Solana Beach Auto Repair

Prepare Your Car For Summer in Del Mar Rancho Santa Fe Solana Beach Prepare Your Car For Summer in Del Mar Rancho Santa Fe Solana Beach because warmer temperatures can be hard on a vehicle.  With the right precautions, though, you can minimize the toll that heat and sun take on your car. Here are five tips to prepare your car for summer: 1. Check air pressure in your tires: It's critical to have properly inflated tires to assure the best possible contact between the tires and the road. An improperly inflated tire can overheat, potentially leading to a blowout on the highway.  Check your owner's manual or the driver side door jamb to find the correct tire pressure. Check the pressure in the morning when the tires are cold. Properly inflated tires will also last longer and improve gas mileage. 2. Check the A/C system:  Now that it's warmer, run ... read more

Automotive Extended Warranties Automotive Extended Warranties are repair coverages that commence after the manufacturer's warranty expire. These warranties cover most major breakdowns and can stabilize the cost of repairs.  In most cases you can purchase this warranty any time before the manufacturer warranty expires.  Some warranty companies will allow you to purchase an extended warranty after the manufacturer warranty expires, although the price will be much higher. Here are some questions to consider when purchasing an automotive extended warranty: 1. Who stands behind the warranty? Dealerships offer third-party warranties from various companies.  Make sure the warranty is backed by the automaker, not just the dealership or some other company. If you purchase a manufacturer-backed extended warranty, you can use it at any dealership across the country however s ... read more

Valvoline Oil Change Service Rancho Santa Fe Del Mar Valvoline Oil Change Service Rancho Santa Fe Del Mar lubricates your engine and engine components to prevent metal parts from grinding against one another. Valvoline oil service also prevents deposits from forming on engine components by holding contaminants in suspension. WHAT CAN GO POSSIBLY WRONG? Over time, oil gets dirty and oil filters become ineffective. When dirt accumulates in oil, it can become more viscous and abrasive, less effective as a lubricant, and causes more wear to your engine. BENEFITS OF REGULAR VALVOLINE OIL CHANGES Help fight the four major causes of engine breakdown: Heat, Deposits, Sludge, Friction Provide engine protection at startup Help maintain your vehicle's warranty RECOMMENDED MILEAGE INTERVALS Your owner's manual may provide different oil change intervals for both regular driving and severe driving.  Base ... read more

Transmission Fluid and Transmission Repair Transmission Fluid and Transmission Repair at DRIVE AutoCare because transmission fluid helps cool and lubricate your vehicle’s transmission’s internal parts.  According to the Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association, 90% of automatic transmission failures are caused by overheating and can be often blamed on transmission fluid that should have been replaced. The transmission transfers power from the engine to the wheels of the car.  An automatic transmission shifts the car into different gears depending on the speed that you are driving.  In an automatic transmission car, the transmission system has an oil pan that contains the transmission fluid and fluid filter. The fluid provides the force required to shift into different gears.  If an automatic transmission does not have enough fluid, or the fluid has been conta ... read more

Timing Belt Replacement Timing Belt Replacement means realizing that a timing belt is a very critical engine component. On most vehicles, a broken timing belt means you'll be buying a new engine! A timing belt, timing chain or cam belt is a part of an internal combustion engine that synchronizes the rotation of the crankshaft and the camshaft so that the engine's valves open and close at the proper times during each cylinder's intake and exhaust strokes. Many car owners may wonder how often to replace a timing belt. The old rule was every 60,000 miles but as technology improves, many manufacturers now recommend intervals up to 100,000 miles. If your vehicle has anywhere near that mileage and you've never replaced your timing belt, you're on borrowed time! To be safe you should check what the vehicle's manufacturer recommends and stay within that mileage. Common symptoms that might indicate that your timing belt is wearing out or has broken are ... read more

All German Auto Repair Specialists in Solana Beach All German Auto Repair Specialists in Solana Beach at DRIVE AutoCare.  We are an independent, full service auto repair facility serving the communities of Solana Beach, Del Mar, Cardiff, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe and Carmel Valley .  We provide exceptional repair and maintenance services for Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen and Mini Cooper.  Located in Solana Beach, we employ the best, most experienced ASE-certified master technicians and state-of-the-art diagnosis equipment.  At DRIVE, we only use brand new, OEM and OE Supplier parts and provide a warranty longer than the dealer. Our list of services include: Factory Scheduled Maintenance A/C Services Alternators & Batteries Brakes & Rotors Belts & Hoses Clutch Repair Heating & Cooling System Electrical Services Exhaus ... read more

Tune Up Your Foreign Domestic or Exotic Automobile in Solana Beach Let DRIVE AutoCare Tune Up Your Foreign Domestic or Exotic Automobile in Solana Beach and perform a tune-up and get better gas mileage in return. According to the Car Care Council, even today’s modern vehicles need a periodic tune-up and that can save big at the pump. “Regular tune-ups are an investment that really pays off. A well-maintained vehicle is not only more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly, but performs better and is safer and more reliable,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. The Car Care Council recommends a 21st Century tune-up during which the fuel, emissions and ignition systems are checked, as well as the battery, charging and starting system, and the engine mechanical and powertrain control systems. Keeping a car properly tuned can improve gas mileage by an average of 4 p ... read more

The Dealer Alternative in Solana Beach: DRIVE AutoCare! Why is DRIVE the dealer alternative? Price: Many industry studies have found that independent repair shops cost significantly less than the dealer. At DRIVE, we are priced significantly below the dealers because our overhead is much lower. And you should know that bringing your car to the dealer for regularly scheduled maintenance does not (and can not) void the manufacturer's warranty. Convenience: Most automotive dealers are grouped in areas like Carlsbad and Kearny Mesa. DRIVE AutoCare has two locations conveniently located in Solana Beach that serve the communities of Del Mar, Carmel Valley, Rancho Santa Fe, Cardiff and Encinitas. Drop you car at DRIVE and we are happy to shuttle you home or to work.... or you can easily jump on the train to San Diego, Orange County or Los Angeles. Or better ... 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