San Diego Auto Repair

People in San Diego have been hearing a lot about higher oil change intervals these days. Maybe you're wondering: What are the key issues? What is the harm in skipping an oil change? Some new vehicle manufacturers in San Diego are now recommending much higher oil change intervals than they have in the past. As much as 5,000 to 8,000 miles or more. This practice came under scrutiny when four of the largest new car manufacturers announced that owners like those in San Diego were experiencing engine damage resulting from these higher oil change intervals. The manufacturers' standard oil drain service for particular vehicles was scheduled at around 7,500 miles. People following these recommendations were experiencing engine damage. It turns out that oil sludge was building up. This caused small oil passages to clog and engine parts to fail. What causes oil sludge? It's a factor of time and mileage. There are hot spots in every engine that cause oil burn off t ... read more

Want to stay up-to-date with news in the auto industry? You’re in luck! There are several blogs on the Internet dedicated to all things automobile related. Here is a list of our top 10 favorite auto blogs.   10 Great Blogs for Automotive Enthusiasts 1. Jalopnik Jalopnik is a website “obsessed with the cult of cars” and everything in the auto industry. The car coverage is not only informative, but given with a sense of humor and sarcasm included. 2. The Smoking Tire The Smoking Tire is a blog written by guys who love driving. Their approach is to provide genuine, cut to the chase information regarding car news and reviews. 3. Car and Driver Also an American automotive enthusiast magazine, this blog provides car news, tips, reviews, and an ... read more

Call Convoy Auto Repair to make an appointment to check your transmission in San Diego. 3909 Convoy St. San Diego, CA 92111 858-560-9131 Do you have any plans around San Diego for the weekend? Maybe you and some friends and are taking the boat up to the lake. Maybe you'll be having a lot of fun water skiing and doing a little fishing. You got the boat all ready. It's all gassed up. You packed lots of snacks and the cooler's stocked – ready to go. How about your tow vehicle? It has plenty of gas and you've even vacuumed it out, but is your auto maintenance up to date? Stop and think. You'll have some heavy traffic on your way out of town. Hilly terrain as you get to the lake. Some dirt roads – and it may be hot weather. And all the time you're going to be towing around several thousand extra pounds. That all adds up a lot of severe strain on your engine, brakes and transmission. This is why transmiss ... read more

So, everyone in the San Diego area knows how great helium is – you know, party balloons, squeaky voices. But a lot of people around still haven't heard about the benefits of nitrogen in your tires, and how it can help your tires. Here's some great advice from AutoNetTV, brought to you by Convoy Auto Repair. Nitrogen has actually been around for a long time in the commercial sector, but it's just starting to catch on for private vehicles in the 92111 zip code area. Why nitrogen in your tires? Air is air, right? Actually, it turns out there is a difference. The heart of the matter is maintaining proper tire inflation. When your tires are properly inflated, they last longer, handle better and more safely, and save you money at the gas pump. The problem is that tires filled with regular air can lose a pound and a half of air pressure every month. This just happens as the oxygen in the tire seeps out. So if you don't check your pressure for a month o ... read more

Celebrities like to drop big bucks on luxury items, and they especially love to ride in style. Here are 5 of the most over-the-top (and expensive) celebrity cars that the rich and famous roll around in. 1. Kim Kardashian – Ferrari F430 Price: $186, 925 Kim Kardashian’s fame initially sparked from her reality show. Since then, she has branched out and made money from several endorsements. She put her earnings towards this popular Italian sports car. After 20% down, the payments average $3,800 per month. 2. Paris Hilton – Bentley GT Continental Price: $175,000, plus customization Although this car starts at a high price, Paris Hilton took it a step further. She customized this car to include a pink exterior, interior, wheels, and grill. In addition to her ultra-feminine car customizations, she ordered a $285,000 diamond-encrusted dashboard. Take that Barbie! 3. Jay Z – Maybach Exelero Price: $8,000,000 That’s right – Jay Z drives an $8 million car, al ... read more

When your car breaks down in the San Diego area, or just needs some routine service, it can make you a little nervous. Because your car’s so important to your life, you need to be back on the road as soon as possible. And, with the problem fixed right the first time. We’ve been checking into some of the training our technicians receive, and we’re very impressed. It’s amazing how much knowledge and skill goes into diagnosing and repairing a modern car. So it’s not like when your uncle worked on his hot rod over weekend. Today there are four cylinder engines that make more power than the V-8’s in luxury cars 20 years ago. A new V-6 Toyota Camry could beat Sonny Crocket’s Ferrari in a race to 60 mph. Our engines are more and more powerful and at the same time their fuel economy keeps inching up. And they’re so reliable. This is all due to engineering. But the advances come at the price of simplicity. Modern cars are so much more complex fro ... read more

Drivers rely on their car's coolant system to keep their engine cool. Coolant (also called antifreeze) mixed with water flows through your sedan engine and absorbs heat. The mixture then flows out to the radiator where it’s cooled by air flowing over the radiator. From there the coolant/water mix circulates back through the engine to absorb more heat. There’s a reason we mix coolant and water. Water alone actually does a good job transferring heat from the engine. The problem is that water boils at a temperature that’s easily reached inside your sedan's engine, so it can turn to steam which does not conduct heat as well and is harder to contain. Also, if it’s freezing outside in San Diego, the water in your engine could freeze while your vehicle is sitting out in the cold. So, if you remember your high school chemistry, you’ll know that a mixture has both a higher boiling point and a lower freezing point than either component alone. Coolant, o ... read more

Summer is the best season for vacations, sunbathing, and warm nights. For the automobile enthusiasts it's also the best season to check out the coolest car shows. Over next few months, there are several shows inthe greater San Diego area for the hot rod lovers to take a look at. Car Shows in San Diego 1. Back to the 50’s Car Show Travel back in time to view some favorite classic autos. Every Thursday night this summer, over 400 cars will show off their beauty along La Mesa Boulevard. Each night, trophies will be awarded to four cars, one motorcycle and also one La Mesa Police Officer’s Choice Award. In addition to the auto eye candy, there is live music with DJ Jumpin’ Jack Flash, shops, restaurants, coffee houses and bars for entertainment. Details: June – August, Every Thursday night from 5 to 8pm La Mesa Blvd. and Palm Ave., La Mesa, CA ... read more

Nowadays in the world of smart phones, there is an app for, well, pretty much everything. Some that come in handy for daily use are those for your automobile. Here are a few noteworthy apps for improving everyday travels. 1. iExit This situation has happened to us all before: you are driving in an unknown place and all of the sudden you need gas, get hungry, or need a restroom and have no idea where to go! With iExit, find out what is located at each exit that comes along on the interstate. From hotels to eateries to gas stations and more, this app will find the right stop to fulfill your needs. 2. Parker As the weather in San Diego get warmer, the crowds get bigger. For those beach days in PB and baseball games downtown, finding a parking spot can be a nightmare. That’s where Parker comes ... read more

Warm weather or cold, San Diego drivers still need to think about their sedan's air conditioning. Most people don't service their air conditioning until after it fails. At Convoy Auto Repair, we can advise you on your vehicle manufacturer's preventive maintenance schedules for air conditioning service, just as we do for transmission service, oil changes and so on. Air Conditioning Maintenance Maintaining your air conditioning system means that you always have enough refrigerant to properly do the job. Small leaks in the sedan's air conditioning system allow the refrigerant to escape and the system can't cool the air as well. We see that a lot at Convoy Auto Repair in San Diego. The refrigerant also contains a special oil that lubricates air conditioning components, and keeps the seals resilient. Low refrigerant and lubricating oil means that the air conditioning parts will wear out prematurely, and all car owners know that air conditioning repairs can ... read more