Mission Viejo Auto Repair

Welcome to 2021! We hope this year is your best ever, and we hope we can continue to be the service shop you turn to for all your automotive needs. In January’s blog, I’ll be covering the importance of having an ASE-certified technician working on your car. You may have heard the term, “ASE-certified” or “Master Technician” before and wondered what exactly it referred to? It stands for Automotive Sevice Excellence, the national organization that uses 50 tests to evaluate applicants in their role as mechanics. These are done in several different banks, covering different types of vehicles: Automotive, Medium/Heavy Truck, Collision Repair, School Bus Technician, Transit Bus Technician, and so on.  When a technician is certified in a specific bank, having certifications in all of the independent skill sets needed to work on these machines, they can achieve the rank of Master Technician. When you hear someone referred to as a Master Technician, it ... read more

It’s December! One more month left in 2020. Soon, we’ll begin 2021 together. While we want to be optimistic in December, the realities of 2020 are still with us, and we are going into 2021 with many worries. There’s the likelihood of another recession, the as-yet-still-unconceded Presidential election, and of course, the worry of COVID19 becoming a permanent spectre in the United States until a working vaccine has reached all corners of society. As we plan ahead for 2021, we should not fear making plans. We need to get on with our lives. But we also need to make our plans scalable and thoughtful about our current uncertainties, with room to pivot where we need to.  For instance: this is a terrible year to have a wedding. Big family gatherings are death traps for the vulnerable. But there are bound to be terrible losses to people who plan big events and then have to cancel them due to legal concerns of COVID19.  And not everyone can stall a wedding for a ... read more

Thanksgiving approaches once again, and this year, we’re facing it at a time when we have to consider whether or not to congregate with our vulnerable family during a time of COVID-19. It’s a safe bet that many of the old traditions-- the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, the football games, and the rush of Black Friday will be lessened this year… but will still be there, in some form or another. When you gather around this year, whether it’s the full traditional meal with the entire bloodline or just a pizza party with the family, it’s important to remember the tradition of giving thanks. November 9th will be the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower pilgrims spotting the Cape Cod shore after a dangerous and horrible 65-day voyage. They gathered on the deck and read Psalm 100 in unison to give thanks for their safe arrival. This year, don’t forget to give thanks to a member of the family that was probably overlooked despite being dependable most ... read more

Usually, when you bring up Ford and Chevy in the same breath, you are invoking the longtime feud between truck owners over which General Motors ‘make’ is the better of the two. Even ion their sports cars, there is a longstanding rivalry that evokes the Hatfields and McCoys-- and often from the same quarters. Instead of stoking the fire of that feud, today, we’re looking at the virtues of both. At Larry’s Independent Service in Mission Viejo, California, we see plenty of Fords and Chevys for repair. And although we service all manner of cars at our shop, we haven’t seen a significant factor to claim one type is better than the other, nor can we say if they are better (or worse) than the Japanese, Asian, or European models we also service. All cars have their virtues and failings… we’re here to extol the virtues of Ford and Chevy! These cars are so similar though-- dark mirrors of each other-- that it’s hard not to compare and contrast t ... read more

Do you know the anatomy of your brakes? Do you know how your brakes work so they can stop your car? Without getting too technical, the Larry’s Independent Service team in Mission Viejo, CA wants to share information about your braking system and why it is so important to keep them in good repair. First, let’s list all of the brake parts: Brake pedal Brake booster Master cylinder Brake lines and hoses Brake fluid Brake calipers and pistons Brake pads or brake shoes Brake rotors or disc drums ABS (anti-lock brake system) control module Wheel speed sensors Second, let’s show how all of these brake parts work together: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H7nwlT_qNY&t=187s <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6H7nwlT_qNY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> Third, let’s explain ... read more

When you think of your car as a machine, you may or may not realize how many fluids it requires for it to operate. However, when you think of your vehicle like a human body and how that body has a number of fluids that make it operate, it’s easier to connect the dots and understand your car’s needs. That is why in this month’s blog, Larry’s Independent Service in Mission Viejo wants to discuss your car’s top five fluids. Your vehicle has six major fluids that it requires in order to operate: Oil -- The engine oil pumps through the system, reducing friction, and carrying away debris. This fluid needs to be changed on a regular basis for the engine to perform optimally. Coolant -- This radiator fluid helps to keep the engine at the optimal temperature and prevents it from overheating. This fluid needs to be changed on a regular basis for the radiator to perform well during all weather seasons. Brake Fluid -- Without brake fluid, the hydraulics in your br ... read more

Asian vehicles are known for their reliability, fuel efficiency, and holding their value over long periods of time. The two dominant brands in the Asian car market are Toyota and Honda, and rightly so. Both car brands have a long history and in this month’s blog, we want to illustrate why most owners of Asian vehicles drive a Toyota or Honda. Just ask any Honda or Toyota owner. They love how reliable and fuel efficient their vehicles are. Yes, both brands are similar, but they each have a loyal fan base. It’s like rooting for your favorite sports team. It is more uncommon to see the two brands living under one roof. But each brand has its pluses and minuses. Hondas are known for their performance, their interiors, their safety, their small cars, their small SUVs, and their minivans. Toyotas are known for their pricing, reliability, mid-sized sedans, mid-sized SUVs, hybrids, pickup trucks, and their overall vehicle line up of choices.  Both Hondas and Toyotas are te ... read more

If you are thinking about purchasing a hybrid, that’s great! We approve. The auto mechanics at Larry’s Independent Service in Mission Viejo are happy to assist with your hybrid’s service and repair. Though hybrid vehicles have been around for several years now, there is still an active debate with some friendly ribbing from those who are fans of gas-powered engines, diesel-powered engines, and electric vehicles.  So, why drive a hybrid? Here are the things we believe to be true about why people drive hybrid vehicles: Hybrids are fuel-efficient. If you like to save on fuel costs, hybrid vehicles are the way to go. They get better mileage during stop-and-go traffic and while driving around town.  Hybrids are eco-friendly. With lower emissions, hybrids have less of an environmental impact. If you want to help make a positive impact on climate change but don’t want to give up having an automobile, hybrid vehicles are a ... read more

What is it about that light that causes our blood pressure to spike when we see it shine on our dash? What a feeling of dread is caused as we wonder what this unexpected cost will be.  If you are curious about what could be causing this pesky light to turn on, read on!   When a dash light turns on, it lets you know that there has been a signal sent from the emission system. The emission system on your car is closely linked to your engine, which is why this same system triggers the check engine light.   Your first step when your check engine light turns on is to check your fuel cap. If the vapor system detects a leak, the check engine light on your dash will shine. If this is the issue, merely tightening your fuel cap will make the light go off on your dash.    There are many reasons for a check engine light to illuminate. If the light only turns on when you are driving on the freeway, and shuts off when you are on the side streets, you will want to let your mec ... read more

Whether you drive a race car or the family wagon, your vehicle is a significant investment, and its reliability is essential. By choosing to use certified auto mechanics, you can rest assured knowing that your car is in good hands of mechanics that undergo continual training to stay up on the latest techniques and tools in the industry.    ASE stands for Automotive Service Excellence. This certification means that the mechanic on staff has a minimum of 2-years experience before undergoing initial testing. There are tests that cover many topics such as engine repairs, drive trains, axles, suspension, automatic transmissions, suspension, brakes, electrical, heating, and air conditioning, as well as engine performance testing.   Because technology is always changing, certifications expire without undergoing continual training and testing. This means that your auto mechanic is sure to be informed and armed with the latest in automotive repair technology. Computer chips, diag ... read more