News & Blog

The main attraction in Southern California is the beautiful weather, year-round. But sometimes, it’s fun to visit the Winter – either with a trip to the local mountains or visiting another state that isn’t blessed with our endless summer. If you’re planning a trip to visit the snow, the California Highway Patrol has some advice: Make sure your brakes, windshield wipers, defroster, heater and exhaust system are in top condition. Check your antifreeze and be ready for colder temperatures. You may want to add special solvent to your windshield washer reservoir to prevent icing. Check your tires. Make sure they are properly inflated and the tread is in good condition. Always carry chains. Make sure they are the proper size for your tires and are in working order. Carry a flashlight and chain repair links. Chains must be installed on the drive wheels. Make sure you know if your vehicle is front or rear wheel drive. Other suggested items to carry in your car are an ice scraper or commercial deicer, a broom for brushing snow off your car, a shovel to free your car if it's "snowed in," sand or burlap for traction if your wheels should become mired in snow; and an old towel to clean your hands. It is also a good idea to take along water, food, warm blankets and extra clothing. A lengthy delay will make you glad you have them. Put an extra car key in your pocket. A number of motorists have locked themselves out of their cars when putting on chains and at ski areas. Allow enough time. Trips to the mountains can take longer during winter than other times of year, especially if you encounter storm conditions or icy roads. Get an early start and allow plenty of time to reach your destination. Keep your gas tank full. It may be necessary to change routes or turn back during a bad storm or you may be caught in a traffic delay. Keep windshield and windows clear. You may want to stop at a safe turnout to use a snow or ice scraper. Use the car defroster and a clean cloth to keep the windows free of fog. Slow down. A highway speed of 55 miles an hour may be safe in dry weather - but an invitation for trouble on snow and ice. Snow and ice make stopping distances much longer, so keep your seat belt buckled and leave more distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead. Bridge decks and shady spots can be icy when other areas are not. Remember to avoid sudden stops and quick direction changes. Be more observant. Visibility is often limited in winter by weather conditions. Slow down and watch for other vehicles and for snow equipment. Even though snow removal vehicles have flashing lights, visibility may be so restricted during a storm that it is difficult to see the slow moving equipment. When stalled, stay with your vehicle and try to conserve fuel while maintaining warmth. Be alert to any possible exhaust or monoxide problems. What you need to know about chains: You must stop and put on chains when highway signs indicate chains are required. You can be cited by the California Highway Patrol and fined if you don't. You will usually have about a mile between "Chains Required" signs and the checkpoint to install your chains. Control areas can change rapidly from place to place because of changing weather and road conditions. The speed limit when chains are required is 25 or 30 miles an hour and will be posted along the highway. When you must put on chains, wait until you can pull completely off the roadway to the right. Do not stop in a traffic lane where you will endanger yourself and block traffic. Chain Installers: If you use the services of a chain installer, be sure to get a receipt and jot the installer's badge number on it. Remember, chain installers are independent business people, not CHP employees. Having the badge number may help with any misunderstandings later. Chain installers are NOT allowed to sell or rent chains. When removing chains, drive beyond the signs reading "End Chain Control" to a pull-off area where you can safely remove them.

Are you still as in love with your car as you were on the day you first drove it home? Or are you getting frustrated with its need of constant attention? Are you starting to wonder if the repairs are even worth it and whether you should just trade it in? We can help you decide! Is the needed repair more than a few month’s car payment would be? If your vehicle is paid for in full, it’s almost always the best financial decision to do those repairs. Yes, the cost of a major repair can be onerous, but monthly loan payments are usually worse! Consider also that newer vehicles generally cost more to register and insure.. Is the needed repair more than the car is worth? We can help you determine the value of your car and whether doing the repair now will increase it’s value. A new car loses an estimated 22 percent of its value in the first year. It’s usually in your best interest financially to keep the car you have now on the road for as long as possible. Are little things making you fall out of love with your car? Little annoyances can conspire to try to convince you need a new car. Is there a window that won’t go up, a seat that won’t move, a broken door handle, a tire pressure light that comes on at random, a trunk that won’t stay open? If your car has two or more minor irritations, you may start to feel like the whole car is falling apart and it’s time for a new one. But often, that whole laundry list of repairs can be remedied for far less than a payment or two on a new car. Give us your list and let us help you fall in love again. Considering upgrading to a newer used car? Be sure there’s room in the budget for these repairs, because you don’t know which of these have been taken care of on the “new” car and which are about to break. How we can help: We consider it our duty to help you decide what’s in YOUR best interest, not ours. We won’t sell you repairs that you don’t need or that aren’t going to keep your car safely on the road longer. We will inspect the whole car and give you an accurate evaluation of every part and system. Of course, no one has a crystal ball to see the future, but we can give you a report that will show you the repairs that are needed now as well as those repairs and maintenance that are likely to come up in the near future, so that you can make a fully informed decision. We can help you love your car again. …On the other hand, if you’ve decided that you’re just not in love any more or the vehicle just isn’t meeting your needs, happy to inspect the replacement vehicle you’re considering to make sure that you’ll stay in love with the new purchase for many years to come. 

We know, stopping to fill the tank in the middle of a busy day is a pain. It’s easy to ignore that little light and tune out the annoying chime, assured that you still have “plenty of gas.” Just how much is “plenty”? It varies from car to car. A company called Your Mechanic did some tests and found that the distance you can go after receiving the warning can be as little as 30 miles or as much as 100 miles before you’re walking to find a pump. But running out of gas on a deserted road isn’t the only hazard of running low; it’s also bad for your fuel pump. The fuel pump is submerged in fuel, which keeps it cool and running smoothly. If it runs dry, it can overheat and result in an expensive repair. We recommend that you keep your tank at least one-quarter full at all times to prevent damage to the fuel pump. Emergency preparedness experts recommend not letting the level go below about a half tank. In case of an emergency evacuation, you want to be out on the road getting your family to safety, not lined up for hours at the only open gas station in town. Yes, it’s a pain to stop for gas more often, but that five minutes out of your day can result in the savings of hundreds of dollars in repairs, and maybe even save your family’s lives. Fill ‘er up!