Huntington Beach Auto Repair

Perhaps the most dangerous item in your vehicle besides an irresponsible driver is the gas tank. The specialized care to repair, clean, remove and reinstall is old hat to us having had previous 25 years experience as a Radiator Shop. The gas tank sending unit, Fuel Pump and now EVAP System is all in a days work for our technicians at HB Auto & AC. California smog requirements demand near perfect performance to the point that a leaking gas cap will trigger a "Check Engine" light on your dash. Your vehicle has an EVAP hose from your vehicle's gas tank to the engine's charcoal canister. The charcoal canister is usually located in a corner of the engine compartment, is a black container filled with charcoal pellets that absorb fuel vapors. Some are located in the engine compartment, some near the vehicle's gas tanks in order to maximize efficiency. It is our pleasure to repair any problems you may have in this area

As a former Radiator Shop owner I find the term "Winterizing" a little misleading. Basically if the cooling system is properly maintained, IT IS "Winterized"! Your Cooling system is under the harshest conditions during the Summer. With the proper amount of antifreeze the boiling point of your radiator fluid is over 40 degrees more from boiling over than 100% water. With the added pressurized radiator cap giving the mixture another 3 more degrees per added pound of pressure, the boiling point can be raised to over 300 degrees before it starts to boil! The main aspect of Winterizing your cooling system is the usual added 50% of antifreeze most vehicles have. That will protect from freezing and expanding in your engine should the ambient temperatures drop as low as 10 degrees below Fahrenheit. Not many places a Southern Californian will find that cold. A Minnesotan in 30 below will have the 100% antifreeze in their vehicle. It will protect all the way to 60 below. Way too cold to ... read more

Are you worried that your car engine might need a service. An engine service is crucial to make sure that any issues with your vehicle are resolved and to guarantee that you can avoid a costly repair. If you don’t get an engine service when necessary, the situation will only get worse leading to expensive issues and trouble with everything from fuel efficiency to a potential breakdown at the side of the road. A failure to get a needed tune-up could even mean that your car is less reliable and more dangerous to drive. A lot can go wrong with a vehicle engine but the good news is that there are signs you can watch out for. By recognizing the signs, you can make sure that you take your car in for an engine diagnostics when it is necessary before things get worse. Here at HB Auto & AC ... read more

The transmission is one of the most important parts of your vehicle. Unfortunately, the transmission is also an area that is prone to suffer faults, which can lead to the need for expensive and time-consuming repairs. However, there is one way to ensure that your vehicle’s transmission is always in the best possible condition: a transmission flush. At HB Auto & AC, we have performed thousands of transmission flushes over the years, and have seen the incredible difference this procedure can make to the reliability of a vehicle. Below, we’ve put together a simple guide to everything you need to know about your transmission and the potential benefits that you will experience should you opt for a flush. The transmission allows your vehicle to change gears while you are driving. In many vehicles, the transmission is automatic – i.e. g ... read more

A vehicle’s air conditioning system or AC system as it’s also known is a vital part of it; you don’t want to be driving around in a car with a damaged AC system, you’ll need vehicle AC repair! That’s why taking care of your car’s air conditioning system is so important. When it comes to being comfortable on both long and short journeys, air conditioning plays a pivotal role. That’s why taking care of your vehicle’s AC system is so important. If you’ve noticed that your car’s air conditioning is no longer working as effectively as it used to, then this is a sign that there is a problem somewhere along the line and you’ll should stop by HB Auto & AC. The good news is that although the cause of issues ... read more

Volkswagen is one of the most recognized brands in the world. Established in Berlin, Volkswagen calls upon all the typical traits of German engineering. The cars are delightfully designed, packed full of the latest technology, offering a fantastic driving experience. If you own a Volkswagen, then you want to keep it in the best condition possible. Regardless of the age or model of your VW, we’ve got all the OEM parts, fluids and skills to take care of your Volkswagen service in Huntington Beach. Specialists In Volkswagen Maintenance Our Volkswagen service is second to none, and we help you maintain the quality of your car for as long as possible. We offer scheduled maintenance for your vehicles, ensuring that everything runs properly, and that your car is fi ... read more

BMWs are some of the most recognizable and well-loved cars on the roads today. There is something classic about BMWs; something that screams reliability, safety, looking good on the road but caring about what’s under the hood too. A BMW is the car for a person who wants the world to know they value aesthetics and performance. Of course, you already know all this: you’ve got your BMW, and you love it. We at HB Auto & AC understand the unique relationship that BMW owners have with their vehicles, and that’s why we have made it our goal to provide the most comprehensive BMW service possible. The vital maintenance At HB Auto & AC, we know that maintenance is the key to keeping your vehicle on the road. Proper maintenance ensures you don’t have to suffer frequent breakdowns, can help preserve your resale price, and ens ... read more

You might not have heard of engine diagnostics, but this technique is used to find the root cause of any problems your car’s engine might be dealing with. It’s important to understand a bit about engine diagnostics. Then you can understand why it’s so important and how your car and its engine can be aided and improved by this form of testing. There is a lot to learn, and you will find all of the important parts covered in the information below. It could help you to look after your car better and notice the signs that its engine is experiencing difficulties. For most people, their vehicle is an essential part of their day to day lives. So, looking after it and knowing how to get problems fixed fast is vital. Read on now to start learning more about engine diagnostics. What Is Engine Diagnostics? To put it simply, an engine diagnos ... read more

We see things like this on a regular basis. Larry's 2004 Mini Air Conditioning was not working. The dealer said it needed a compressor replacement at a cost of over $1500! We fixed his Porsche earlier last year so he gave us a look at the Mini. We found the AC compressor clutch coil not working. From the BMW dealership the cost of the new compressor alone was over $800! Because of our long experience in auto air conditioning, we knew what we could do. While replacing the compressor coil only we found the main shaft seal leaking and replaced that also. Now the air conditioning FREEZES the passengers at much lower cost than previously quoted and saved the customer over $800! We like working on air conditioning! Here is another kind of Air the Cooper is capable of

One of our favorite places to go for parts and shop talk is gone! VW Specialties on Gothard. Ron was a long time friend, fellow mechanic and parts wizard who could find VW and Audi parts that seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth. We hope well for Ron and hope to see him in the future. It is our hope that those who have called Ron their mechanic will consider HB Auto & AC their next reliable VW and Audi repair facility in Huntington Beach. We'll be your best VW Service next to Ron we know and we'll do our homework to find those illusive parts! Memories I've never really thought about the memories I've had concerning auto repair because I grew up where you either fixed it or walked. Along the way a person can become an expert welder, fabricator, artists, painter, hydrolic specialists, tuner, racer, electrician, these darned things got a lot of things going on! They transcends the definition of “cars” or &ldq ... read more