A Portable Jump box is an excellent safety device to make your loved one feel protected and well cared for. You can pick one up for well under $100, and they often have an emergency light and have a USB port on them to charge your cell phone if needed in a pinch.   Car Covers are especially nice to use when preserving your paint from harsh weather and the suns penetrating UV rays. Showing your partner that you care deeply ab ... read more

We all hear it as car owners, don’t we? Come into the auto repair shop for minor service or major service. But what does it mean? For every car brand, there are unique nuances to what minor service and major service involves. For the most part, vehicles need check-ups and maintenance as their mileage increases. That is why you’ll hear numbers like 7500 miles, 15,000 miles, 30,000 miles, 45,000 miles, 60,000 miles, 75,000 miles, 90,000 miles, etc. But what do these numbers mean? Of course, you’ll want to consult the Owners Manual for your vehicle for specific information. But generally speaking, minor service is to be performed between every 10K - 15K miles. This minor service generally includes the following:   Oil change Tire rotation Tire inspection Brake inspection Lubrication and inspection of chassis Fluid inspection Belt and hose inspection The goal for the minor service is to check on the vehicle’s health and make sure nothing appears to be ... read more

We are so lucky to live, work, and play in San Diego. Not only is it a beautiful place to live, but we don’t have to deal with yucky weather (for the most part). Even though our climate and surroundings lack the snow scene on a Christmas card, there are still some amazing San Diego locations to see the holiday lights. At Import Auto Specialists, we love celebrating the holidays. One of our favorite holiday activities is to hop in the car with the family and go see the Christmas lights. Here are our top five places to visit around San Diego:   Starlight Circle is located in Santee, and it’s awesome! You’ll see a massive lights display coming from several homes located on East and West Glendon circles off Magnolia Avenue. The lights are usually on from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly. If you’re lucky and extra nice, the kind residents may share some of their Christmas treats with ... read more

We had a 2005 Acura RL in with a warning on the dashboard indicating low oil. The oil level was checked and found to be at proper level. We decided to change the oil first before beginning tear down to check the condition of the oil and check for any possible sludge buildup. The oil looked good. Manually checked oil pressure and it was intermittently testing low. The oil pump was not pumping sufficient amount of oil to the top end of the engine and needed to be replaced. Quite a timely process, but needed to be done before any damage is done to the engine. It was good we got to the problem now as after replacement of the oil pump, the warning is gone, the engine is running like a champ and the customer does not need to replace the motor! ... read more