Campbell Auto Repair

Until recently, most diesel vehicles in the United States were trucks, since the diesel engines are better equipped to haul large or heavy loads like tractors or construction vehicles. Now, the industry is starting to see an influx of passenger cars with diesel motors, and the team at Autotrend Auto Repair couldn’t be happier! Keep reading to find out just why you should own a diesel.   One of the most important reasons people choose to buy diesel vehicles is because of their improved fuel efficiency. A diesel frequently gets 30% more miles per gallon than the same car that’s powered by a gasoline engine. With larger vehicles like a truck or SUV, that difference in gas mileage will likely be lowered, though typically they still range about 20% better on fuel than gasoline-powered trucks or SUVs.   Another upside to buying a diesel vehicle is that they frequently require less maintenance than a gasoline-powered engine. Gas-powered engines have significantly more ig ... read more

No matter your skill level, as a car owner, you should get comfortable making sure you can perform some simple car-care practices. Some things you may want to leave to the pros, but there is a bunch of simple vehicle maintenance that you can do easily on your own too!   Firstly, you should always get acquainted with your owner's manual. Every car has one, and it’s usually a thick little booklet that's stored in your glovebox. If you can't find it, don't worry; you can always find an online version! Give it a read, and then turn to your maintenance schedule section. This will tell you what kinds of maintenance is needed and when.    Next, you'll want to regularly check and change your car's oil and oil filter. Think of your engine as your vehicle's heart and its oil as its blood. It lubricates the rest of the engine, allowing its various parts to work together without grinding and causing damage over time. Old engine oil can cause just as ... read more

  No matter where your travels take you, you should never drive your car without first having a properly stocked emergency car kit on board. There are some essential items each emergency car kit should have, but the ways to personalize it are endless. Read on for what to include in your emergency car kit!   There are three main categories for what goes into your emergency car kit: car repair, medical and safety, and miscellaneous. Check them out below:   Car Repair: When you face a vehicle emergency like a flat tire, there are some things you’ll need to have on hand in your vehicle. An inflated spare tire, a wheel wrench, and a tripod jack are all necessary and usually come in your car. Never changed a flat before? Don’t worry! Check your car owner manual for directions and pictures of how to do so. You can even check out some video tutorials online for practice. Also included on this list are jumper cables, tool kit, reflective triangles, and a reflecti ... read more

While many people grew up learning how to check and take care of the fluids in their cars, innovations in the automotive industry have added a variety of additional fluids that need maintenance. While a quick oil check used to be the standard, newer model vehicles require more maintenance and upkeep to keep them running to the best of their ability. Keep reading to learn how to understand more about some of your car's fluids!   All cars run on oil, so you must check the oil regularly. The oil lubricates various parts of your engine, making sure it doesn't overheat and runs smoothly. If you go for a quick drive, then park and let your engine cool. If low, fill with the type of oil recommended in your car manual, and you're good to go! Another fluid vital to the running of your car is the radiator fluid. Radiator fluid ensures your engine doesn't overheat while it's running. If you run low on radiator fluid, you run the risk of overheating your car while out and ... read more

We all know that emissions testing (also sometimes called a Smog Check) is an essential part of being a car owner these days. The Environmental Protection Agency sets the basic emissions standards for all vehicles sold in the United States. While that's true, it's up to each state to maintain those standards. As a result, states often adopt even stricter rules, including California. Some states don't require emissions testing, though California requires them every two years. New residents are required to have a smog check done before they can register their vehicle in California. If for some reason, you do not pass your emissions test and your car is not exempt, you will not be able to drive your vehicle within the state legally. Now, before getting into the requirements for the California emissions test, what does testing emissions even do? This test looks at your car's emission production to give an overview of its functional state. During an emissions testing, your v ... read more

For the modern car owner, auto repair is now more involved and complicated than it has ever been. Vehicles and the technology inside of them are constantly getting more and more complex, so the tools and diagnostic skills associated with them are continually evolving as well. As a result of this constant change, it’s vital to the health of your car that you find a well-trained auto mechanic who can service your vehicle while providing you with the best possible auto service experience.  Any auto mechanic worth their salt will tell you that proper education and training is an absolute must, and that’s no different at Autotrend Auto Repair Auto Repair. We make sure that not only are our auto mechanics highly trained in all the new diagnostic processes and the ins and outs of new car technologies, but that they have the experience necessary to take proper care of your car’s auto repair and preventive maintenance needs. Our technicians undergo extensive training, in ... read more

We all know that catching a small issue early can curb massive repair bills later down the line; this is one good reason to have your car serviced regularly. Standard preventive maintenance keeps your vehicle flush with fluids, adjusted, properly lubricating needed parts, and general cleaning and inspections. Your mechanic is a lot like your car's doctor who will keep your vehicle healthy, they know what to keep an eye out for and can help you catch a small issue before it snowballs into a major repair.  What type of car owner are you? Do you keep your car maintained, scheduling regular services? Or do you wait for something to go wrong with your vehicle and deal with that squeak, dash light, or noise only when it becomes a bigger problem? Reactive car owners often have to spend more money on their vehicles than owners who schedule regular maintenance based on mileage. Here is a list of preventive maintenance to use as a guide when thinking about your car: Oil Changes Give ... read more

Americans have a passion for our cars. They represent freedom as well as an expression of who we are as individuals. Our vehicles portray a picture of us and help begin to tell a story about how we like to show up in the world. Most people don’t see our homes, but far more people see our cars and when they do, they form an opinion about us based on what they see. As Americans, our cars rarely are simply purchased as a means of getting us from point A to point B. No. We make decisions to buy cars based on many other factors and that’s why it’s important that in this month of love, we take the time to show some to our cars that help us look our best.  The foremost way we can show our love and appreciation to our vehicles is to take the time and money to properly care for them. That starts with a commitment to preventive maintenance. Partner with the team of professionals at Autotrend Auto Repair in Campbell to get the most out of your vehicle. From its life expect ... read more

Americans love to drive Asian vehicles for so many reasons. First of all, many of them aren’t truly Asian since a lot of them are built here in the US. They are dependable, reliable, efficient, and can compete on style depending on the model. There truly is something for everyone in the Asian lineup of automobiles. Efficiency: They pride themselves on being extremely fuel efficiency. When it comes to hybrid and electric, they lead the way. The Asian market knows how to get the most out of a single charge and they are dedicating themselves to making the hybrids and electric vehicles more stylish.  Practicality: They are everywhere and that means it’s easier to find parts as well as mechanics who know what to do with those parts. The sheer number of Asian vehicles in the US helps to drive costs down on all fronts.  Innovation: They are also at the head of the pack when it comes to style, performance, overall efficiency. Asian vehicles tend to be smart, futuristic ... read more

It is the time of year to spoil yourself and your car. What better reason and season to improve your driving life than an upcoming holiday? Car gifts are fun to shop for and very rewarding to use. Going big, such as shopping for a Bluetooth stereo, a new sound system, speakers, or GPS car trackers are easy yet expensive items for your car. There are a lot of options and combinations to choose from.  An alternative choice is an OBD2 system. These are systems that use Bluetooth to connect to and scan your vehicle's diagnostic system. These can help monitor your car and detect when a system begins to go awry and so offer peace of mind as your car ages. There are many little gifts and upgrades you can give your car that is relatively easy on the pocketbook and also improve your driving life. Items like a seat gap filler, a vehicle-specific garbage can or trunk organizer that help streamline and prevent frustrations. Gifts like these are beneficial and make you feel good while dr ... read more