I recently had two customers who both bought extended warranties come into the shop for some major repairs.

Customer A purchased their warranty after they bought the car. The vehicle had just under 150,000 on the odometer at the time of the repair so their coverage was nearing the end. The warranty company covered the repair minus the cost of a couple wear items we suggested the customer replace while everything was apart.

Customer B purchased their warranty along with the vehicle from a private dealer. The vehicle had about 30,000 miles on the odometer at the time of the repair and was still within the factory warranty. Neither the factory nor the warranty company would cover the repair because it was deemed it to be a wear and tear item. This was explicitly stated in the terms of the warranty. So after paying for the extended warranty, and despite being under the factory warranty the customer ended up paying out of pocket for the entire repair.

Those two examples argue the point either way. Although I myself would advise against purchasing an extended warranty, if you truly feel you need one then here are some things to keep in mind.

Reliability and longevity. How reliable is the make and model you are purchasing? The warranty will naturally favor the less reliable brands. If you plan on keeping the car long after the factory warranty expires then an extended warranty would certainly be a good idea as all cars become less reliable over time.

Type of coverage. You will need to know what exactly is covered under the warranty. Most coverage options will not cover wear and tear items like brakes, batteries, clutches and maintenance items. Also make sure you understand any restrictions as well as what will cause your warranty to be voided.

Cost. Don’t feel pressured into buying a warranty straight away. You can always purchase a warranty after you have bought the car. So by all means opt out and shop around. You’ll often end up with a better deal. Just make sure you choose a coverage provider that comes recommended by others. Paying a little extra for the best coverage may even save you more down the line. Many top tier coverage options will cover towing and a rental car as well as other expenses.

Although there is no right or wrong answer as the benefits will vary from case to case. Hopefully this information gives you more confidence to make the decision that is best for you if ever need be.

There’s no shame in admitting many of us don’t know what to look for when it comes to inspecting a used car. Which is why it is always a good idea to leave it up to a professional.

First and foremost it gives you a better understanding of who the seller is. It is a giant red flag if a seller says no to your mechanic performing an inspection on a prospective car. It won’t take cost them anything but an hour of their own time, and will definitely speed up the process of the sale. Any seller who refuses the inspection usually has something to hide.

A car can look and drive excellent, but perhaps the owner didn’t keep up with certain services that will come back and bite you in the tail. It is possible for brakes to be almost to the point of replacement and not even make a peep until a few weeks after you bought the car.

It is also a good chance to see what services, if any, the previous owner has completed. For most vehicles the major services come at or after they hit the 100,000 mile mark. Owners of vehicles with timing belts usually decide to sell prior to having them replaced because they feel buying a new car is better than dumping more money into an old one. Some sellers or buyers don’t know what a timing belt is. Even I didn’t even know what a timing belt was at one point. This goes to show you how easily things can be overlooked.

The car may also be in need of a major repair that won’t be apparent to you until the car breaks down on you. I’ve seen many customers buy cars knowing the check engine light is on, thinking it is just a minor issue and an oil change will take care of it.

A pre-purchase inspection also gives you more weapons at the negotiating table as potential problems will help lower the asking price. So why not invest a little money to potentially save you much more in the long run. And if you need help in your new car journey, the professionals at MR Auto SD are here to help. Stop by or give us a ring!

The anti-lock brake system works exactly like it sounds. It prevents the brakes from locking up during heavy braking. Let’s say you’re traveling down the road at about 50 MPH, your vehicle doesn’t have ABS or it isn’t functioning and take your eyes off the road for a slit second. Now when you look up all of the sudden there’s a traffic light, it’s red and there are cars in front of you at a complete stop. Your first instinct is to slam on the brakes,but for some reason your car just keeps skidding forward violently lunging you into the car in front of you.

ABS would be useful because when your brakes lock up the tires stop spinning and you lose control over steering the car. ABS will pulse the brakes correctly under heavy braking so the wheels will keep spinning, while at the same time the brakes will also work to stop the vehicle. This allows the vehicle to make emergency stops at shorter distances while also giving the driver more control to prevent them from spinning out. It does this by utilizing a series of sensors which feed information to the electronic control unit which controls hydraulic valves that can vary brake pressure to each individual wheel. So if the computer detects one wheel is moving slower than the others under heavy braking, indicating a lock up, it will relieve the brake pressure to that wheel allowing it to turn freely giving you more control.

So in short, your car is probably not going to blow up if the ABS light is on and you don’t get it checked out. However it’s one of those things you would rather have working and not need it, than need it and not have it working.

First, check your tires. Check the entire tire for tread wear. Using a penny, place it inside the tread with Abe’s head sticking down. If you can see the top of his hair then it’s time for new tires. Tread depth is not the only thing you should check though, also check the entire tire for signs of cracking and heat wear. Tires older than 5 years start to crack after being through so many heat cycles, these tires are more susceptible to blow outs when put under a lot of stress. Lastly, check the inflation pressure to make sure it’s correct. The factory specs can be found in the driver door jam. Tires should be adjusted when cold.

Now while you’re there, see if you can take a peek at those brake pads to make sure they still have enough life. Some cars are easier than others, but if you have a small mirror it also helps. A brake pad has an inside lining and a outside backing plate. The inner lining (inside pad material) should be thicker or at least as thick as the backing plate. If the inside is lower than the outside, it probably is time for new brakes.

Lastly pop the hood open and check all the fluids. The main fluids to keep an eye on are the engine oil, and the engine coolant as well as the transmission fluid if your vehicle is automatic. The most important thing is that the fluids are full, if they are discolored then you’ll probably want to get each system checked and serviced.

Lastly check the battery. Is there any corrosion you can see? Corrosion is caused by hydrogen being released from the acid in your battery and depending on which terminal it’s on, it could mean it’s overcharging or undercharging. An overcharging battery will corrode the Positive (+) terminal while an under-charging battery will corrode the negative (-) terminal. Most auto repair shops or parts stores will run a battery test for you free of charge.

Now that everything is checked you can head out on the road with peace of mind. Don’t forget to take a quick peek under the hood every time you stop for gas. If ever you are unsure of your vehicle’s road worthiness feel free to stop by MR Auto SD and more than happy to check it out and make sure you and your car make it wherever you need to go safely.

I know, the last thing you want now is to have to pay a tow fee. Keep in mind however that this is a small cost compared to a hefty repair bill from a severely overheated engine. After the leak has been properly diagnosed and repaired, your vehicle will be back on the road in no time.

There are really only a few number of ways your vehicle could be losing coolant.

The first is that the coolant is leaking externally. Over time rubber hoses, plastic components or gaskets start to fail from wear and tear and allow coolant to leak. You may start to notice small drips or puddles when the car has been sitting for a while.

Another way coolant is lost is the radiator cap can no longer handle the pressure of the cooling system. When the cap fails and can’t hold pressure, coolant will boil and usually leak out from the radiator cap.

Last but not least, it can be leaking internally and burning out through the combustion chamber. This will also cause a noticeable difference in how the engine runs, in that it will either no run correctly, overheat or cause excessive white smoke exiting the tail pipe. This type of leak can also be the most costly, and is usually a result of running the engine too long while it is overheating.

Not all coolant leaks happen suddenly, but it doesn’t mean you should put a coolant leak off until it is too late. Always make sure your vehicle has enough coolant because it is vital to it’s proper day to day operation. If you do not know how to check, the good folks here at MR Auto SD are here to help educate you or help you with your repair needs. Feel free to stop by or give us a ring!

1. Performing a 4 wheel alignment

It’s always a good idea to have your vehicle’s suspension geometry within factory specification whenever you get new tires to ensure they all wear evenly throughout the life of the tire.

2. Balance and rotation

The rule of thumb is to have this done every 6-8,000 miles. Rotating distributes the work load per tire evenly, and balancing ensures your tire doesn’t have excessive static or dynamic imbalances which also cause a large number of road noise and driveability concerns. Most tire stores offer lifetime balance and rotations free if you buy the tires from them.

3. Keep your tires inflated

Everyone know what a flat tire feels like. But more often than not your tire pressures are too low or too high causing you tire wear problems and you probably won’t even notice it. Check your tire pressures once a week when you fuel up or before a major road trip. It’s easy and free. You just have to make sure to follow the factory specs in your driver door jam. Remember these numbers are always when the tires are cold which is driven for less than 3 miles or cooled for 30 minutes.

Now if your vehicle isn’t driving straight or smoothly you may have a suspension problem and are better off taking it to a professional than trying to figure it out yourself. If that’s the case feel free to give us a call and book an appointment to have it checked out. (858) 455-8222

TPMS Dashboard Warning Lights

TPMS usually consists of two dashboard alert lights. The orange or red light with the exclamation point inside a circle is the pressure gauge. This indicates that at least one tire is low. If this light comes on, you should pull off at the first safe place to check your tires. Hopefully, you can make it to a place to fill the tires. If you have a portable compressor in the trunk, you can pull off at any safe location to fill the tires.

The second warning light is for the system itself. The letters TPMS will appear on the dash if the system is not functioning. This can occur for a number of reasons. For example,

• The sensor is malfunctioning on one or more tires. – This may involve a tire being severely damaged, so pull over immediately if you are feeling a wobble.
• The sensor is not set up on one or more tires (i.e. you are using the spare tires, and it is not equipped with TPMS).
• The tires have been rotated, but the garage did not reset the sensors to let the car know the new location of the tires. – This will require the assistance of a garage that is able to reset tire pressure sensors.
• You passed something that interfered with the signal coming from one or more tires. – This can be something as simple as passing another vehicle with a tire pressure system set to the same frequency. If that is the case, the light should turn off within a couple of minutes of driving.

TPMS Maintenance in the San Diego Area

If no other signs of a tire problem accompany the TPMS light, but it stays on for more than a few minutes of driving, it’s time to have the system checked out. Schedule an appointment with MR Auto SD by calling (858) 455-8222. And don’t forget to check your tires regularly until the system is fixed so that you are not driving on underinflated tires.

• Don’t Idle – Somewhere down the road, people got the idea that it uses less gas to run the engine for a few minutes than to turn it off and back on. All that running the engine does is save you one start. If you’re going to be stopped for more than a minute, you save gas by shutting it off.
• Drive Slower – Now that some Interstates allow speeds of 65 or 70 mph, it has an effect on gas mileage. Let’s say your car gets 21 mpg in town and 28 on the highway. That means going 55 mph. Once you pass 60 mph, your mileage starts reducing. The sweet spot is between 25 and 60 mph.
• Drive Safe – Slamming down on the gas and brake are both terrible on gas mileage (not to mention dangerous). Driving safe can save a bunch of money, and possibly save your life.
• Perform Regular Maintenance – A car that is working right will always get the best gas mileage. Little things like replacing the air filter regularly can save you money at the pump and prevent expensive repair bills later.

Getting the Maintenance Your Vehicle Needs

From air filter replacement to oil changes, MR Auto SD is San Diego’s one-stop shop for all of your vehicle maintenance and repair needs. To find out what maintenance work may be due on your vehicle, schedule an appointment by calling (858) 455-8222.

• Oil Change – If you’ve had it drilled into you that oil changes need to be done every 3 months or 3,000 miles, you’re probably getting your oil changed way more often than necessary. The time between oil changes is based on how much you drive and the type of oil used.
• Belts – Some belts are meant to be changed at a set time, such as the drive belt. Other belts, like the A/C belt, require a visual check to determine if a change is needed.
• Tires – Tires usually come with a mileage warranty that can tell you how far to expect to go on the tires. When you buy a new car, don’t expect tires to last very long. Tread depth and tire pressure are important to staying on the road and getting good gas mileage.
• Brake System – Brake pads are also rated for a certain number of miles, but it will depend on how hard a driver is on the breaks and whether more time is spent on the Interstate or on city streets.
• Fluid Levels – Some fluid levels are more important than others. Getting too low on oil can destroy your engine. Running low on windshield washer fluid can be really inconvenient, but isn’t necessarily dangerous. Checking fluid levels regularly can save you inconvenience and major expenses.

Factory Service Maintenance When You Need It (and Only When You Need It)

At MR Auto SD, we go by your factory maintenance service schedule along with visual inspections. As a result, you get all of the regular maintenance services you need and no pressure to purchase services you don’t need. To schedule a check-up for your vehicle, call (858) 455-8222.