Campbell Auto Repair

With so many engineers in the Campbell area, the light displays are amazing! We’re so lucky to have lights synced with music, reindeer that actually move, singing snowmen, and more. Each year there are more, as there are more people learning the skills to set up these displays. Some people start planning as early as January for the following year. A lot of these are at private homes, so please be respectful about noise. Some may ask for donations of cash or food.  Christmas in the Park One of our favorite places for holiday festivities is at San Jose’s Christmas in the Park. There are rides for the kiddos, an ice skating rink, hot chocolate drinks (with candy canes!), lights of course, on about two acres. You will need to find parking, so be ready to either park in a nearby lot or park in a neighborhood and walk.  Fantasy of Lights This annual festival is one we really love because you can drive through! They have dinosaurs, snowmen, penguins, and animated cha ... read more

Although most people would agree that California doesn’t have four seasons, we have two: rainy and non-rainy. November is the beginning of the rainy season here in California when people seem to forget how to drive suddenly. That might sound like a joke to you, but usually, we haven’t seen rain for so long that we forget how slick the roads are, and how much we need to slow down in the rain.  When to Check Your Wiper Blades We don’t know what your wiper blades look like, but we see lots of torn and damaged blades. If you run your wipers without water on the windshield, they not only squeak, but the blades can be damaged. The absolute worst time to check your wiper blades is when you’re picking up your kids from school, and there’s a downpour. The best time to check your wiper blades, of course, is right now.  Check the Fluids If you’re staying in the Bay Area, you may not need to swap out your fluids. But if you plan to go skiing at Tah ... read more

There are so many great ideas for Halloween costumes for car lovers out there. The kids love to dress up as their favorite cars, but so do the adults. Here are a few of our favorites!  Transformers Have you seen these costumes? They’re fabulous! It’s amazing what people can do with cardboard and duct tape, isn’t it? If you haven’t seen them, go to YouTube and search for Transformer costumes--it’s the video with 26 million views. Dress up as a Car Seat Now, this costume requires more planning. People dress up as car seats and then make videos of themselves ordering fast food. Did you know that Ford even did a study on how people would react to a car with no driver (in other words, someone dressed as a car seat to make it look as though there was no one in the car)? Make a Generic Car We’re all in favor of kids making their cars using cardboard boxes, paper plates, and paint. Of course, the ... read more

  In the warmer months, smells inside the car can be even stronger than they normally are. While that’s wonderful if your car is filled with your favorite kind of fruit, it’s not so wonderful if your car has some other kind of smell. We’ll leave the details about bad smells to your imagination. First, Clean Your Car Here in the Campbell area, there are lots of car washes. Pick one and have the exterior washed and while you’re waiting and eating the free popcorn, plan your Clean Car Strategy. First, pick up all the magazines your kids threw in there, along with the old jelly beans they threw on the floor because they were the wrong color. Don’t forget to clean under the seats and way in the back, in case you have a “mystery odor.” Wipe Everything Down Using a soft cloth, wipe down all the surfaces, including the dash, the seats, and the steering wheel. You’ll want to use a mild detergent for surfa ... read more

Just like your body, your car is sensitive to changes in temperature. Extreme heat can cause a few problems with your car that you might want to be aware of.   Tires Are Sensitive to Heat   Tires are sensitive to the heat and can become dry and brittle. Around Campbell and the South Bay, temperatures in August can be very hot and dry--into the upper 80s and 90s with very low humidity. Make sure that your tires are properly inflated because under-inflated tires can cause your tires to become even hotter and can cause tires to fail. Also, be sure to check the spare, just in case. There’s nothing worse than being stuck on the side of the road with no spare. It’s not just embarrassing--it can ruin your entire trip.   Check the Coolant in Your Radiator The coolant in your radiator should be flushed and refilled periodically. If you’ve been bringing in your car for regular maintenance that shouldn’t be a problem. If the coolant is low, you can ... read more

Do you ever wonder what should go in your trunk? Here are three different kits that could help you be prepared for anything that could happen on your daily travels.     Emergency Supplies. We’d probably pack the emergency supplies in one kit. Inside that kit, you’ll probably want the following: a first aid kit, a small fire extinguisher, road flares, a flashlight and extra batteries, paper towels, and rags. Make sure to check the flashlight and swap out the batteries if they’ve gone dead. We recommend checking your emergency kit once a year.   Personal Supplies. Inside the personal supply kit, we’d pack the following: water, some energy bars, a wool blanket and a space blanket, matches, candles, a hat, some extra shoes and socks, a waterproof poncho, and a solar or hand-crank radio. You may also want an extra charging cord and power pack for your phone. Also a deck of cards or a small board game.   Tool Kit. Inside your tool kit, you&r ... read more

California is absolutely gorgeous at this time of the year, and there are so many getaway weekends near Campbell that it’s tough to know where to start. Here are some of our favorites:   Big Basin Park has camping, hiking, and tall redwoods for everyone to explore. It’s a mere hour away via the beautiful Highway 9. The drive on Highway 9 will make you feel as though your getaway has already begun the instant you’re in the trees. If the campsites are booked, a quick search online may help you find a nearby hotel, but of course, camping is the most fun because you get to be outdoors. Big Basin has some waterfalls and if you ask at the entrance, you can get a map and some directions.   Santa Cruz has a number of great attractions available. Kids love the Beach and the Boardwalk, and there are lots of places to hear the music. There is free music on the beach Friday nights mid-June through the end of August. If you like something quieter, you can take the ki ... read more

This is the perfect time of the year for a road trip, and along with a road trip comes music! If you love music as much as we do, these classic songs will make your road trip even more enjoyable. Just make sure the music doesn't make you speed because most police officers don’t care if the music made you drive too fast (and don’t ask how we know!). Little Red Corvette by Prince. We have yet to find anyone who doesn't’t like this song. Especially if you’re driving in a little red Corvette! On the Road Again by Willie Nelson. Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey. All Star by Smashmouth. Born to Be Wild, by Steppenwolf. Start Me Up, by the Rolling Stones. Life is a Highway, by Tom Cochrane. A Thousand Miles, by Vanessa Carlton. Where the Streets Have No Name, by U2. Runnin’ Down a Dream, by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers We want your road trip to be safe and enjoyable. Now that you have some tunes, make sure your car is in the bes ... read more

Your vehicle is your one of your biggest investments, only second to your home. It’s imperative to protect such a precious investment, and preventative maintenance is one of the best ways to go about doing so. In fact, there are several other benefits to keeping up with preventative maintenance, including: With a routine check-up performed by our auto technicians, you can easily avoid costly and dangerous problems that could have been prevented by routine maintenance. When you take care of your vehicle, you have peace of mind, knowing you and your family are driving a safe and dependable car. When you are driving a properly maintained car, you can’t help but feel as if you are in a “new car,” as your vehicle will drive much better. If you ever need to trade-in or sell your car, a well-maintained vehicle is worth more, along with it keeping your warranty intact. A properly maintained car will attract a higher selling price. Overall, preventative mainten ... read more

Spring weather is here (for the most part), and that means flowers, pollen, allergies, and Spring cleaning. It is no wonder that Spring pollen means dusty automotive air filters and sneezing drivers. To prevent full-throttle allergies while driving around town, do yourself a favor and prepare your vehicles for Spring. When you bring your vehicle to Autotrend Auto Repair, we will visually inspect your car and inform you of any issues we see. If your vehicle requires factory-recommended service or repair, we will explain the recommended service so you can make an educated decision. Some systems on your vehicle may require extra attention during the springtime, and these may include: All air filters in the engine and cabin Air conditioning Hoses and belts Tires Check Engine Light diagnostics Brake service and repair Oil change service Windshield wipers Headlights, turn signal lights, and interior lights Your vehicle will show us what it needs when you come in for service, and ... read more