Monterey Collision & Auto Repair

Window tint - Pros and Cons Tinted windows are great for a number of reasons. They can block dangerous UV rays, they look good, and also offer some privacy, so you don't feel like you are driving in a fishbowl when on the road. Keep in mind; there is such a thing as too dark of tint.   Is It Legal? In the south, we encounter many cars with really dark tinted windows. The advantage of dark tint is heat repellant and UV ray reduction. The intense heat of the south does tend to tax your air conditioner, so it is an advantage. As we move to the northern states, dark tint tends to signal that whoever is inside may have reason to hide. Many states have laws in place to limit the tinting of vehicle windows.   Vision Limitation Yes, tinted windows can keep your eyes from sun damage, on darker days, that same tint can impede your vision. Missing an animal crossing the road, a car without headlights, or worse yet, a child running into the way could mean ultimate disaster. It ... read more

10% Off Labor for Car Battery Replacement. Offer valid through October 31, 2016. One coupon per visit. Not valid with other specials and offers.   October is Car Care Month and that is why Robert’s Collision & Repair is offering the following special:  10% Off Labor for Car Battery Replacement.   With all the electronics and systems pulling power from the car battery, it’s no wonder that batteries die more quickly. Today’s automobile electrical systems are getting more intricate and are stressing the limits of current technology, but they are generally designed from the same principles used 30-plus years ago. The battery is the vehicle’s power storage device used to start the engine and help operate the electrical accessories installed on your car. Average battery life has become shorter as energy requirements have increased. Lifespan depends on usage, which now averages 6 months to 48 months, yet only 30% of all batteries actually reach t ... read more

Auto Week is action-packed with a variety of activities for participants and spectators, alike. No matter the event or activity, we are all brought together over one singular passion: cars. Auto Week is an excellent way for us to share our enthusiasm for cars. With such a fun and exciting week ahead, we think it is important to be prepared. Robert’s Collision & Repair has compiled a helpful list of auto week preparation tips:   We recommend dressing for comfort, instead of for style. Don’t forget to take a look at the weather report, before deciding on your outfit. Check each event’s policies and procedures ahead of time. Look to see if the event has any restrictive policies, such as no pets or large bags. Thoroughly plan your day ahead of time. Before the event, decide where you should park, or if there is shuttle service. Bring a camera! This is a fun week, and of course, a photograph will make the moment last just a bit longer. Go as early as p ... read more

What exactly are aftermarket parts? Aftermarket parts are any part for your vehicle that is not sourced from the car’s manufacturer. Often, aftermarket parts cost less than factory parts. At Robert’s Collision and Repair, we use aftermarket parts for repairing the mechanical aspect of your vehicle. Inversely, we use factory parts for auto body repair.   How exactly can this combination of aftermarket and factory parts save you money? Here are a few ways how:   Overall, aftermarket parts are just typically less expensive. If you use a combination of both aftermarket and factory parts, compared to using all factory parts, you will save money. Often, the quality of aftermarket parts can be greater or equal to the quality of factory parts. When it comes to aftermarket parts, there is much more variety and availability. This means there are more options and a much wider range of prices. Next time, your vehicle needs auto repair,  we invite you to Robert ... read more

With all the high-tech functions in today’s newer vehicles, the car battery often loses power faster than expected. Why? Your car battery is already supporting the vehicle’s sophisticated electrical system, but it wears down more quickly after you plug in your phone, your portable music players, your portable video players, etc.   If you’re not sure when your car battery is wearing out, here are five signs it’s time to install a new one:   Your engine is slow to start, or the cranking seems sluggish. Your check engine light is illuminated. You can see through the transparent casing that your battery’s fluid level is low. Your battery is covered in gunk or is bloated, which means there could be a fluid leak or it’s enduring excessive heat. Your car battery is three or more years old. Don’t be caught with a dead battery. Bring your vehicle into Robert’s Collision & Repair for battery replacement and service. We will be ... read more

On the way to Grandma’s house for the Thanksgiving holiday, road trips can be long and stressful. To make your road trip go more smoothly, with less squabbling from the passengers and less shouting at the other drivers, here are some survival tips for your holiday drive.   Be prepared. -- Like a good Boy Scout or Girl Scout, be sure to have an emergency kit, extra drinks, snacks, blankets, a spare tire and tire changing tools, and plenty of audio entertainment. If you’re prepared for anything, you and your passengers will be able to relax more.   Breathe through the traffic jams. -- Traffic happens. Chances are high that you and everyone else are leaving town around the same time and driving back home the same time, too. If you’re stuck in traffic, remember to breathe deeply, enjoy the journey, and know that “slow and steady” will get you to your destination more safely than the “let’s-speed-and-get-into-an-accident” approac ... read more

Technology is a wonderful thing, especially when it comes to your car. Here are a few smartphone apps that are designed to help you out with your vehicle.   RepairPal is designed to help you find a trustworthy auto repair shop. Of course, Robert’s Collision & Repair is proud to be listed on RepairPal.   GasBuddy helps you locate the cheapest gas near you. Plus you get the chance to win $100 in free gas daily.   greenMeter is an app that measures your vehicle’s power and fuel usage to show you how efficiently you are driving, your fuel consumption, and your impact on the environment.   Dynolicious Fusion is an app for gear heads that allows you to measure your 0-60 mph results. It’s fun if you like to test your power when you punch the gas. &nb ... read more

Ever heard of trunk or treating? It is a new way to celebrate Halloween that involves candy, cars, and costumes! What more could you ask for?   Basically, car owners turn their tailgate or trunk into a front porch, complete with a costume and candy. Car owners meet at a central location, and kids can go from car to car amassing tons of candy. It completely eliminates door-to-door doorbell ringing, and is a safe, fun, and festive way to celebrate Halloween.   The fun part is dressing up your car for a trunk or treating event. You can go for a scary look, or even recreate your kids’ favorite Disney Movie. The possibilities are endless. Here are just a few ideas:   Add some teeth and tongue to the trunk of your SUV. Don’t forget about the candy for the end of the tongue. What about bringing your front yard to the back of your pick-up truck? Use lawn ornaments, such as skeletons, tombstones, or cobwebs, to decorate. If you are a fan of Disney, this on ... read more

  Auto battery Safety Month is in October. To celebrate, Robert’s Collision & Auto Repair is happy to provide information about maintaining a car’s battery and warning signs of a dying battery.   Tips for maintaining a car's battery: If you can, park in a garage. A thoroughly insulated garage will keep your battery warm, which will prolong the life of the battery. Drive your vehicle on a routine basis. Avoid frequent, short drives. Try not to leave vehicle accessories on for a long period of time. For example, leaving a cell phone charger plugged in will require the battery to recharge constantly, which shortens the life of the battery. Make sure to have your vehicle serviced regularly. An engine in poor condition will overload the battery. Typically, batteries last about two to three years, but how do you know if your battery is on the verge of dying? Here are the signs to watch out for: Your engine cranks when you turn the key, but it will not st ... read more

  Robert’s Auto Repair is proud to announce that we have two Master BMW Technicians on our staff, and to commemorate our good fortune, we will be celebrating the esteemed automaker, Bavarian Motor Works, throughout the month of May. To begin, here are some things you may or may not know about BMWs: BMW stands for “Bayerische Motoren Werke”. However, according to the late, great Bob Marley, he was a longtime BMW fan and owner because in his mind, BMW stood for “Bob Marley and the Whalers”. BMW is the parent company that owns the Rolls-Royce and Mini brands. The roundel logo represents both their days making airplanes and looks like a spinning propeller, but also represents the Bavarian flag. BMW began as an airplane manufacturer in 1917, but after the Versailles Treaty was signed in 1918, they diversified and began making motorcycles; then later, automobiles. The kidney shaped grill that you see on all BMW automobiles was ... read more

Bluetooth devices offer an additional level of safety to automobile drivers, and this is a wonderful thing! In fact, Robert’s Auto Repair is happy to say that we have seen fewer auto body repairs in our shop thanks to Bluetooth devices, and that is a win-win for everyone. Bluetooth devices help improve safety by allowing drivers to talk on their cell phones and still keep both hands on the steering wheel. Bluetooth wireless technology not only keeps drivers and their passengers safer, but they also reduce fines from law enforcement agencies. Bluetooth technology is becoming more common in new vehicles, and can be installed in older vehicles, too. Here are some of the ways you can use Bluetooth in your personal or work vehicle: Visor speakerphone. These are often battery powered and automatically connect to your cellular phone when you enter the vehicle. No special installation is required. Wireless Earpieces. These take just moments to set up. The devices also help drivers comply with ... read more

There are many YouTube videos showing beginners how to drive a manual transmission. On the other end, you can take driving courses at the Skip Barber Driving School at Laguna Seca Raceway to drive a manual transmission like a pro. To help you drive a manual transmission in a way that is easy on your vehicle and gets you the best gas mileage, here are some tips for driving a stick. 1. If you are new to standard transmissions and need to learn how to drive the car, here is a helpful video: <iframe allowfullscreen></iframe> 2. Now that you know how to drive your standard transmission vehicle, begin driving as you normally would in an automatic. Avoid tailgating the vehicle in front of you so you have plenty of time to stop. 3. Shift a few hundred RPMs earlier than normal to save gas. By shifting early, you don't wind the engine up so much. 4. When you are at cruising speed, somewhere around 55 miles per hour, shift to the highest gear to achieve a higher to ... read more

Robert’s Auto Repair has developed a solid reputation along the Monterey Peninsula for premier workmanship and service. We go the extra mile in everything we do to make certain our clients receive 100% satisfaction. To help illustrate why we do what we do and how we do it, we thought it would be educational to show a behind the scenes viewpoint of how we do our workflow process on a simple task such as brake service and repair. The brakes on your vehicle are its most important safety feature, and brakes are not something that can be neglected, at all! Due to the braking system’s constant use, brakes may require maintenance after several thousand miles or when your vehicle appears to take longer than it should to come to a complete stop. To better understand our workflow process, here is a typical checklist we run through to provide the best brake system maintenance and brake repair: First, we test to see if the brakes work okay. Next, we determine how the brake system is doing based on ... read more

Editorial Note: We can’t help but run this note from your vehicle every year. It’s one of our annual traditions. Happy New Year from the entire Robert’s Auto Repair team! I, my human's vehicle, do solemnly swear to make the following New Year's Resolutions for 2014. I resolve to carry my humans and their precious cargo safely wherever they drive me. I resolve to stop as quickly as possible when faced with an emergency situation. I resolve to respond quickly when my gas pedal is pushed, my steering wheel is turned, my brakes are applied, and when my human is running late. I resolve to provide warmth when it's cold, air conditioning when it's hot, and shelter from the rain, wind, sleet, snow, and hail. I resolve to never hydroplane, slide, or lose control of myself on the road. I resolve to use gasoline efficiently, helping my human's money stretch as far as possible. I resolve to avoid all accidents, scratches, pot holes, and any damage that would harm me or make my insurance ... read more

Ahora que se acerca el fin de semana del dia del trabajo, ¡no te esperes a que sea fin de semana para darle servicio a tu carro! La familia y los amigos son una de las cosas mas importantes para nuestras vidas, por lo que hay que tomar las debidas precauciones antes de salir a carretera. Para nuestro taller la salud y bienestar de usted y de sus seres queridos es muy importante. Por esto le sugerimos de la mejor manera no manejar borracho, cansado, en condiciones de clima extremo y asegurarse de que su automóvil este en buenas condiciones para prevenir cualquier tipo de accidente o falla en el camino. Es sumamente importante estar seguro de que su auto esta en buenas condiciones antes de cualquier viaje, pues muchas veces ocurren accidentes cuando pensamos que nuestro auto “si llega” o cuando no sabemos que algo no esta en las condiciones en las que debería de estar. Las cosas mas importantes de las que hay que asegurarnos que estén bien en nuestros automóviles son: Revisar el nivel d ... read more

As gas prices continue to startlingly increase in America, summer road trips may seem completely out of the question. However, here are several tricks to help you conserve your fuel so that you can still enjoy an action-packed summer vacation. It is important to avoid excess braking and accelerating. Instead, try to predict when the light will turn red, coast to stop, and then slowly accelerate again. In general, rapid braking and accelerating will waste more fuel. When on the freeway, use cruise control to keep your car at a consistent speed. Statistics have concluded that using cruise control can conserve your fuel economy by 10%. Before leaving your house use mapping sites, like Google Maps and MapQuest, to plan your trip. Mapping sites will allow you to compute the most the efficient route to and from each location. Maintaining proper air pressure in your tires can also benefit your fuel economy. Lower air pressure results in rolling resistance so it is important to check your ti ... read more