Los Altos Auto Repair

Hi Duke here today.  Today it is about POWER!  We all love power, and when it comes to your vehicle, the engine is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a power plant.  But it has another power source that is vital as well: the alternator.

The alternator generates the electricity that powers your lights, power windows, sound system, and navigation.  Maybe you've started seeing those electrical components behaving in strange ways.  Maybe your power windows are going up and down a little bit more slowly than they used to.  Or perhaps your engine doesn't start as easily or is misfiring.  

Other signs of a failing alternator are headlights that are either brighter or dimmer than usual.  If your battery keeps going dead, it could be that the alternator isn't recharging it.  

The alternator has to get its power from somewhere, and in vehicles with internal combustion engines, that power comes from a drive belt powered by the engine.  Sometimes that belt can fail.  If you hear a whining sound, it could mean the alternator bearings aren't turning as freely as they used to. You could even notice a burning smell.  Oh, and when you see your battery light illuminated on your dashboard (it looks like a rectangle with a - and + inside), it may be warning you that your alternator is not healthy.

Bring your vehicle in to us for a diagnosis if you notice any of these symptoms.  If your alternator is bad, we can recommend a new or remanufactured one to replace it.  Some new alternators are warranted for life and remanufactured units usually are guaranteed as well.  

It's important to your vehicle's health to have its alternator consistently output the right amount of power.  It may not be as well-known as the other power plant under the hood, but it's a vital part of helping your vehicle run the way it is designed to.  

I leave you with a powerful joke,

Did you hear what the foolish gardener did? The guy planted a light bulb and thought he’d get a power plant.

Duke

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com

Brandy here today, and as a dog, I love the breeze in my face when riding down the road, even on a warm day.  For humans, maybe not so much.  So today we will talk about AC Condenser Replacement.  How cool is that?  Let's get barkin'!

It’s always more comfortable in your vehicle when you can control the temperature and humidity in the cabin. Air conditioning, which is standard on most newer vehicles, is a vital part of that comfort, and a key component of that system is the condenser.

The condenser converts the refrigerant gas into a liquid by cooling it down.  There are a few reasons the condenser can fail.  It can start leaking, usually due to faulty seals and tubes, or debris from the road can damage it, since it sits in a vulnerable spot at the front of your vehicle.  

Another way your condenser can be damaged is when bits of metal are released after your vehicle’s air conditioning compressor fails and are sent into the condenser. In both cases, you will need to have the condenser replaced, along with other components of the system.

Here are signs that your condenser needs replacing.  When you turn on your air conditioning, it won’t make the air as cold as you’re used to it getting.  Or it may not get cold at all. Since other things can cause those symptoms, it’s best to bring your vehicle in to us to have one of our technicians determine where the problems are.

They’ll check the system’s pressure and thoroughly inspect for leaks.  If the problem is the condenser, they’ll replace it, recharge the refrigerant, check for any additional leaks in the system, and give your air conditioning a final test to make sure it’s operating correctly.  

Keeping your air conditioning system working helps maintain your vehicle's value.  It not only keeps the cabin cool when it’s hot outside, but also helps the defroster work properly and controls humidity in all seasons and climates.  Now, that’s very cool.

Stay cool as a cucumber ~ proverb

Brandy

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com

Cayenne here today on this warm Spring day.  Did you know that a dog's eyesight is perfectly adapted for hunting and navigation in low-light, dawn, or dusk conditions?  The fact is, dogs have a high number of rods and a reflective membrane called the tapetum lucidum, allowing them to see much better in the dark than humans.  When you drive your car at night, you need some help, and that is where headlights come in.  So today we brighten things up and talk about bulb replacement.  Let's get barkin'!

When you notice one of your headlights has gone out, it’s important for the safe operation of your vehicle to get it changed and working again.  Not only is replacing a headlight important for your ability to see in the dark, but it’s also vital that it be lighting your way and aimed correctly so oncoming drivers aren’t blinded.  

Changing a headlight used to be something a driver might try to do themselves.  But that was back when headlights were standard sizes and fairly easy to access on your vehicle.  That has all changed with new technology and designs in today’s vehicles.  Most lamps are now LEDs, and they come in different sizes, intensities, and shapes across different vehicles. Accessing those bulbs has also grown extremely difficult in some cases, and we recommend you have one of our professional technicians do it for you.

It's just as important that your brake lights and side marker lights work, too, as they contribute to the safe operation and visibility of your vehicle.  A technician will check what is causing a light not to illuminate, which could be a bulb or a problem with the electrical system in that bulb’s circuit.

Having all your lights working is not only a matter of convenience but also a matter of safety.  So don’t be in the dark when you don’t have to be. Let our technicians light up your life a little by making sure all your bulbs are working right.

Here is my joke for the week,

Why did the Dalmatian go to the eye doctor? He kept seeing spots!

Cayenne

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com

Hey it's Duke today and I have a sticky situation.....my parking brake.  We've all been there.  You park your vehicle on a steeper-than-usual hill and worry it might roll down while you're running your errands.  So you decide you'll use the parking brake.  When you get back, you release the parking brake, hit the ignition, put it in gear and—uh, oh—you can feel the parking brake is still on.  It's stuck.  What do you do now?

Welcome to the world of infrequently-used parking brakes.  Yes, they do stick for several reasons. It's common for components to corrode and get locked up.  Sometimes, if you have applied it extra hard, it can jam.  It could be a rusty cable, or it could be a spring that doesn't return the brake to its disengaged position.  Some pieces just break when they're stressed for the first time in a while. A caliper or the pivot arm it's on can also stick.

There are a few things you can try to unstick it.  Carefully rock your vehicle by putting it first in drive and then reverse.  You have to be careful doing that, though, because sometimes you can damage the transmission.  You can try working the parking brake control a few times to see if that will loosen the corrosion.  If you can't unstick it, you can try driving slowly a short distance to a repair facility near you.  Sometimes it won't cause damage to the brakes but it depends on how tightly the parking brake was applied and what was stuck.  You may also have to have your vehicle towed to a repair facility.

In any case, once you've noticed these symptoms, have your vehicle's brakes inspected by a professional who can address the root cause.  Better yet, don't let your vehicle get into this condition; regular maintenance and inspections by a trained technician should prevent you from getting stuck somewhere due to a stuck parking brake.  You could use a "brake" like that.

I leave you with my sticky joke for the week,

"Why are millionaires sticky?  Because they are rolling in dough."

Duke

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com

I love 4x4 vehicles; in fact, my owner owns a Jeep, and I get to ride in it because I love the wind in my face.  Hi Brandy here, and well, today we will bark about maintaining our beloved 4x4 vehicles so we can take those open road trips with our furry friends.  Let's get barkin'!

Some people love 4x4 vehicles, the true 4-wheel drive works of engineering, like Jeeps and 4x4 pickups that allow you to seemingly go anywhere on the planet. You can climb up a 40-degree rock trail with some planning and skill (always careful to protect the environment, of course), or you can get through the deepest snow.

But with that added capability comes additional complexity, drive-train components, and other systems that less capable vehicles don't have.  And that is why when it comes to 4x4s, you have to maintain them a little differently from those vehicles that spend their lives on pavement.  Here are some of the key things to keep an eye on:

• Transfer case—This transfers power from the engine to the wheels.  A transfer case contains fluid that needs to be changed at intervals recommended by the manufacturer.  Your service advisor will let you know how often that is and will keep track of your service dates.  You will need to make sure the transfer case seal is working properly.  Otherwise, transmission fluid could get in and cause costly damage.  Some transfer cases have an electric motor that shifts them through gears, and their connections are often exposed to the elements, making them vulnerable to damage and corrosion.  Proper maintenance will keep those connections working as they should
• Front and rear differentials—These also need the right amount of fluid and should be checked regularly.  Your service advisor can let you know when you need that fluid changed, as the owner's manual recommends.  It's important that the service is performed correctly with the proper lubricant so it works the way it is designed.
• Brake lines—Those 4x4s practically beg to go into wet spots. They are also great machines to conquer snow: road salt, brine, and all.  Moisture, salt, and brake lines are a recipe for corrosion, so brake lines need to be inspected regularly.  There are anti-corrosion sprays or white lithium grease that can retard corrosion.  Remember, getting there is half the fun, but not being able to stop is no fun at all.

So enjoy your 4x4 and what it can do that other vehicles can't.  Just remember that even though it's tough on the outside, it needs special care to keep it going.  Oh, and remember to take care of the environment when you go off-roading, too. 

I leave you with this,

JEEP, because I'm too lazy to ride a mountain bike

Brandy

Good day!  Cayenne here, and you know, some days it is hard for me to get my legs going and myself out the door for a walk at 16 years of age. I'm an old dog. It takes more effort.  Your brakes are sorta the same way.  At first, it's nice and easy when you put your foot to the pedal but one day you notice it takes alot more effort to make the brakes stop, you have to push down really hard......why is that?  Well, let's get barkin' and answer that question.

When you push on your brake pedal, you should find your vehicle easy to stop.  But at some point, you might notice stopping takes much more pressure on the pedal than it used to.  When it gets to that point, it becomes a safety issue, and you should bring your vehicle in so we can track down what’s not working correctly.

Brake pedals that are stiff mean there’s something wrong with one or more components of your entire brake system.  For example, it could be moisture has contaminated your brake fluid, making it harder to push the pedal down.

Many vehicles use hydraulics to amplify your pedal pressure to a force strong enough to stop your vehicle.  Certain problems can develop with your hydraulics, such as a faulty master cylinder, a kink in one of your brake lines, or a failed proportioning valve, which regulates pressure to your rear brakes. Vacuum leaks can also make your brake pedal hard to push. Another cause could be a problem with your vehicle’s brake booster or its check valve.

Because your vehicle’s braking system is made up of many different components, one of our technicians will look at several different possible causes in yours.  Your vehicle may not have enough brake fluid, so they’ll check the level.  A visual inspection of your hoses, brake lines and vacuum line to the brake booster may turn up the root cause of your issues.   

Because there are many different causes of a hard-to-push brake pedal, solutions may involve one or more different steps.  Keep in mind, this is one problem that needs to be fixed for you to drive safely.  That’s why it’s important to have a professional track down the issue, or issues, and take care of the problem(s) so you can be back on the road, safely going and stopping.

I leave you with this push joke for the week

The Envelope: No matter how hard you push the envelope, it will always remain stationery.

Cayenne

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com

Hello Duke here, and have you ever wondered why dog treats can vary in cost when they are very similar in size and ingredients?  Well, maybe you don't, but I do. It's kinda like your vehicle, why does it cost so much more to fix a similar problem in two different vehicles? Let's say you now own an SUV and before that, you owned a car.  Your SUV's air conditioning system needs a new evaporator, but the cost for the new one is way more than you remember it was for your car.  How can there be that big of a difference?  Well let's get barkin" and discover why.

There are many reasons.  For one thing, vehicles aren't all the same.  Yes, they have engines, steering wheels, and suspensions, but engineering and design can vary widely across styles and brands. 

When replacing the evaporator, the one in your former car may have been located in a spot the technician could easily access.  Plus, the part may have been simpler and therefore cheaper.  Your SUV may require the entire dashboard to be removed, using special tools, to detach the A/C lines from the evaporator.  Plus, since it supplies cool air to a larger cabin, it may be more complicated and the part itself may cost quite a bit more.

But you're not an expert, so how do you know the price is fair? This is where it helps to establish a good, long-lasting relationship with a reputable service repair facility.  They know you, they know your vehicle and they value keeping you as a customer. A facility that doesn't care about repeat business may suggest more repairs than are needed or inflate its prices.  But those shops are unlikely to stay in business for very long, since word gets around. 

If you've been taking your vehicles to the same shop for several years, you've had experience with them and know their policy on labor costs and parts prices.  At some point, you may wonder if it's worth it to keep putting money into your vehicle, and if you know your service advisor, you may have developed trust in their advice. 

Keep this in mind, too.  Vehicle designers and engineers have made significant progress in areas such as powertrain technology and rust prevention.  That means today's vehicles are meant to last longer.  One study in a major consumer magazine shows that if you keep your vehicle on the road for 200,000 miles (320,000 km) over an average of 15 years, some vehicles can save you up to $30,000. Investing in repairs can make a lot of sense. 

I leave you with my joke of the week on how much something costs.

How much did Santa pay for his sleigh?
Nothing—it was on the house!

Duke

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com

Hey, it's Brandy and you ever wonder what one of the best things is to ever happen to your vehicle's engine?  It's the little thing that usually looks like a can, the oil filter.  Just like your kitchen sink strainer filters out errant food particles that could clog your drain, the oil filter cleans out small particles that could harm your engine.

Your engine operates in a dirty, hot environment and gathers a lot of tiny contaminants like dirt, dust, little metal shards and unlucky bugs that get sucked in.  Get those things circulating in your engine and those little particles can cause friction, which starts wearing out those finely machined metal parts. 

You know how important it is to change your oil regularly.  It's vital that you change your oil filter at the same time to keep the oil as close to brand new as possible.

Most oil filters look like a metal can with some holes in the bottom.  Inside, there are carefully chosen materials that can screen out the contaminants while at the same time allowing the lubricating oil to pass through.  Early oil filters had steel wool, metal mesh or actual screens.  Then they tried fabric filters using materials such as linen and cotton.  Finally, a less expensive disposable filter using paper and cellulose did the trick.

Cellulose or other synthetic media are used in most oil filters today.  Cellulose is inexpensive and effective.  Fibers filter out particulates and let the oil flow.  The other synthetic media can screen out even tinier particles without significantly restricting the oil from passing through.  Engineers continue to work on even more advanced filter materials.

Choosing the right oil filter is something our pros at Allied Auto Works can help you with, since there are a lot of them out there.  Factoring into that decision are your driving habits, how far you drive and the temperatures to which your engine will be subjected.  While some filters cost more than others, they may be worth it to extend your engine's life. 

But most important is remembering to have your oil changed at Allied Auto Works regularly, at the intervals recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer. Just like you wouldn't want to have a plumber come over to fix a clogged kitchen drain, you certainly wouldn't want to have to pay for major engine repairs if they could be prevented by regular oil and filter changes.

Today I am going to leave you with a filter joke,

Just been in to Starbucks and the barista was wearing a face mask

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com

Vroom! Cayenne here today.  Have you ever been driving along, your exhaust system's rumbling so loud that people turn and stare to see if it is a Hot Rod as you pass by?  You're wondering when the police are going to pull you over for illegal noise. Your mind immediately thinks, aha! A broken muffler. Well, your exhaust system is composed of many more parts than just a muffler.  So today we are going to make some noise and find out what all the racket is about.  Let's get barkin'!

Your engine makes power because of thousands of tiny explosions from detonating fuel.  Those explosions make a racket, so engineers came up with a system that acoustically dampens that sound in addition to getting rid of harmful exhaust.

In the engine is the exhaust manifold that looks like several pipes that join up into one pipe.  It directs exhaust to the catalytic converter. The catalytic converter converts harmful gases into less harmful gases using certain chemical reactions.  Then comes the muffler that has baffles inside to quiet the sounds of your engine noise.  Finally: the tailpipe.

All of those pipes and parts are joined together by clamps and held up by brackets, and they ride over some pretty bumpy roads.  They are also exposed to the elements, like salt, water, rocks and grit.  Chances are that one of those clamps or brackets has been weakened by corrosion.  When you hit a bump, bingo! The crack widens into a gap and there's a spot for the engine noise to come roaring out instead of being directed into the muffler's quieting chambers.

You might be surprised to know that the exhaust system can rust from inside out.  How? Moisture is one component of exhaust, and moisture on the inside can do the same kind of damage as moisture from the outside. 

It's a good idea to have your exhaust system looked at regularly by a technician.  He or she can evaluate the condition of the metal and recommend when it might be time to replace parts before they break.

Then you'll have a decision to make.  Newer exhaust systems are made out of stainless steel that is much less prone to corrosion issues.  Others are made of aluminized steel that also fights rust.  You've probably already guessed that they can cost more, but the extra price up front may give you an exhaust system that will last much longer. 

Sure, with a repaired exhaust system, you won't have quite the head-turning vehicle you once had.  You'll just have to live with all the quiet.

I leave you with this thought this week,

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough" — Mario Andretti

Cayenne

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com

Whoa!  Stop!  Put those brakes on!  Hey Duke here, and sometimes you just need to stop, put the brakes on, and slow down in everything we do, but especially our vehicles.  Without brakes........well your in for problems.  So today, we will stop and listen while I bark about Disc Brake Service.    

Every time you drive your vehicle, you wear down your brakes just a little bit.  And after a while, that adds up.  Gradually, your stopping power isn't like it used to be.  Since brakes are one of your vehicle's most important safety features, it just makes sense to keep them performing well.

Most vehicles have disc brakes.  One key component, as the name suggests, is the disc.  Most vehicles have discs on their front and rear wheels.  The discs (also called rotors) are made of metal, and each rotates with the wheel hub.  Your brakes also have pads that make contact with the rotors when you press down on the brake pedal, and the friction stops your vehicle.

After many, many stops, that friction wears down both the pads and the discs and reduces their ability to stop the way you need them to.  The discs may also become uneven from all the heat they generate, and your brakes won't stop as well as they used to when they were newer. 

Some signs that your rotors need attention include vibration at the wheels when you stop, discolored rotors (the metal looks blue), excessively hot rotors, or grooves in the metal.  If you see any of these signs, it's time to bring in your vehicle for us to inspect your brakes. 

A technician will measure the thickness and trueness of the rotors and check the surfaces for wear.  If they need to be replaced, they'll be done in pairs, so if a front rotor is bad, the other front rotor will also be replaced. Usually, your brake pads will be replaced at the same time.  You can ask your service advisor if higher-performance brakes would benefit you.

When your vehicle is at the shop, the technician will check other components of your brake system to make sure they are operating safely. Brakes are vital to the safe operation of your vehicle.  Keep them well-maintained so they can be there when you need them.

I leave you with this funny brake quote.....and think about it if you will,

"I brake for hallucinations." — This classic 1970s bumper sticker humorously suggests the driver isn't seeing things quite right.

Duke

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com