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Recently, the USA today released a new study that showed the age of people’s car are getting older and older. In fact, the average age of a car on the road today it 11.4 years (up from last year’s 11.2), and that makes them older than ever before. It’s a trend that’s not all too surprising for a couple of different reasons.

First and foremost, many people’s personal finances haven’t been as strong or stable over the last couple of years as we waited out the recession. This has caused people to hold on to their cars for a little longer. Combine that with the fact that young people, the under 30 crowd, aren’t buying cars at very high rates.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. While some may be restraining from new cars for financial purposes, it also stands to reason that better manufactured cars are able to last longer than the previous generation of cars. Hitting 100,000 miles, once the gold standard for car reliability and durability, it now just an expected milestone. People don’t even start bragging until they hit 200,000 now.

However, we might be on the precipice of a turnaround. After bottoming out in 2009 with only 10 million sold, 16 million new cars were sold last year, which should be a bright spot for car manufacturers.

Better manufacturing can only get you so far, so if you want your car to live to see 200,000 miles, make sure to stay on top of things like regular oil changes and standard maintenance. Come by German Performance in Atascadero, CA. We’re a full service auto shop that can help with just about any repair you could need!

Arguably one of the most important driving forces behind the smartphone revolution was the introduction of the “app.” And even today, apps are a big reason why some people choose one phone over another. The technology found in cell phones seems to advance at breakneck speeds; the difference between today’s stable of smartphone and the original iPhone, released in 2007 is remarkable.

Well, the automotive industry has taken notice. The technology found in the new cars rolling off assembly lines today is nothing to slouch at, and with more and more people owning a smartphone, auto manufacturers have begun to take advantage of that.

Over 50% of adults have a smartphone now (and it’s increased 10% each year for the past 3 years), and cars have become more connective than ever. While it’s unlikely that we’ll see the relationship between cars and cellphones fade anytime soon, the frontier of car tech is cars that can download their own apps, that is, no more cell phone necessary to interact with 3rd party applications.

While allowing cars to download apps presents its own unique problems, a little security risk has never deterred those with an entrepreneurial spirit and idea from pushing the boundaries of technology. The next few years should provide a better look at how we might begin to see cars use apps, or even do thing like connect to the internet themselves via wireless networks like 4G.

Making sure your emissions system is working properly is about more than just reducing your car’s emissions. When there’s a problem with your emissions, it can cause other problems, and things just start to pile up until something breaks. The best approach is to repair minor problems with your emissions as they pop up, before they turn in to big problems. Here are a few to watch out for.

• Leaks – Your emissions systems includes a good amount of tubing and gaskets, and it’s common for one of them to spring a leak eventually. Always be on the lookout to puddles, stains, or strange sounds that would indicate an exhaust leak. 
• O2 sensor – You O2 sensors help your car’s computer determine the optimum level of air-to-fuel mixture. When one of both of the sensors goes bad, they can’t give an accurate reading, and that’s going to throw off your emissions, as well as lowering your fuel efficiency and performance.
• Bad Fuel Injectors – Fuel injection has replaced the carburetor in most modern cars, but they do tend to get clogged up over time, which can affect your performance. An injector cleaning should have you running right again in no time.

Summer is in full swing, so if you’re caught without air conditioning in your car, you could be in for some uncomfortable trips. But all that wouldn’t be necessary if you brought your car or truck to Rick’s for car and truck air conditioning repair. Our shop can diagnose the problem with your A/C and get you riding in comfort once again.

We inspect everything from the hoses to the air compressor to make sure we get to the root of the problem. Any broken parts, we can repair or replace as needed. We are also fully stocked with plenty of coolant.

As always, we offer our automotive air conditioner service at a great price that can’t be beat. Come by our shop, or give us a call and set up an appointment, and we can get your A/C putting out nice cool air again so you don’t have to suffer the heat on the way to work, the store, or wherever it is yo’re going.

Professional Car A/C service in Atascadero!

When your car’s or truck’s Anti-Lock Braking System isn’t working, you know about it.

Your Car’s anti-lock braking system (also known as ABS) is a safety system that allows you to stop the car without locking up the wheels and thus avoid skidding out of control. Anti-lock braking is safer especially in wet driving conditions and generally provides for improved vehicle control as well as decreased stopping distances.

The system has multiple parts, including speed sensors, valves, pumps, and controllers. If any one of these parts goes wrong, these whole system can fail, which puts you at risk. There’s no reason to take chances with your safety when the ASE certified best mechanics in Atascadero and Paso Robles are ready to help you at our shop! – Anti lock brakes can be a complicated system; there are many components that need to be checked when an issue arises. Don’t take any chances with your car or your safety. Let the professionals at Rick’s take a look at your car, and fix the problem the first time!

If you’re constantly having to deal with a dead battery, even after you replace it with a new one, the culprit might be your alternator.

The alternator is responsible for converting the mechanical power created by the engine in to an electrical current to be use by you car and to charge the battery.

The problem could be a simple loose belt, or the alternator might need to be replaced. To differentiate between a dead battery and a bad alternator, before you car won’t start, look for things like dimming dashboard and headlights, power windows that won’t move, and other electronics anomalies. These are usually a sign that the alternator is not functioning properly while you’re driving.

If your vehicle’s alternator isn’t working chances are you won’t be getting very far. The alternator is a necessary component for your vehicle’s operation so if you need alternator repair or replacement in Atascadero and Paso Robles just five us a call today!