South San Francisco Auto Repair

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

The vehicle's cooling system comprises many parts that must function correctly and healthily to ensure high cooling performance. The radiator depends on the coolant or antifreeze, which is the liquid responsible for dissipating the heat produced by the engine to the atmosphere, thus preventing overheating. The cooling system is also part of the auto AC. Even so, it can develop issues that lead to engine and air conditioning issues. We've discussed some of the common causes of radiator and cooling system problems to help you troubleshoot your car: Radiator Leaks A common cause of a leaky cooling system is leaky pipes. The radiator can also leak, and that poses an even bigger problem. The coolant circulating in the system creates pressure build-up, which can stress the hoses, causing them to burst. As a result, the antifreeze oozes out, and that compromises its ability to cool the engine. If you notice a green puddle under the car that smells sweet, it's an indication of a ... read more

It can be difficult to say which services are recommended because they are necessary and which services are recommended solely to make money for the shop these days. Customers also inquire about fluid flushing services. And this is understandable. There are no indicators or reminders that it's time to flush the brake fluids. You won't see a reminder sticker on your windshield to change your transmission fluid. Fluid repair, on the other hand, is a vital aspect of ensuring that your car lasts a long time. What Is A Fluid Flush, And How Does It Work? An oil change is a fluid flush in technical terms. To help its components do their work, the car uses a variety of fluids. Dirt and other toxins accumulate in these vital fluids over time. This can reduce their effectiveness or even make them dangerous to your car. A fluid flush entails completely draining a certain form of fluid from your vehicle and replacing it with fresh, pristine fluid. Although various vehicles have diffe ... read more

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