Auto Repair in Camarillo

If you are like most drivers, you don’t worry too much about what shape your radiator hoses are in.  But they are a vital part of your coolant system, helping carry engine coolant from the hot engine to where it is cooled off in the radiator.  

When the cooling system has a problem, you will likely see your vehicle’s temperature gauge showing you it’s running at a higher temperature than it usually does. Or maybe the low coolant light has come on.  If either of these happens, it’s important that you not drive too long since a hot, running vehicle can suffer expensive damage quickly.

Radiator hoses can be damaged by being subjected to temperature extremes, both hot and cold. In addition to the temperature gauge climbing or low coolant light illuminating, there are other clues that may tell you your vehicle is leaking fluid.  You may notice a green, yellow, brown or purple fluid pooled on the ground around your vehicle.  

At any of these signs, it’s time to bring your vehicle in for service soon.  A technician can inspect hoses for leaks, deformities and other problems, as well as looking for cracks and wear.  They’ll also check the condition of the water pump, since problems with it can be another reason coolant will leak out from under your vehicle.

It is better to periodically have your hoses checked rather than waiting until they fail.  How often you should have yours replaced depends a lot on what vehicle you own, and in what conditions it is driven. Rubber degrades not only by temperature but also by what materials it comes in contact with.  For example, oil leaking on a radiator hose can prematurely cause that hose to fail. Age is another factor.  

We recommend you have one of our technicians inspect your cooling system regularly so you don’t get “hosed” by a failure at an inconvenient time.

Camarillo Car Care Center
2739 Daily Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010
805-482-2853
www.camarillocarcare.com

You may have heard someone say they just got the air filter replaced in their vehicle.  But did you know your vehicle has two different major air filters and they both perform quite different—but very important—duties?

Today’s vehicles have a cabin air filter, and an engine air filter.  The engine air filter cleans the air that enters your engine so it can run better, and so contaminants don’t foul vital parts.  While the cabin air filter keeps the air inside the vehicle’s cabin clean, the place where you and your passengers sit.  

It is important that you have each of these types of filters changed at regular intervals, or earlier if either shows signs that they’re contaminated. Your vehicle’s owner’s manual often will recommend how long that interval should be.

First, let’s look at the engine air filter. Your vehicle’s manufacturer will offer guidelines on how often you should change the engine air filter as a matter of routine, by mileage or time interval.  

If you see signs of engine air contamination, such as misfiring, an illuminated check engine light, smoke coming out of your tailpipe, or loss of power, you may need to have the engine air filter replaced sooner.  

Next, the cabin air filter.  Again, the vehicle manufacturer will suggest how often you should replace it. But if you notice excess dust in the cabin, on the dash, console or seats, a bad smell in the cabin, or lower air flow out the heating and cooling ducts, you should have us check to see if your cabin air filter needs replacing. In either case, we’ll make sure we replace your air filters - either engine or cabin - with ones that are right for your vehicle.  

Camarillo Car Care Center
2739 Daily Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010
805-482-2853
www.camarillocarcare.com

Every day that goes by, our bodies get a little more wear and tear on them.  Our vehicles have the same issue.  The older we get and the farther we travel, certain parts start showing some wear.  

Think of your hips. There are parts of our vehicles that are similar to them; just like hips allow your legs to pivot in several directions, your vehicle has similar parts called ball joints, and they connect your vehicle’s wheels to the suspension, allowing them to move together.  These ball joints get a good workout every time the vehicle is moving, especially on bumpy roads.  

Usually, these joints are well lubricated with grease, so they’ll work smoothly and quietly. They’re surrounded by a rubber sleeve called a boot, but that can wear out with age or exposure to moisture or debris.  When the rubber breaks, the grease can leak out, and damage accelerates.

When the ball joints start wearing out, you may start to hear clunking sounds that come from the corners of your vehicle.  You might hear it more clearly when you are turning a corner or going over a bump.  Over time, it might get worse.  Other signs are sloppy steering, vibrations when you’re moving and uneven tire wear.
If a ball joint gets extremely worn, it’s possible you can lose control of your vehicle, a dangerous situation indeed.

If you notice any of these symptoms, bring it to us so a technician can diagnose the problem.  If they determine you need a new ball joint, the technician will check the condition of all the suspension components.  We usually recommend if one of a pair of ball joints goes bad, the other is likely quite worn as well and should be replaced, too. In no time, you’ll be back on the road with an updated agile suspension that feels young again.  

Camarillo Car Care Center
2739 Daily Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010
805-482-2853
www.camarillocarcare.com

When it comes to brakes on your vehicle, we all know how important it is to keep them working well because they are vital safety equipment.  After all, if you can’t slow down and stop, you can’t drive safely.  

While many vehicles use what are called disc brakes, there’s another type of brakes that are used on the rear wheels of vehicles that have something called drum brakes.  Drum brakes were the original type that were invented in the early twentieth century.  The term drum comes from the part of the brakes that is a housing connected to your wheel.  Inside there are parts called brake shoes that press against the drum when you step on the pedal, and the friction slows and stops your vehicle.  

Signs your brake shoes might need replacing are your rear brakes make noise when you step on the pedal and they vibrate when you brake.  Another sign of bad brake shoes is that your hand brake stops working.  If you notice one or both problems in your vehicle, it’s time to bring it in so a technician can inspect your brake system.  It can be unsafe to drive a vehicle with worn out brake shoes.

There are two brake shoes in each brake, and since they both work each time you stop, when they need replacing, they should be done in pairs. When we replace your brake shoes, we will also inspect other components and parts of your brake system, including your emergency brake cable.  We will also lubricate another part called the backing plate. 

Let us keep your brakes operating as they were designed to. When it comes to safe driving, stopping is as important as going.

Camarillo Car Care Center
2739 Daily Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010
805-482-2853
www.camarillocarcare.com

What do mud, bird droppings and frost all have in common? When they’re covering your windshield, they can temporarily obscure your view of the road, leaving you driving blind.  And when you can’t see the road clearly ahead of you, it can be really scary. 

That’s one of the reasons it’s important to maintain your windshield cleaning system, which includes your wipers, blades and washers.  They’re three vital components that work together to ensure you’re clearly seeing what’s going on with the road and drivers around you.

Your wipers are doing the physical work on the surface of your windshield’s glass.  The rubber or silicone is what touches the surface of the glass, and after time and exposure to the elements, wiper blades can get brittle, lose their flexibility, rip and tear to the point where they simply can’t clear the glass.  

What holds the wiper blades close to the glass is important, too.  Conventional blades use a metal frame which holds flexible rubber inserts.  Just the inserts can be changed which keeps replacement costs down.

Another type that’s gaining more popularity is called a beam blade.  It doesn’t have a frame but instead has a stiff beam and blade combination.  Beam blades can conform more snugly to the curved glass used in many recent vehicle designs.  Plus they have a sweeping shape which harnesses the pressure of the air that passes over them to apply more pressure during wiping, especially effective at highway speeds. High-tech rubber wiper blades, what …?! Seriously, they are pretty cool.

If you crossed the conventional frame blade with a beam blade, you’d have the hybrid wiper.  It’s constructed like a traditional wiper with a plastic frame that takes advantage of the aerodynamic shape of a beam blade.

Equally important to your windshield is the washer system since wiper blades simply don’t work on dry glass.  The washers use a pump to shoot fluid on your glass to remove debris, dust and other contaminants. 

All these systems need to always be at the ready since we never know what elements we’ll encounter on the road. Regular inspections and maintenance of your wipers and washers can ensure you’ll be able to see far down the road ahead of you for clearer vision and safer traveling.

Camarillo Car Care Center
2739 Daily Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010
805-482-2853
www.camarillocarcare.com

When you’re driving and you hear a squeal or groan when you turn, it may be a sign your power steering pump is on its last legs.  The same is true if you feel your steering is slipping or doesn’t respond to your hands like it used to.  

Precise, responsive steering is, of course, important when it comes to safe driving, so this is something you should have one of our technicians look at sooner rather than later.  

There are different types of power steering pumps, and they all perform a similar function.  They make it easier for you to turn the steering wheel with little effort as the power steering system multiplies that force so you can precisely aim a vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds.  

The type of power steering pump your vehicle has depends on the power steering system it uses.  One works by hydraulics, taking energy provided by belts driven by the engine which pressurizes power steering fluid to the wheels.  There are a lot of components in these systems, and they can wear out more quickly than some other systems.

Another power steering system works on electricity, which is more fuel efficient and produces fewer emissions.  It works on electrical power created by the vehicle’s electrical system and doesn’t put as much of a load on the engine.  With electric power steering systems, your vehicle can change how the steering feels or responds in different driving conditions.

When your power steering system isn’t working correctly, a technician will determine where the problems are.  Not only could it be the power steering pump, but there are several other parts that may be contributing to your steering issues.  That may include leaks in hoses and seals, faulty belts and corrosion in electrical components and connections. 

When you feel the steering in your vehicle doesn’t have the solid, smooth silent response it used to have, bring it in so a technician can diagnose the problems and steer you back in the right direction.

Camarillo Car Care Center
2739 Daily Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010
805-482-2853
www.camarillocarcare.com