The Best Auto Repair And Maintenance Services

Alternative Automotive provides General Maintenance services for vehicles and commercial fleets in the Escondido, CA 92029 area. Whether your vehicle needs basic maintenance, a thorough examination by an experienced mechanic, or something more complex, Alternative Automotive can meet your vehicle's needs.

To learn more about the services we offer for your vehicle, call us at 760-480-0851 or send us an email.

Our expert auto repair services include:

Domestic General Repair
No matter how carefully you drive, your domestic car will need occasional general repairs. These general repairs may include engine diagnostics and repairs, alignments, brakes, front end and rear end diagnostic services and electronics service and repair. To have your domestic vehicle repaired and maintained, contact Alternative Automotive today. At Alternative Automotive, we have experts who can handle even the most challenging domestic vehicles.

Import General Repair
Import vehicles can be an economical or stylish alternative to domestic cars. Obviously, they will require general repairs at some point. Additionally, maintenance and repair of these vehicles requires knowledge and tools not possessed by many auto shops. If you have issues with your import vehicle, contact or visit Alternative Automotive today for professional import general repairs. We have the expertise required to get your vehicle running like new again.

Off-Road Vehicle Repairs
An off-road vehicle (also known as an off-highway vehicle) is a vehicle capable of driving on and off paved roads. An off-road vehicle can comfortably use any type of road. These vehicles are characterized by large tires. When an off-road vehicle develops problems, it should be serviced by a shop that has experience in off-road repair. For expert off-road vehicle repairs, contact or visit Alternative Automotive today.

Warning Lights Questions and Answers

Q: Can I drive with the throttle control light on?

A: No, unwanted acceleration may occur and cause an accident. Go straight to the repair shop. There can be many different causes for the throttle control warning light, many are simple fixes.

Q: Why is my throttle control warning light on?

A: The connection between the gas pedal and acceleration is controlled by your car's throttle. The amount of acceleration or throttle control is governed by a sophisticated computer system. Any disruption of the electrical signals will affect your vehicle's acceleration and cause the throttle control warning light to come on. If your throttle control light comes on go directly to Alternative Automotive in Escondido.

Q: What are the main problems that cause a throttle control warning light to come on?

A: The five main issues are:

• Irregular or dangerous unintended acceleration
• Intermittent loss of throttle control
• Sudden drop in fuel economy
• Hesitation or stumbling when accelerating.
• Engine stuck unable to accelerate beyond a fast idle.

Q: How do I fix a persistent traction control warning light?

A: Normally, when the traction control light comes on while driving it indicates the car's traction control lost grip or traction going around a sharp curve or while driving on wet pavement. However, sometimes the traction control warning light will come on and stay on.

The best way to determine whether it was just a fluke or a real issue is to shut your vehicle off and turn it back on. If the light is off, then it was likely a temporary malfunction. If the light does not reset, come by Alternative Automotive in Escondido and let us fix it.

Q: Why Is My Car's ABS Light On?

A: An Anti-Lock Braking System or ABS warning light on your dash indicates something in your car's ABS needs to be checked out by a qualified mechanic. Your ABS is one of your most important safety systems. Do not ignore this warning light. Common issues are:

1. Malfunctioning ABS module
2. Low levels in the brake fluid reservoir
3. Broken speed sensor
4. The ABS system is not receiving power

Q: Why does my car keep saying the coolant level is low?

A: If a low coolant warning light is on do not continue to drive and go directly to the auto repair shop. It is simple and often inexpensive to fix at Alternative Automotive. Waiting to get the problem resolved can result in high-cost engine repairs. If the low coolant warning light continues to flash on, then there is a leak in the car's cooling system. Coolant fluid can leak in several ways. First, external leaks from radiator hoses, second, connections between hoses, or lastly, from the radiator itself. Your car's radiator cap may leak due to a faulty seal on the cap which can be easily resolved by a specialist at our shop in Escondido.