Drive a Car with Driving Tips and Guides

Being car considerate shouldn’t stop after the break-in. Drive with care every day and your car will reward you with longer intervals without repair.

• Do not race your car’s engine during start-up.This is a quick way to add years of wear to your engine, especially if it’s cold outside.
• Accelerate slowly when you begin your drive.The most wear to the engine and drive train occurs in the first ten to twenty minutes of operation.
• Warming the engine by letting it idle in the driveway is not a smart idea.The engine doesn’t operate at its peak temperature, resulting in incomplete fuel combustion, soot deposits on cylinder walls, oil contamination, and ultimately damaged components.
• Put less strain on your engine and automatic transmission by shifting to neutral at red lights. Otherwise, the engine is still working to push the car even while it’s stopped.
• Avoid driving at high speeds and accelerating quickly, especially when it’s very hot or very cold outside. Such driving behavior will result in more frequent repairs.
• Extend the life of your tires with careful driving. Observe posted speed limits. Avoid fast starts, stops, and turns. Avoid potholes and objects on the road. Don’t run over curbs or hit the tire against the curb when parking. And, of course, don’t burn rubber.
• When turning your steering wheel, don’t hold it in an extreme right or left position for more than a few seconds. Doing so can damage the power-steering pump.
• Consolidate your short driving trips. Most of the wear and tear — as well as the pollution your car generates — takes place in the first few minutes of driving. Doing several errands at once, during low traffic hours if possible, will keep your engine happier longer.

Finding A Good Automotive Repair Shop

Many people spend their time looking for a good repair shop, or perhaps taking the car back to the dealership which the vehicle was purchased from. Unaware that they could be saving money by taking their car to an independent repair shop. Sometimes finding a good repair shop can be a bit of a challenge. Knowing the signs to look for that make a good repair shop will definitely help. Or knowing the right questions to ask when you get there. Even going into a well run repair facility without knowing what to look for can result in a unpleasant experience. Poor service can result from not knowing the right things to be on the look out for, the right questions to ask, or the right info to give the service writer behind the counter.

Poor service can come from several different factors. I would not say that poor service is the customer’s fault, in fact it is quite the contrary. Most of the time when a customer receives poor service, it is because the shop is not managed well. There are things you as the consumer can learn to spot when a shop is not managed well. Many times a shop can appear well run and put together on the surface. If someone is not looking, they might miss some of the biggest signs. Knowing what to look for and what questions to ask will help the customer. It always helps to know what to be on the look out for and what information is the best to share with the service writer. You should also pay close attention to what questions the service writer is asking you. Informing yourself will help you. Educate yourself by asking people about their experiences. Where they had good service and what made it good. Online research can be very useful. Looking for articles written by someone in the repair industry would be a great help. They will know what kind of information will be needed and what will be useful. All of this will help you know what to be prepared with.

 

Pay close attention to the way that the service writer makes you feel. Your intuition is very important and you should count on it, trust it. Is this some one you feel you can trust? Someone that you feel wants to work with you to accommodate your automotive needs? After all, it is your hard earned money that you will be spending. You should feel comfortable with the recommendations that the repair shop is giving you about your vehicle. You should also feel confident in the work that is being performed.

 

A well informed consumer will be be able to spot a well managed shop. They will also be able to know what kind of questions to be asking at the repair shop. As well as what kind of information to be prepared with when walking into the repair facility. It is important to be aware of what kind of questions the service writer is asking you. With all of this information, a customer will be able to find a good automotive repair shop. One that will value them as a customer as well as fill all of their automotive needs. Keeping all of this in mind will help you as the customer find the right repair facility.

Read 2014 winter Driving Safety Tips

Read 2014 winter Driving Safety Tips

How to Prepare your Car for a Long Road Trip?

Are you preparing to long road trip? Regardless of your destination, you know one thing to be true: your car will be put to the test.

Of course, you don’t want to shy away from your trip because you are worried about your car letting you down. Instead, there are steps you can take to prepare your vehicle for the open road.

Here are five preparation tips to consider:

1. Schedule a checkup. When an experienced auto mechanic looks over your car before you hit the road, you can be rest assured that everything will be in good working condition. If it isn’t, you can schedule the necessary repairs before getting behind the wheel.

2. Are your brakes in good condition? While every aspect of your vehicle is crucial to its performance, there are not many details more important than the brakes. We offer a variety of brake services, ensuring that your car is safe and reliable.

3. Inspect your tires. Do you have enough tread on each tire? How is the tire pressure? If there is something wrong with even one tire it could spell disaster during your road trip. From a blowout to a flat, you are taking a big risk.

4. Check the fluids. Checking the oil, coolant, brake, and wiper fluids can help you avoid an unnecessary maintenance issue. Unless you have the knowledge to do this yourself, have a professional help you out.

5. Wash your car. You may not see the point in this, being that it will likely get dirty again, but there are benefits. For example, this will remove any grime and debris from the windows, allowing you to clearly see the road around you.

With these five tips in mind, preparing your car for a long road trip can be a simple process. This is particularly true if you stop by our shop and let us know that you are taking your car on the road for an extended trip.

Finding a Trustworthy Auto Repair Shop In San Jose

Finding a Trustworthy Auto Repair Shop In San Jose are not hard to find if you really want to look for one. All you need is an extra time and patience. Being impatient will lead you to go to the first auto repair shop that you pass by. Impulsiveness in your decision will not help you in finding the best auto repair shop that can work on your vehicle effectively.

How do you find a good auto repair shop?

There are many ways to find or locate a good auto repair shop. You can ask from your fellow workers, family, relatives and friends on which auto repair shops they have visited that gives good services and have nice facilities. You can also check out the web and visit their websites. You must then visit their shop as well to see their establishments yourself.  And more importantly, the quality of their services should be considered and not merely on how the shop appears.

In San Jose, there are lots of auto repair shops that have been known to provide their customers with great quality services. You just have to find one that is more accessible to your daily trip, either near your office or your home.

These auto repair shops in San Jose can handle anything regarding your car problems like engine repairs, tune-ups, shocks replacement, air condition repairs, brakes, manual and automatic transmissions, belts, clutches and many more.  They also offer extended nationwide warranty on repairs and parts that their shop have replaced. Companies that provide warranty to their services is one factor that assures you of an excellent service.

How would you know a good and trustworthy repair shop?

Trustworthy auto repair shops should have functional facilities and friendly attendants. They should have a clean working environment. A waiting area should also be present to make you feel at home and that their customers will feel very comfortable while waiting for their cars to be fixed.

Are there any good repair shops in
Finding a Trustworthy Auto Repair Shop In San Jose are not hard to find if you really want to look for one. All you need is an extra time and patience. Being impatient will lead you to go to the first auto repair shop that you pass by. Impulsiveness in your decision will not help you in finding the best auto repair shop that can work on your vehicle effectively.

How do you find a good auto repair shop?

There are many ways to find or locate a good auto repair shop. You can ask from your fellow workers, family, relatives and friends on which auto repair shops they have visited that gives good services and have nice facilities. You can also check out the web and visit their websites. You must then visit their shop as well to see their establishments yourself.  And more importantly, the quality of their services should be considered and not merely on how the shop appears.

In San Jose, there are lots of auto repair shops that have been known to provide their customers with great quality services. You just have to find one that is more accessible to your daily trip, either near your office or your home.

These auto repair shops in San Jose can handle anything regarding your car problems like engine repairs, tune-ups, shocks replacement, air condition repairs, brakes, manual and automatic transmissions, belts, clutches and many more.  They also offer extended nationwide warranty on repairs and parts that their shop have replaced. Companies that provide warranty to their services is one factor that assures you of an excellent service.

How would you know a good and trustworthy repair shop?

Trustworthy auto repair shops should have functional facilities and friendly attendants. They should have a clean working environment. A waiting area should also be present to make you feel at home and that their customers will feel very comfortable while waiting for their cars to be fixed.

Are there any good repair shops in San Jose?

Yes! There are good repair shops in San Jose who can offer you the most convenient facilities, efficient and reliable services and friendly staff. To find them, simply remember to look for Auto repair shops that are ASE certified. They are bound to follow the laws that are provided by the State of California. As the competition is also stiff, they always make sure to provide their customers the latest in technology used in car repairs.

Why Do We Get Carsick?

To avoid getting carsick, here are a few tips:

• Sit in the front seat when possible.
• Have ginger candies on hand.
• Roll down the windows for fresh air.
• When possible, go to sleep.
• Avoid reading while riding in a car.
• Avoid riding backwards.
• Have plenty of drinking water available.
• To avoid vomiting, try not to eat too much before or during a road trip.

Although we cannot prevent car sickness, we can make certain your vehicle is roadworthy and safe. To schedule your pre-road trip safety inspection, contact San Jose Auto Repair at (408) 258-6625.

How to Know If Your Vehicle Needs an Oil Change?

For many people, maintaining a vehicle simply does not come naturally. And that makes sense, because life continues to get busier and busier for most people. With the several things to accomplish on your checklist, car maintenance is often overlooked. Unfortunately, this can lead to problems. As with anything, a vehicle needs some “TLC” (tender loving care) to continue running properly and to get you from “point A” to “point B” on a daily basis.

One of the most important things you can do for proper car maintenance is to get an oil change. Doing so keeps your car’s engine happy and healthy. When your oil is old, or when you car has run out of oil, your engine can easily overheat, leading to major, and possibly permanent, car damage. Here are some ways to know if it is time to get an oil change.

Your Engine Oil Is Black
Even if you don’t consider yourself to be very good with cars, you can easily check your oil. Open the hood of your car and find the oil dipstick. If you are not sure where this is, find the cap (usually black) that will likely have a symbol of an oil can on it. Pull out the stick carefully (which will often have a yellow loop handle, but not always). Take a rag and wipe the dipstick clean. First, notice the color of the oil. Does it look like fresh oil or is it black and smudgy? If it is black, you’re due for an oil change. Dip the stick back in the oil and pull it out again. Compare how high the oil comes to the markings on the stick. Is the oil level as high as it should be? If not, this is another indicator that it is time for an oil change.If you are not comfortable checking the oil on your own, bring your vehicle in to our shop. We will help you know whether or not it’s time for your oil change.

Your Engine Makes Noticeable Noises
Have you noticed that your engine is running more loudly than usual? If so, you may need an oil change. Oil helps your engine run smoothly. When oil has run low, or out completely, the insides of your engine will grind together, creating loud noises that you will likely not be able to miss. This is definitely something to get taken care of immediately, as an engine running without oil can, once again, cause serious engine damage.

Your Vehicle Hasn’t Had an Oil Change in Several Months
If you cannot remember the last time you got your car’s oil changed, it is time for an oil change. To keep your vehicle’s engine running properly, you should get a change approximately every 3,000 miles or every three months, depending on which comes first. Having clean oil can help you get better gas mileage, in addition to keeping your engine healthy, so it is good to stay on top of it. You may have a sticker in the top left corner of your windshield from your last oil change visit, which can tell you if it’s time for a change based on your mileage.

If it’s time for an oil change, give our friendly experts a call at (408) 258-6625. We will make sure you get the best oil change in San Jose.