Monterey Collision & Auto Repair

  How Servicing Your Vehicle Power System Will Help You Avoid Trouble Your vehicle's power system is a critical component that ensures the proper functioning of electrical systems, ignition, and overall performance. Regular servicing and maintenance of the power system can help you avoid unexpected breakdowns, extend the life of your vehicle, and save you from costly repairs.   In this article, we will explore the importance of servicing your vehicle's power system and the steps you can take to ensure trouble-free driving. Understanding the Vehicle Power System The vehicle power system comprises various components that provide electrical power and ensure smooth operation. These components include the battery, alternator, starter, belts, pulleys, fuses, ignition, and fuel. A well-functioning power system is essential for powering electrical components, starting the engine, and maintaining proper ignition. Regular Maintenance and Inspection Regular maintenance a ... read more

What is OEM insurance?   Updated Blog 1/8/23: When it comes to securing the right auto insurance policy, many factors demand your consideration. One crucial aspect often overlooked is the choice between Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and aftermarket parts. In this comprehensive guide, we explore the significance of OEM insurance, shedding light on its benefits, alternatives, and how it can impact your overall auto insurance experience. Understanding OEM Insurance OEM insurance stands as a vital add-on to your standard auto insurance policy. It ensures that, in the unfortunate event of an accident, only OEM parts will be used to restore your vehicle. These parts are specifically crafted by your car's manufacturer, adhering to stringent safety and quality standards. Opting for OEM insurance provides a guarantee that your car will be brought back to its factory specifications, maintaining its original integrity. Requesting OEM Parts After an Accident In the aftermat ... read more

Thankfully, on the central California coast, we enjoy a temperate climate. While we do experience some heavy wind and rain events that cause localized trauma--like the devastating  Big Sur storms of 2017 that led to that area being effectively isolated for months to the rains and resulting mudslides in the Santa Barbara area last month--we don’t get the kind of deep freeze that regularly occurs in the midwest and east coast of the US. But you still need to winterize your vehicles. Wet, slippery roads combined with colder temperatures and shorter daylight hours mean we you keep our cars in tip-top shape. And it’s even more vital if you’re planning a trip to the mountains for some fun in the snow. Here are some tips on how to make sure you don’t get stranded in a storm:   Make sure your vehicle is up to date on the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule, including oil, coolant, brake, transmission, windshield wiper and steering fluids C ... read more

A lit up check engine light could mean a lot of things. Perhaps it’s a small issue or it could indicate the problem is more serious. If your car is not surging smoke, chances are that you are not in immediate danger. The check engine light is there to keep car drivers aware of engine irregularities and sensory malfunctions. The vehicle’s onboard computer, or engine control unit (ECU), can adjust to make sure that the engine is running efficiently. What do you do when the sensor is getting a bad reading and that “pesky” check engine light turns on?   It’s best to have a professional auto mechanic take a look at your vehicle when your check engine light comes on. They’ll use a code reader that plugs into the vehicle and gives a report. In some cases, there may be an easy solution and you can remedy the problem yourself. For example, not tightening your car’s gas cap all the was could result with a flashing check engine light. If you have ... read more

Halloween is here and with it come the added dangers of excited goblins running in the streets in their dark costumes. Robert’s Collision & Repair reminds you that trick-or-treaters can be indecisive and impulsive, and their costumes may hinder their peripheral vision. Please be careful and follow these Halloween safe driving tips:      Drive at least 5 mph below the posted speed limit to give yourself extra reaction time should children dart into the street. Keep an eye out for pirates and princesses walking in streets, on medians and curbs. Look out for children crossing streets. They may not be paying attention to traffic and could run out from between parked cars in the middle of the block. Be careful entering driveways and alleys.   A quick reminder that Halloween may bring out some little devils. If your vehicle is egged or otherwise affected, bring it to Robert’s Collision and ... read more

Autumn is here and with it come shorter days and longer nights. Daylight savings ends in a couple of weeks and that means more driving in the dark and at dusk. Your vehicle’s headlamps are like eyeglasses. Dirt and grime accumulate so gradually we don’t notice and before we know it, our vision is hindered. Headlamp restoration is important in prolonging the life of your vehicle’s exterior lighting system. Poor upkeep could result in replacement and, depending on your vehicle, that can be costly.          Here are some headlamp maintenance tips from Robert's Collision & Repair in Monterey:   Check your headlamps regularly. If they’re starting to yellow, wipe them off with a mildly abrasive cleaner. Be sure it’s not too abrasive - you don’t want to scratch them. Have your headlamp alignment checked. Be sure your headlamps are both pointing in the right d ... read more

At Robert’s Collision & Repair, we are known as the premier auto body shop on the Monterey Peninsula. Ninety percent of our business handles auto body repair from minor dents and scratches to major automotive restoration, while the remaining ten percent of our business handles mechanical repair. We see a lot of auto body repairs in our shop after vehicles have been involved in some form of accident. The accidents can be minor, like door dings and scratches, to major repairs that involve replacement of multiple car parts, new paint in the affected areas, and glass replacement. Whatever the size of the job -- small or large -- Robert’s Collision & Repair can handle it all. Most of the time, our customers will make an insurance claim in order to cover the costs of auto body work. But other times, customers will opt to pay for the auto body repairs directly when they don’t want to involve the insurance ... read more

  One of the most important things to know as a driver is how to jump your car safely. At Robert’s Collision and Auto Repair, we consider it a very basic skill but important to do properly. It is inconvenient to be unable to jump your car on your own, but even worse to attempt to do so and misfire. So perhaps this seems like a silly reminder, but we consider safety to be more important than anything else. Here are some quick directions on how exactly to jump your car.   If you don’t already have a set of jumper cables in the car, then consider investing in some for your own ease. Sometimes college campuses and large businesses will have on-site assistance in case your car battery dies that you can borrow. For example, the Del Monte shopping center has a traffic patrol that has jumper cables for you if you need to use them. Track down a buddy or flag down a friendly stranger to jump your car from. Once you have your cables and a friend’s vehicle to ju ... read more

During the holiday season, it's all about the lights! Christmas lights. Lighting the menorah. Luminaries along the sidewalk. Candy Cane Lane and Christmas In The Adobes. The Holiday Boat Parade. But for now, let's talk about the lights on your car, truck, van, or motorcycle. Headlights, tail lights, blinker and hazard lights, parking lights, dome lights and dashboard lights all have very important roles in your vehicle's lighting and safety system. Particularly during twilight conditions, at night and in poor weather conditions, lighting is a critical safety factor. For this reason, drivers should always make sure that their vehicle's lighting system is working properly. The lighting system of a motor vehicle consists of lighting and signalling devices mounted or integrated to the front, sides, rear, and in some cases the top of the vehicle. The purpose of this system is to provide illumination for the driver to operate the vehicle safely after dark, to increase the con ... read more