Diagnosis of your Auto Problems

First of all, all customers, especially new drivers, need to obey common sense: shut off the stereo and drive the car through an entire drive cycle while listening to the car at least once a week. After a few trips, you'll be in touch with what your vehicle sounds like. That way, when a problem arises, you'll be able to catch it early. If it can be driven for a while before you must spend money on it, we'll tell you.

The second law applies to gas mileage: check your tire pressures often. Every time you gas up is great, but once a month is probably enough. A corollary to this law is to fill up at around a quarter tank and never, ever let it run dry. Low fuel tanks dredge up any trash from the bottom of the tank and today's electric fuel pumps are made of plastic. Debris tears them up in a hurry and fuel pumps require the fuel tank to be removed, an expensive operation.

Lastly, when you bring in your vehicle for service, it helps a lot if you have listened to the noise (if it makes one) carefully and tried to pinpoint what makes it happen. Is the car hot? Cold? Are you braking or off the brake? Turning a corner or going straight over a bumpy road? Is the noise a squeak, rattle, clackety-clack or a clickety-click?

If you need further assistance, give us a call at 619-440-4337. We are always willing to council you over the phone. The same applies to when you get your vehicle renewal and it says "smog check required." We can now smog check all cars, even "test only."