Mobile Mechanic in San Bernardino

The roads out of this city are hard on cars. The Cajon Pass climbs north toward Victorville and Las Vegas. Highway 18 and Highway 330 go straight up into the San Bernardino Mountains toward Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead. The I-10 carries truck traffic east toward Phoenix, and the I-215 connects all of it.

Each road wears a car out in its own way, so we ask where you drive before we suggest anything. A Civic that climbs the Cajon Pass every day needs a different schedule than one that stays in town.

Cajon Pass and Mountain Brake Wear

The Cajon Pass climbs about 3,000 feet of elevation in roughly 15 miles, and that grade is rough on the brakes and transmission of anything that drives it, commuter car or tow rig. If you drive it every day, expect to wear out brake pads in 25,000 to 35,000 miles instead of the 50,000 to 70,000 typical of flat highway driving. Brake fluid also degrades faster from the heat generated on long descents.

Our brake service covers pads, rotors, calipers, brake lines and fluid flushes. Pass commuters should flush the brake fluid every two to three years. Transmission service matters more for you too. An automatic that comes down the pass in the wrong gear takes heat damage.

Highway 18 to the Mountain Communities

Highway 18 climbs from San Bernardino up to Lake Arrowhead, Running Springs, and Big Bear Lake. A lot of people here work up the hill or have a cabin they drive to on weekends. Winter up there means snow, ice and freezing nights, and a car set up for the valley feels it. Get your cooling system checked every fall before the first snow so the antifreeze mix is right.

If you go up the mountain a lot, have the battery tested in the fall too, since cold kills a weak one fast. We'll check tread depth and look at the sidewalls while we're there.

Cal State San Bernardino and Daily Driving

Cal State San Bernardino brings tens of thousands of students through the city, and most drive older cars with a lot of miles. Students call us about cars that won't start on cold mornings (usually a weak battery or a tired starter), check engine lights from misfires, and slow oil leaks. Our diagnostic service reads live data to find the real cause, so you only pay for the part that's broken.

We also do engine repair, electrical diagnostics, timing belt and chain work, suspension repair, and full oil change service. We work on diesels too. Diesel repair calls here are mostly heavy-duty trucks from the warehouses and construction sites.

Route 66 and Historic San Bernardino

The original Route 66 runs through here. The first McDonald's site is in town, the Wigwam Motel is just down the road, and E Street still follows the old motor court route. Downtown is slowly coming back. We take calls near Arrowhead, by the airport and along the I-10/215 interchange. We also serve Riverside and Moreno Valley, plus roadside assistance for breakdowns out on the Cajon Pass.