Proper wheel alignment means that all four wheels are going in exactly the same direction. It’s easier than you might think to get your wheels out of alignment, which is why a regular wheel alignment check at a Murrieta auto mechanic is a good idea. Something as simple as bumping a curb, running over a pothole, or driving on uneven roads can affect your wheel alignment over time as much as getting into an auto accident. [Read more…]
Temecula Auto Repair - Blog Posts by Tag
Keeping Murrieta Residents Safe and Saving Money with Regular Wheel Alignments
Engine Service and Repair Experts in Murrieta
Car and truck engines are complex systems that require expert attention. Our factory trained specialists at Inland Auto in Murrieta are highly qualified to service, repair, or replace a gas, hybrid, or diesel engine in almost any vehicle.
When problems arise with a vehicle’s engine, many people think the best place to take their vehicle is the mechanic at the dealer where it was purchased. However, at Inland Auto, we are able to offer the same expert, comprehensive service as dealer mechanics, and often at a more affordable price. We can even help you with engine repairs that are covered by most extended warranties, and we can handle any related paperwork for you. [Read more…]
Reviewer Impressed with Overall Service at Inland Auto in Murrieta
We recently received a great review on Yelp from Michael in Murrieta. Like many of our customers, he was impressed with our staff, calling them “honest and professional.” Auto mechanics sometimes get a bad reputation for being dishonest and unprofessional, so to have customers that see us as trustworthy is especially significant to us.
Here is another comment from Michael’s review after his visit to our Murrieta auto mechanic shop:
Definitely one of the cleanest shops I have ever seen and the waiting room [was] also very clean with Wi-Fi, coffee and water.”
Maintaining Your Murrieta Vehicle’s Shocks and Struts for Safety and Control
Shocks and struts are often mentioned together, and the terms are sometimes even used interchangeably by non-car gurus, but they are considerably different from each other. They are both part of a car’s suspension system, which keeps your vehicle from bouncing down the road and your tires from lifting off the road on curves and turns, but they do this in very different ways.
Shock absorbers, often called “shocks” for short, are pump devices that, when working properly, keep your tires in contact with the road at all times. Struts differ from shocks in that they are structural components of the suspension system of a vehicle, attached to the chassis, and use a spring mechanism to absorb any bumps in the road. [Read more…]
Certified Smog Checks at Your Trusted Murrieta Auto Mechanic Shop
You just got the paperwork in the mail from the DMV. Your vehicle is up for renewal, and you need to get a smog check, something most vehicles need to have done every two years. Where should you go? There are many places in town that advertise they give smog tests, and there are even some in Murrieta and Temecula that say they “specialize” in smog check or smog testing. So, how do you choose the right place to take your vehicle to be smogged?
Now, you don’t have to look any further than your trusted Murrieta auto mechanic, Inland Auto. We are certified to perform smog checks for any vehicle that is a model year 2000 or newer. Our technicians have been properly trained, and our auto mechanic shop in Murrieta has been equipped with everything necessary to perform a smog test for your vehicle. [Read more…]
Car Air Conditioning Not Working Properly? It May Be Time for a Recharge
The hot months in Murrieta aren’t behind us yet! We’ve been known to have 90-degree weather well into November, so don’t think that you can put off having your car’s air conditioner repaired until next year. If your vehicle’s air conditioner is not working properly, bring it in to Inland Auto today, so you won’t have to spend the next several months in an uncomfortably hot car.
For the majority of cars that come to us for air conditioning problems, we can do an air conditioner recharge, and your car’s air conditioner can be blowing ice cold air in your face on the drive home from our Murrieta shop the same day! [Read more…]
Keeping Your Brakes in Top Condition with Regular Brake Inspections
A regular brake inspection is one of the things on every vehicle’s maintenance schedule. It should go without saying that properly functioning brakes are a necessity when it comes to driving safety, but many Murrieta drivers put off brake inspections and brake repairs far longer than they should.
Some of the warning signs that your brakes are in need of repair are:
- A grinding or squealing noise when brakes are applied
- A soft of spongy brake pedal (a pedal that needs to be pressed down farther than normal in order to stop the vehicle)
- Vibrations in the brake pedal or steering wheel
- A lit brake warning light on your vehicle’s dash
Vehicle Air Conditioner Repair is Not Always a DIY Project
We’ve entered the hot part of summer in Murrieta, so you probably know by now if your car’s air conditioner is working or not. When a vehicle’s air conditioner stops blowing cold air, the first thing many people want to do is add refrigerant to the air conditioning system. While this seems logical, it can actually do more harm than good if low refrigerant isn’t the actual cause of the problem. It’s important to bring your vehicle in to your Murrieta auto mechanic sooner rather than later to diagnose the problem so it can be repaired properly.
Often, an air conditioning system that is blowing warm air is the result of a broken condenser fan. If repaired in a timely matter, this problem should not affect the rest of the system. However, if you add refrigerant to a system with a faulty condenser fan, it could cause an overcharge, which raises the pressure in the air conditioning system and can cause additional damage. [Read more…]
Putting off Vehicle Maintenance is Hazardous to your Vehicle and your Pocketbook
You’ve heard the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” While this saying is true in many areas of life, it doesn’t exactly apply to your vehicle. Performing regular vehicle maintenance can fix things before they become a problem and prevent costly repairs down the road. The maintenance reminders you receive in the mail are more than just helpful suggestions. They really are necessary actions you need to take to ensure that your vehicle continues to run as it should.
We know it’s easy to put off vehicle maintenance when your car or truck seems to be running perfectly well. Newer vehicles have electronic ignition systems and engine control systems that tend to perform better (and for a longer period of time) than the mechanical ignition systems in older vehicles, which have parts that need frequent replacement. Because of this, we are seeing more and more Murrieta vehicle owners who only bring in their car or truck when there is a problem. However, routine auto maintenance is important, even if you have a newer model vehicle. [Read more…]
Reduce Your Chances of Overheating by Maintaining Your Vehicle’s Cooling System
The cooling system in your car or truck is designed to keep your engine at the optimal temperature for the best performance. It does this by circulating a coolant, also called antifreeze, mixed with water through the engine and transferring the heat generated by the engine to the radiator, where it is cooled. Coolant/antifreeze also keeps the water in the system from freezing in cold climates. Coolant/antifreeze is specially formulated to both increase the boiling point and reduce the freezing point of the water with which it is mixed.
When a car overheats, it is because there is a problem with the cooling system. One of the most common problems that causes overheating is a low coolant level. If there is not an adequate amount of coolant circulating through the engine, it causes heat to build up. You can make sure your auto has the correct amount of coolant in the system by regularly checking the overflow reservoir. The reservoir contains markings or notches, which will indicate how much coolant needs to be added. [Read more…]