The DTSC (Department of Toxic Substances Control) has recognized Moonlight Motors, Inc. in Encinitas, CA as a Green Station. This acknowledgement comes as a reflection of the shops successful efforts to help protect the environment and reduce waste and toxic emissions into the environment.
Moonlight Motors being located only a few blocks from the beach has always done as much as possible to eliminate any opportunities for toxins to leave the property. While new and different problems do arise, it is...
Cooling system problems are the most common reason for mechanical failure in Cardiff By The Sea. And, they’re largely avoidable. Here’s what Encinitas auto owners need to know about their cooling system. First, the terms coolant and antifreeze are pretty much used interchangeably in CA. The fluid cools your engine while it’s running and it keeps it from freezing when it’s cold.
Your cooling system is filled with a 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze/coolant. So if you’re topping off antifreeze/coolant,...
Hello Encinitas drivers, let’s talk about your fuel system. Your passenger cars fuel system encompasses everything it takes to get fuel from your tank to your engine. Starting with your fuel pump, which is located in the tank, there are the fuel lines, fuel filter, throttle assembly and fuel injectors.
When all of these parts are clean, fuel flows at it should giving you good gas mileage and strong engine performance. But when your fuel injectors, valves and fuel intake are...
It’s easy for Encinitas drivers to forget about servicing their transmission because it doesn’t need it very often, but proper transmission service keeps your passenger cars running smoothly and helps you avoid costly repairs down the road.
The transmission undergoes a lot of stress. The grit you see in used fluid is actually bits of clutch material. This grit flowing through your transmission under pressure eats away at seals and gaskets which can lead to leaks.
The transmission operates at very high...
Our vehicles operate in a wide range of outside Cardiff By The Sea temperatures. That’s why auto makers use testing grounds from the frozen tundra to the blistering desert. Your passenger cars engine antifreeze/coolant must be able to perform in these extreme temperatures.
Antifreeze/coolant has to move heat away from the engine to prevent costly damage. Water does a very good job of holding heat, but it freezes at thirty two degrees.
That’s why we mix anti-freeze with water – it lowers...
Encinitas motorists – today we’re talking about suspension integrity. Your skeleton provides the structure to hold up your weight. Your joints cushion you as you walk and allow you to change direction. Your passenger cars’s suspension system is similar: It bears the weight of your vehicle, absorbs bumps in the road and controls the body as you steer.
Like the bones in your body, passenger cars suspension parts are connected by joints that allow all the components to move as they...
Hello Encinitas motorists. Today, we’re talking about disc brakes. Your vehicle weighs several thousand pounds and it takes a lot of force to bring it and your passengers to a safe stop – so everything needs to be in good working order.
The wheel hub keeps your wheel attached to the passenger cars. The brake disc – or rotor – is attached to the hub and spins with the wheel as you drive. Your brake pads clamp onto the rotor to...
Most Encinitas car owners come to their appreciative Moonlight Motors, Inc. service advisor with specific services in mind and an idea of how much they’ll be spending. Sometimes, a courtesy car inspection and a review of your service history will uncover additional items that require attention. How should you react to that?
Here’s some advice: It’s not as if your appreciative Moonlight Motors, Inc. service advisor is saying “Do you want fries with that?” or “Supersize for 59 cents more.” He’s...
There’s more to winter tires than Encinitas car owners may think. Those days of clunky, tractor-like snow tires are long gone in CA, replaced by high-tech winter tires with special rubber compounds and advanced tread designs.
In Encinitas winter temperatures, the rubber in summer tires becomes hard and inflexible and they don’t grip the road as well. In contrast, winter tires use special rubber compounds that are more pliable when the thermometer drops below 45 degrees in CA giving you better...
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve noticed that CA vehicles are getting more and more powerful and at the same time are getting better and better gas mileage. Much of that’s because of better transmissions. To get a understanding of why that is, let’s turn to gear experts – Encinitas bicyclists.
A cyclist’s cadence is the number of times per minute he or she pedals. Their ideal pedal speed is the zone where they can most efficiently generate power over a...
Your suspension system keeps your car up off the road. From there, it’s responsible for a smooth and comfortable ride around Cardiff By The Sea. It also keeps your passenger cars wheels firmly planted over bumps and through curves on Encinitas roads and interstates.
Your suspension system has many important parts that do a big job. They should be inspected for damage and excessive wear at least once a year. A good time would be when you get your alignment check...