Auto Repair in Camarillo

Today we're going to be talking about serpentine belts for our Camarillo CA customers. Let's start by talking about the accessories that are driven by the serpentine belt. First is the alternator. That's the device that makes electricity to power the vehicle and recharge the battery. Then there's the air conditioning compressor that makes cool air for you while you're driving around Camarillo CA in the summer. The power steering and power brake pumps are driven by the serpentine belt in most vehicles. Those pumps make the pressure that assists your steering and braking. In many vehicles, the water pump is driven by the serpentine belt. The water pump is what circulates the coolant that protects your engine. In some cars around Camarillo CA, the water pump is driven by the timing belt. The radiator cooling fans on some vehicles are also driven by the serpentine belt. Some have separate electric motors. That's really ... read more

So you have some exciting plans for the CA weekend. You're going to take some of your Camarillo, CA friends out on the boat for some water skiing. Of course, you've gotten the boat all ready. And you haven't forgotten about your tow vehicle. You've gassed it up and even vacuumed it out. But you want to make sure that your SUV maintenance is up to date. Think about it heavy traffic on the way out of Camarillo. There's hilly terrain as you get to the lake. Some dirt roads and its going to be pretty hot in Camarillo this weekend. And all the time you'll be towing around several thousand extra pounds. That all adds up a lot of severe strain on your engine, brakes and transmission. Let's just consider the transmission. It's going to be working overtime, spending more time in lower gears. The internal transmission temperature is going to be much higher than normal. What's a fun little blast to the local CA lake for you is really severe duty for your transmission ... read more

Let's talk about deciphering the auto service menu board. Camarillo, CA service centers like Camarillo Car Care Center have a board that lists the routine services they provide. But some people don't know what these services really are unless they ask. Let's go down a typical list, in alphabetical order, starting with air conditioning service. First remember that all of these services are recommended by vehicle manufacturers. They set how often or at how many miles the service should be done. Air conditioning service involves purging the old refrigerant and capturing it for proper disposal. Then fresh refrigerant is installed. The fresh refrigerant will lubricate the system and will also help it cool better. Alignment. Service centers like Camarillo Car Care Center make sure all four wheels are lined up and track with each other. This reduces tire and suspension wear and improves safety and handling ... read more

Nowadays, everyone in Camarillo, CA is paying more at the gas pump. For some families in the greater Thousand Oaks area, it adds up to several hundred dollars every month. That's got to come out of the budget somewhere. Throughout North America, people are putting off buying a new car. They plan on keeping their old vehicle for a year or two longer than before. Even now, 2/3 of the personal vehicles on our local Camarillo, CA roads have over 75,000 miles on them. The average age of vehicles is over nine years. And most people in Thousand Oaks can't afford to be stranded or inconvenienced by a break down. So following a regular maintenance schedule, like our personal diet and exercise plans, is actually critical to preserving your investment. Knowing what to do for a higher-mileage vehicle can be challenging because many owners' manuals don't publish service intervals after 60,000 miles. It just means that you need to be better at keeping records and planning ... read more