Airbags, which are part of a vehicle’s supplemental restraint system (SRS), are key safety and lifesaving components. The airbags show their real worth in case of an emergency or during any unfortunate road accident by saving the driver and the passengers from any serious injuries to head and other parts of the body and possibly even save their life. When the airbag light on your vehicle starts flashing, you need to find the cause or causes so that in case of any unfortunate emergencies, the airbag doesn’t leave you unprotected by not deploying. It’s easy to simply ignore an airbag light since ..read more

When your warranty has expired and your car breaks down or needs servicing, it’s already a major inconvenience. Now, comes the decision of whether you should take it to a dealership or an independent shop. To aid in this process, we sat down with an automotive insider and prepared information that will be helpful in making an informed decision about servicing and maintaining your car. Why do car dealership Service department always seem to charge so much? Because the dealership runs only retail prices on OEM (original equipment manufacturer), the prices you find at independent shops are always ..read more

You may have noticed some oil drops staining your driveway or garage floor at some point indicating that your car is leaking. And while it’s easy to dismiss the oil leak — since the check engine light isn’t on anyway – it could lead to other problems down the road. But does that mean it’s bad to drive a car that’s leaking oil? Can you drive your car with an oil leak? Technically, yes, you can drive a car that’s leaking oil. However, it’s not a good idea considering the oil is what keeps the engine lubricated and running in top shape. Without it, your car’s engine will seize and leave you with ..read more

Wheel bearings carry out two important jobs in your vehicle. They allow the wheel to rotate freely and with hardly any friction and they have to support the weight of the vehicle. Over many thousands of miles, they have to withstand very powerful forces. To do this job properly, they have to be in very good condition. Therefore, they must be packed with heavy grease. The purpose of the grease is to lubricate them and to protect them. A seal is provided around the bearing which is there to keep the grease in and water and other contamination out. Here’s what you should consider when you are cho ..read more

We all know that if you do not have sturdy tires you won’t be able to drive anywhere safely. Your tires are the foundation between your car and the road. But if you do not take care of your tires you might find yourself on the side of the road with a flat – or worse a blow out! We, at Chapman Auto Repair, have created a safety checklist for your tires! 1) TIRE PRESSURE It is important to have the proper air pressure in your tires, as under inflation can lead to tire failure. The “right amount” of air for your tires is specified by the vehicle manufacturer and is shown on the vehicle door edge ..read more

If you start noticing that your car is starting to pull to one side, or you smell burning, one or more of your brakes could be binding or seized. Fear not! We’ll help you diagnose and fix it… What are the symptoms of a seized brake caliper? There are several reasons why brakes drag or bind, but it is typically because something in the system has seized or become stuck. The piston can stick within the caliper. Brakes pads can get skewed and seize. On single-piston calipers, sometimes the slide pins seize. Finally, if a car is allowed to sit in a damp environment, the pads can actually become st ..read more

Have you ever been driving down the road and you started to feel you steering wheel start to shake when you get up to a certain speed? Or when you apply the brakes you can feel the whole car shaking and you can feel it through the steering wheel? This can be very concerning for most people and for good reason! This is an early indication of a few problems that you need to get fixed before the issue gets worse and more expensive.   Warped Brake Rotors. This is the most common reason as to why your car will start to shake when you are driving or when applying the brakes. As the problem cont ..read more

Theoretically, all four wheels should be vertical to the ground and parallel to each other, right? However, when the vehicle starts pulling to one side – or after a hard impact with a curb – most drivers suspect that the wheels might be out of alignment. Another good sign that your vehicle’s alignment is off is irregular tire wear, vibration and odd handling characteristics are other clues. Taking a few minutes to check your alignment will make your tires last longer and your vehicle handle better. 1.) Your steering wheel is off center: If you are driving straight down a flat, level road, your ..read more

It should come as no surprise that your engine gets hot. With many repeated controlled explosions of fuel happening every second to power your vehicle, it’s easy to understand why you need a good cooling system doing its job to prevent the car from overheating. In this article, BMW Repair San Diego shares the basic information you need to know about your vehicle’s cooling system, its key components, and standard maintenance tips. Radiator and Coolant The cooling system component most people are at least somewhat familiar with is the radiator. It’s what houses the coolant (aka “antifreeze”) tha ..read more