MOUNTAIN VIEW AUTO REPAIR

Summer is fast approaching with longer and warmer days! Having an air conditioner in your car that is working the way it should suddenly becomes more important. One of our customers recently came to us because when he turned on his air conditioner, instead of cool air he got warmer air plus a foul smell. The culprit? His cabin air filter. Even though this filter is a common piece of equipment in today’s vehicles, it is often overlooked during a routine service. It’s important to understand that failure to change this filter periodically will have adverse effects on the health and safety of the vehicle occupants, reduce the efficiency of the vehicle’s heating and air conditioning system, and even hasten the demise of certain vehicle parts. This filter is located in the air intake for the passenger compartment and filters dust, pollen, dirt and other allergens from the incoming air. At the same time ... read more

I hope you will enjoy reading this guest blog from James Henderson, a DIY guy and car enthusiast. He helps readers understand car problems you can fix and what to leave for the pros like us! Buying a car can be difficult for a lot of buyers, especially for those buying a car for the first time. Should you get a Hyundai or Kia? Chevy or Ford? There are so many car models for sale that it can be overwhelming to choose just one. Start by conducting a lot of research to determine which type of car you are looking for before you head to the dealership. This way, you won’t be pressured into a Mustang Boss 302 impulse buy when what you really need is a gas-sipping commuter like the Ford Focus. We’ve put together a checklist that can help you as you pick out your first car. Check Reviews Check out industry reviews on the vehicles that interest you. Reviews from individual consumers are great, but can be poorly written and biased. Look for professional reviews to get t ... read more

Windshield wipers, which are critical to your vision and safety during winter conditions, are prone to becoming dry or cracked during hot weather. We highly recommend replacing them when you have chattering or streaking wipers, and since they are so inexpensive, buying a new set each winter is not a bad practice to adopt. Windshield wipers vary in quality and construction, so either check your Owner’s Manual or call your service provider to see if there is a recommended product for your particular vehicle. Some wipers are easily replaced while newer vehicles might be more difficult and require professional installation. Either way, here at Dean’s Automotive we are proud to offer the Autotex Pink wipers as an option to you. Autotex Pink is a division of woman-owned WEXCO Industries, a leading global supplier of windshield wipers. For each set of wipers purchased, a portion of the purchase price is donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundatio ... read more

So, what is a maintenance service anyway? For starters, know there is a difference between “services” and “repairs”. The auto repair industry defines services as work done at specific time intervals to your vehicle to keep it running its best and to avoid potential major work that will cost you big dollars. These routine maintenance services are similar to the wellness checkups or dental cleanings/exams your health care providers schedule for you. If you skip or ignore them, the chances of serious problems developing are greatly increased! Bottom Line: Sticking to a routine maintenance schedule that is done completely and correctly (those two conditions are key!) will dramatically reduce the frequency and expense of repairs. In future blogs, I will describe these routine services in more detail. Let me know if there is a particular service you have questions about. * *See our book, Fearless Auto Care: A Guide to What Women ... read more

The best place to start is with your Owner’s Manual! If you don’t have one, ask for a copy from your vehicle manufacturer, or even purchase one online. The Owner’s Manual can seem overwhelming at first glance, but just begin by going to the section that lists your vehicle’s maintenance services and the recommended time or mileage intervals when they should be performed. These are the key to your vehicle’s health and long life. It is critical that you stick to that schedule as closely as possible to avoid major problems down the road! Especially with today’s more sophisticated vehicles, you can be lulled into believing everything is great when in fact, there might be trouble brewing. If you have a new car, it is also important to be aware that your new car warranty will only remain valid if you keep to the scheduled maintenance services. *Excerpt from our book “Fearless Auto Care: A Guide to What Women Should Know About Their Car”