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Taking care of your car is something that is extremely important. The maintenance on your car has to be kept up with or you will end up having to make expensive repairs down the road. There is a reason your dad always got on you about taking care of your car, it’s because if you don’t, it will break down. Paying for maintenance on a car is just like going to the doctor or the dentist, it keeps you healthy and living a healthy life. The same goes for your vehicle and how long it lasts or how it runs.

How To Prepare Your Car For Summer

When you know summer is just around the corner, there are a few things that you can do to help you properly prepare your car for it. The first thing you can do is to make sure that you have an oil change or that your oil change is up to date. Having your oil changed when it is supposed to be, is the most important thing you can do for your car. This will ensure that it is running properly and it is great because while you are there, the technicians can tell you if anything else is going on or things to be caseous of in the meantime like checking your tires. Another thing you may want to look into is making sure that your A/C is running properly. Sometimes you may need to add something to recharge it. It’s better to check now than to wait until it goes out and you’re stuck in a hot car for a few months.

What Is The Importance Of Preventative Maintenance?

It is important to do preventative maintenance because it will help prolong the life of your car. Cars are built to take care of you, but if you don’t take care of them, they will begin to fall apart. You can make a car last for a long time if you do the regular maintenance that it takes.

Quality Expert Service

When you need maintenance done on your car in Mission Viejo, CA, call our expert mechanics at Japanese Car Specialties, by dialing (949) 583-0811_. We will always be honest and upfront with you an=bout what you need and don’t need or your car. Let us help you today.

Cars are wonderful, but complex machinery. As a car owner, you probably take care of all of the vital issues such as oil changes, coolant refills, tire pressure and more. However, many people tend not to think about their vehicle’s suspension. Your suspension plays a vital role in making your car drivable as it absorbs shocks, jolts and other issues with the road while keeping your car stable and you protected. Without it, driving would be a terrible and dangerous experience. While these systems do not require as much maintenance as other parts of your engine, they can wear out over time, becoming damaged from all of the shocks it takes to keep you secure. How can you tell if your suspension is in need of repair?

Signs Your Suspension Needs Help

• Your Car Is Drifting – This will happen while you are turning your car. If you notice that your car wants to pull into a turn, the shocks are wearing down.
• Driving Is Rough – If you are feeling every little imperfection with the road, this means your suspension is no longer doing its job. Your ride should be comfortable.
• Stopping Rocks Your Car – Poor suspension can show when you stop your vehicle, as the body of your car may rock forward or try to dip the nose at a complete stop.
• Your Tires Aren’t Wearing Evenly – While tire wear can be made even by tire rotation, it may be a sign that your tires are receiving uneven pressure while driving.

One way many people test their suspension to make sure it is good is called the bounce test. While your car is in park, bounce your car by pressing your weight into it a couple of times. Let go and observe what your car does. If it continues to bounce more than a couple of times, your suspension needs service. Japanese Car Specialties is your source for quality repair service for your car. Give us a call today at (949) 583-0811 for repair service in Mission Viejo, CA.

 

When summer rolls around, we think about driving around with our tops down and enjoying the hot summer air, we probably don’t think about what we need to do with our cars. The truth is though, that you need to take an extra look at your car before summer is in full effect so that your car does not give you any issues through the intense heat of summer. It is so important that you keep your car cool in the summer as best as possible. Not only is it very hot outside, but your car runs very hot as well, even in the winter. So when the temperature is high and your car is running hot, the two together have to be watched or your car will overheat, especially if you are also running the air conditioning system. Here are a few simple things you can do to take care of your car this summer.

Tips For Your Car

Make sure things like the engine belt, wipers, and all fluids are topped off and ready to go. This will help to prevent overheating or your car running out of the essential products that it needs to run. Also making sure that your air filter is changed and not too dirty. If it is dirty, your car will end up working harder than it has to, just to work at a lower rate. A great way to keep the inside of your car cool and safe from the sun’s damaging rays, is to use a dashboard sunshade to keep it cool.

If you need help with any of these things for your Japanese car this summer, call Japanese Car Specialties at (949) 583-0811 and let us help you.

When it comes to choosing a car, you can bet there will be a ton of different choices to pick from. It is best to do your research beforehand so that you know exactly what you are looking for. If you are considering a Japanese car, you will have a large variety to choose from with many brands and options. For example, one of the most popular cars in production, a Honda makes a great quality vehicle. There are also: Mazda, Mitsubishi, Lexus, Nissan, and Kia (South Korea) just to name a few. When it comes to choosing the right Japanese car, it is best to look at reviews, common mechanical problems, and price.

What To Look For

Reviews – When you really want to know a broad opinion on something, go to the internet. Pulling up reviews of what people that have actually owned these cars, say, is a great way to get a well rounded idea of what you are looking at when you are buying one of these cars.

Mechanical Problems – It is typical that every car has something that will commonly go out on it. It is important to know these problems ahead of time because if the common problem is that the motor stops working, you might want to pass on that one.

Price – This is a big duh. Of course price is important in looking at a car, but the reason we mention this is so that you are making sure to get more bang for your buck. Price check and compare each car you are looking at.

If you have questions or need a repair done on your Japanese car, call Japanese Car Specialties at (949) 583-0811, today.

According to the National Safety Council, half of all teens will be involved in a car accident before they graduate. Teen driving is also the number one cause of death for 15-18 year-olds. So, what can you do when purchasing your teen’s first car to keep them safe?

Provide Clear expectations

Take the time to discuss exactly what you expect from your teen while on the road. Be clear about all rules regarding cell phones, passengers, and driving times and areas, and don’t assume that anything is understood. Ensure that your teen understands the level of responsibility required as well as the possible consequences that could be incurred, such as fines, license suspension, and accidents.

Shop, Shop, Shop

When deciding on your teen’s first vehicle, do your research. Find out which brands and models have the best safety and drive ratings. Learn about handling and brake system ratings as well as safety packages including antilock braking systems, air bags, and traction control systems. Take your teen along with you and let them take the wheel during the test drive. This will allow you to gauge comfort and driveability for your teen’s safety. Getting pre-approved before shopping can alleviate some of the tension that comes with buying a vehicle, and can set natural limits that makes it easier to come to a decision. When you find a car you’re interested in, have it inspected by a trusted mechanic to ensure its safety and stability.

Playing Enforcer

While nobody likes to be the bad guy, it’s imperative that the rules of driving are thoroughly enforced to keep your teen safe. Check up on your teen to make sure the rules are being followed properly and have set consequences when they are not. This can not only save hassle, time, and money but in many cases, it can also save a life.

Drive time is an exciting time for teens across the nation. Creating a clear plan and having a safe, stable vehicle are the first two steps to a safe, focused driver. To learn more about teen driving, or to have your teen’s first car inspected, call the Japanese Car Specialties experts today at 949-583-0811.

When it comes to choosing a mechanic, you have a lot of options to choose from. With all the choices, how do you know what is right for you or not? It’s easy, would you go to a dr that deals with specifically what is wrong with you or would you go to someone general? You would probably much rather go to someone who knows exactly what they are doing. You depend on your car more than you even realize so when it is time to get your japanese car looked at, go to the person who knows Japanese cars better than anyone else.

Choosing The Right Person

Experience – You want someone that is working on your car to know exactly what they are doing. Cars are not all made the same. Every brand of car comes from a different place and Japanese cars in particular are very specifically made. There are different parts that have to be ordered and if your mechanic does not know a lot about your car, you may have a hard time figuring out how to get that part and it can often be more expensive.

Knowing the Problems – When you go to someone who knows all about Japanese cars, they will be able to diagnose faster than someone who has general knowledge. This is great also because someone who knows these cars will know the common problems that they face and will be able to better help you in your process.

When you are looking for someone who knows Japanese cars better than anyone around, call Japanese Car Specialties, today at (949) 583-0811 We will make sure your car is back and running properly again right away.

The new year is here and your to-do list is probably growing. You have plenty of important tasks so early in the year–finance management, work-related rushes, medical appointments, and more. Don’t forget your car, however. If you drove it during the winter, those cold, harsh temperatures are hard on your car and it could use a professional eye to make sure that everything continues to run well as you move into the rest of the year. So, get a car tune-up now, while it’s still early.

After Winter

Winter is rough on your car. It means your car worked extra hard for you to run that heater for extended periods. Cold weather makes starting up tough for your engine and lubrication gets thicker. There are a lot of items in your car affected by the drop in temperatures. So, if you drove your car at all this winter, take it in now for a check-up and a tune-up. Even if the weather is still cold, your car could use a trip to your trusted auto mechanic to make sure it has survived the weather so far, and will continue to do so.

Get a Jump Start

Your car will go through a lot in the coming year, particularly if you drive it often because you love it. Make a start-of-the-year car tune-up part of your to-do list every year. If you start the year with a check-up for your car, you can fix any developing issues and not worry over them later. If there’s nothing wrong, then you can rest assured that your car is ready to start the year with you.

Bring your Japanese car to Japanese Car Specialties now and get a jump start on your new year with your car. We’ll give you a car tune-up and any other car service you need in Mission Viejo, CA. Just call us at (949) 583-0811.

Winter has nearly arrived, and the time has come to prepare your vehicle for the season. Along with summer, winter provides an especially punishing time of the year for a car. Couple this with travel for the holidays, and the unprepared vehicle may not equal the task. To prepare yourself for the season, follow these car care tips for winter.

Check Your Lighting

Since night arrives sooner in the winter, you need to make sure your lights function optimally. Check each of your lights to ensure functionality. If one appears dim, go ahead and install a replacement. Also remember to always remove snow and ice from your the front of your lights before you hit the road.

Volt Test

Batteries tend to fail in the winter. To ensure that yours will carry you through the season, have a professional mechanic perform a voltage test. Batteries do not operate as well in cold weather. In fact, a battery that weakened over the summer could outright fail come winter. If you have any concerns about the age or serviceability of your battery, replace it sooner rather than later.

Winter Tires

If you live in an area that receives snow and ice, then you need to have winter tires installed on your vehicle. These will better manage road conditions, and prevent the likelihood of accidents. Also, keep in mind that your tires went through a lot of wear in the summer. Check your treads and sidewalls for excessive wear or damage.

If you live in or around Mission Viejo, CA, you can trust Japanese Car Specialties for the fulfillment of the car care tips for winter. We offer dependable and reliable service, and are always ready to help at 949-583-0811.

In the state of California, drivers are required to have their cars tested for emissions every two years. The hope is that this will cut down on air pollution in the area. Japanese Car Specialties offers services for emissions testing. If you’re concerned that your car won’t be able to pass inspection, contact our office at (949) 583-0811 and ask how proper car maintenance can improve your chances of passing emission testing.

Did You Fail Emissions Testing?

If you car didn’t pass the emission test, there are several reasons why that could have happened. Here are three specific reasons why your car might not be able to pass a state inspection.

Faulty Ignition Systems
The systems that ignite the gas in your engine can impact the emissions from your car. If you have bad spark plug wires, old or worn out spark plugs or a broken distributor cap, you car is not likely to pass inspection.

Vacuum Leaks
There is a sensor in your car that measures the internal combustion of the engine’s electronic control system. If this sensor isn’t working properly it can cause leaks in the vacuum lines of your car. These leaks will give your car a bad report during an emissions test.

Defective Oxygen Sensor
The oxygen sensor measures the amount of oxygen in the exhaust. If this sensor is not in proper working order your car is likely to produce exhaust with higher toxins in it.

Contact Our Office

If you want to improve your chances of passing emissions testing, let Japanese Car Specialties handle all the routine maintenance for your car. This will ensure that all the parts of your engine are properly working when the car is tested.

If you’re like most car owners, your head starts to spin when you try to figure out the difference between torque and horsepower. We usually know that they have something to do with engine performance, but many times, even car enthusiasts aren’t sure about the difference between torque and horsepower.

Torque vs. Horsepower

Simply put, torque is how fast your engine can push air through its system giving it acceleration rate. Horsepower measures the power in your engine. More specifically, horsepower is how many feet your engine can a weight of 33,000 lbs. per minute. What this comes out to is that torque is how fast your car can accelerate from a stopping point, and horsepower is how quickly it can pull something.

How Can I Have More?

Increasing torque doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, there are two great tactics for increasing yours that can also increase your horsepower. Increasing your throttle body diameter can greatly increase your vehicle’s capacity to accelerate by delivering more air at a faster rate. Tweaking your exhaust can also have great benefits. For example, adding an aftermarket header works like a larger throttle body to increase your vehicle’s airflow creating more combustion that leads to acceleration and power.

These two simple modifications can increase your torque and your horsepower by increasing the airflow which increases your engine’s combustion. For more tips on getting the most from your vehicle, or to have your vehicle serviced, call the experts at Japanese Car Specialties, Inc today.