Gene’s Car Tips

WORKING IN A CAR CARE WONDERLAND

WORKING-IN-A-CAR-CARE-WONDERLAND

We love cars, are you listening?
To keep them serviced is so thrilling.
A beautiful sight, a car working just right,
Working in a car care wonderland.

We raise cars up on lifts,
Keeping them like new is our gift.
We service them well, and enjoy it, you can tell,
We love working in a car care wonderland.

In the shop bay we can fix cars’ problems,
And you will know that we fixed it right.
You’ll say can you set an appointment for the next time,
And we’ll say yes we will and have a good night.

Serving you well is our pleasure,
As each customer we all treasure,
We work very hard to please one and all,
Working in a car care wonderland.

We enjoy changing oil and rotating tires,
We can do brakes and mufflers, belts and hoses too!
We exchange fluids, and new filters and batteries,
And yes it’s true we like very much what we do.

When customers come in, it’s so thrilling,
We love cars, so we’re willing,
To us it’s all in a day, the technician way,
Working in a car care wonderland!

Happy Holidays From All of Us!

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions, and we will be glad to help, or visit our website at CertifiedAutoCa.com.

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

What is a Cabin Air Filter?

cabin air filter

Have you had your favorite repair shop or other service person recommend a cabin air filter and wonder what he or she was talking about? Most vehicles built after 2005 are equipped with a cabin air filter, and it is designed to filter the air you breathe inside the cabin of the vehicle.

Most cabin air filters are designed to filter pollen and dust from the vehicle air conditioning and heating system. Some even have a carbon filter for bacteria and odor. These filters are very similar to the filter you would change every spring and fall in your homes heating and air conditioning system. Everyone that has seen or changed these filters see the contaminants that are stuck on these filters when replaced.

Normal driving conditions through dust, caused by the wind and the smog and exhaust of daily driving, will cause some cabin air filters to get very clogged with pollutants and cause your vehicle’s ventilation system to run very inefficiently. You might even notice the air flow out the vents to be sluggish and/or have a sour smell. This is an alert that you need a checkup or a new cabin air filter.

This filter will not leave you stuck on the side of the road, but it will add comfort and reduce allergens, which is especially important if you suffer from allergies. To find out if your vehicle is equipped with a cabin air filter check with your owner’s manual or talk with our service professional about having your cabin air filter changed.

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions, and we will be glad to help, or visit our website at CertifiedAutoCa.com

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

Thanks For Being Our Customer!

We always find time to be thankful for our wonderful customers! We wish each and every one of you a safe, enjoyable Thanksgiving!

Make It A Happy Thanksgiving!

Whether you are going on an extended road trip, driving to the airport or just plan to get groceries or do some Black Friday shopping, it will probably involve your car! Here are what the road-side assistant companies suggest you have checked out before the holiday to make sure your vehicle is safe and your Thanksgiving less stressful!

  • Tires: Make sure your tires are properly inflated. If they have bad tread wear and need to be replaced, it is better to do it before you are in a breakdown situation.
  • Wiper Blades: Many an accident could be avoided if drivers could see where they are going! Make sure your wiper blades are up to the challenge!
  • Battery: A dead battery can be avoided! A simple test will make sure it is up to par.

The best thing you can do before any road trip is to make an appointment with us and let us do a vehicle inspection. It will give you peace of mind! Don’t let your car be a “road side assistance” Thanksgiving statistic this year! We sure don’t want our customers sitting on the side of the road!

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions and we will be glad to help, or contact us through our website.

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

The Life Of A Car Battery

The two main reasons for shortened battery life are:

  • Excessive heat – Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, damaging the internal structure of the battery.
  • Overcharging – A malfunctioning component in the charging system, usually the voltage regulator, allows too high a charging rate, resulting in a slow battery death.
Close up hand of auto mechanic are using measuring equipment tool for checking car battery. Concepts of car fix repair and service maintenance.

To get the most out of your battery:

  • Have your battery and its connections checked at every oil change.
  • Be sure the electrical system is charging at the correct rate. Overcharging can damage a battery as quickly as undercharging.
  • Always have the battery replaced with one that’s rated at least as high as the one originally specified.
  • Keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt becomes a conductor, which drains battery power. Further, as corrosion accumulates on battery terminals it becomes an insulator, inhibiting current flow.

Batteries do not always give warning signs before they fail. If your battery is more than three years old, it is probably wise to have it replaced.

Your car care provider can determine the health of your battery so you know how much life it has left.

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions and we will be glad to help, or contact us through our website!.

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

AIR CONDITIONING… TO SEAL OR NOT TO SEAL? THAT IS THE QUESTION

Air Conditioning Sealant

I wanted to share with you a situation that happened at our shop recently. One of our customers, we’ll call him Bob, had a situation with his air conditioning system. It was not cooling but that is not an unusual situation during this hot weather. Even systems that are in good condition can lose up to 4 ounces of Freon a year. He shopped around looking for an inexpensive option and ended up taking his car to another repair facility to fix it. They added the Freon but within a day or so it was still not cooling. This shop did a thorough examination and found that the condenser had a leak. They gave Bob an estimate of $650 to replace and recharge it.

Bob decided to try other options that he had heard about and researched online. He had read about sealers and decided to try it. He chose one for $200. He wasn’t sure it would work but felt it was worth it if he saved $450. Sadly, it didn’t work.

He then brought the car to us to see what we could do. When he told us the scenario we were concerned because we had seen the results of other quick fixes with sealant in the past. We checked out the vehicle and found the problem. He had used an extreme overdose of sealer. Many do-it-yourselfers feel that more is better when using a sealant but actually, it is just the opposite. The sealer is designed to become a solid when it comes in contact with air and that is why only a small amount is needed. When too much sealer is used, the results, as with this vehicle, is damage to every part of the air conditioning system.

Instead of replacing the original condenser as the first shop advised, it now needed the condenser plus a compressor, expansion valve, switches, and most of the hoses. That $650 estimate is now a cost of more than $2500!

Most of the time when your A/C isn’t cooling it is just a case of adding Freon. That is the good news. When it involves more though, A/C failures are one of the most expensive automotive repairs because it is challenging to find small leaks. Only large leaks can be found with a visual inspection.

We truly understand why Bob tried to fix the leak(s) himself. He hoped to save money but I will tell you that when it comes to this type of repair, we don’t recommend you try it on your own unless you have a lot of automotive experience. If you do decide to try it yourself though, please proceed with caution and don’t overdo the sealer. Too much can be a very costly mistake.

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions and we will be glad to help or visit our website at CertifiedAutoCa.com.

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

If Car Trouble Scares You…Read On…

Sometimes there is nothing scarier than car trouble…you know how it is…you drive along and all is great then suddenly…

Young woman using smart phone standing on street near road and car. Female's hands holding mobile device in city, close-up.
  • You hear a different noise (squealing or scraping sound when you hit the brakes, knocks or pings when you climb a hill, rumbling or hissing sound from your muffler, thumping from a tire, clicking of a worn CV joint, chugging when you turn off the engine)
  • You notice a different smell (moisture or antifreeze odor inside the car)
  • You see a small leak or a puddle from under the car (antifreeze, oil, brake fluid)
  • You see lights illuminated on your dashboard (check gauges, check engine light)
  • You hear nothing at all (dead battery)

Your mind immediately goes into panic mode! You wonder how long it will take to fix the problem? How will you get to work? How will you pick up the children or get them to school or practice? How will you run errands? How much will it cost? Will it need to be towed? Is it safe to drive to our shop for needed repairs?

Before you panic, call us. We have the tools and equipment to return your vehicle to normal!

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to contact us by calling 626-963-0814 with any questions, and we will be glad to help, or visit our website at CertifiedAutoCa.com.

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

Mechanical Failures That Cause Accidents

Disassembled car wheel, view of the brake caliper and disc, shock absorbers and suspension springs of the car, service and repair car, close up

Brakes – Brake failure tops the list. Brake pads wear out, brake lines leak fluid and ABS systems can also be the cause of brake failure.

Tires – Bald tires can cause a car to “slip and slide” even on dry pavement. If there isn’t enough tread to hug the road you can be in serious trouble. Tire blowouts can also cause accidents.

Wipers – If you can’t see, you can’t drive! It is that simple!

Lights – More accidents happen at night and if your headlights, taillights, or brake lights, turn signal blinkers aren’t working…people can’t see you! Don’t be a road hazard!

Steering – Loss of fluid, tie rods, ball joints, and other components that make up this system can cause mechanical failure and accidents.

Roadside Assistance Calls

AAA and other services are called mostly for:

  • Dead battery
  • Flat tires
  • Cars that run out of fuel
  • Locking keys inside the vehicle

Now…we can’t keep you from locking your keys in your car, or make sure you get to the gas station on time, but we can sure help with the mechanical issues! Don’t let these things happen to you…contact us today!

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions and we will be glad to help, or visit our website at CertifiedAutoCa.com.

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

An Oil Change and Fuel Economy

Refueling and pouring oil quality into the engine motor car Transmission and Maintenance Gear .Energy fuel concept.

Usually, when we talk about fuel economy, an oil change isn’t at the top of the list of discussion. The manufacturers are requiring lighter and lighter weight engine oil in all vehicles. 5w30 and 5w20 are being replaced with 0w16. I can hardly believe it, as 0w16 is like pouring water, it’s so thin.

The reason for the lightweight oil is to give better fuel economy to satisfy the CAFÉ (corporate average fuel economy) standards. This standard is set by our state and requires all car manufacturers to average 54.5 MPG by the year 2025. Don’t think for a minute that the changes are going to slow down anytime soon.

Believe it or not, an oil change can and will affect your miles per gallon, and here is why. Us old guys always grabbed the 20w50 oil for our cars and today two of the most popular oils are 5w20 and 0w30. The comparison would be 20w50 oil will pour like molasses, while 0w20 will pour like water. Thicker oil creates resistance inside the engine, slowing down moving parts and lowering your miles per gallon. A hybrid or very high mile per gallon car can lower mileage by 1 to 2 miles per gallon. We have observed this from some testing that we have done.

Is installing 5w30 oil in a car requiring 5w20 a concern? Yes and no. Yes, because it will affect fuel mileage, sometimes it is noticeable, sometimes not. And no, because using a slightly thicker oil will not hurt the internal engine components at all. Warning!! Thicker is not better, so please don’t use a very thick oil like a 20w50 in a modern car as that will cause issues.

Other ways carmakers are working to meet the CAFÉ standards are:

  • Using lighter materials
  • Turbo chargers
  • Gasoline direct injection
  • Hybrids
  • Smaller engine size
  • 10 speed transmissions
  • Synthetic oils in transmissions

With all these changes happening today, preventive maintenance is more critical than ever.

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions, and we will be glad to help, or visit our website at CertifiedAutoCa.com

Hometown Service You Can Count On!