Huntington Beach Auto Repair

Maybe it's just me but it seems Huntington Beach has something against Auto and Truck brakes. We just got through with a boomer year for brake repair. I'm sure we haven't got the biggest hills, especially since they flattened out “Edwards Hill”, it just seems the locals are going through brakes at a record pace. Many of the later model vehicles will not need brake work till after 100,000 miles. However we will still get these same vehicles in at 30,000 miles that need some repair or replacement. Even though it may be “old school” I still recommend to pump the brakes slightly as you stop. Seems to give a little more life to them. Check out the earlier blog for the 5 costly misconceptions of brake repair

Before any battery is replaced it is thoroughly checked. We like Interstate Batteries. They have proven themselves in racing and commercial applications. Their warranties are good throughout the United States and our personal experience has been very good. It is our practice to check every battery when we change your oil as part of our multi check oil change or our Mechanics Courtesy Check. Battery service prevents towing and non starting situations. We also sell DELCO Batteries when requested by our customers. Also a quality product

Water Pumps, Thermostats, Radiators, Hoses, Fan Clutches, Belts. After 20 years as a radiator shop in Huntington Beach, Westminster and the Fountsin Valley area, and working on radiators as big as Volkswagon Bugs (they have radiators now), we have more experience in radiator and cooling system repair than 99% of the auto shops in Huntington Beach. A failure can be as small as a loose hose clamp, as big as a cracked head or block. Either one can bring the car to a stop. Preventative maintenance is your best bet and a little vigilances by looking at your temperature gauge on a regular basis. Remember, besides tires and gas, the single biggest reason for on road failure is the cooling system

We always use the best. These small but critical parts of a vehicle do so much but get little respect. Most car manufactures have a recommended replacement schedule that can be subjective. Surprisingly some have NONE! It is best to adhere to a schedule unless there is a good reason not to. If a progressive corrosion has set in the hoses then best to replace sooner than scheduled. The CAUSE of the corrosion should also be addressed at that time to prevent further premature age and break down. The belts may also fail prematurely if the vehicle sits for extended periods of time in an extreme atmosphere such as a high heat as in the desert, or near salt air such as here in Huntington Beach or surrounding areas. In fairness to todays vehicles, many belts and hoses go over 100,000 miles. However it may have been in a short period of time so AGE is not so much a factor. Because we've seen more than most, it has been our policy to consider age or use to determine replacement or preventativ ... read more

Now on this I may have limited information. I will tell you everything I know about this relative to auto application and personal knowledge. For those who are easily intimidated by the unknown and if you don't know what nitrogen gass is or does, fear not. You are breathing it as you read. It is approximately 79% of the air you breath. It is colorless, odorless, inert. It's inertness is it's value when it is used in the support shocks that hold up your rear hatchback door or engine hood. No oxygen means no oxidation to rust inside of these support shocks or large variance of pressure in the usual temperatures we live in. So it works well as a low weight spring. It also is installed in tires of airliners, military vehicles, UPS trucks, and probably in NASCAR and drag racers. We sell nitrogen as a tire enhancement and it works to a certain point. No rust at the rims, stays in the tire longer because of the molecules are larger, doesn't vary as much in pressure or temperature. It can ... read more

Many Import and some Domestic vehicles have a Timing Belt. If the belt fails in any way and the motor is an “interference” type, there can be serious valve and piston damage. The manufactures recommend 60,000 to 90,000 mile intervals to replace timing belt. Best to pay attention to recommended replacement schedule and keep you motor working past 200,000 miles

There are 5 costly misconceptions about having an auto brake job done: All brakes are created equal, so the only thing that matters is the price. If I'm quoted a higher price it just means that they make more profit. A lifetime warranty is better than a parts and labor guarantee. My next door neighbor's kid can do my brakes the same as your technicians can. If I'm hearing a squeaking sound, it means I need all new brakes. Brake Repair at HB Auto & AC There is metallic, semi metallic, organic, and ceramic. All have their advantages. We'll match you up to the optimum product. In most cases a higher price means that the shop is using better parts. This is not always the case and it's important to match function and demand. Never true. A shop offering a lifetime warranty comes with all types of gray areas. They'll install cheap semi metallic pads. It's never for the customer's best interes ... read more

When it comes to this, few know more than our technicians at HB Auto & AC. Chris worked on cooling systems almost exclusively for over 20 years one gets a pretty good feel for a lost art. We've detected more over heating problems, coolant leaks, head gasket leaks and the many other “radiator” and coolant related problems than almost anyone, PERIOD. This has given us a perspective on vehicles that carries over especially in reference for maintenance. Nothing will deteriorate and become like MUD more quickly than a failing radiator and or cooling system. There is a progressive corrosion, electrolysis or acidity that can classically happens in a radiator or cooling system. They always need metering or proper maintenance. In a similar way, we've discovered that ALL AUTOMOTIVE FLUIDS can have their own electrolysis or acidity and chemical reaction. That's one of the reasons motor oil is changed on a regular basis. Auto Repair in Huntington Beach ... read more

This we take seriously. Some times it is a small issue. You can check your owners manual for some help. You can bring your car in for a quick computer scan at NO COST when you print this article and bring it with you. It is wise to not let this condition go too long because there is a possibility that the problem can get worse. Also when there is a “drivability” problem indicated by the check engine light the motor is not at it's most efficient, causing less gas mileage and more pollution. Also the car will not pass smog when this light is on. Check Engine Light and Scheduled Vehicle Maintenance in Huntington Beach

We have an antique farm motor on display in our lobby dated 1917 that in order to tune would consist of cleaning the intake valve and spark “contacts”, and making sure there was gas in the tank. Things have changed. From the skill of valve adjustments with timing and adjustments of the points, to PROPERLY reading the electronic scanner to determine exact sensor reading, the new vehicles computer systems can be more complex than the lunar lander’s computer