Owning a car is both a privilege and a responsibility. Just as John Eppstein's passion for cars ignited with understanding the essentials, each car owner should be well-equipped to maximize the vehicle's longevity and ensure a safe driving experience. As you journey with your vehicle, there are five essential must-haves every car enthusiast, commuter, and everyday driver should be aware of.   1. A Reliable Auto Mechanic In the vast world of automotive care, not all mechanics are created equal. Just as John transformed from a gas station mechanic to an owner, his journey is a testament to the value of dedication, experience, and genuine care for vehicles. Having a trusted mechanic is like having a family doctor. They become familiar with your car's nuances, ensuring it runs optimally and addresses issues proactively. Many U.S. drivers cannot find a trusted repair facility. This makes it even more essential to find a reliable auto repair shop, such as John's Auto ... read more

Greetings and welcome, September! Get ready to embark on an automotive adventure with Johns Automotive Care La Mesa's blog. This time, we're focusing on a unique group of drivers – SUV owners. As the summer season fades, we're here to equip you with valuable knowledge about your SUV. So, fasten your seatbelts as we present "Unlocking the Power: 10 Essential Things You Should Know About Your SUV" With the arrival of a new month, we bid farewell to summer and embrace the season of fresh beginnings. In this spirit, we want to guide you through the ins and outs of your SUV. Whether you're a college student preparing for the upcoming academic year or a seasoned driver seeking to enhance your SUV knowledge, this blog post is tailored just for you. As you embark on your college journey or daily commutes, ensuring you're well-prepared is crucial. We aim to provide practical and reliable advice, empowering you to understand your SUV better and ensuring a smoo ... read more

Greetings, August! Welcome to Johns Automotive Care La Mesa's blog - your trusted companion on the journey to automotive knowledge. As we wave goodbye to summer and enter the season of new beginnings, we're focusing on a unique group of drivers - college students. With the advent of a new academic year, thousands of students nationwide are preparing to hit the road, bound for their respective college campuses. But before they do, it's essential to ensure they are fully equipped with dorm essentials and study materials and the proper knowledge about their most significant mode of transport - their cars. In this spirit, we're thrilled to present our new blog post, "Driving 101: The Ultimate Car Guide for College Students". We aim to provide insightful, practical, and reliable auto advice for all eager students, helping them understand their cars better and prepare for a smooth, stress-free college commute. Our guide covers everything from essential maintenance t ... read more

Why Getting it Right from the Start Ensures a Smooth Ride Ahead Every vehicle owner dreads the moment when something goes wrong with their car. Often, the inclination is to take it to a repair shop and demand a quick fix. However, jumping into repairs without a proper diagnosis can lead to more problems and costlier repairs down the line. This blog will explore the importance of accurate diagnosis before beginning any auto repair work and how it ensures a smooth ride ahead. The Role of Diagnosis in Auto Repair: Just like a doctor examines a patient before prescribing treatment, a skilled auto technician will thoroughly inspect and diagnose your vehicle before attempting any repairs. This initial step is crucial, as it helps pinpoint the root cause of the problem and determine the most effective course of action. This is why turning to the experts at John's Automotive Care in La Mesa is your #1 choice for peace of mind. Proper diagnosis can save you time, money, and headaches by ... read more

Happy April, we welcome you to John's Automotive Care La Mesa's monthly blog. This month is National Car Care Month; we care about you and your car. We at John's Automotive Care in La Mesa, California, want to help you keep your vehicle in tip-top shape while driving on the road for many more years. Why do we celebrate National Car Care month? Well, we at John's Automotive Care La Mesa celebrate this month because taking care of your car is our specialty! We love preventative maintenance and taking care of your vehicle.  Preventative Maintenance  At John's Automotive Care, we understand the importance of proper vehicle maintenance to ensure optimal performance and longevity. Our comprehensive preventive maintenance services cover critical areas such as fluid checks and inspections, adhering to manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedules. For instance, for Honda Civics between 15,000 and 105,000 miles, we recommend replacing the transmission fluid, con ... read more

Are you ready for a grand adventure? It feels like we have been stuck inside for weeks or maybe even months. Let’s load up the car and go on a road trip this spring! But first, we need to be sure our car will get us there and back. What do we need to do to make sure our vehicle is road trip ready? First things first, let’s talk fluids. Most vehicles have six fluids to pay attention to.   Oil Most of us already know how important good oil is for your engine, but it never hurts to go over why and when. Let’s talk about what oil does for your engine. There are many moving parts in your engine, such as pistons, a crankshaft, and your camshaft. Most manufacturers recommend that you change your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles; however, since hybrid and synthetic oils are now on the market, some manufacturers recommend an oil service every 7,500 - 10,000 miles. You will want to check your owner’s manual to set a regular schedule for your car or leave it to the ... read more

Happy February, the month we celebrate Love. At John’s Automotive Care in La Mesa, we feel it is important to celebrate our customers, and their vehicles, so during the month of February; we have red roses to give away to every custom alignment if it is found necessary. When we are proactive, we end up with a more peaceful life, with less unexpected breakdowns and repairs. Preventive maintenance is a term we use to refer to regular maintenance items such as oil changes, tire rotations, topping off your fluids, checking your brakes, or possibly even a wheel.   Regular Inspections When you bring your vehicle in for regularly scheduled maintenance, not only does your car get a thorough inspection by trained professional ASE-Certified mechanics, but it also prolongs the life of your vehicle and keeps it in good condition mechanically. Plus, you get peak performance out of your car when it is running well and tuned up. When your car or truck struggles for air because of a dirt ... read more

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

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