South San Francisco Auto Repair

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