North County NAPA

What To Do In Case Of An Accident in San Diego

May 17th, 2012 by North County NAPA AutoCare

Screeching tires, crunching metal – it’s an accident! If you’ve ever been in a car accident in San Diego, even a minor one, you know how upsetting it can be. It’s hard to think straight and know what to do.

Let’s review what you should do in case of an accident:

When an accident occurs, you should always stop. Leaving the scene of an accident in San Diego is considered a crime – even if it’s not your fault. And hit and run penalties are fairly severe, possibly resulting in steep fines, loss of your California driver’s license or even jail time.

Your jurisdiction may require that you try to help someone who is injured by calling for help or performing first aid if you are able. Warn other Poway and Oceanside motorists by putting out flares, using your flashers or lifting your hood. Call San Diego emergency services as soon as possible. Tell the operator if medical or fire help is needed.

Always file a San Diego police report. It’s tempting to skip this if everything seems to be ok. But without a police report, the other guy can say whatever he wants about the accident later, and you’ll not have an objective report to help defend yourself. Discuss the accident only with the police. Emotions are strong after an accident and we naturally want to talk about it – don’t. Never admit fault or guilt to anyone including the police officer. Sometimes we may feel at fault, but in the eyes of the law, the other guy is responsible.

Truthfully give the officer the facts: such as “I was going thirty miles an hour” not “I wasn’t speeding”. Remember, anything you say to the officer or anyone else can be used against you.

Also get the officer’s name and ID number and ask where you can get a copy of the accident report.

Get the facts on the driver and owner of the other vehicle:

Name
Address
Phone number
Date of birth
Driver’s license number and expiration
Insurance information

Also take down a description of the other San Diego vehicle, license plate and vehicle identification number. Most California auto insurance companies don’t record license plate numbers, so the VIN number is the best way to track the vehicle.

Ask witnesses, including passengers, to wait for the police. If they can’t wait, ask for contact information and request that they write a brief description of what they saw. If someone refuses to leave their name, write down their license plate number so the police can track them down later if necessary. Always call your insurance agent or your insurance company. Call or see a physician if you think you may have been injured. For vehicle repairs, call North County NAPA AutoCare at available on our website at www.northcountynapaautocare.com

Contact North County NAPA AutoCare to learn more about what do do in case of an auto accident.
You can find us at:
North County
San Diego, California 92069
Or call us at available on our website at www.northcountynapaautocare.com

North County NAPA AutoCare and AutoNetTV hope that you never have to use this information and wish you happy San Diego travels.

Posted in Automotive News | No Comments »

Wiper Blades In California

May 8th, 2012 by North County NAPA AutoCare

If you’re gonna drive around the San Diego area, you’ve got to be able to see! So having a good pair of windshield wipers is extremely important. We’ve all experienced the frustration and fear of not being able to see clearly during a storm, or when our windshield is just dirty.

It seems like your wiper blades are always at their worst when you need them the most. But windshield wipers are like most other vehicle parts– they require regular attention in order to work their best.

You really ought to replace your wiper blades twice a year; in the spring and the fall. If it’s going to be a particularly harsh winter in San Diego, you may even want to get special winter blades in the fall. Winter blades are designed to resist freezing.

Speaking of winter and freezing conditions, if your car has been sitting for a long time and the windshield becomes frozen, don’t use your wipers to clear off snow and ice. That’ll just tear up the blades and cause them to wear out more quickly. It may even damage the wiper motor.

Over time, wiper blades become hard and brittle, and then tear. They also lose their flexibility and just don’t cover the windshield effectively.

Worn wiper blades aren’t just a safety hazard; they can also scratch your windshield. That may require replacing the entire windshield; a big cost for such a little part.

Replace worn blades right away. Your local service center can provide you with a quality replacement blade. They cost about the same as they would at the store; but installation is included at North County NAPA AutoCare.

Of course you also need washer fluid to help your blades do their work. Even though your local San Diego service center will top off the washer fluid with a full service oil change, it is a good idea to have some extra fluid at home, or in the car if you are on a long trip.

Always use windshield washer fluid. Plain water, even that fancy bottled water, may freeze in the fluid reservoir or on the windshield itself, making things worse. Besides, water won’t do a good job of cleaning your windows.

And remember that some vehicles have two reservoirs: one for the windshield and one for the back window – which may be under the hood or somewhere in the back.

So follow these tips to keep your windshield clear and your eye on the road, and give us a call at North County NAPA AutoCare or come by our shop at North County, San Diego, California 92069. Call to make an appointment at available on our website at www.northcountynapaautocare.com

Posted in Windshield Wipers | No Comments »

Clean Air for Your Engine: Engine Air Filters In San Diego

May 2nd, 2012 by North County NAPA AutoCare

Every San Diego car owner who has taken their car in for an oil change has been told that their engine air filter’s dirty.

Here’s what goes into the determination of when to change the filter: First, your car or truck owner’s manual will have a recommendation of when to change the filter. Second, a visual inspection by your San Diego technician may determine that your filter it is visibly dirty and needs to be changed.

So between your owner’s manual and your San Diego technician’s inspection there’s really no guesswork involved.

Now, most air filters purchased in San Marcos, Poway, or Oceanside don’t cost a lot to replace. It’s just that California people hate getting caught with an unexpected expense. On the plus side, though, changing a dirty air filter at North County NAPA AutoCare can often save enough on gas to pay for itself before your next oil change in San Diego.

Think about a dirty furnace filter in your Poway home. When it’s all clogged up, enough clean air can’t get through. In your car or truck, that means that your engine can’t get as much air as it needs to burn the fuel efficiently. So it makes do with less air and has to use more expensive California gas to move your vehicle around San Diego roads.

Your car or truck actually needs about 12,000 gallons of air for every gallon of gas it burns. Engine air filters don’t cost much in San Diego at North County NAPA AutoCare. When it’s time to change yours, just get it done. You’ll buy less fuel, have better performance and protect your engine.

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Which Item is Most Stolen from Vehicles in San Diego?

April 26th, 2012 by North County NAPA AutoCare

Which item is most often stolen from vehicles in San Diego?

Is it:

Stereo
Wheels
Air Bag
DVD System

Well, if you said stereo – you used to be right. But airbags have now surpassed stereos as the biggest target for theft in San Diego – approximately 50,000 a year are stolen across the country. New airbags cost about $1,000, but go for $50 to $200 on the black market in San Diego.

Stolen airbags are making their way back into cars that have been in an accident. Of course, the danger to the consumer of having a stolen airbag installed is that you can never be sure what may have previously affected them and if they will work right when you need them.

Contact North County NAPA AutoCare for more information about where to get your airbags checked or replaced.
Find us at North County, San Diego, California 92069
You can reach us by phone at: available on our website at www.northcountynapaautocare.com

There are reports that 1 in 25 airbag replacements are stolen or salvaged airbags – or no airbag is installed at all.

That is definitely one car part you don’t want to take a chance with, so North County NAPA AutoCare recommends following these guidelines:

Use a reputable collision repair center that employs ASE certified mechanics (we can offer recommendations at North County NAPA AutoCare).

Inspect the invoice to ensure that the repair shop purchased the airbag from a manufacturer, dealer, or recycler. If you can inspect the airbag prior to installation, it should be packaged in a sealed container from the manufacturer.

You will see the SRS light (Supplemental Restraint System) when you first start your vehicle up. This tells you that the airbag system is activated. If you do not see the SRS light, there is likely a problem with the airbag system.

For more information, contact Contact at North County NAPA AutoCare by calling available on our website at www.northcountynapaautocare.com.

Posted in Maintenance | No Comments »

Ethics of Automotive Repair in San Diego

April 19th, 2012 by North County NAPA AutoCare

We’re going to be talking about the ethics of automotive repair. It seems like news outlets really like hit-and-run reporting; they hit everyone from groceries stores to retail to physicians. And the San Diego automotive service and repair industry hasn’t been given a pass either.

Unfortunately, every profession in San Diego has some bad actors that hurt the reputation of everyone else. On the automotive side, industry associations and professional licensing organizations are very committed to high ethical standards.

Yet some people remain uncomfortable with San Diego automotive service and repair. It may start with the fact that our vehicles are a big investment and we rely on them for so much in our lives. That alone guarantees our attention. And how well we understand the recommendations really impacts our comfort level.

If we understand what’s recommended and the benefits of taking care of the work – and the pitfalls of putting it off – we’ll have more trust in the recommendation. So communication is key. It’s like going to the doctor; If she’s using medical jargon and takes a lot of basic medical knowledge for granted, we have a hard time following her train of thought. It can be like that with your San Diego service advisor too. He’s so familiar with all things automotive, he may forget you don’t know a PCV from an EGT.

If you don’t understand what your doctor’s talking about: ask some questions. If you don’t understand what your San Diego automotive advisor’s talking about: ask some questions.

Let’s go back to those ethical standards; when we hear a repair recommendation, we always ask ourselves, “Is this really necessary?” Well, here’s the industry standard:

If a technician tells you that a repair or replacement is required it must meet the following criteria:

The part no longer performs its intended purpose

The part does not meet a design specification

The part is missing

For example, it you take your car in for a grinding noise when you step on the brakes, you may just think you need new brake pads. After the inspection, the technician at North County NAPA AutoCare says that you have a cracked rotor and need to replace it.

If you tried to get him to simply put new pads on, he would say that if you didn’t want to replace the rotor; North County NAPA AutoCare would ethically have to refuse the repair.

To just put pads on a cracked rotor would have been very wrong. The brakes could’ve failed at anytime and needed to be repaired – not just have a band-aid slapped on them.

Now, looking at something not so serious, the technician may suggest repair or replacement if:

The part is close to the end of its useful life – just above discard specifications or likely to fail soon
To address a customer need or request – like for better ride or increased performance
To comply with maintenance recommended by the vehicle’s manufacturer
Based on the technician’s informed experience

Of course, the technician has the burden of making ethical recommendations and properly educating their customers. For the customer, if you are uncomfortable with a recommendation, ask some questions. More information is always a good thing.

Posted in Service Standards | No Comments »

Serpentine Belt Service At North County NAPA AutoCare In San Diego

April 12th, 2012 by North County NAPA AutoCare

If you’ve ever heard a squealing sound under your hood, chances are it was your serpentine belt. Your serpentine belt is a long belt that’s driven by your engine. It winds around several accessories that power important automotive systems in your car or truck. Let’s go over them.

First, the serpentine belt drives your air conditioning system. It spins the compressor that makes the cool air that takes the edge off the summer heat in San Diego.

Next, the belt powers the alternator. The alternator creates electricity that’s used by your car or truck’s electrical systems and also charges your car battery. Without the alternator, the battery will go dead in a few miles.

The serpentine belt may also run the pumps for both the power steering (some are electric) and power brakes (some use vacuum boost).

And, on most car or trucks, the serpentine belt powers the water pump. The water pump circulates coolant through the engine to keep it within normal operating temperatures. On some San Diego cars, the water pump is powered by the timing belt instead of the serpentine belt.

When they understand what it does, San Diego drivers realize that if it breaks, it affects a lot of systems. That’s why manufacturers have recommended that it be changed every so often so that it doesn’t fail.

At North County NAPA AutoCare, we can perform a visual inspection of the belt to see if it has any cracks that signal the belt could fail soon. If the belt has more than three or four cracks every inch, has deep cracks that penetrate half the depth of the belt, is frayed, is missing pieces or has a shiny glazed look, it needs to be replaced regardless of age or mileage.

If it has lost a significant thickness, it also needs to be replaced. There’s a special spring-loaded pulley attached to the engine called the tensioner pulley. Its job is to make sure there’s a constant tension on the serpentine belt so that it doesn’t slip. The spring can become worn and no longer provide the necessary pressure to keep the belt tight. At North County NAPA AutoCare, we recommend that the tensioner be replaced at the same time as the serpentine belt.

As mentioned, a squealing sound could be a sign that the serpentine belt needs to be replaced. It may be loose if you hear a slow, slapping sound when idling your car or truck.

All in all, the serpentine belt’s an important part for the function of your car or truck. And it’s not that expensive to replace at North County NAPA AutoCare – so it’s good to do so before it fails.

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Tire Replacement

April 5th, 2012 by North County NAPA AutoCare

You know you need new tires, but you’re not sure what type. You look at a tire to get the size: 225, 50, R, 16, 92, H. All the way to the service center you keep repeating it over and over. You even say it over in your mind while waiting in line. Then you get to the counter and the manager asks what size you need. Then your mind goes blank.

Tire size can be confusing. There’s so much on the side of the tire, and it’s hard to keep straight.

Even though there’s a lot on a tire – if you know what it all means, it’s actually more helpful than confusing. Let’s start with the size number.

For example, let’s say a tire reads: 225 50 R 16 92 H. The 225 part is the width of the tire in millimeters – the width between the sidewalls of an inflated tire with no load. The 50 is the aspect ratio – the ratio of the sidewall height to the tread width. Off-road tires will have a higher number and high performance tires will have a lower number.

The R signifies it’s a radial tire. And 16 is the rim or wheel size in inches.

The 92 is the load rating index – it’s the load carrying capacity of a tire. The higher the number, the more it can safely carry. Your empty vehicle can be safe with a lower number, but you’ll need a higher rating if you routinely haul heavy loads. The next letter is the speed rating. Not all tires are speed rated. The ratings generally follow the alphabet: the further up the alphabet, the higher the speed rating – with the exception of H – it comes between U and V (don’t ask why).

There’s a lot of fine print that you probably need a magnifying glass to read. But there are a couple of other large print items of interest. One is the tread type: highway, mud and snow, all season, severe snow, etc.

And then there’re the Uniform Tire Quality Grading System markings. The first is a tread wear index. 100 is the base line – a lower number is poorer and a higher number is better. All things being equal, a tire rated 200 would wear twice as long, on a government test track, than one rated at 100. These wear grades are only valid within a manufacturer’s product line – you can’t compare with other manufacturers. And it’s important to note that a lower rating might be just what you want – a high performance, sticky tire has a softer rubber compound and won’t wear as long, but boy, will it take those corners.

The next is a traction grade. This measures the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement in government tests. A – the best, B – intermediate, C – acceptable.

Temperature grade measures a tire’s resistance to heat build up in government tests. A, B and C – from best to acceptable.

It’s safe to go with the original equipment recommendations that came on your car. But if you want to make adjustments, you’ll now be better equipped to communicate with your tire professional.

Posted in Tires and Wheels | No Comments »

Fuel Saving Tip: Car Weight And Your California Driving

March 28th, 2012 by North County NAPA AutoCare

Weight is the enemy of fuel economy. Everyone from here to Oceanside knows this makes sense.

Some of us in the Oceanside area carry a bunch of unnecessary weight, and I’m not talkin’ what you see in the mirror.

Guys; sports equipment and tools. Ladies; well, just take a look around the passenger compartment and trunk. I think my car has about forty-five pounds of French fries on the floor.

All that extra weight wastes gas as you drive between here and Oceanside, and everywhere else.

Lose the junk and save some money.

…And you really only need one of those spare tires.

Posted in Fuel System | No Comments »

Can Car Scent Keep You Safe On California Roads?

March 21st, 2012 by North County NAPA AutoCare

Here’s a travel tip that’ll I’ll bet you didn’t know, and, it might keep you safer…

The average American commuter in California spends two and a half hours daily in their car.

The government says a hundred thousand auto accidents yearly are caused by drivers who fall asleep at the wheel. (Aggressive driving is the number one traffic safety concern.)

So what does this have to do with how your car smells while you’re driving around California?

Well, which scent did you think makes drivers more alert?

Is it:

A. Strawberry

B. New Car

C. Pine

D. Warm Vanilla Breeze

It’s C. Drivers are more alert and have less fatigue with pine scent in the car, according to AroMetrics.

And, drivers were less angry with overall improved driving performance with strawberry and pine scents.

And you thought they just smelled nice.

North County NAPA AutoCare
North County
San Diego, California 92069
available on our website at www.northcountynapaautocare.com

Posted in Automotive News | No Comments »

North County NAPA AutoCare Tire Safety: Washington vs. Lincoln

March 15th, 2012 by North County NAPA AutoCare

Welcome to the North County NAPA AutoCare blog. Today, let’s talk about the effect of tire tread depth on braking. When talking about stopping power, most of us Oceanside drivers tend to focus on our brakes. But our tires are where the rubber meets the road. So having good brakes isn’t enough. Safe Oceanside drivers need to have tires with enough traction to translate braking power into stopping power.

Let’s focus on stopping in wet Oceanside conditions. In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way. If it can’t move the water, the tire will actually ride on top of a thin film of water.

That’s called hydroplaning. If it’s really bad, Oceanside drivers can actually spin out of control. At best, you won’t stop as fast.

So how does a tire move water? It has channels for water to flow through. Look at your car or truck tire and you’ll see channels: channels that run around the tire and channels that flow across the tire. They’re designed to direct water away from the tire so it can contact the road better.

And the deeper the channel, the more water it can move. A brand new North County NAPA AutoCare tire has very deep channels and can easily move a lot of water. As the tire wears down, the channels become shallower and can move less water. When it wears down enough, it can seriously affect your ability to stop your car or truck on wet Oceanside roads.

So that’s why it’s so important to replace our car or truck tires when they get worn. Consumer Reports and other advocate groups call for a standard of 3/32 of an inch and they have the studies to prove it.

By comparison, you’ve probably seen the wear indicator that’s molded into tires. When tires are worn 3/32 of an inch, the tread wear bar is visible. So the recommended standard has twice the tread depth as a completely worn out car or truck tire.

At North County NAPA AutoCare, we want our customers to know that the deeper recommended tread depth makes a big difference. Stopping distances are cut dramatically on wet Oceanside roads. A safe stop from California freeway speeds with 4/32 of an inch of tread would result in a crash with worn out tires.

There’s an easy way to tell when a tire’s worn to 4/32 of an inch. Just insert a quarter into the tread. Put it in upside down. If the tread doesn’t cover George Washington’s hairline, it’s time to replace your car or truck tires. With a Canadian quarter, the tread should cover the numbers in the year stamp.

Many Oceanside car owners have heard of this technique using a penny and Abe Lincoln’s head. That measure gives you 2/32 of an inch – half the suggested amount. Of course, car or truck tires are a big ticket item. Most of us in Oceanside want to get as many miles out of them as we can. But there’s a real safety trade-off. It’s your choice.

Posted in Tires and Wheels | No Comments »

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