Auto Repair in Camarillo

A while back, the Cash for Clunkers program was all over the news. Camarillo people could trade in their old vehicle for a new one that got better fuel economy and receive a government rebate. A lot of Camarillo motorists had so-called clunkers that they wanted to keep. They’re good commuters, grocery getters or toy haulers. They enjoy that fact that they’re paid off, or soon will be. They would gladly like to keep their SUVs for 200,000 miles or more - as long as it’s economical to do so. There are plenty of Camarillo drivers whose vehicles are running after 150,000 or 200,000 miles. We can learn from what they’re doing to keep our own SUVs on the road in CA. Camarillo drivers of high-mileage cars often report a common denominator of never skipping an oil change.That may sound a bit unsophisticated, but it’s really not. First off, oil is ... read more

If you’ve ever heard a squealing sound under your hood, chances are it was your serpentine belt. Your serpentine belt is a long belt that’s driven by your engine. It winds around several accessories that power important automotive systems in your SUV. Let’s go over them. First, the serpentine belt drives your air conditioning system. It spins the compressor that makes the cool air that takes the edge off the summer heat in Camarillo.Next, the belt powers the alternator. The alternator creates electricity that’s used by your SUV’s electrical systems and also charges your car battery. Without the alternator, the battery will go dead in a few miles. The serpentine belt may also run the pumps for both the power steering (some are electric) and power brakes (some use vacuum boost). And, on most SUVs, the serpentine belt powers the water ... read more

Most of our Somis clients want to save on gas and seek our advice on improving fuel economy. At Camarillo Car Care Center, we are frequently asked, however, just how much money Somis motorists can actually save. Well the US government has a website dedicated to helping us use less fuel. It presents the cost savings in a way Somis car owners can relate to and is relevant for all vehicles. Let me give you an example: Having your SUV engine properly tuned, can save up to 4%. If you’re paying three-fifty for a gallon of gas, you could save fourteen cents a gallon. In today's Camarillo Car Care Center post, we’re going to talk about several things you can do to improve your SUVfuel economy driving around Somis. We’ll tell you the potential savings per gallon of gas at three dollars and fifty cents, and we’ll show a graphic th ... read more

High gas prices in Camarillo have hit most of our budgets. You’ve probably budgeted a certain amount for vehicle related stuff. Increased fuel costs are now consuming a bigger portion of that budget and you may be tempted to skimp in some other areas - like scheduled maintenance. According to news reports and industry studies, you’re not alone. Nine out of ten personal vehicles on the road have at least one maintenance or repair item that hasn’t been done. Some of these items are serious safety concerns. Others are just more likely to affect the cost of operating your vehicle. In this area, we can take a lesson from professional Camarillo vehicle owners. I’m talking about fleet owners and operators. You know, Camarillo folks like the trucking companies and delivery services. Because their livelihood depends on it, they have gotten scheduled maintenance down to a science. And the last thing they skimp on i ... read more