South San Francisco Auto Repair

Drivers occasionally mention that they smell maple syrup when in or around their vehicle. If that is you and you have not been to a breakfast joint in the last day or so, treat the smell seriously. It could mean a problem with the coolant circulation system in your vehicle. Why That Matters Your vehicle's coolant circulation system helps regulate the temperature of your engine. It also plays a role with heating and defrosting your vehicle. If there is a problem and your coolant circulation system is not performing properly, you could end up with major engine damage. What the Problem Could Be The chances are good your issue is a pinhole leak in one of the hoses that make up your coolant circulation system. There are many hoses that make up the coolant system and depending on what hose is punctured, the fix can be simple or take a bit of time. The coolant can smell like maple syrup. Here are some other indicators of a coolant leak: A sticky film develops on your windshield aft ... read more

The only purpose of hybrids or electric vehicles (EVs) is to save energy, specifically, fossil fuel energy. Both types of vehicles have different ways of doing this beyond relying on an electric component for power. One way that is not well known is regenerative brakes. Part of the Whole Regenerative braking systems work by capturing the energy that normally would be absorbed by brake pads and rotors and using it to fuel the energy loop that lets these vehicles perform as well as their fossil fuel-consuming cousins. Without it, hybrids and EV's would have to depend more on battery banks, which begin losing a charge as soon as they are activated. Regenerative braking creates a cycle by which a vehicle is operated, brakes and converts braking energy into usable energy for future operation. Traditional Brakes When a vehicle decelerates, the energy used to move forward transfers into the brake pads in the form of heat via friction. Not only does this energy conversion result in l ... read more

Vehicles give off warning signs to us all the time. While you may see them, often we don't know exactly what they mean. Our owner's manual may give us the answer to these signs and alarms, however, we don't often sift through the manual to figure it out. The ABS warning light may be one that you have no idea what it's indicating to you when it appears on your dashboard. The ABS, antilock braking system, is in place to make sure the wheels are all turning at about the same speed. If there is ever an occurrence of a slippery situation the ABS will utilize the brakes to keep the vehicle stable and under control. Anytime the computer senses an abnormal signal from any of the four sensors (one for each tire), the ABS warning light will come on so you're alerted. Whenever you see this light you know something needs your attention. Some things that can be happening when you see the ABS warning light other than monitoring wheel speed include a blown fuse and low brake fl ... read more

It is imperative to replace the timing belt. But you should choose the right time to do so and a credible shop. While most car owners don't know much about the timing belt, this component plays a crucial role in closing and opening engine valves. That's why if your timing belt starts to show signs of wear and tear, you should visit a mechanic immediately. Worn-out belts prevent your car's engine from working optimally. Even worse, the problem can escalate to more serious engine damage. How do I Know it's Time to Replace my Timing Belt? There are no obvious signs that a timing belt is about to fail. The component can jump or lose teeth without warning. Typically, it is recommended that timing belts should be replaced after every 60,000 and 150,000 miles. However, the duration always varies with the car model and the nature of use. When the engine light starts flashing on the dash, it may be an indicator of a timing belt that's about to fail. Our ... read more