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It's full of car care tips and other subjects that interest us.

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Vehicle Cooling System Repair

Vehicle Cooling System Repair

When was the last time you had your car’s cooling system inspected or repaired? If the answer is never, it’s time you started paying more attention to it. There are all kinds of things that can go wrong if your radiator cooling system stops working as it should. And it’s very important to be aware of this. Below, you will learn all about your vehicle’s cooling system, why it matters and what kinds of problems it can face. This knowledge will help you to spot problems. And if you do notice that anything is wrong, you should bring the vehicle to us and let us fix it professionally and quickly for you. About Your Cooling System In simple terms, your car’s cooling system works by sending liquid coolant (also known as antifreeze) throughout your car’s system. There are specific passages in place through w ... read more

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Cooling System

Engine Diagnostics

Engine Diagnostics

You might not have heard of engine diagnostics, but this technique is used to find the root cause of any problems your car’s engine might be dealing with. It’s important to understand a bit about engine diagnostics. Then you can understand why it’s so important and how your car and its engine can be aided and improved by this form of testing. There is a lot to learn, and you will find all of the important parts covered in the information below. It could help you to look after your car better and notice the signs that its engine is experiencing difficulties. For most people, their vehicle is an essential part of their day to day lives. So, looking after it and knowing how to get problems fixed fast is vital. Read on now to start learning more about engine diagnostics. What Is Engine Diagnostics? To put it simply, an engine diagnos ... read more

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General

Motor or Engine Noise?

Motor or Engine Noise?

As long as I’ve been around vehicle repair it always strikes me as curious to see how things come in waves. A particular brand vehicle might have electrical problems for a year. Another will have brake related problems. Maybe we get a bunch of window repairs on all cars… This year we’ve seen six cases of motor or engine noise. Not unusual in an auto repair shop, but the nature of the engine noise I’m referring to is a clacking or knocking. It’s sometimes slight, sometimes more pronounced, and most of the people bringing this to us are new customers. More interesting is the actual source of the engine noise. Every case of that mysterious noise that we have seen is from a LACK OF MOTOR OIL in the engine! Holy smokes! Check Your Oil We all get busy, but I implore everyone to please check their own oil, or have someone else do so, at appropriate ... read more

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Auto Repair

Mini Cooper Air Conditioning

Mini Cooper Air Conditioning

We see things like this on a regular basis. Larry's 2004 Mini Air Conditioning was not working. The dealer said it needed a compressor replacement at a cost of over $1500! We fixed his Porsche earlier last year so he gave us a look at the Mini. We found the AC compressor clutch coil not working. From the BMW dealership the cost of the new compressor alone was over $800! Because of our long experience in auto air conditioning, we knew what we could do. While replacing the compressor coil only we found the main shaft seal leaking and replaced that also. Now the air conditioning FREEZES the passengers at much lower cost than previously quoted and saved the customer over $800! We like working on air conditioning! Here is another kind of Air the Cooper is capable of

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General

VW Specialties Huntington Beach

One of our favorite places to go for parts and shop talk is gone! VW Specialties on Gothard. Ron was a long time friend, fellow mechanic and parts wizard who could find VW and Audi parts that seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth. We hope well for Ron and hope to see him in the future. It is our hope that those who have called Ron their mechanic will consider HB Auto & AC their next reliable VW and Audi repair facility in Huntington Beach. We'll be your best VW Service next to Ron we know and we'll do our homework to find those illusive parts! Memories I've never really thought about the memories I've had concerning auto repair because I grew up where you either fixed it or walked. Along the way a person can become an expert welder, fabricator, artists, painter, hydrolic specialists, tuner, racer, electrician, these darned things got a lot of things going on! They transcends the definition of “cars” or &ldq ... read more

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General

Auto Repair in Huntington Beach, #1

Auto Repair in Huntington Beach, #1

After being the best Radiator and Air Conditioning Auto Repair Shop in north Orange county in business 30 years as Bolsa Radiator, and repairing other shops mistakes, we have evolved the past 8 years into what many of our customers have told us is the only people they will ever take their car to. We thank them with all our hearts and return their trust and faith in us by working hard at being the #1 Auto Repair Shop in Huntington Beach. The testimonials on LocalYahoo.com and other search sites tells us we are on the right track. We will always strive to have the latest technology and service information at our disposal for our customers as we have in the past. All our staff are committed to being the #1 Auto Repair Shop in Huntington Beach!

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General

Auto Brake Repair in Huntington Beach

Maybe it's just me but it seems Huntington Beach has something against Auto and Truck brakes. We just got through with a boomer year for brake repair. I'm sure we haven't got the biggest hills, especially since they flattened out “Edwards Hill”, it just seems the locals are going through brakes at a record pace. Many of the later model vehicles will not need brake work till after 100,000 miles. However we will still get these same vehicles in at 30,000 miles that need some repair or replacement. Even though it may be “old school” I still recommend to pump the brakes slightly as you stop. Seems to give a little more life to them. Check out the earlier blog for the 5 costly misconceptions of brake repair

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General

Auto & Truck Battery

Before any battery is replaced it is thoroughly checked. We like Interstate Batteries. They have proven themselves in racing and commercial applications. Their warranties are good throughout the United States and our personal experience has been very good. It is our practice to check every battery when we change your oil as part of our multi check oil change or our Mechanics Courtesy Check. Battery service prevents towing and non starting situations. We also sell DELCO Batteries when requested by our customers. Also a quality product

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General

Auto Cooling Systems

Water Pumps, Thermostats, Radiators, Hoses, Fan Clutches, Belts. After 20 years as a radiator shop in Huntington Beach, Westminster and the Fountsin Valley area, and working on radiators as big as Volkswagon Bugs (they have radiators now), we have more experience in radiator and cooling system repair than 99% of the auto shops in Huntington Beach. A failure can be as small as a loose hose clamp, as big as a cracked head or block. Either one can bring the car to a stop. Preventative maintenance is your best bet and a little vigilances by looking at your temperature gauge on a regular basis. Remember, besides tires and gas, the single biggest reason for on road failure is the cooling system

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General

Auto Belts and Hoses

We always use the best. These small but critical parts of a vehicle do so much but get little respect. Most car manufactures have a recommended replacement schedule that can be subjective. Surprisingly some have NONE! It is best to adhere to a schedule unless there is a good reason not to. If a progressive corrosion has set in the hoses then best to replace sooner than scheduled. The CAUSE of the corrosion should also be addressed at that time to prevent further premature age and break down. The belts may also fail prematurely if the vehicle sits for extended periods of time in an extreme atmosphere such as a high heat as in the desert, or near salt air such as here in Huntington Beach or surrounding areas. In fairness to todays vehicles, many belts and hoses go over 100,000 miles. However it may have been in a short period of time so AGE is not so much a factor. Because we've seen more than most, it has been our policy to consider age or use to determine replacement or preventativ ... read more

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General
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