Do you constantly sneeze while in your vehicle?  Itchy, watery eyes?  Ever wonder why this happens and you don't have allergies?   Your cabin air filter just might be the culprit!  

The Cabin Air Filter's job is to filter all of the air that comes through the vehicles HVAC system to prevent pollutants, like dust, pollen, mold spores, and smogs from entering.  On most modern vehicles the filter is found behind the glove compartment or under the hood or dashboard.  

Besides improving air quality, replacing a dirty cabin air filter may prevent a future expensive repair!  When the air from the filter is dirty, the A/C will need to work harder and in turn may burn up the air conditioner's motor.  It's good practice to replace the cabin air filter every 25,000 miles or once a year.  

Changing the cabin air filter is a maintenance item that you can do yourself, but it might be difficult to get to and remove.  On most vehicles you have to remove the glove box to access it and there are pins and clips that need to be taken off carefully so they don't break.  

Try it out!  We are always here to help if you get stuck or don't feel like tackling the task.  

Spring is in the air!  With the first day of spring behind us, it's time to start your spring cleaning.  If you are anything like me, I get a pep in my step to get the house in order and do some DEEP cleaning!  Most of us forget about our vehicles though, which also need some "deep" cleaning a few times a year too.  This doesn't always mean expensive work performed, but can be just preventative inspections and oil changes.  We at The Dyno Shop know that you are busy, so we want to help check something off your Spring Cleaning To-Do List.  Our Essential Spring Maintenance Service will put your mind at ease.  We will perform our thorough 55-point inspection and a lube, oil and filter change.  Save 15% when you mention this blog to our service advisers by March 31, 2014.

The weatherman says rain is on the way.  With our lack of rainfall this season, the upcoming rain can pose some problems.  As we all know many, many accidents happen during the first rain after a long dry period.  Roads will be slick and drivers will be on crazy alert.  
Help yourself avoid an accident.  First, make sure you can see.  Check the condition of your wiper blades or just replace them with new inserts and make sure your washer fluid is full.  Next, check your tire pressure and condition.  You want to make sure you have a good amount of tread on the tires for proper traction.  If your tires are under inflated the tire footprint will be uneven and hydroplaning is more likely to happen.
We are here to help!  Bring your vehicle in before the rain starts and we can do a full inspection to catch any potential problems (if any!) before you are stuck on the side of the road in the rain.  Tell Derek or Rob about this blog post and receive $20 Off your 55-pt vehicle inspection!

While watching the news, I can't help but feel blessed to be living in such a beautiful city!  Yes we need rain...bad, but sunny and 70's for most of winter is very enjoyable.  Our beautiful sunny weather can take a toll on our parked vehicles, such as motorhomes and trailers.  We suggest starting and moving your non-daily driver once a month.  Let the vehicle run for 30 minutes, maybe even drive it around.  This will help keep the engine lubed and the tires from forming flat spots and cracks from the sun.  
If you are planning on a trip let us check your travel vehicle for you.  We wan you to have a fun vacation without incident and the best way to do that is to catch a problem (or find that there aren't any) before you hit the road.  We can perform a 55-pt inspection, which is a comprehensive look from bumper to bumper.  Give us a call, we have appointments available for you!  
Take care of yourself too!  If you are working inside, take your 15 minute breaks outside.  Get up from that computer or stack of papers and enjoy this beautiful, sunny, warm day!

We all have our own New Years Resolutions, why not have one for your vehicle?! Happy New Years from the entire team at The Dyno Shop.

I, my owner's vehicle, swear to make the following resolutions for 2014:

1.  Will carry my owners and their precious cargo safely wherever they drive me.
2.  To respond quickly when my gas pedal is pushed, my steering wheel is turned, when my brakes are applied, and when my owner is running late.
3.  To stop as quickly as possible for an emergency situation.
4.  To never hydroplane, slide, or lose control of myself on the road.
5.  To provide warmth when it's cold, a/c when it's hot, and shelter from all weather conditions.
6.  To use fuel efficiently, help my owner's money stretch as far as possible.
7.  Will avoid all accidents, scratches, pot holes, and any damage that would harm me or make my insurance go up.
8.  Prevent my owners from locking their keys inside me.
9.  Will serve my owners safely, comfortably, and be ready to go anytime they need me.


I will be fully equipped to meet all of my 2014 New Year's Resolutions if my owners remember that I am part of the family and that I need regular maintenance to be able to keep my promises.  I will be delighted to go to The Dyno Shop for check-ups and/or repairs!


Thank you,
Your vehicle

2013 sure has flown by for us here at The Dyno Shop!  Christmas is only a week away, are you ready?  I have one more person to find a gift for then comes all the wrapping!  If you are trying to find the right gift for that special person, look no further!  What could be a better gift than the gift of car care?!  We have a couple options that would make great gifts.  First we offer a Car Care Club Card.  This card has 4 FREE Oil Changes on (which pays for itself) and numerous dollar amounts off of other services that our daily drivers need throughout the year.  This card is only $119 and has a savings of over $550!  The other option is great for those with a hot rod, dune buggy or custom vehicle, gift certificates!  
Most importantly is time spent with family this holiday season.  We will be open Christmas Eve until noon and New Years Eve all day; closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day.  This gives you plenty of time to have us inspect your vehicle before your holiday road trip!  Give us a call today 619-562-3933!

If you haven’t been to the pump lately consider yourself lucky.  Gas prices have started to rise again after the relief we saw in July.  Here are some maintenance tips to help keep your cost at the pump down:

1. Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned:  Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emission test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4.1%.  If your car has a faulty oxygen sensor, your gas mileage may be affected as much as 40%!
2. Check & Replace Air Filters Regularly:  Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car’s gas mileage by as much as 10%. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter save gas, it will protect your engine.
3. Use Factory Recommended Grade of Motor Oil:  You can improve your gas mileage by 1-2% by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil. For example, using 10w30 oil in an engine designed to use 5w30 can lower your mileage by 1-1.5%.  Also, have the oil and filter changed every 5 months/5,000 miles to ensure optimum performance.
4. Keep Tires Properly Inflated: You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3% by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure.  Properly inflated tires are safer & last longer.
5. Some Driving Tips:  Drive sensibly, Obsesrve the Speed Limit, Avoid Excessive Idling, Use Cruise Control, & Use Overdrive Gears.

If you have noticed a drop in your gas mileage, give us a call 619-562-3933. We can help!!!  Now that the kids are back in school and you will be waiting in lines to drop them off you want to make sure that you will be getting the best mileage possible for your money!

2012 is going by way too fast, it is already June!! All of our planned summer vacations are right around the corner. Have you made sure your vehicle is ready for the road trip?? At the top of your list should be a lube, oil and filter change, followed by checking all of your tires (including your spare). We advise that you check and top off all of your fluids, make sure all exterior lights are working and replace bulbs as necessary, and check your battery (date and connections). These are just a few of the major parts of your vehicle that should be inspected.
If you cannot find the spare time to check your vehicle, let us do it for you! We will perform a 55 -pt inspection, which includes everything listed above and more, and a lube, oil and filter change. Bring in your truck, car, motorhome, diesel, electric vehicle, etcetera, we can work on them all!!! Schedule your appointment today, we are open Monday through Saturday! Mention this blog post to get $15 your 55-pt inspection & lube, oil & filter change (expires June 30th, 2012) 619-562-3933

Why do you need to find a timing belt kit instead of just buying the belt by itself? I’m glad you asked because the very important answers will affect people that are getting the operation performed by professional mechanics as well as those that plan on doing the repairs in the driveway at home.
The first thing to cover is what the difference is between a timing belt and a complete kit. On some vehicles there is a huge difference between the two. This is mainly because on some models the water pump is driven via the timing belt.
Since maintenance is usually recommended somewhere between 60,000 and 100,000 miles it only makes sense to replace this water pump at the same time as replacing the drive belt. Because we don’t want coolant dripping on the new rubber parts a week later! Some timing belt kits come with a lot of other stuff besides a water pump and belt.
On the Toyota V6 that can be found in the Camry and 4-Runner a complete kit will include new cam seals, thermostat, serpentine belt as well as an idler pulley and tensioner. Both of these items have bearings that can eventually wear out and cause noise or other problems if the bearings seize and destroy the newer belt.
Just like in the case of the water pump while you’re down there it’s just a matter of a few bolts and the items can be renewed at the same time as the belt maintenance. Some timing belt kits also include other items that are known to go bad with specific models.
Timing belts need to be replaced because they are made of rubber in most vehicles. Things that are made of rubber get weak and deteriorate over time. Whether it’s a serpentine drive belt rotating the alternator or the rubber tires on the car, these things will need to be maintained and replaced over time.
If it is time for your timing belt to be inspected/replaced give us a call anytime 619-562-3933! Let our certified technicians put your mind at ease!