A tire bursting is no joke and can be a terrifying situation no driver wants to find themselves in. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported in 2003 that, of the 78,392 accidents that occurred due to a blown-out tire, 414 people lost their lives while nearly 15% (10,275 individuals) suffered non-fatal injuries. Thankfully, given new advances in technology, significant improvements in tire construction and early alert systems have helped reduce severe accidents due to tire blowouts. Even though improvements have been made, this type of emergency is still very possible. The team at John's Automotive Care La Mesa wants to prepare you for this situation with our August blog; having the proper knowledge of handling a burst tire is essential to your safety.    In most cases, there are four primary reasons why a tire blows out suddenly.    The tire was under-inflated. Tire overinflated.  A mecha ... read more

Extended warranties are a kind of service that drivers can purchase when their car's original manufacturer's warranty expires. It is not an extension of the manufacturer's warranty. This type of warranty is an optional type of warranty you pay into that will be used for future auto repairs to a vehicle's major systems. Extended car warranties, in the end, can save you major money if you ever run into significant car problems. While they can do this, about half of drivers see themselves never using their extended warranty or having a repair cost less than the warranty. In this case, it would make sense to just set aside money yourself for potential auto repair needs. But before making any decisions, it is crucial to understand the pros and cons of extended car warranties.    Pros 1.     Save Money  If you do need a costly repair, extended warranties could cover the repair. So, instead of paying the entire bill, you would only need to pay ... read more

    At JAC La Mesa, we know our California summers can get unbearably hot. We all know how the temperatures can go well beyond 100 degrees in the middle of the summer. With that being said, it's essential to have proper coolant and cooling running correctly in your vehicle for most, if not all, of the year! We wanted to discuss coolant and cooling so you can be prepared to get it fixed before that first unbearable summer heatwave.    First off, a well-maintained cooling system is critical for the engine of your vehicle for multiple reasons. The most important is keeping your engine operating safely and efficiently. With engine problems related to cooling, if they fail, it will lead to costly repairs. There are multiple reasons to do a pre-summer check for your cooling systems—one maintaining the hoses and connections and checking the fans and water pumps. We perform complete checks of your vehicle's cooling system to ensure everything is in tip-top ... read more

  So you’re ready for a road trip around the sunny San Diego area? You’ve got your snacks packed, windows down, and seatbelts fastened, but wait! There’s one more thing you need that is a total game-changer for any road trip...an epic cruising playlist! Music can boost your mood and add another element to any drive. So let’s queue up your Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, or whatever music streaming service you use, and create a playlist that will keep you jamming for your whole ride.   One of the best parts of a road trip is creating a playlist tailored to your specific music taste or even making it destination-themed! For instance, with a road trip to San Diego, some artists would be Dirty Heads, Goldfinger, Sublime, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Weezer, and Sugar Ray. They all have a very beachy, reggae, upbeat vibe to them that will pair perfectly with the ocean breeze flowing through your hair as you cruise with your windows down!    Another ... read more

I’m pretty sure we’ve all seen this light come on at least once or twice in our lives. Either in our vehicle or family and friend’s vehicle. Some may even cover the light with a picture or scrap paper to bring a sense of relief we call “Out of sight, out of mind.”   I know that may give you a temporary feeling of peace of mind, but let’s go over what this light means so you can get it in the shop instead of pasting over it!   The service engine’s soon light’s function is to let the driver know that the vehicle’s sensors have picked up on an issue. The emission control system often triggers this light, but other various causes could activate the sensor. Seeing this light come on can cause some alarm, but all cars need maintenance, and it doesn’t mean your engine is broken or cause for panic.   If the service engine soon light comes on while you’re driving, it’s best to pull over and assess t ... read more

  Spring is in the air, and the upcoming season is waiting for no one. Are you ready for a road trip? How about your car? No one wants to find themselves on the side of the road with a vehicle that lets you down when there is fun to be had. By giving your car a once over by a professional auto repair technician, you will have peace of mind, knowing what to keep an eye out for, what is urgent, and what services you can wait on.   Visual Inspections Auto repair professionals know what to look for, wear points on your specific vehicle, and help prevent unplanned breakdowns through regular maintenance check-ups. When you get a visual inspection done at John's Automotive Care, you receive a checklist showing photos of each report item listed in green, yellow, or red. Each color represents the level of urgency for service. Knowing your vehicle is thoroughly checked out before hitting the road will keep you feeling confident about your upcoming adventures.   Fluid Ser ... read more

Life can be hectic and inspecting your vehicle can easily fall to the bottom of the list before you know it. Visually inspecting your vehicle can be the first indication of possible issues that can help prevent major repairs. However, sometimes it's hard to know what to look for, and things can appear normal. Let our experts at John's Automotive Care take the guesswork out of inspecting your vehicle.  At John's Automotive Care, a visual inspection involves a qualified repair technician looking at your car's parts and systems. Our mechanics notate what looks normal while looking for anything out of the ordinary. We take special care to inspect your vehicle and even take photographs of your vehicle to keep you informed about our findings. We email the photographs to you along with the full report so you can see exactly what our technicians are referring to regarding your vehicle.  Our technicians take visual inspections very seriously. However, even the most s ... read more

  As we wrap up this unprecedented year and head into 2021, think about the differences between resolutions and solutions. Resolutions tend to get lost in the daily grind soon after the new year begins. When you focus on SOLUTIONS instead, you're coming up with a game plan on how to move things forward. When you add accountability to your solutions, it can be an excellent recipe for success.    Learn how to flip your resolution into a solution. Let's start with your car. A resolution might be, "I'm going to take better care of my vehicle in 2021". To turn that into a solution for your car, here's one possible way to break it down:   Solution: Taking better care of my car.    Check the air in my tires every month to make sure I am getting the best gas mileage possible. Set a monthly reminder on my phone. Work with my mechanic to determine the best oil service schedule possible. Doing so helps me significantly extend the lif ... read more

  Terrific Christmas Gifts to Give Your Car   Well, it's that time of year again, when we get to buy gifts for those we love and the things that we love. Many of us love our cars or someone who loves their vehicle. When you feel stuck and unsure what to get your loved one for Christmas, turn to us at John's Automotive Care for ideas. We are here to help you with your car and provide ideas for what to buy your loved one. This blog will share awesome gifts for car and truck lovers alike, and hope you find inspiration for your holiday shopping.   FOB Holder If your car lover doesn't yet have one of these key FOB holders offering emblems for ... read more

Is The Turkey Browned Enough? Most commonly, we think of mom worrying in the kitchen about the turkey, if you will have marshmallows on your sweet potato casserole, or what to put in the stuffing this year. What we forget is to think about everyone making the drive to grandma’s house packed like sardines in a car full of family and friends, for what could be a long drive ahead.   Wednesday, a Popular Travel Day If you want to take the stress out of the series of “Are we there yet?” leave a day early and book a hotel room for the night. Simply taking this small head start on your travel adventure can increase your traveling pleasure substantially. You may encounter traffic; however, you will have enough downtime between Wednesday’s drive and Thursday’s feast to recover. There is nothing like arriving at grandma’s house fresh with everyone wearing smiles. That is a priceless gift to yourself and the relatives that you don’t get to see ve ... read more