Happy New Year from the team at John’s Automotive Care in La Mesa! January is a good time to talk about money-saving tips while you drive to kick off the new year. Let’s be kind to our wallets!   Steady speeds Did you know that driving smooth and steady, avoiding sudden braking or acceleration, can save you money? Although it is fun to drive fast and accelerate quickly, it becomes costly. If you want to become an economical driver, practice driving just below the speed limit and avoid quickly accelerating. Driving this way also reduces the wear on your engine, suspension, and tires.   Turning off your engine Running your car while waiting can get costly at the pump. If you park your car so someone can run back into the house or a store, and you might be idling your vehicle for over 1 minute, turn off your engine. Not only will you save fuel, but you will also be saving the environment one minute at a time.   Oil Check Proper oil for your vehicle. Wo ... read more

Happy December to our John's Automotive Care La Mesa family! As we prepare for the most festive time of the year, we turned to our valued customer of John's Automotive Care; we thank you again for trusting us to maintain your vehicles. With all that is happening worldwide, we want to continue our tradition of helping others during the holidays in the form of a Christmas Toy Drive.   We know many families are in need, and we are asking you to help them out with our 22nd Annual Toy Drive. By bringing in an unwrapped toy or gift certificate from a department or grocery store with a value of $10 or more by December 13th, we will offer you $25 off your next service!   Every year we hold this Toy Drive to help the children from the Boys and Girls Clubs of East County, Magnolia Science Academy, and the Children's Hospital Heart Ward. Last year we were so proud of our customers who helped with almost 600 gifts! This year we are working hard to surpass 700 gifts. Do yo ... read more

What is the Importance of an Oil Change?   We all hear time and time again that the most important service you can schedule for your car, but why? Well, oil is the most critical part of your cooling system and is the primary lubricant for the internal components of your engine. Neglecting to have regular oil change services can ultimately lead to expensive, otherwise avoidable repairs.   Fundamentally, an oil change consists of draining and refilling your engine oil and installing a new replacement filter. Here is the process. First, we remove the sump plug to drain the oil, remove the old filter, replace the drain plug and add oil, refilling to the correct amount based on factory specifications.   What does an Oil and Filter Change Do for my Car? Oil goes bad. No matter how well you drive, dirt and debris end up in your engine oil. The quality of oil you run in your car prevents or increases friction, which causes avoidable stress and wears on the internal compon ... read more

Can you believe that Halloween is coming up and pumpkin spice lattes are in abundance? Even if you are still holding onto summer, now is the time to think about winter road trips during the holidays and seasonal changes that can affect your car. If you are wondering what types of seasonal maintenance to focus on, keep reading to find car care tips to ensure your vehicle is ready.   Fluids The first thing you want to do is check your fluids. This is most critical of all, as the fluids not only lubricate your engine, they keep your car from overheating. This is a perfect time to pop the hood and look at your engine oil, coolant level, brake fluid, Automatic Transmission Fluid ATF, and power steering fluid. Be cautious if you have been driving your car because the coolant in your car is HOT and could severely burn you if you have been recently driving your car. If your vehicle has a transfer case or differential, you should also check these fluids to make sure there is no viscosit ... read more

As we prepare for the first days of school, we think about the congestion on our roads: We have school buses picking up passengers, kiddos on bikes hurrying to get to school on time, with rushed parents trying to drop their kids off before work. Now is the most important time for drivers to slow down and pay attention when kids are on the road – especially before and after school.   When Dropping Off Most often, schools have precise drop-off procedures for each school year. Please make sure you are familiar with them for the safety of all kids. Remember in all school zones: Avoid double parking; it blocks visibility for other children and vehicles. Only load and unload children on the same street from the school Create a carpool community to reduce the number of vehicles at the school. Sharing the Road with Youth  According to research by the National Safety Council, most of the children who lose their lives in bus-related incidents are 4 to 7 years old, and they ... read more

    Increasing driver’s safety in summer   According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, most auto-related incidents and injuries occur in July and August, including teenage accidents and deaths. In summer, we experience many weather-related changes and cultural patterns, which increase driving hazards during the summer months. This month’s blog will cover the most common summertime driving dangers and how we can avoid them.    Tire blowouts When it is hot outside and the pavement heats up, that heat transfers to your tires, causing the air inside to expand. Even new tires can blow out during a heatwave if you are not mindful of your tire pressure. The opposite occurs when it is cool outside, meaning that your tires will have low air pressure. Shifting between temperatures can cause frequent flat tires and blowouts, and if this occurs while driving can cause a terrible accident, especially while driving at high speeds. &nb ... read more

Every component in a vehicle needs regular maintenance to extend its lifecycle. And one particular system that you certainly want to maintain is your vehicle's A/C system. Given the warm climate of California that we live in and call home, your air conditioning unit is one of the most crucial to keep you cool and calm all year. John's Automotive Care is your best choice for auto cooling system repair in La Mesa. Our ASE Certified auto mechanics are either ASE Master-Certified with extensive experience repairing auto cooling systems in all makes and models of foreign and domestic vehicles. Who wants to leave their truck feeling sweaty and stuffy? No one! If there is an issue with your auto cooling system, our auto mechanics will identify and solve the problem. Additionally, most auto repair is backed by a 36,000-mile/36-month warranty.  What happens if you neglect to service your A/C system? This is what we'll be covering in this article. Are you ready? Let's get ... read more

Happy June to our automotive family; as many of you know, after being our loyal customers over the years, is other than fantastic and honest auto repair, our team is heavily involved and cares deeply about our surrounding community. We wanted to take this month's blog as an opportunity to highlight great causes and drive being put on by one of our local high schools. The Lincoln High School Shoe Drive fundraiser is currently happening!    This drive is to raise money for their ASB program and goes until June 14th. The school will earn funds based on the weight of the total shoes donated. They are accepting gently used and new pairs of shoes & at the end of the event, a check will be given for the shoes. Funds2Orgs networks with many small business partners to create, maintain and grow smaller businesses in developing countries where jobs are limited. The proceeds from selling all the donated shoes will be used to clothe, feed, and help families in need. By contribut ... read more

  We are wishing you & your family a wonderful month of May! Our John's Automotive Care team has decided to talk about all things brakes for this month's blog! Including simple things you, as a responsible vehicle owner, can do to save you money in the long run. We will tackle what different brake issues mean & when it's time to see an expert.    John's Automotive Care is your trusted source for brake repair in La Mesa. Brakes are paramount to your safety, your passengers, and your car. Skilled brake repair auto mechanics should only handle these essential components of your vehicle. So let's begin with, "when do I need to see an expert?"    Vibrations in your vehicle?  Vibrations in your car indicate it's time to visit the experts at JAC. The reasoning behind this is due to worn down brake pads; over time, this occurs — there's no avoiding it. As your brake pads wear down, they can come into contac ... read more

  Happy April to our John's Automotive Care Family!  With the new month of April, our team decided this was the perfect time to inspire our wonderful customers & give some road trip ideas for Spring. Our team hopes you find some inspiration for your next California adventure, from day trips to long weekends or weeklong getaways!    Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is a must for a road trip & is the largest state park in California. Just under a two-hour drive from our shop, this park consists of over five hundred miles of dirt roads, with 12 wilderness areas with many miles of hiking trails. California's largest state park provides visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience the wonders of the California Desert. The park's name comes from Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza, mixed with Borrego, or bighorn sheep. Find camping reservations here.&nb ... read more