Solana Beach Auto Repair

2015: Changes for Auto Repair Solana Beach The biggest news this year is the retirement of Dennis and Barbara Smith from local Solana Beach auto repair shop D&B Auto. After 35 amazing years serving our community, D&B Automotive closed its doors on December 31. Dennis and Barbara's very loyal customers will miss them. However, as of March 1st, DRIVE AutoCare will be expanding into this location at 128 North Cedros to service D&B's customers without interruption. Also, D&B’s services are expanding to include general automotive repair and vehicle customization. Also this year, in October, California Import Auto and North Coast Alignment Center were re-branded as DRIV ... read more

The Petersen Automotive Museum LA -- A Must See (Inside and Out) The Petersen Automotive Museum LA recently reopened after a 14-month, $90 million redesign. The improvements include an amazing exterior and 95,000 square feet of exhibition space. There's no question you will find the new collection of cars and motorcycles to be nothing short of breathtaking. The museum is open every day from 10am-6pm and is located at 6060 Wilshire Blvd., in downtown Los Angeles. The museum's collection contains more than 300 vehicles. However the museum only displays about 150 at any one time which means the exhibits are constantly rotating. A large part of the museum’s focus is to collect and preserve historic vehicles. A great deal of importance is placed on acquiring significant vehicles of all shapes, sizes, makes, models, and purposes. Their original donation was a r ... read more

Do You Have A Spare Tire? Do you have a spare tire? No, not the got a spare tire around your waist, the one that should be in your trunk. Got A Spare Tire? Many new cars don't come with a spare tire anymore (half of the cars manufactured in 2015 did not have a spare) and it's one of the few things about your car that you really need to care about. If you ever have a tire problem, you can bet it will be at the worst possible time and place. Even if you belong to an auto club or have break-down coverage, things get complicated if you don't have a spare tire for them to install. We'll be glad to check your air pressure and adjust as necessary. And if your car didn't come with a spare tire, we advise you to carry a can of Fix-A-Flat in your trunk. Fix-A-Flat will inf ... read more

Auto Repair Customers are 65% Women The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence estimates that Auto Repair Customers are 65% Women.  And 9 out of 10 women responding to a recent Car Care Council survey said they believe auto repair shop operators treat them differently because they are women. Kelly Johnson, Service Manager DRIVE AutoCare 128 N. Cedros Ave, Solana Beach, CA At DRIVE AutoCare we understand women may not always feel as comfortable in an Auto Repair Shop as men but that is certainly not an excuse to treat them any different. We love our women customers and we are taking the following steps to improve the experience of our female customers: We have the ONLY female Service Manager in North County San Diego When customers walk in our door, we always do our best to welcome them and make them feel comfortable When explaining repair and maintenance issues, we use laymen&rsquo ... read more

Don't Neglect Car Maintenance Following these 6 Tips to Improve Car Performance with the help of your favorite auto repair shop will increase automotive value, comfort and safety: Pay Attention To The Check Engine Light: According to CarMd.com, 10% of all drivers have a check engine light on at any time and 50% of those drivers ignore the light for more than 3 months. Ignoring a "check engine light" can be an expensive mistake that impacts fuel economy and have a snowball effect that can cause other problems or even risk safety. The #1 reason for a check engine light is a malfunctioning oxygen sensor which costs less than $500 to fix but ignoring it can reduce gas mileage by as much as 40%. Change Your Oil and Other Fluids Regularly: The most common mistake drivers make is to extend oil change intervals ... read more

Nothing will shorten your car's engine life faster than missed oil changes. Changing motor oil is a simple, inexpensive service that’s widely touted as the single most important part of your car’s maintenance schedule. Motor oil’s primary function is to cut friction. Over time, oil accumulates contaminants and loses viscosity and the resulting friction causes engine parts to rub together. Parts wear out faster and the damage caused is largely irreversible without an engine overhaul or replacement. But advances in technology and increased consumer awareness have created some confusion regarding the proper interval between oil changes. So, how often should you change your oil? It really comes down to the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule for oil change intervals as their guidelines are designed to keep your car in good running condition for a long time. To make life ea ... read more

It's the great debate of the Independent Repair Shop Vs Dealership! David Vs Goliath! But what do studies actually say about this heated topic? We hear it all the time, "I'm a dealer guy, I always bring my car to the dealer for repairs." So we've wondered, are dealers a better value than your local mechanic? We may have a slight bias on this topic but who better to ask for a fair and balanced view than Consumer Reports. Consumer Reports 2015 Repair Satisfaction Survey found that when your car is ailing, odds are that you’ll be more satisfied with an independent repair shop than with a new-car dealership. The annual survey of Consumer Reports subscribers found that independents outscored dealership service once again for overall satisfaction, price, quality, courteousness of the staff, and work being completed when promised. With few exceptions, the entire list of independent ... read more

If you're wondering whether your car needs an alignment, first look at your tires. Uneven tire wear is a prime indicator that your car is likely out of alignment. Here are a few more indicators: your car seems to be drifting to one side, even when you think you're driving straight your steering wheel vibrates you are driving straight, but your steering wheel isn't centered Even if none of these indicators have occurred and it's been a while since your last alignment, you should check your owner's manual for the manufacturer's recommend service interval. An out-of-alignment car is a common result of everyday driving where your car's suspension can become worn and the springs can be stretched out. The alignment process restores the car's suspension into its proper configuration, positioning and adjusting components so that the wheels are aligned with one another ... read more