Encinitas Auto Repair

The year has finally come to an end and many of us have exciting goals and expectations to look forward to in 2020. We want to thank all of our loyal customers here at Complete Car Care Encinitas who have made 2019 a wonderful year. We want to continue to work with our community to keep everyone's vehicles safe on the road and provide the excellent customer service that you deserve.  We know most people will be wondering what your New Year's resolutions will be as we jump into 2020. Whether you've thought about yours or not, we invite you to think about your car, too! Life gets busy and as car owners, it isn't always at the top of our list to have regular maintenance and service completed. However, we can change this moving into the new year.  Car maintenance and care is so important for a number of different reasons. First, it makes sure you and your family's safety on the road by avoiding unwanted breakdowns and car trouble that can lead to accide ... read more

Happy Holidays from all of us here at Complete Car Care Encinitas! The winter season is usually full of lots of traveling, and making sure that your vehicle is in excellent working condition is vital to guaranteeing its reliability on the road. If you're planning to visit relatives or friends near or far, a vehicle inspection here at Complete Car Care Encinitas before you hit the road will ensure your safety and give you peace of mind throughout your travels.  A pre-road trip inspection should include: Checking tires for proper air pressure, good tread, overall great condition, proper wheel alignment, and having a tire balance and rotation performed if necessary.  Inspect all fluids to ensure that that they are fresh and topped off Ensure that the spark plugs, starting and charging system, and battery are all in working order Check all exterior and interior lights If your windshield wipers are skipping or streaking, have the wipers replaced and ensure that the ... read more

It's that time of year for traveling to watch your favorite football or basketball team and with most sports events, tailgating is a tradition that brings us together for food and fun before the game starts. While we usually hear tailgating and think of it as only happening before a big game, tailgating is also becoming more popular to do with family and friends at home! So whether you're at your favorite team's game or you're BBQing with family and friends at a residence, remember these tailgating safety tips.  If you're driving around a tailgating area, be very cautious of your surroundings and drive carefully. This is especially important when pulling up to your team's game, especially because there will be hundreds if not thousands of other cars also tailgating. Watch for pedestrians and children.  Be sure to have a designated driver allotted to be sure that you are your passengers arrive home safely.  Make sure that you bring portable ... read more

Why are seatbelts in cars in the first place? Well, driving a vehicle is risky and can be dangerous at times. Think about it - on a highway, you're traveling at speeds of around 50-70 miles per hour. Getting into an accident at that speed can be catastophic, and a seatbelt can literally save your life. Let's put it this way: hitting a wall at a speed of 50 miles per hour is like falling from the balcony of a 5th story floor. Now imagine falling from that 5th story building with a parachute - this is kind of like getting into an accident but having your seatbelt on.  Seatbelts were created as a safety measure for vehicles because hitting another car or object at certain speeds can actually eject passengers from the vehicle. A seatbelt not only prevents you from being ejected, but it can help keep your from hitting your head on the roof of the vehicle and protects you in instances of your vehicle rolling or going upside down. Not wearing your seatbelt puts you in grave dang ... read more

It's nearing the end of summer, and you may look at your car and think - wow, I need a car wash bad! Aside from probably needing a car wash and deep clean, the summer can have other effects on our vehicles that you may not be able to see with the naked eye.  The heat can cause certain things to happen faster within our vehicle, and can also cause some general wear and tear. The warm weather can also put your vehicle at risk for certain things, such as engine overheating and battery corrosion.  Excessive termpatures can cause the fluids in our vehicles to break down faster. Your fluids and filters should always be inspected at the end of the summer season to check for fluid levels and excess dirt/grime in filters. You should also make sure that your vehicle's windshield wipers are replaced and that your tires are inspected.  Although we do our best to park in the shade and take good care of our vehicle, it's common for us to drive more during the summer and ... read more

When it comes it owning a vehicle, proper maintenance and regular service is the key to making sure that your vehicle will stay reliable and dependable on the road. This is why regular vehicle inspections are so important - they catch any issues early on before they become big problems that can lead to expensive repairs and car breakdowns. They also help you stay on track with your car's recommended maintenance.  If it's been a while since your vehicle was inspected, considering having one done sooner than later. We understand that you may be worried about getting handed a big bill, but the good news is a vehicle inspection is usually free of cost and you never have to agree to any vehicle work that you don't want to move forward with. The inspection is just to give you an idea of what your vehicle may need and you will have time to determine what is best for your vehicle and your budget.  When you put off vehicle inspections, you run the risk of missing an issu ... read more

Defensive driving is just another term for driving safe and alert on the road. Especially if you are driving during heavy traffic hours, defensive driving is a great way to protect yourself from accidents. Before you even get on the road, planning your trip and understand weather and road conditions is the first time in defensive driving. Here are some other ways to practice defensive driving:  Check your mirrors every 5 minutes or so and always be aware of vehicles around you.   Be courteous and allow other vehicles attempting to switch lanes to have the right away. Switching lanes in traffic can be dangerous and trying to fight others on switching lanes puts you at risk for an accident if the other car doesn’t see you.    Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, just in case you need to brake quickly.   Be wary of aggressive drivers who may not be paying attention to blind spots.    Make sure you follow the sp ... read more

Brakes are super important when it comes to accurately controlling our vehicles on the road and staying safe. An issue with your vehicle’s brakes can sometime start small, and starting to gradually get worse over time. If you ever notice a problem with your brakes, it is important to have your vehicle looked at by your trusted local auto mechanic as soon as possible. Ignoring a small issue can turn into a larger one, that could eventually lead to brake failure and have devastating consequences.    Brake problems can manifest in many different ways, whether you notice a lack in performance or are suddenly experiencing a strange vibration while braking. Brake problems can stem from a number of different components, including brake pads or shoes, brake rotors, brake lines, and much more.    Any of the following symptoms can indicate an issue with your brakes:  Noticeable lack or decrease in brake performance Brake pedal goes all the way to the floor Brake ... read more

If you’re planning a road-trip for the summer, don’t forget to plan an inspection for your vehicle. The last thing you want to do is get stuck on the road in an unfamiliar place while on your trip. Putting effort to have your vehicle properly tuned and inspected will ensure that your trip is safe and successful!    Give yourself a week or two before your trip to have your vehicle inspected by our experts. We will check vital components and make sure that there are no underlying issues that need to be addressed before a long drive.    Our experts will inspect the following:    Tires Brakes Belts & Hoses Fluids & Filters A/C System Battery A thorough look at major components will put you at ease when you finally embark on your journey. Whether you’re planning a camping trip, a trip to the beach, or a fun adventure to a theme park - make sure that your vehicle is in tip-top shape to handle anything.    For friendly se ... read more

So, you are low on fuel and what do you do? You find a gas station that is either close by, has the lower price, or is adjacent to the shopping center. That’s normal. But which gas or fuel is best for your car? Most people do not understand the differences between fuel octane ratings. Is Regular or Premium fuel better for your engine? If you’re not sure, check your Owner's Manual or seek advice from the friendly auto mechanics at Complete Car Care in Encinitas. When most people choose Costco, they may do so because the gas is cheaper or it’s convenient. But they often don’t understand what type of gas they’re getting. They’re getting gas that is often 30% Ethanol, which causes more damage to your car. Ethanol wrecks the insides of your car, and most people don’t realize this. Ethanol is supposed to be environmentally friendly, but it's not. Chevron often has the best quality fuel, and their prices reflect that. Shell, Mobil, and Che ... read more