South San Francisco Auto Repair

Pets and children mean things can get messy. When taking them in the car, it's inevitable that the car will be a mess with them. However, it is possible to keep the car organized if you have both pets and kids. Here are some tips for keeping your car clean when you're going for a ride with your pets and children. Keep pets in one spot While this may be easier said than done, if the pet is in one spot, there won't be a lot of pet hair to clean up. A restraint or crate can help with this. Pets that's allowed to move around in the vehicle not only spread hair etc. everywhere, but they can distract you while you drive. With that said, it's best to keep them in one spot to make cleaning easier. Have mats and seat covers Kids can be very messy, so having mats and seat covers will be a lifesaver. Most of them are liquid proof, and it'll make cleanup much easier. It'll also reduce the chance of any interior being ruined. The best mats for the car while riding wi ... read more

One thing that all drivers should learn how to properly is how to jumpstart their vehicle. While it may seem easy to grab the jumper cables and start connecting, they can be dangerous if you don't use them correctly. Here are some of the most common mistakes that people often make regarding jumper cables: Storing them incorrectly - Like the car battery, jumper cables can corrode in certain conditions. When they start to break down, you should throw them out instead of attempting to use them. Please remember to store these cables in a dry and closed area to preserve them. Failing to properly connect the clamps to their connection points - Making the wrong connections can lead to accidents like fires and explosions. In other words, you could damage your vehicle even more if you don't know what you're doing. Please remember to clamp the clips in the following order: Red to dead Red to donor Black to donor Black to bare metal Doing it with no gloves or protection for ... read more

If you've been a long-time California resident, you know that this state does not take emissions tests lightly. There are strict laws that require your vehicle to pass in order to be legal to drive. To be specific, if your automobile is more than 6 years old, you need to pass a smog test every two years, or biannually. Not only does this rule protect older vehicles from falling apart, but smog tests help to keep our air quality clean. If your vehicle didn't make the cut this time around with its annual emissions test, it can possibly be for the following reasons: Check engine light on Dirty air filter Leaking gas cap Old spark plugs, leading to an increase in hydrocarbon emissions Malfunctioning evaporative emission control system (EVAP) Problems with the catalytic converter You shouldn't freak out after failing this test because the test center will give you an outlined list of why your car didn't pass. Some test centers, like Taylormade Automotive, can make tho ... read more

The check engine light is every driver's worst nightmare. Not only does it mean that you need repairs, but it's very hard to narrow down the problem. You may have questions like, "What does it mean?" and "Is it something serious or an easy fix?" Below, we've listed the 5 most common reasons why a check engine light might come on. Loose Gas Cap A loose or missing gas cap is probably the first problem that you hope for when you see the check engine light because they are easy and inexpensive fixes. If the check engine light comes on immediately after you fill up, you should pull over to see if your gas cap is fastened.  Oxygen Sensor Failure The oxygen sensor, or O2 sensor, measures your exhaust's oxygen levels. If this part fails, your vehicle will continue to drive. However, your engine may overconsume gas, and the damages could end up spreading to your spark plugs or catalytic converter. Faulty Catalytic Converter The catalytic converter ... read more

The new year is always a great time to make resolutions for your car. How do you do so? You can follow the easy-to-understand resolutions you can make for your car below! New Year Resolutions for Every Car OwnerEliminate all distracted driving Distracted driving is one of the major causes of accidents. It can range from eating to even talking to someone. While it's impossible to be 100% focused, you can still try to eliminate a lot of habits that would distract you while you're driving. This means talking on the phone less, have everything you need where you want it Keeping your car clean If your car has always been on the messy side inside, now is a good time to clean it and try to keep it clean. This includes removing everything that you don't need in the car that contributed to the clutter. Learn basic maintenance It's so easy to just bring the car to a shop and let the professionals take car ... read more

San Francisco is remarkable and known for many things: the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, and its curvy, steep, rolling hills. In fact, the city has the second-most hills in the world! As you can probably imagine, driving and parking in San Fran can be a challenge within itself. Today, we will refresh your knowledge on how to park on uphills and downhills properly. How to Park Uphill Parking on a hill may look intimidating, but it's an everyday activity for the locals of San Francisco, CA. When you need to park uphill against a curb, please remember to turn your wheels away from the curb and let your automobile roll back until it gently grazes the curb. Doing this will help prevent the vehicle from rolling forward or backward. Last but not least, you can't forget to set the parking brake.  How to Park Downhill If you intend to park on a downhill slope, remember to turn your wheels toward the curb or right shoulder. This will help prevent the vehicle from gliding towar ... read more

An automotive oxygen sensor, or O2 sensor, detects the presence of oxygen in your exhaust gases. They can be found in modern cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Its role is to maximize combustion engine efficiency and emission control. Once the sensor reads the amount of oxygen present, it can determine the appropriate amount of fuel to be delivered to the cylinders.   The O2 sensor prevents the so-called knocking from occurring, which can happen when an engine misfires or combusts too soon before it has finished burning both air and fuel.    You can find the oxygen sensors in the exhaust to monitor combustion efficiency in an engine. It can restore some of the air that burned during the combustion process with high-temperature oxygen gas. The sensor uses a heated filament wire or platinum wire as its heat source and emits a low-current electrical current in response to changes in temperature.   What Are the Signs of a Failing Oxygen Sensor? Driving with a malfunc ... read more

With September coming to a close, Halloween is right around the corner! There are plenty of fun (and spooky) activities you can do with anyone. Whether you are looking to party or for some family-friendly events, there's plenty to choose from. We've compiled a brief list of events in the San Francisco area to help you plan out your fun.   21+ Halloween Parties Titanic Masquerade Halloween Party Cruise - October 29, 2021, at 8:45pm  At Pier 3 This 3-hour cruise includes two-party and dance areas, music by two local DJs. It is a masquerade party, so put on your party costume and a mask! Crawloween: Halloween Pub Crawl - October 30, 2021, at 2pm to 10 pm on Polk Street Early check-in begins at noon at Mayes on Polk Street. The Black Pearl Halloween Yacht Party on the San Francisco Spirit -  October 30, 2021, at 9 pm to 1 am, starting at Pier 3 Ghost Tours Time Travel Segway Tour - October 1 - 31 at starting at 7:30 pm 757 Beach Street in Fisherman ... read more

When many people think about their vehicle's electrical system, they probably don't immediately think about their alternator. Their minds probably go to their battery. While your vehicle battery does give electrical flows to start your vehicle, the alternator is the primary part that keeps your battery charged and runs your electrical functions when your car is on. Without an alternator, your vehicle will abruptly break down all the time.    What Is It? The alternator is a fundamental piece of your car because it converts engine power into electrical energy. The electrical energy works to keep your vehicle's electrical systems operating while continually charging the battery. It is named alternator because it generates an alternating current that changes direction periodically.   Signs The alternator comprises many pieces such as bearings, rotors, and other internal parts. All the alternator parts can wear out over time, which means you're bound to ... read more

Congratulations, you are now a college student! For most of you, your car is the key to freedom and convenience while at college. Before you embark on this journey, you must drop by an auto repair shop and have your vehicle inspected and repaired to ensure it is safe and ready for college. Here is our essential maintenance checklist to guarantee that your car is in good shape for university.   FLUIDS Your engine oil should be at the top of your priority of checking, as it ensures your engine is at optimal temperatures. Besides motor oil, there are several other fluids you should be mindful of too. It would be best if you had a trusted mechanic take a look at your vehicle's power steering fluid, brake fluid, transmission, coolant, windshield wiper fluids.   TIRES Are your tires properly aligned? Are they at a safe pressure? Or are they at risk of hydroplaning or a hazardous blowout? During an inspection appointment, the technician will look for any signs of irregular ... read more