Summer Beach Trip Tips

The summer is heating up in Southern California.   June Gloom is on the way out and with July 4^th weekend less than a week away it is time to pack up the car and head to the beach. Here are Joor Muffler and Auto Repair’s 5 Quick Tips that will help both you and your car survive the sun and fun.

1. Summer Maintenance for the Car:  Before taking any road trip remember to check your tire pressure on all four tires and the spare tire. Make a service appointment to ensure your vehicle’s fluids and filters are fresh and that the air conditioner is working; doing so will safeguard  both you and your car against overheating.
2. Summer Maintenance for You:  Make sure to make a list and check it twice before heading to the beach. Lots of sunscreen, water, snacks, towels and games will make your trip enjoyable and safe.
3. Packing:  When packing up the car remember to avoid overloading of the car. Overloading can cause view obstruction and added weight that will directly affect your gas mileage and your wallet. Make sure all children are fastened in approved child restraint systems with enough room to be comfortable.
4. Beach Driving:  If you are going to a part of the world that allows you to drive on the sandy beach make sure to point your vehicle’s wheels straight ahead when starting off.  If you get stuck in the sand remember “reverse out”. First before trying to reverse out make sure to remove any sand buildup behind the tires or under the vehicle.  Then GENTLY reverse on your own tracks and then try to SLOWLY move forward again. Moving too fast or spinning your wheels will leave you stuck in the sand.
5. After the Fun in the Sun:  A day at that beach can take its toll on you and the car. After you unpack remember to remove all traces of sand, dirt or salt from your vehicle both inside and out. When you hose down your vehicle don’t forget the little nooks and crannies where sand can be hidden i.e. wheel wells, mud flaps and the undercarriage. After you are done hosing off the vehicle head into the house to clean up with a cool shower, hydrate with some ice water, relax and soak up all the fun beach memories.

 What are your summer beach trip tips?

It’s All About Timing….

As a truck or car owner we all may be faced with the need to replace a timing belt. Unfortunately knowing when to change the timing belt is something of a mystery for most car owners.

As a general rule of thumb a timing belt should be replaced every 50-70,000 miles although all car and truck manufacturers have specified replacement intervals.  Whether you have what is known as an interference engine or a non-interference engine having your timing belt fail will NEVER happen at a convenient time and can leave you stranded and most likely cause you more money in repairs and lost time.

So how can you ensure that your timing belt is in tip-top shape?  The first step would be having the timing belt inspected by your trusted auto repair station when you go in for your next maintenance check.  Since every car manufacturer has different specified replacement intervals we also recommend that you are up-to-speed on when your car’s recommended replacement should occur so there will be no surprises.  It’s important to know also that car repair experts will also recommend you have your water pump replaced at the same time as preventative maintenance. Water pump failures tend to be seen more because the owner never replaced the water pump at the time of the timing belt replacement.  Having a trusted mechanic that will fix the immediate concerns and foresee the future concerns is worth a million times over a new timing belt and water pump.

So what do you think? Are you overdue for a timing belt inspection?

It’s Cool to be Cool

Have you checked your car’s coolant lately?

As the temperatures are heating up in San Diego it’s important to make sure your car has enough coolant to prevent overheating. The tiniest pinhole leak can cause the loss of coolant; combining a hot engine with a hot day can equate to big issues including an overheated engine and or severe engine damage. Maybe you are not always the best at planning ahead but this is one time thinking ahead and keeping up on your car’s maintenance will help you save big bucks on a costly repair. Don’t know how to check your coolant? No worries. When you stop into Joor Muffler and Auto Repair for your next oil change we will be happy to check for you. Call today for a healthy, happy car: 760.746.1877

What are you doing to summer-ready your car?

Mechanically Challenged?

The world is a scary place.  We have rocket-high gas prices, a recession that the government “claims” is over and reality shows that go by the names: Bridal Plasty and Extreme Couponing.

Finding the truth in our everyday lives can be a bit challenging.  Our reality has been clouded with fast-talking, every-man-for-himself mentalities and unreliable sources claiming that they are the number one solution to your problem.  So when it comes to auto service professionals how do you decide between what the truth is and what is a big smoke screen of hidden charges and frivolous repairs?  From someone (yours truly) that has been scolded numerous times by mechanics you need to know something very important; you can’t avoid the inevitable.

Mechanic: “You have no brakes”

Me: “Really??”

Mechanic: “You didn’t notice that you couldn’t stop?”

Me:  “…maybe a little bit…you mean violent shaking and crunching sounds aren’t normal for this model?”  

Car maintenance and repairs are all a part of life and instead of avoiding the situation you need to arm yourself with the knowledge on how to find a qualified, reputable mechanic.  What in the world would possess me to NOT take my car in and have it checked?  The answer can be boiled down to just one simple answer: because I didn’t know enough about the situation. I avoided the entire idea of bringing my car in because I didn’t want to be up-sold into numerous services and parts that I knew nothing about and therefore ran the risk of being ripped off.

“Really I need an entire new engine? I thought it was the brakes? You have to have my car for over a week??”

To safeguard you, your time and your investment Joor Muffler and Auto Repair Center has put together a list of tips that will put you and me on the road to healthy car happiness.  Joor has been in business for over 40 years and they are highly regarded in their field.

But don’t just take our word for it—read below, do your homework and put them to the test…….

1. Plan Ahead:  Start looking for a mechanic BEFORE you need a mechanic. It may sound silly but most people don’t look for a mechanic until something bad happens. They end up settling for the first mechanic they find when they open up the directory not knowing what they are getting themselves into. Additionally, not having anyone to call when you are stuck on the side of the road is terrifying and desperate times call for desperate measures–which in this case usually results in a random mechanic that you know nothing about.
2. Start Slow:  Test out a new mechanic’s honesty and competency with small jobs like oil changes or tune-ups. If you are satisfied with the work then keep your mechanic on speed dial.
3. Be a Detective:  Do they have any complaints lodged against them? How long have they been in business? If they have all the certifications AND are family owned and operated for 25+ years chances are they are regarded highly in their industry.  Check out online reviews—look at the overall message.  They may not have an absolute perfect score but also look at the people who are posting them.  I visited Yelp the other day and was checking out a local restaurant I wanted to visit. The restaurant had almost perfect stars except for this horrendous review.  I clicked on the user that posted this awful experience and almost felt like apologizing to him because I felt so bad for him. Instead I was bombarded with 108 HORRIBLE reviews from everything from the local dry cleaners (that I frequent and love) to the doctor’s office down the street. Either this person had extremely bad luck in life or they were an unreliable, highly disgruntled source.
4. Avoid Dealerships and Chains:  This is not to say that auto dealerships won’t do a good job overall but keep in mind you will be charged premium prices for the job.  Unfortunately the work done at many chain stores tends to be of lower quality. Your best approach is to find a reputable independent, family owned auto repair shop. An independent shop will go out of their way to keep your business since unfortunately they have to compete with the local chains and dealerships. If you are new to the area or just getting a new mechanic in place ask the people you know and trust: neighbors, family and friends that can tell you of their experiences.
5. Stay on Top:  When you do decide on a mechanic make sure that everything is given to you in writing including the upfront pricing/quote, what exactly is going to be done, any warranties and/or any stipulations.  They will not look at you badly if you ask questions so don’t be afraid to do so; in fact they will have more respect that you are on top of your game. The single most important thing to remember is that when you do find that mechanic of your dreams make sure that you treat him/her like the hidden treasure they really are…because like it or not you will be together for a very long time.

What are YOUR tips for finding the mechanic of your dreams?

Selling an Arm AND a Leg for Gas These Days?

You wouldn’t run a marathon without making sure that you were in tip-top shape so what makes you think that overlooking a few car check-ups wouldn’t affect your car’s performance? In order to stay ahead of the gas-price-race here are some maintenance tips that will help you keep your car and pocketbook in shape for the marathon of life.

1. Don’t Ignore the Signs:  Whether we are a top of the line mechanic or not for the most part we all have an idea if our car is not running at the top of its game.  Indicators such as failed emissions tests or those blinking engine and oil lights are apparent signs that something is not right.  By staying on top of your car’s health you can stand to save anywhere from 4-40% in gas mileage.

40%! ……Now that’s a lot money and time you could save avoiding the gas pump…..

1. Be Full of It:  Being full of “it” or in this case “air” is crucial when it comes to tires.  It is just as important to not be under-inflated as it is to not be over-inflated.  Having a tire gauge in the glove compartment is not only convenient but it will save you from not knowing, procrastinating on checking your tires or doing the non-scientific-push-your-shoe-into-the-tire-wall-test.  The proper tire pressure is usually found on the driver’s door panel or in your owner’s manual; do not use the maximum pressure on the tire’s wall.  Remember that being full of air is not only cost efficient it promotes safe driving!
2. Follow Recommendations:  By using the recommended oil grade for your car you can stand to save up to 2% on your gas mpg.  Also if filling yourself or getting an oil change at your local car repair center make sure to keep an eye out for labels that state “energy-conserving” to ensure that it contains friction-reducing additives.
3. Know the Facts:  New studies have shown that newer cars that have fuel-injected-computer-controlled gasoline engines will not see MPG improvement in replacing a clogged air-filter but that you will see an improvement in acceleration.  However if you are sporting an older model car with a carbureted engine replacing the air filter may improve your fuel economy anywhere form 2-14% depending on the degree of clogging.
4. Visit a Trusted Expert:  Having an honest auto service center on your side will save you an irrefutable great deal of money over your lifetime.  When looking for trustworthy auto centers do your homework. Looking at the amount of years in business and online customer-generated testimonials will help the process. The day of the car service ask questions, know what your options are in present moment as well as keeping up with maintenance to maximize your car’s efficiency.   Most importantly, after you armed with all this incredible money-saving-gas-knowledge, don’t…I repeat don’t… smile too big the next time you are at the gas pump…it’s just not nice to gloat in front of the others….

Share this gas saving tips with your friends and share with us your tips for saving at the gas pump!

Pump Fists not Gas!

With gas prices climbing higher ever day it seems that we are all looking for different ways to prevent the pocketbook from being drained at the gas pump. Southern California’s car experts, Joor Muffler and Auto Repair have compiled some simple ways to save money that will leave you joyfully pumping your fist and not pumping your gas….

Take it Easy:  Life is busy.  We have all had those moments when aggressive driving (excessive acceleration and braking) seem like the sure way to get you where you need to be going. Unfortunately the only place this is going to get you is sitting in traffic court or sitting at the gas pump; either way you come up a loser in the gas-game.  Reports indicate that you can save up to 33% on highway driving and 5% on crosstown driving if you slow down and enjoy the scenery.

Excuse Me Officer…: While consistent acceleration and breaking can do a number on your gas tank, excessive speeding is a sure way to minimize your gas tank’s mph and most likely get you some unwanted attention from your local traffic police.  While each vehicle reaches its own optimal fuel economy at different speeds gas mileage decreases quickly at speeds over 60 miles per hour.  The rule of thumb, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, states that for each 5mph you go over 60mph can account for approximately .24 cents per gallon.  I am not a mathematician but there seems to be a big difference between $4.00 and $3.76 a gallon when you are filling up your tank. So leave the lead-foot at home and save money at the pump and most importantly in potential tickets.

Travel Light:  Excessive weight or unnecessary items in your car can burn up your fuel needlessly. Extra items add up in the car or stored in the trunk; by eliminating them you can save you up to 2% of your mpg.

Cruising: Utilizing your cruise control on the freeway can help you maintain a consistent speed and in most cases save you money.  It is only logical—less work=less energy burned.

Put it in Overdrive:  Using your overdrive gears allows your car’s engine speed to go down, your gas tank to stay filled and most importantly it minimizes the wear-and-tear on your engine’s life…it’s a win-win.

There are other maintenance tips that can help you can save on gas, all which will most likely keep you fist pumping…. but we would also like to hear from you….what different ways do you save on gas?