El Cajon | Santee | Auto Repair Services | East County Tire & Brake

Engine Diagnostic / Repair

Is your vehicle running funny? Engine making odd sounds? or is that Check engine light on and you have no clue why? Bring it in and let one of ASE Certified Mechanics Diagnose and fix the problem today before it gets worse. We have top diagnostic tools to read and diagnose your vehicle problems quickly so you can get back on the road safely.

Inspection & Repair

Our fully trained and qualified mechanics are able to perform a diagnostic inspection and vehicle evaluation for you. This inspection will provide you with valuable information about the current state of your vehicle. Is it in good working order? Is there a bigger problem lurking in the near future?

Fleet Services

While you’re tending to business, who’s tending to your fleet? We are, with our superior service and substantial savings, making sure your bottom line is never compromised.

Core Services

Brake Repair
Of all the things we expect our vehicles to do, THE ONE THING THEY MUST DO IS STOP!

To be sure that your brakes are in good condition they should be inspected on a regular basis. The most convenient and practical time to do this is when you have your tires rotated. If you are rotating your tires on a 6000-8000 mile schedule this gives a qualified brake technician the opportunity to see problems or wear conditions and alert you in most cases before they become serious or expensive to repair.

Some symptoms that should alert you to a brake system problem are:

• A grinding noise when you apply your brakes

• A high pitched squealing noise that stops when you apply your brakes

• The brake warning light illuminating on your instrument panel

• A low or spongy brake pedal

• A hard brake pedal
Shocks and Struts
Shocks are important to driving safety. At 30 mph, even one worn shock can increase stopping distance by 6 feet.

The Car Care Council recommends that motorists check their shocks and struts every 12 months or 12,000 miles, usually in conjunction with a wheel alignment.

Under normal conditions, shocks wear out gradually and you may not notice incremental losses in ride quality, handling and control. Some signs that your vehicle may have worn shocks include excessive bouncing, rocking back and forth, drifting or nose diving while braking, swaying, or cupping wear on the tires.

At East County Tire & Brake of Santee we will check your shocks to see if they are working properly. If they do need replacement we will recommend a shock or strut that is right for your vehicle and the way you drive.
Wheel Alignment
In its most basic form, a wheel alignment consists of adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. The purpose of these adjustments is maximum tire life and a vehicle that tracks straight and true when driving along a straight and level road.

At East County Tire & Brake of Santee we have one of the most experienced alignment teams in Santee. Our team utilizes Hunter Equipment’s alignment machines utilizing the digital camera system.

Vehicles are carefully inspected for any worn out parts before being aligned. Vehicles with particular problems are test driven and given special attention until completion.
Car Battery Replacement
The battery supplies electrical power to the starter along with the rest of the electrical components of the vehicle to start the engine. When the engine starts running the charging system takes over to provide electricity to the various vehicle electrical systems. The battery cable terminals connect the battery to the electrical system.

A vehicle battery has several important functions:

• Providing power to the starter motor, ignition system, fuel system and other electrical devices during engine starting.

• Storing energy.

• Acts as a voltage stabilizer.

• Providing power to the electronic components as required when the vehicle is off (e.g., digital radios, clocks, door locks, alarms, vehicle computers, etc).

Battery replacement may be necessary if you experience any of the following:

• Slower than normal or interrupted turnover when starting your engine.

• Battery discharge light on the vehicle instrument panel is lit.
Auto Hose & Belt Replacement
Belts and hoses are integral parts in the proper functioning of the engine. These often overlooked parts need to be inspected on a routine basis to avoid untimely (& expensive) breakdowns.

Belts

Drive Belt

A drive belt’s primary function is to connect the engine to front-mounted accessories. Belts come in two different types: The traditional V-belt (cross-section of belt has a V-shape) and the serpentine belt (also called Poly-V, Poly-Rib, Multi-Rib, and Micro-V belt), which uses multiple Vs for more positive contact with its mating pulleys. Please note a drive belt has been traditionally known/described as a fan belt.

Purpose: Drive belts provide power to engine-mounted accessories like the power steering pump, air conditioning compressor, mechanical cooling fan and air injection pump. Serpentine belts are now used on almost all vehicles.

Timing Belt

Many of today’s engines also use timing belts (but not all). Some engines still use a timing chain and sprocket arrangement. A timing belt is a precision component with teeth that mesh exactly with its mating sprockets.

Purpose: The timing belt maintains crankshaft-to-camshaft synchronization, keeping valve operation matched to piston position. On some engines, the belt also drives other components. These include the oil pump, water pump and balance shafts.

Hoses

Hoses: Coolant hoses include the upper radiator hose, lower radiator hose, heater hoses and bypass hose (some engines). Purpose: Coolant hoses provide a flexible connection for coolant flow between the engine and the radiator and the engine and the heater core.

Belts (inspect and/or replace)

• Drive belts

• V Belt

• Serpentine Belt

• Timing Belts

• Belt Tensioner

• Belt Pulley

Hoses (inspect and/or replace)

• Upper Radiator Hose

• Lower Radiator Hose

• Heater Hose

• Bypass Hose

• Hose Clamps
Engine Cooling System
Many of today’s vehicles were factory filled with long life or extended life engine coolants. The benefits of these coolants were to extend the length of service intervals. Although a good idea many of these systems have been neglected leading to cooling system damage, potential overheating and possible breakdowns. Additional system stress stems from severe weather conditions like winter extreme cold and summer extreme heat.

At East County Tire & Brake of Santee, our trained technicians have the proper equipment and products to inspect and correct any conditions that your cooling system may have.
30, 60, 90K Auto Maintenance
The key to protecting your investment and maximizing engine performance and fuel efficiency is to follow routine OEM Preventative Maintenance schedules.

East County Tire & Brake of Santee technicians have access to all factory required service schedules from routine inspections and tire rotations to major tune up, fluid services, and timing belts. Our data base will keep records of your services and can send out reminders of upcoming and needed services.