Solana Beach Auto Repair

At DRIVE AutoCare, our business is designed with your safety and convenience in mind. With our Concierge Service you can get your vehicle serviced without leaving your home or office! This complimentary service is another example of our commitment to customer service excellence. Concierge Service from Your Home or Office With DRIVE AutoCare’s Concierge Service you can get your vehicle serviced without leaving your home or office! The process is simple: Schedule your service by making an appointment. Make your appointment here.   We pick-up your vehicle at the agreed-upon time. We bring your vehicle to DRIVE AutoCare and complete the services you’ve scheduled. When your repair service is complete, we’ll return your vehicle to your home or office. Even payment is simple through our remote payment option. We keep you in the loop throughout the entire process! &nbs ... read more

We understand that this month's back to school season looks a little different than usual. Your children may be in smaller class sizes, may have to wear their mask at school, or might be learning from home virtually. Even though back to school looks different, this is still a great time of the year to catch up on your vehicle's maintenance and ensure that your car will be safe on the road.  The summer can actually take quite a toll on our vehicles, which is why a pre-fall inspection is so important. Getting your vehicle ready for the changing season and the increase in driving is critical so that you don't have to deal with any unexpected vehicle breakdowns or major repairs any time soon.  Here are the vehicle maintenance items to take care of now:  Tires - check that your tires have proper air pressure and are in condition, meaning that they have good tread and there is no obvious sign of wear and tear.   Oil change - be sure to have your oil chang ... read more

Stepping on your brakes to slow down your vehicle and finding a spongy brake pedal can be alarming. The brake pedal may feel like it doesn't offer the same pressure as it did before, which can raise some red flag when it comes to your brake's performance. If there's no pressure in your brakes, there's definitely a reason and the cause is typically due to brake fluid. Let's take a look at the potential causes and what to do next.  The brake system is hydraulic, which means that it uses brake fluid in order to create pressure which helps activate the brakes when you press down on the brake pedal. If there is air in the brake line or your brake fluid is suddenly low, then the system won't be able to work properly. If you're dealing with soft brakes, something is wrong with the brake fluid.  Typically, a problem with the brake lines is due to a leak somewhere in the system which is causing brake fluid loss or there is a bad seal in the master cylinde ... read more

DRIVE AutoCare has been monitoring the coronavirus updates from the State of California and the local San Diego government. We are doing everything in our power to keep our shop open so that we can keep your car on the road. You can count on us at a time like this especially if you need our help. For your peace of mind, we are adhering to the following guidelines in our shop as suggested by the CDC and other medical professionals: – We are continuing to disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as light switches, doorknobs, handles, restrooms, counters, tables, and furniture multiple times throughout the day. – Our technicians wear disposable gloves while working on the interior & exterior of your vehicle. – Your vehicle’s steering wheel and gear shift are covered with a protective plastic covering. – Your car’s interior, including the dashboard and door handles, are sanitized before your vehicle is returned to you. – Our staff is re ... read more

July 4th is a celebrated day here in America because it symbolizes our freedom and the independence of our nation. We know that Independence Day this year will look a lot different than in previous years. Festivals will be canceled and fireworks shows may not run. However, there are still ways in which you can enjoy the holiday while keeping safe during the pandemic.  Even though you won't be able to have your usual parties or attend your usual festivities, you can still enjoy the day with loved ones, fire up the grill, and enjoy some small fireworks at home. If you're planning on going to a family member or friend's home, you'll be on the road with many other drivers. Safety should be a priority, so here are some tips on how to enjoy the day safely and without incident:  Since we are still in the midst of a pandemic, be sure to follow recommendations by the CDC which including wearing a mask in public, washing your hands regularly, sanitizing ... read more

Having trouble finding hand sanitizer at your local store?  Don’t worry!  DRIVE AutoCare has got you covered.  While supplies last, drop into our offices for a free bottle!  By now we know that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends using hand sanitizer to reduce the spread of coronavirus. But did you know they published guidelines for how to use hand sanitizer?  We didn’t either!  Here are all the details you’ve been longing for… 60% Alcohol Choose a hand sanitizer with at least 60-percent alcohol. Hand sanitizer with less than 60-percent alcohol may not kill many types of germs and tends to just reduce the number of germs versus destroying them. How to Use Hand Sanitizer Ever read the instructions on a bottle of shampoo?  Well, the guidelines for using hand sanitizer are similar.  First, apply the product into the palm of one. Next, rub the product all over the surfaces of your hands.  Finally, allo ... read more

Getting into your vehicle to find that it won’t start up can be extremely stressful. You look around frantically to see if you may have left on a light or if a door was left open. While sometimes you find that you left your headlights on and your battery has most likely died, other times the cause of the no start isn’t as obvious. If you’re having trouble starting your vehicle, give the experts a call at DRIVE AutoCare in Solana Beach. Our ASE certified technicians are experienced with all makes and models of vehicles and will be able to determine the exact cause of your no start issue.  Often times, a no-start car can indicate a battery problem. A dead battery can be jump-started back to life if there is still some charge left. However, if the battery is very old, it may be time to replace it. Typically, your vehicle’s battery needs to be replaced every 3-5 years. Our experts can test your battery to see how much power it has left and determine if a ... read more

Is your car making strange noises while driving? When your vehicle is telling you something, its best not to ignore it. A strange noise can definitely be an indication that there is an issue with your vehicle, and understand what you hear and when it happens can help narrow down where the problem is stemming from.  If you do hear a strange noise, don’t ignore it! The best thing to do is to make a mental note of when the noise happens and what it sounds like. If the noise is persistent and doesn't go away, we recommend getting your vehicle into DRIVE AutoCare as soon as possible. The sooner we get the issue taken care of, the less repairs that will be needed and the better off your vehicle will be.  Here are some of the most common noises heard while driving:  Squealing, screeching, or grinding while braking Sputtering or rattling exhaust noises from underneath the car Chirping or squealing noise from under the hood Humming, growling or roaring noise while ... read more

To DRIVE AutoCare customers: I know we are all managing an influx of information - it’s a lot. We wanted to take a moment to let you know that we are taking COVID-19 seriously. At this time we are open during our regular business hours, Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm. We are considered a “critical” business providing State Inspections as well as providing service to first responders, health care workers, those of us who care for loved ones, need to see a doctor, electricians, plumbers, city officials, day care workers and the list goes on. We will be here to help you as long as is possible. We know you need your vehicle to be safe and dependable so if you should need our services just give us a call at 858-755-5015 (Highway 101) or 858-793-0560 (N. Cedros). Our priority is the health and safety of our customers, employees and community. We have and will continue to take the necessary precautions to ensure this. If you’re hesitant to leave the house, just requ ... read more

All front wheel drive and four wheel drive vehicles are equipped with parts called the CV axles. The CV axles are an integral part of the suspension system. It is essentially a shaft that has two CV, or constant velocity, joints at the end of either side. These joints are in place to allow the axle shaft to spin as the suspension goes up and down when you steer your vehicle. A front wheel drive vehicle will have two, one for the passenger side and one of the driver's side. In an all wheel driver vehicle, you'll have the two mentioned above plus two in the rear.  The CV joints on either end of the axles are covered with a rubber boot that will hold in grease and prevent dirt and water from getting inside the axle and joints. Eventually, these boots can wear out just with regular use of your vehicle. When the rubber boots are worn, grease can seep out and dirt and water can enter into the joints, causing suspension system issues.  A CV axle re ... read more