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If you live or work in a large city, then you’ve most likely have a received a parking ticket or three. But you no longer have to remain defenseless against the meter maid. Fixed, a new app for your smart phone, can help you fight your parking tickets.

Fixed is simple to use. First, you use the camera on your phone to snap a picture of the parking ticket. If there is any additional evidence, document that as well. After uploading the photos, you’ll be prompted to enter in the violation code. Fixed will then tell you the probability of your ticket being dismissed. A contest letter on your behalf will even be sent to the court!

Fixed will then show a list of frequent errors and contest reasons to select should you decide to contest the parking citation. After selecting the appropriate contest reason for the ticket type you received, you will be asked do provide additional evidence such as a photo of faded curb paint or a missing sign.

You only have to pay Fixed if your parking ticket is dismissed. If the contest is unsuccessful, you do not owe Fixed anything. If you win, you pay Fixed 25% of your parking fine. So if your parking fine was $100, you would pay Fixed $25. Seems like a win-win situation!

 

When it comes to car insurance, many people pay more than necessary because they don’t do any research or take advantage of discounts when choosing an insurance provider. But with so many car insurance companies claiming to have to best rates, who do you know which one to go with?

You will need to determine how much coverage you need for your vehicle before you start shopping for car insurance. Each state requires every driver to attain a minimum amount of liability insurance. In California, the minimum requirement is (in thousands of dollars) 15/30/5. This ratio refers to bodily injury liability for one person, bodily injury liability for all persons involved, and property damage respectively. If you are leasing or financing, the lien holder may require you to obtain a certain amount of coverage as well.

After you figure out what type of coverage you need, let the research begin. Pick up the phone and call your local insurance providers to see what kind of rates and discounts they offer. Next, go online and see how the rates of internet insurance companies compare. Many people assume they will find better deals online, but when it comes to car insurance, this isn’t always the case so keep an open mind. Also, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to give your current provider a call to see if they can offer you a cheaper rate.

The internet makes it quick and easy to get instant quotes online. However, don’t be quick to hand out your information to every website you come across. Multiple inquiries can negatively affect your credit score. Instead, find a site that will compare the rates of different insurance companies to help you narrow down your choices. Don’t forget to ask friends and family for recommendations as well.

It’s true what they say—the second you drive that new car off the lot, it loses value. Although there is some truth behind this saying, there are things you can do to retain value in your used automobile when you go to sell or trade it.

One of the best things you can do is to keep your car thoroughly clean—both inside and out. The newer you can keep your car looking, the more attractive it will be to potential buyers. Many people will associate a clean vehicle with a vehicle that runs well. While you’re at it, keep everything underneath the hood clean as well. If the engine looks dirty, people will assume it is in poor condition.

Adding personal touches to your car can also add some value. Custom paint, body kits, and other details can be a motivating factor for buyers. However, don’t expect to get full retail value back for these customizations.

The most important consideration to take into account is the overall performance of your vehicle. No one wants to buy a vehicle that has a lot of mechanical problems. Ease up on the rough driving. Avoid rapid acceleration, slamming on the brakes, off-roading, and anything else that is going to put excess wear on your vehicle.

Also, when taking your car in for repairs or service, only trust the most experienced mechanics and auto shops. Japanese Car Specialties has been providing quality, trusted service for over 25 years so bring you car to us if you want service that will retain your car’s value.

 

It should come as no surprise that the engine of your car is on of the most important (and complicated) components under the hood. However, a little time spent learning how the engine works can go a long way, and will help with the maintenance and performance of your vehicle for years to come.

 

Whether the most you know about cars is how to put gas in the tank, or if you’ve been taking apart transmissions since you were in diapers, this graphic makes for a pretty good read and visualization.

It doesn’t take much to learn a thing or two about your car, and a little bit of automotive literacy can go a very long way, even just in terms of being able to diagnose a problem you’re car is having, and know when something needs repairs.

No matter what’s going on with your car, call up the technicians at Japanese Car Specialties in Mission Viejo California. We are experts when it comes to Asian imports, and we can help with everything from engine trouble to emissions problems and more.

You can head over to his page to see the whole chart in action, and if you need any auto repairs, give us a call, or bring your car in to our shop!

It seems like ever since America got a glimpse of Kitt, the car from Knight Rider, we’ve all been collectively asking when we’ll be able to buy our own super smart car. Well, the time may soon be upon us! Or not… In fact, the time frame can range from the next couple of years to never, depending on who you ask.

The folks over at Google had had some highly public success with driverless technology in the form of their Streetview car. In fact, their lobbying was probably a big reason states like California and Nevada now have laws on the books that make autonomous cars legal to drive on public roads. Their progress has some of the higher-ups optimistic about the future of the technology.

Google co-founder Sergey Brin is one of those people, and he’s said that autonomous car tech could be ready for public use as early as 2017.

That estimate has a couple of car manufacturers speaking up. Many of them, like GM and Nissan, have also invested a lot of their time and money in to autonomous car research, and they have a much different outlook than Google.

Some of the people involved with the project at GM have offered up some much more conservative estimates, saying it will probably be at least another 30 years until we see the adoption of any sort of driverless cars for consumers.

The difference of opinions could stem from the industries both represent. It’s true that companies like Google are already very close to having viable software capable of implementing driverless cars. However, GM is looking at things beyond just the technology, like getting the infrastructure set that would allow the legal usage of autonomous cars in every state. On top of that, this sort of technology would require us to take a long look at how it will affect insurance and car manufacturer liability.

There may soon come a day when you car can just drive itself to the shop for repairs, but until that days comes, you can always bring your car or truck in to Japanese Specialties in Mission Viejo for just about any kind of repair and service that you could need!

Only twenty years ago, as many as two-thirds of teens under 18 had their driver’s licenses. Today, that number is down to about 50%. In years past, a car had stood as a beacon of freedom for teens, but now it seems more and more are willing to get rides from friends or parents. In the face of these new numbers, the question becomes; is this a shift in the youth culture, or is this indicative of something else?

There is evidence that shows that the case may be that young people just can’t afford cars right now. Car manufacturers are betting that the millennials and young adults will buck the recent trend of living life without a car, but as it stands now, less young people are buy new cars than ever before. As a matter of fact, the average age of a car on the road now is up to 11.4 years: an all time high.

It seems as if there are so many alternatives to owning your own car now, that some people have chosen to go without – almost how people have cut the cable and turned to the internet to watch their TV via services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Prime.

Only time will tell if what we’re seeing today in the under 30 crowd will stick, or if, like their baby boomer parents (who are still the largest car buying group today), they’ll turn to car ownership as they get older.

There’s been a number of safety advances in the history of automobiles: the seat belt, airbags, back-up cameras, and more. But perhaps the most important of them all is functioning brakes. Your brakes are vital to your safety and the safety of other on the road.

The last thing you want to discover when you need your brakes the most is that there’s a problem with them. Things like brake pads need to be checked regularly. Just like oil, they are designed to wear down and go bad, and when that happens, you need to know about it, so you can replace them.

If you can’t remember the last time you had your brakes inspected, or you have reason to believe there’s something amiss (sounds, braking distance increasing) then you should bring your car or truck in to Japanese Specialties in Mission Viejo. We’ll make sure your brakes are working just like they should, so you’re not in for any nasty surprises.

Come by our shop today!

The head gasket is inarguably the most important gasket in your car. It serves as a seal between the engine block and head and prevents fluids from leaking or mixing together within the engine. Any leaking fluid in or around your engine can be extremely damaging to your car, so you’re always going to want to be aware of whether or not your head gasket is functioning as it should.

The best way to avoid a blown head gasket is to not drive you car when it’s over heating. As soon as you notice an overheating problem, bring your car in immediately. A car that’s running hot it going to have problems, and can cause even bigger headaches if ignored.

A head gasket that’s in good shape will keep the fluids in your engine (stuff like motor oil and coolant) from mixing together and becoming contaminated, so it’s not something you want to start leaking. If you suspect you have a leak, come by our shop for a head gasket replacement in Mission Viejo.

The first thing most people learn about car maintenance is that you should change you oil when the sticker tells you too. Smart sticker. There’s a reason that it’s so important to stay on top of your oil changes, and it’s because that changing your oil every 3 months or 3,000 miles is the easiest and most reliable way to increase the life of your engine and car in general.

The oil lubricates many of the moving mechanical parts under the hood of your car, and it’s vital that they are able to move freely and without friction. Dismissing oil changes or failing to do them in a timely manner will lead to undue wear and tear on those parts and necessitate that they are replaced before they otherwise should have been. Getting you oil changed is playing the long game; ensuring that you’ll save money on repairs later in the life of your car.

So, make sure to always stay on top of when your oil needs to be changed. 3 months or 3,000 miles is the rule of thumb, but if you use synthetic or have a newer model car, you may be able to go a bit longer – just make sure to check the user manual for your recommended oil change schedule!