The Dyno Shop

Before the expected rain arrives this weekend, take a few minutes to inspect your vehicle or have us do it for you. It’s no surprise to many Southern Californian’s that the number of accidents on our freeways and streets spike significantly when it rains. Most accidents could have been avoided by leaving a little extra stopping room or paying closer attention to our surroundings. However, many other accidents can be avoided by maintaining your vehicle properly.

I have listed a few suggested areas to pay attention to before the rain arrives:

Windshield Wipers & Washer Fluid. Keeping a clear view of your surroundings is very important during rain. Make sure you have fresh washer fluid and that your wiper blades are in good condition (are not leaving streaks when turned on).

ABS Braking System. The objective of Anti-Lock Braking system is to prevent the car from skidding when the brakes are applied heavily. You must have your braking system inspected periodically to ensure it is working properly. One area of concern is the brake fluid quality. When brake fluid brakes down it can begin to damage components in the brake system. If you haven’t had your brake system inspected in a while, now would be a good time.

Tires. The rain makes it much more important to pay attention to your tire tread. Also, make sure your tires are properly inflated. This helps to keep the maximum amount of tread on the road and the correct amount of control.

Shocks and Struts. These also play an important role in your vehicle’s ability to avoid accidents. Poor shocks or struts can make your vehicle mushy and less responsive in turns. If you brake and turn sharply, the car may sway too much.

Give us a call today to schedule your vehicle inspection! 619-562-3933

Many people don’t realize that the most important way to ensure the best economical fuel mileage possible is to keep their fuel injection system operating at peak performance. While modern fuel injected vehicles do not require as many adjustments as carbureted vehicles, there are steps that we here at The Dyno Shop can take to ensure that you are getting every last mile from your gasoline dollar. If it has been more than 2 years/20,000 miles since your last tune-up, you should schedule an appointment today 619-562-3933! Mention this blog post and get 12% off your tune-up! Thanks for reading!

*Offer expires 12/30/11

When was the last time you had your vehicle’s air filter checked/changed? Most owners manuals contain maintenance schedules for filters, fluids and the such.  But we have found a few exceptions to their “rules” when it comes to filter maintenance:

1. Air filters need to be inspected regularly and replaced as often as needed, regardless of mileage or time. Dirty air filters can increase fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.
2. Fuel filters should be replaced annually and/or at every tune-up, especially on fuel injected vehicles. The fuel filter in a vehicle with electronic fuel injection passes a much larger volume of fuel than its counterpart in a carburetor application. If the tank is dirty or rusty, constant fuel recirculation can pick up a lot of debris that ends up in the filter. If the filter plugs, the engine is starved for fuel or unfiltered fuel is allowed to bypass the filter. The latter can damage injectors.
3. Oil filters need to be replaced every oil change (every 5 months or 5,000 miles in most cases) despite the advice in many owner manuals. A new filter is cheap insurance against major engine damage.
4. Few owners’ manuals have a suggested change interval for the automatic transmission fluid or filter unless the vehicle is used for towing. Most transmission specialists say the best preventative maintenance for prolonging automatic transmission life is to change the fluid and filter every 2 years or 30,000 miles.

We can perform any of the services listed above, plus much more!  Give us a call today if you would like us to help you with your vehicle maintenance needs 619-562-3933!!  Have a great day!

Is my car problem covered under the factory warranty? This is a very common question that we receive here at The Dyno Shop. In most cases this is a question that we can only shed some light on because ultimately this is a question that the dealership has to answer.
For example, let’s say the Crankshaft Position Sensor has failed on your vehicle causing it not to start. Parts and labor, including towing would be covered under the base factory warranty. But what if external damage is what caused the part to fail?
External damage is considered an accident and not covered under the base warranty. It is up to the dealership to determine what has caused the part to fail and whether it will be covered under warranty.
The base warranty on most vehicles today to 5 years and 50,000 miles. In order for the manufacturer to honor the warranty the failure must occur within the time and miles of the promised warranty. Often this is not cut and dry because manufacturers provide several levels of warranty coverage. The two most popular are the bumper-to-bumper warranty and the power train warranty. Power train warranties usually last longer but cover less items whereas bumper-to-bumper coverage will last for shorter periods of time but cover more items.
If you have questions on whether or not an issue with your vehicle is covered under the factory warranty give us a call, we can help 619-562-3933!!! Have a great week!