How to Prevent Your Car Battery From Running Down

The car battery is responsible for many of your vehicle’s functions when the engine is switched off.  Windshield wipers, lights, your radio and any device plugged into your vehicle such as an MP3 player will all work off your auto battery when the engine is not running.  And just like any other rechargeable battery, the power will drain away to nothing if you don’t look after it and keep it charged.

Of course the easiest way to charge your battery is to go for a drive.  One of the worst things you can do to degrade your battery’s life cycle is to drive infrequently and for short periods at a time.  Your battery ideally needs to go through its full charging cycle as often as possible.  Another reason you may sap your battery’s strength is if you attach a lot of devices inside your vehicle.  GPS receivers, MP3 players and cellphones create more draw on the battery power and will eventually run the battery down if you are not careful.  This is the last thing you want on a hot or cold Monday morning.

And speaking of temperatures, exposing your car battery to high temperatures can cause problems with the chemical reaction that makes your battery work.  Cold weather can also have an adverse effect causing the chemical reactions inside the battery to slow down and this can mean your car takes longer to start on a frosty morning.

Arranging Car Battery Replacement

When it comes to car battery replacement, the typical car battery requires replacement every 4 years, but this can differ depending on the vehicle, your type of battery and how you look after it.  The good news is that changing a car battery is relatively inexpensive.  The bad news is that there is little indication to tell you that your car battery might be nearing the end of its life, and that is why it is important to have it checked at each oil change.  Often car batteries die without warning and this is when you will need a battery replacement service.

San Jose Auto Repair

5 Common Car Maintenance Tasks You Should Not Avoid

From wheel alignment to brake repairs and oil changes, there are certain car maintenance tasks that many people forget or totally ignore.

1. Changing the Oil – Your Vehicle’s Lifeblood

Without oil, your vehicle would eventually seize up completely.  Oil keeps your engine alive, firing on all cylinders and keeps your car performing effectively for thousands of miles.  It’s so important that you listen to your engine and check your oil levels regularly.  At San Jose Auto Repair, we offer oil change services and will ensure your engine is well lubricated and functioning perfectly. 

2. Brakes – Your First Line of Defense

Failing to arrange brake checks or brake repairs could be catastrophic if you need to stop in an emergency.  You never know what is around the next corner and it is important that your brakes are able to respond to your every move.  If you notice that your brakes are ‘spongy’, making a humming or scraping noise or are less responsive than usual, call  San Jose Auto Repair to arrange a brake check and any necessary brake repairs. 

3. Battery Maintenance – Avoid Total Vehicle Failure

The good news is that batteries today don’t need much in the way of maintenance, but we do advise a battery check at least once a year.  Many batteries indicate on the dashboard if they are malfunctioning, but with older vehicles, problems can all be down to guesswork.  If you are unsure whether your battery is in perfect working order, a quick check will put your mind at rest.  A dead battery could leave you high and dry by the side of the road or stuck at home when you should be out and about. 

4. Keeping Your Air Filter Squeaky Clean

One of the most common jobs we carry out at our auto repair shop is air filter changes.  A dirty or faulty air filter can cause damage to your vehicle’s engine and cause it to burn up more fuel.  We can arrange an air filter check and oil level check or change at your convenience. 

5. Under Pressure – Rotating and Inflating Tires

It is so important that you check tire pressure especially before a long road journey.  If your tires are not inflated correctly, they could wear down quicker or be less reliable on the road. We can arrange a complete tire check and inflate and rotate them as necessary so that they wear evenly and give you the best value for money and safety. 

Checking Your Spark Plugs

What is the condition of your spark plugs?
 

If you don’t skills to answer that question, then please take into account the subsequent hints and tips for sleuthing hassle.

How do they look?

A good sparking plug with be light-weight grey or tan in color. it'll not have a good deal of abrasion. once the color varies from this recommendation, it might mean that the sparking plug must get replaced. you must conjointly look to make certain that there aren’t any deposits between electrodes. it's a symptom of AN oil leak or poor fuel quality.

Is there AN abnormal sheen?

When wet fouling happens, it will create the highest of the sparking plug seem shiny or oily. It happens once a gasket fails, once the pistons’ oil ring malfunctions, or once there area unit underlying valvetrain issues. This is often not an honest issue and may produce issues once beginning the automobile.
On the opposite hand, the sparking plug shouldn't have a matte coating on that either. This, spoken as dry fouling, may also result in misfiring. It will be caused by a clogged carburetor.

Has the nonconductor broken?
Around the inner tip (the center electrode) of a sparking plug, there's a nonconductor. Once this is often broken or broken the automobile is probably going to misfire. Breakage is commonly the results of culminant thermal enlargement, hot temperature changes. AN example of this is often cold fuel being sprayed on a really hot sparking plug.

San Jose Auto Repair 

Learn the signs of a dishonest car shop and avoid getting scammed when you go in for repairs

To help you weed out the good from the bad, we’ve compiled a list of things to look out for when you take your car in for repairs. If your mechanic starts raising any of these red flags, it’s probably time for a second opinion.

1. Watch for the Scare Factor.  When a mechanic says things like “I wouldn’t drive this car another mile” or employs other scare tactics to discourage you from leaving the lot, it’s probably a good idea to do just that. After all, the car got you there; it’ll likely make it down the street to another garage.
2. Look for Certifications. ASE certification, or seals of certification from ASA, AAA and other auto industry groups should be prominently displayed in a reputable shop. These seals inspire a sense of trust and tell you that the shop owner takes his reputation seriously. If you don’t see these kinds of certifications on display, ask why.
3. Question, Question, Question!  Ask how long they’ve been in business. Ask for alternate recommendations. Ask about the equipment. Any mechanic who says “I don’t need fancy equipment” should be avoided. Go ahead: Ask, ask, and ask. A reputable mechanic will have the answers.
4. Get It In Writing. Never sign a blank work authorization form. Always get a written estimate before you put your mechanic to work. And don’t forget to ask about warranties!  Any decent mechanic should guarantee his work.
5. Don’t Do Double Labor. If a mechanic is going to charge two labor costs, ask how long the total job will take. Some will charge you double labor even though they can essentially perform both tasks at the same time.
6. Ask for Your Old Parts Back. This seems frivolous, but getting back your old parts will ensure that they were indeed replaced—and in need of replacement in the first place.
7. Don’t Take No for an Answer. No, your check engine light shouldn’t be on all the time. And it isn’t “probably a loose gas cap.” Any mechanic who shrugs off an indicator like this should be dropped—fast.  If the check engine light is on, there’s a reason. And you should find out what it is.
8. Don’t Fall for the Flush. We see this one all the time. Coolant flushes and power steering flushes are commonly offered by quick lube shops and touted as necessary repairs. But check your owner’s manual: Chances are your fluid was designed to go 100,000+ miles without needing a flush. Also, fuel injectors never need to be cleaned by a mechanic (there are additives for that). This falls under the category of car care you can do yourself.
9. Consult Your Dealer! Sometimes, a faulty part will be covered by a warranty or recall, and can be repaired by the dealership for free. Run a check before you give a mechanic the go ahead.
10. Do Your Homework. Shop around. Get a second opinion. Hey, Google it! Just because a mechanic shows you metal shavings from your transmission doesn’t mean it’s done for. (Those metal filings are probably a result of normal wear.) A little bit of due diligence will help keep you safe, your car in tip-top shape, and those shady mechanics at bay.

San Jose Auto Repair

How to Avoid A Costly Car Repair Job With Proper Maintenance

The answer will depend on how much money you are prepared to put into your car repair bills. Oil, as most of you probably know is the life blood of your car and when your engine is running low or dry on oil it will likely seize up. The question you need to ask yourself when your oil light comes on, is do you feel lucky? If you miscalculate and drive with no oil in your car to lubricate your engine, you will end up with a very costly car repair job. Most likely the engine will have to be rebuilt or replaced if it does in fact seize up. The alternative is to stop driving and check your oil as soon as you can safely do so.

To check your oil, park your car on level ground where you will be out of the way of traffic. You should make sure your engine is cold or at least coolant then pull out the oil dipstick and wipe it off. Reinsert the dipstick and pull it out again being careful to not hold it upside down for your reading. If your oil on the dipstick is at the bottom reading or absent you need to add oil. If your reading is in the middle range of the dipstick you are probably okay but if your light is still on, you may have a malfunctioning light that should be looked at.

Once you add a few quarts of oil, or whatever amount the dipstick indicates you need, recheck your dipstick to ensure your oil levels are where they should be.

Ideally you should have a funnel, a rag and a few quarts of oil at the ready in your car so you are prepared to handle maintenance emergencies on the fly. But of course the best way to avoid the problem in the first place is to make sure you check your oil regularly and have your oil and oil filters changed out as your car manufacture recommends.

San Jose Auto Repair

You and Your Cars Brakes

It is very important you get your brakes inspected and fixed when something goes wrong. You can avoid getting scammed by taking your car to a reliable auto repair center for a quality brake inspection or brake repair. A car's brake system is complex, so it needs proper care and maintenance.

If you suspect that there may be a problem with your brake system, you should get it checked out soon. The experts say that brakes should be checked every 6 months. If your brakes are making loud noises, squeaking, grinding, going down too low, or not functioning correctly, you need to get it checked out. If you need to put a lot of pressure to make the brakes work, you probably need to fix them. If you ignore these symptoms you can hurt yourself or someone else, so be careful. Keep in mind that brake pads also need to be replaced after a while. If you do not replace your pads when they wear out, you will damage your rotors.

If you are experiencing a problem, it may mean that you are low on brake fluid. If your brake fluid level is low, top if off as soon as possible or tell your brake repair mechanic to do it for you.

When you take your car to an auto repair center or brake repair mechanic, make sure he also checks your brake fluid. If you are low on brake fluid, you may experience problems.

You will save money and prevent a lot of serious damage by inspecting your brake system twice a year and fixing problems when they arise. Bear in mind that most mechanics complete brake repairs on the same day.

Your brake system is one of the most important parts of your car, so make sure they are in good working order. If you fix your brake problems, you will feel good knowing that you and your family are safe on the road. The truth is that when you drive, the brakes bring your car to a complete stop. If you drive with defective brakes, you may encounter a serious problem or situation.

Oil or grease on the brakes can cause brake failure because it interferes with friction. Also, when the brakes overheat to a high degree, the metal develops spots. These spots resist friction from the brake pads, which leads to a loss of brake power.

San Jose Auto Repair