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Your brakes may not be something that remains on your mind on a regular basis, but this is a feature that should always be functioning properly. Here are several ways to determine whether or not your brakes are in need of servicing.

• First, be sure to check your brake pads for wear through the spokes of your wheels. The pad on the outside should press against the rotor. The pad should be at least 1/4 inch. If you see anything less than that, have your brakes inspected.
• If you’re noticing that when you press on the brake pedal and there is a delay in response, this could be a red flag. Your vehicle could potentially be experiencing an air leak in the brake hose or a loss of brake fluid. Keep an eye out for a puddle under your vehicle after it’s been sitting. Brake fluid looks like oil, but has a less slimy texture.
• If you happen to notice that your vehicle pulls to one side or another when braking, this is could be caused by brake linings are wearing inconsistently. This will call for either an adjustment or a draining and replacing of the fluid.
• One of the last ways to tell that your brakes need servicing is if you begin to hear a grinding or squeaking noise.That’s resulting from two pieces of metal rubbing together and means that your pads have completely worn down. This can make the surface of your rotors become uneven.

So if you’ve noticed any of this signs with your vehicle, call Japanese Car Specialties at 949-583-0811 to schedule your appointment today. We provide quality brake repairs for all of Mission Viejo, CA.

It’s the summer time and the perfect time to get in the car and hit the road, right? But it’s no fun when that road trip is cut short due to a car issue. It’s always a good idea to have a few things checked before heading out.

Check all fluids – Your fluids are basically the bloodline of your vehicle. This means to make sure that all of your fluids are topped off and changed if necessary, including coolant, oil, washer fluid, etc.

Check the tires – The tires are the most common cause of trouble on a road trip. You getting a flat and having to call roadside assistance can all be avoided if you do a simple check before you leave. make sure that you get the pressure checked, double check for any other issues, such as baldness or punctures, and always have a spare and a jack.

Check your brakes – Your brakes are the last thing that you want to have a problem with while on the road. Make sure that you have enough brake fluid and there are no scraping or squeaking sounds, that could be a sign that you need new ones.

Get your vehicle a check up – The same way that you need to go to the doctor for a check up, your car needs it as well, but with a mechanic of course! This helps to point out anything that needs to be addressed and could help avoid major problems in the future.

Once all of this is in good standing then you’re all set to go. So before you head out on that wide open road, stop by Japanese Car Specialties for your vehicle inspection today. Stop in or call at 949-583-0811 to schedule your appointment.

Japanese cars are renowned for their reliability, and many owners of Japanese automobiles report being able to drive 200,000 or even 300,000 miles before any major repairs are needed. This is a testament to Japanese manufacturing and engineering, and is evidence that Japanese automobiles are among the most reliable on the road. Despite this, Japanese automobiles are still machines, and like all machines, they are prone to mechanical failure due to a number of different factors.

Common problems with Japanese cars include:

Rust – Like all cars, Japanese auto bodies are prone to rust if not regularly maintained. Rust can cause cosmetic problems or can damage structural or mechanical components which can hinder the vehicle’s functionality.

Faded/Chipped/Cracked Paint – While Japanese automobiles are cut from a different cloth, the paint used on these automobiles is like all paint: subject to weather and damage. With age and time, as the paint is exposed to various elements, the color may fade and the paint itself may peel or chip.

Body Damage – Any car, especially used vehicles, are prone to scuffs, dents, or other unseen damage which can cause problems down the road. Be sure to visually inspect any used vehicle to ensure no hidden damages are present.

Suspension – Suspension systems will require maintenance, replacement, and ultimately repair as moving parts are exposed to forces throughout their working life.

Brakes – Brake systems will ultimately wear out as they transfer kinetic energy into heat to bring your vehicle to a complete stop. Replacing brake pads or shoes as they wear out will prevent damage to your rotors, which may need to be replaced.

These are just some of the more common problems that Japanese car owners may see with time and regular use, but is by no means a comprehensive list of potential problems. Japanese automobiles are reliable, but they are still machines, and these machines require maintenance and professional service from time to time. If you need auto repairs or maintenance on your Japanese vehicle, call Japanese Car Specialties! (949) 583-0811

Like cars? Looking for some trivia? Here are some very interesting facts about car technology, history, and even the effect they’ve had on our modern language!

Technology

The car you steer with your mind. German researchers are currently working on the BrainDriver project, which involves a car that drivers can steer with their minds using a special headset. They have had great success in tightly controlled environments, but it will be years before the concept is ready for a “real world” run.

Remote car keys. If you have a remote car key, but you think your car is too far away for it to work, try putting it up to your head! The human skull acts as an amplifier, doubling the range of the key. (No word on if or how this affects the brain, so be cautious.)

Money

The most expensive car ever bought. Many cars have sold for millions of dollars over the years, but five time world champion racer Juan Manuel Fangio blew everyone away when he purchased an ultra-rare 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R “Silver Arrow” for $29.6 million. There are only ten of these cars left in the world; Mercedez-Benz owns six; three can be seen in museum exhibits; and Fangio is the only private owner.

The highest speeding ticket ever. If you think speeding tickets are expensive in the US, consider the Swedish man who was caught going 180mph, and given a $1,000,000 ticket! Sweden determines its traffic fines on a scale that increases with the driver’s income. Apparently, this guy was doing pretty well, at least financially!

Language

The taxi cab. This name is a combination of two words: Taximeter, which was a machine that kept track of distance and fare; and cabriolet, which was a horse-drawn carriage with the rider standing behind the cab.

“It’s a doozy!” This phrase comes from Dusenberg, Germany. In the 1920’s, its cars were considered the most luxurious in the world, so they were kind of a big deal.

We hope you enjoyed these interesting car facts. If you need auto service, don’t hesitate to give us a call!

All vehicles need regular maintenance to keep functioning properly. Routine oil changes and tune ups are key, and maintaining your tires is equally as important. Here we walk through the safety and mechanical benefits of tire rotation.

Your car’s front and rear axles perform different duties as you drive. If your car is front wheel drive, your front wheels are responsible for both accelerating and steering your car, so these wheels unsurprisingly wear down at a faster rate. Rear wheel drive and all wheel drive cars wear tires unevenly as well, although which tires wear out faster may be different. Tires that are more worn out in one area may not respond properly when you brake, turn, or drive on wet roads, so having tires with an even (and safe) amount of tread is crucial.

Rotating your tires to alternate spots on your car allows all your tires to wear at a more even rate. This also preserves the life of your tires by not wearing them down so quickly. Tires are often rotated from front to back, but certain manufacturers recommend rotating tires in a specific pattern.

Call us today at 949-583-0811 for affordable, reliable tire rotation today!

There is a wide variety of reasons that your car may not start, but one of the most common is that your battery has died. Car batteries die for a handful of reasons including aging and overuse. Leaving electronically powered devices on while your car is not running absorbs electricity from your car’s battery, draining it and causing it to die. Luckily, there is a simple solution to this problem – jump starting your car.

Jump starting your car is a fast and simple process that can help you get back on the road in virtually no time at all. All you need is a set of jumper cables or a portable jump starter pack. Of course, keeping a portable jump starter is a great way to be prepared for a battery to die. However, you can also jump start your car by connecting your dead battery to a live one in a running car.

The following quick and easy steps for jump starting your car can help anyone get their car running again.

1. Position both vehicles so they face one another, grill to grill.
2. Cars with manual transmissions should be placed in neutral and cars with automatic transmissions should be placed in park.
3. Turn running vehicle off.
4. Attach the positive cable to the postive battery terminal, do the same for the negative cable and battery terminal.
5. Attach the other end of the cables to the live battery.
6. Start the car with the live batttery and run it for a few minutes. Rev the engine briefly a couple of times.
7. Start the car with the dead battery.
8. Remove cables and store them in your car’s trunk.

Most people don’t know the intricacies about how all of the myriad parts in their car function together. However, a basic understanding of some of the most important parts can prove beneficial in certain circumstances. If you understand the importance of your transmission, for instance, you’ll understand why a mechanic might tell you “Don’t let transmission damage compound”.

What does your transmission do, exactly?

As a quick overview, it suffices to say that your transmission controls how much power your engine puts into your car. Manual transmissions get changed by the driver, but automatic transmissions shift gears based on the speed of the car.

You shouldn’t let transmission damages compound for one simple reason: they cost a lot of cash to repair or replace. If you notice something wrong with your transmission, like gear slipping, take your car in immediately so that any damage can get taken care of.

Here at Japanese Car Specialties, we offer premiere transmission repair service. Come by our shop and take advantage of our expert mechanics’ skills. To find out more about us, give us a call at (949) 583-0811.

With gas prices in an unpredictable flux, many drivers are going to great lengths to help their cars run more efficiently. While it is nearly impossible to get better mileage than your car is made for, there are many ways to help your car maintain its ideal mileage long term. Here we have compiled several methods to keep your mileage up and your car running smoothly.

Safe Driving and Regular Maintenance

1. Avoid using roof racks or sky boxes. Attachments on your roof affect your car’s aerodynamics and create drag, which slows your car down and decreases gas mileage.
2. Drive more calmly. Weaving through traffic and passing the cars in front of you burns extra fuel from rapid acceleration and excessive braking. Calm driving is safe for you and those around you and helpful in maintaining good gas mileage.
3. Adhere to the posted speed limit. Many cars reach optimum efficiency around 45 to 60 mph. Driving the posted speed is important for safety as well as fuel efficiency.
4. Keep your tires properly inflated. Checking them once a month will help you stay on top of inflating them, and will reduce wear on your tires and improve your mileage.

There is no replacement for regular tune ups and maintenance to keep your car running smoothly and your gas mileage in check. For expert automobile service and repairs, call us today at 949-583-0811!

As a kid, your parents likely instilled in you the dangers of drunk driving. In their time, people didn’t know about its risks like they do today. However, our society has found other ways people increase their risk on the road, including driving sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation actually has a comparable risk to drunk driving; we’ll go over here why to avoid it.

Knowing The Facts:

Maintaining a constant state of awareness keeps you safe on the road. It only takes a second for something to go seriously wrong. When you get tired, you lose this ability to retain your focus similarly to the way you do when drunk.

• Reports for actual statistics on sleep deprived driving give little information due to the fact that you can’t test for it like you can with drunk driving.
• The National Sleep Foundation has reported that 1/3 of the drivers surveyed admitted to having fallen asleep while driving.
• The same group also indicated that young men and women, parents, and night shift workers ran the highest risk of sleep deprivation.

Don’t take any chances with your life; get some sleep before driving. If you need to ensure your car runs safely, take it by our shop in Mission Viejo for an inspection. If you want to know more about our services, speak with one of our friendly team members at (949) 583-0811.

We all could put in a little effort to learn the basics of the tools we use every day, including our vehicles. While we may rather just leave it up to the mechanics, knowing about our cars can come in handy. To help you, we’ve made a basic overview of how your alternator works.

What it does for your car:

 

While your battery does supply your car with power, it can only do so for a short distance before it dies. Luckily, your alternator creates a charge from the kinetic energy supplied by your engine. It then recharges the battery as well as powers all of your car’s electronic equipment.

 

How it works:

The 3 fundamental parts of your alternator include the rotor, stator, and diode. The rotor, which consists of magnets, rotates at extremely high speeds. The stator, a mass of copper wires, surrounds the rotor. Together these parts create alternating current, a form of electricity. Your battery and electronics require a direct current, however, and the diode converts A/C to D/C to power them.

Now you know the basics of one more part in your vehicle. Keep at it, and you’ll have overall knowledge in no time. If you’ve got auto repair needs in Mission Viejo, Japanese Car Specialties can help. To find out more, come by our shop or give us a call at (949) 583-1811.