How Often Should You Change Your Oil? (It's Probably Not 3,000 Miles)
The 3,000-mile rule is out of date for most cars. How to find your real oil change interval, when the severe schedule applies and why the once-a-year rule matters.
Car Care Tips & Advice
Straight answers from the mechanics at Johnson's Auto Repair in Lake Elsinore: what a noise or warning light means, what can wait and what can't, and how to keep your car running in Inland Empire heat and traffic.
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Car Overheating? What to Do Right Away (and What Not to Do)
Temperature gauge climbing or steam from the hood? What to do in the first minute, why the heater helps, why not to open a hot radiator cap and when to tow it.
Why Do My Brakes Squeak? What Each Brake Noise Means
Squealing, grinding, clicking or scraping when you brake? What each noise usually means, which can wait and which mean stop driving, from our Lake Elsinore shop.
Check Engine Light On? What to Do and When to Stop Driving
Steady or flashing check engine light? What each one means, the gas cap check, what a code read does and doesn't tell you, and when to pull over.
Getting Your Car Ready for a Southern California Winter
Winter here means rain, cold mornings and trips to the snow. What to check on your battery, tires, wipers and coolant, plus Caltrans chain rules for Big Bear.
Why Are My Headlights Foggy, and How Do You Fix Them?
What turns plastic headlights cloudy and yellow, how much light you lose, whether restoration kits work, and when a new headlight is the better answer.
A Mechanic's Tire Safety Checklist (Pressure, Tread and Age)
How to check tire pressure the right way, read tread depth with a penny, find your tire's age on the sidewall, and know when tires are due for replacement.
Older posts
How Often Should You Get Your Brakes Checked?
How often to have your brakes checked, the warning signs that can't wait, and what a brake inspection actually covers, from our Lake Elsinore mechanics.
Do You Need to Warm Up Your Car Before Driving?
Most modern cars need about 30 seconds, not five minutes. Why long idling wastes fuel, what actually protects your engine on a cold morning, and when to worry.
Days Are Getting Shorter. Check Your Headlights and Wipers Now
Daylight saving time ends Nov 1. A five-minute check of your headlights, signals and wiper blades, and the California rule on headlights in the rain.
Can Water Damage Your Car's Alternator?
Rain won't hurt it, but deep water can. Signs of a failing alternator after driving through a flooded street, what to do before restarting, and when to call us.