Los Altos Auto Repair

Good Day, Duke here, and you know Los Altos drivers may feel intimidated when they take their vehicles to a service center. They have questions but aren't sure how to ask. They don't want to feel embarrassed about their lack of knowledge. They don't want to make the service technician feel they don't trust him.

If your service advisor at Allied Auto Works uses a term you don't understand, just ask him to explain. Remember, they are the auto service experts. If they came to your place of work, they probably wouldn't understand the jargon, either. When you take your vehicle to be serviced, ensure you know the financial issues up front. Ask about payment policies, warranties, and, of course, the cost of the work being done.

It helps to understand the essential services your vehicle needs. Know the difference between a quick check-up and a thorough inspection you are getting and asking for. Understand that diagnosing a problem takes time, and time isn't free. If you have concerns about cost, negotiate your limits before service is done. Don't be afraid to ask your service advisor for auto advice on keeping your vehicle on the road within your budget. He can help you prioritize your vehicle's needs. Some repairs are for the safety and future health of your vehicle. Others can wait. Your Allied Auto Works service advisor can help you set up a plan to get all the work done as you can afford it.

It may be tempting for Los Altos drivers to save money with budget parts. Your service advisor can help you to sort through the options to work within your budget. High-quality parts are always preferable for any auto repair. Your service advisor will ensure the parts won't compromise your vehicle's safety.

Don't leave your Los Altos service center without your paperwork. Ask about warranties for parts and labor. You may need these for claims or if there is a problem in the future. Get detailed explanations of the work done on your vehicle. These records will help you keep track of repairs, services, and warranties.

Those records may also help close a deal when it comes time to sell your vehicle. After all, the biggest concern most people in Los Altos have when buying a used vehicle is that they are inheriting someone else's problems.

Records of repairs and service give a good picture of your vehicle's condition and performance and what problems a new owner can expect. People are always happier to purchase a well-maintained vehicle. Whenever we climb into a vehicle, we entrust our health and safety to it. Perhaps it's time to take our vehicles' health a little more seriously. Open up; ask and learn.

Remember, you still teach an old dog new tricks,

Duke

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

Hello, Cayenne here. Did you know that dogs have better night vision than humans? That's because dogs have a high number of light-sensitive rods within their retinas.  Today, we will bark about how, when driving at night, high and low beams work for night vision or lack of vision for other drivers.  

It's happened to all of us.  We're driving down a highway at night and over a crest appears a car with its high beams blazing.  You are momentarily blinded, hoping the other driver will switch them to their low-beam setting and restore your vision.

Not only do we not appreciate being blinded, face it; we don’t want to be that other driver, either.  You know, the one who forgets to turn down their high beams.

Why do we want high beams in the first place? When used correctly, they can improve safety, giving drivers more reaction time since they can see farther down the road. However, research has found that many drivers either don't use them or, when they do, frequently forget to switch to low beams. Enter the automatic high-beam dimmer.

The quest for the perfect one began in the 1950s when General Motors invented what it called the "Autronic Eye." It was a phototube that sat on the dashboard and turned down your beams when it saw other headlights. While touted as the biggest advance in night driving safety in 30 years, it didn't work all that well. But as technology advanced, systems improved.

Today's automatic high beam dimmers usually have a camera in the rearview mirror (pointing forward).  When the camera sees lights, software in the system's computer attempts to determine the source of the light, whether it is an oncoming vehicle, taillights, ambient city lights, street lights or the reflection off of a street sign.  It then adjusts the headlights to operate high beams if appropriate or a less-blinding mode if they’re not.

Some automakers strive to make their headlight systems more intelligent and safer by developing lamps that can avoid blinding oncoming drivers by means other than simply dimming them. One idea? Splitting the beams so they will block just the portion that shines into the eyes of oncoming drivers.

It's a long way from the Autronic Eye. 

I leave you with this fun quote about light,

A day without sunshine is like, you know, night  ~ Steve Martin

Cayenne

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

Duke here. When my nose is on the scent of a varmint, I go side to side, and that's OK for me. But when you head down a straight road, does your vehicle pull to one side? Do you feel a vibration in any of the wheels? If you've noticed any of these things, it's probably time for you to get your wheel alignment checked.

When your vehicle left the factory, its wheels were parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground.  That maximizes traction for good steering and braking. When you take your vehicle on the road, normal wear and tear will affect your alignment. Hit a bump, a pothole or a curb and all those little knocks will add up

Bad alignment cannot only cause your steering wheel to pull unevenly but also wear your tires out much faster than they should. In fact, if you look at your tires and see that one side of the tread is a lot smoother, it could be another sign of bad alignment.

Since different problems can cause similar symptoms, our trained technician will first test drive your vehicle. Then, they'll check the front end and the steering linkage and look for tire wear. The technician will then put your vehicle on a lift and use computerized diagnostic equipment to measure alignment angles so they can precisely align your vehicle's components.

There are different kinds of alignments.  One is a front-end alignment that aligns components of the vehicle's front axle.  Another is a thrust alignment that makes sure the front wheels are lined up with the direction the rear wheels are pointed.  A third type is four-wheel alignment which is usually used on all-wheel drive and  4-wheel drive vehicles.  It's also recommended for front-wheel drive vehicles that have independent rear suspensions.  It makes sure the angles of all the wheels are where they should be relative to each other and also the vehicle's body or frame.

If you are heading straight down the road, your steering wheel should be perfectly centered, so the technician will adjust it so it is. Finally, they'll take your vehicle back on the road for a final test drive to make sure it's performing as engineers intended.

Your service adviser can recommend how often you should have your alignment inspection since it depends on your vehicle type (SUV, sporty car, etc.) and your driving environment.  Properly aligned wheels can help your vehicle perform better and save you from expensive repairs down the road.

Don't forget this week is National Dog Day on August 26th!  So take the wonderful canine for a car ride

Duke

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

Boy, I am feeling tired today. I think it's time for a nap. Cayenne here, and when dogs are tired, well, we just take a nice dog nap, but when your tires are tired, well, that can cause a problem. So today, we are going to bark about tired tires and whether it's time to replace them. Let's wake up and start barkin'!

Of the things you think about most, your tires are probably pretty far down the list. That’s understandable because today’s tires are engineered to do their job without needing you to pay too much attention to them. But they DO wear out, and worn tires can contribute to skidding in bad weather, not being able to stop, a ride full of uncomfortable vibrations and, even a sudden blowout. Yikes. Let’s figure out right now how to know if your tires need replacing!

Let’s face it. Most of us don’t know the first thing about tires. So, the best way to ensure what shape you are in is to take your vehicle to a qualified service facility to have the tires checked out by a trained technician.  Here are things they’ll check:

• Tread.  Tread is the part of the tire that touches the road surface.  Different tires have different tread patterns and something called tread blocks - the raised rubber parts that contact the road. The longer a tire has been on a vehicle, the more that rubber wears off.  The technician will check to see if enough of that tread is left on your tire for sufficient traction to accelerate, steer, and brake.
• Pressure. It’s important that your tires are inflated properly so they will perform the way they’re designed while driving. If your tires have low air pressure, the technician will check to see why, perhaps cracks in the sidewall from age, a nail in the rubber picked up on the road, or bulges. It’s also important that your tires are not overinflated.
• Wear.  Your tires should wear evenly.  If they haven’t, the uneven wear can cause vibrations that you can feel in the steering wheel.  Maybe the whole vehicle shakes at a certain speed.  Your vehicle may require other services such as balancing, alignment, or suspension repairs to prevent future tire damage.
• Age.  Your tires may have adequate tread, but it's time for new if they’re too old. Rubber gets old, and when it does, it loses its elasticity.  Have you ever found an old rubber band and tried to stretch it? It’s brittle and will break easily. Hotter climates will age rubber—and tires—faster. All tires have their date of manufacture stamped on them, so your service adviser can see when your tires were made.

If it’s time to replace your tires, you’ll have many choices for new ones: different brands, models, designs, etc. Your service adviser can help you determine which ones are right for you. It's much better and safer to do it before one fails at the least opportune time.

My quote for this week,

"The nap is a sort of easy version of meditation." ~Tom Hodgkinson, How To Be Idle: A Loafer's Manifesto, 2004

Cayenne

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

Hey, Duke here. You know when I go for a car ride, I love to stick my big nose out the window and take a big whiff of all the wonderful smells in the air. Sometimes, though, when my owner makes me get my head back inside and I smell the inside of the car, it doesn't always smell... well, wonderful. So today, we are going to take a deep breath and discuss the importance of the Cabin Air Filter.

When you get in your vehicle, how does it smell? If it's not so nice, it may be time to have your cabin air filter changed.

It's not the same one that filters out the air used in the engine.  The cabin air filter screens out dust and other particulates from the outside air so when they enter the cabin, you don't have to breathe them when you're driving.  Maybe your commute finds you traveling along dusty rural roads, or maybe you pass by some city factories with smokestacks spewing out smoky exhausts.  Or, in spring, maybe you notice your allergies acting up because of the pollen in the air.  The cabin air filter will remove a lot of those things.

The more it filters out, the more small particles accumulate. This reduces the amount of airflow the heating/air conditioning system can handle, and you may notice less air coming through your vehicle's vents. This can also be a sign that you need your air filter replaced.

Our technicians will remove and inspect the air filter, which is usually located around the glove compartment, under the dash, or sometimes in the engine compartment. If you wish, your service advisor can show you what condition yours is in; if it needs replacing, you'll be able to see the dirt, bugs, leaves, and other crud that accumulates after several months of driving. 

Each vehicle's manufacturer recommends an interval after which the cabin air filter should be replaced. Depending on how much and where you drive, you might need a replacement more or less often than the manual suggests.

Just like you clean your furnace filters periodically, it's wise to do the same with your vehicle.  After you do, you'll find you might just breathe easier!

My quote this week about breathing,

"Breathe and you know that you are alive." ~Annabel Laity

Duke

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

Good Afternoon on this beautiful sunny California day. Cayenne here, you know, when I want something like my dinner or that delicious steak bone you have on your plate, I bark up. You need to do the same thing when you are talking to a service advisor about your car. He/she might not know certain items you want addressed or performance/driving issues you are having with your vehicle if you "Don't Speak Up."  So today, we will bark about how important it is for you, the owner of your vehicle, to SPEAK UP!

About 80% of the vehicles on Los Altos roads today are behind on their preventive maintenance schedules. That translates to about 160 million vehicles in the United States that aren't performing as well as they could be - thousands right here in CA. Some of the maintenance issues are minor. Others represent serious safety concerns.

There are many reasons Los Altos drivers neglect their routine car care. Some of the more common ones are complacency, lack of confidence, lack of trust and budget issues.

Modern vehicles are amazingly reliable compared to their older counterparts. They can run for years without any repairs; we sometimes translate that to mean they don't need any maintenance. The trouble is that without maintenance, parts in the vehicle are gradually wearing out, fluids are getting dirty, oil is developing sludge — a lot of stuff is happening that we can't see, and it is destroying the vehicle. The first time we learn there is a problem, we have a major repair bill on our hands.

Older vehicles just couldn't keep going without frequent maintenance; they broke down without timely vehicle care. Modern vehicles are designed to keep running even when they're not fully healthy. Unfortunately, that convenience has led some of us to become complacent and ignore vehicle care — until we have to fix something. And fixing something today takes a whole lot more than it used to.

Some people in Los Altos just don't feel comfortable taking their vehicles to their local Los Altos service center. They don't know much about engines or auto mechanics, so they don't know what questions to ask. They don't want to appear foolish or ignorant.

Your physician doesn't expect you to understand what a ligament is or how it works. But if you have a problem with one, she'll explain to you what it is, what's wrong with it, and how it can be fixed. It's in her best interest as well as yours to do so. You'll both feel more comfortable with the treatment.

That's what you can expect from the pros at Allied Auto Works. They must be highly trained and work with many complex, high-tech systems. They don't expect their Los Altos customers to understand car care. So ask questions. You need auto advice from a service specialist, just as you need medical advice from a doctor and financial advice from a financial advisor.

This brings us to the next concern: trust. Many rumors fly around Los Altos about auto repair scams. You may have heard about some local auto shops taking advantage of customers and replacing parts that weren't broken. Frankly, this is just bad business practice. Los Altos auto service centers won't stay in business long if they're engaged in this type of activity.

It's in the best interest of Los Altos service centers to diagnose a problem correctly and fix it right the first time. That's how they keep their businesses open.

Trust must be earned. But just as it took you time to establish a relationship and rapport with your doctor, it will take time to build a relationship with your service center.

Also, realize that when your friendly and knowledgeable service advisor at Allied Auto Works recommends routine maintenance, he generally relies on your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. In other words, your trust lies both with your service advisor and your vehicle manufacturer. You'll find that most of the service recommendations from Allied Auto Works you receive coincide with what's in your manual.

Those recommendations were set up by the engineers who designed your vehicle, not Allied Auto Works. The team at Allied Auto Works is just offering you a friendly reminder — a helpful reminder, really, since most of us don't post our owner's manuals to our calendars.

Money is behind most neglect of vehicle maintenance. First, they worry that they can't afford it. Second, they worry that they're being overcharged.

The simple truth is, car care is like health care. We can't afford not to have it. Preventive maintenance is cheap compared to repair work. It extends the lives of our vehicles and saves us money on fuel. It also makes our vehicles safer to drive, which can prevent accidents. Putting off preventive maintenance can be very expensive.

Los Altos area service centers have to be competitive. Like any business, they can't afford to overcharge customers or they go out of business. But vehicle care today does cost more in CA than it used to. Vehicles are more sophisticated, complex and high-tech. That means technicians have to be better trained. They have to purchase high-tech diagnostic equipment and tools. They have to keep up with the latest advances in vehicle engineering and subscribe to computer databases. Like any business, they also have labor costs, insurance, rent, utilities, taxes, office supplies, etc.

If you are strapped for cash, Allied Auto Works can offer auto advice to help you keep your car running safely and manage your budget. For example, let's say you need new brake pads, transmission service and a new cabin air filter. A technician can't ethically recommend you delay brake service: that creates a safety hazard for you and other Los Altos drivers. You need to get that done now. But they can tell you if the transmission service can wait a month and how long you can put off changing the cabin air filter. They can also estimate what these services will cost. That gives you the time and information you need to save up for the other services.

The key to modern car care is preventive maintenance. Our modern vehicles are safer, more fuel efficient and more reliable than ever before. But to keep them that way Los Altos drivers must be more proactive about caring for them. It's good to know there are knowledgeable professionals at Allied Auto Works who can help us do just that.

My quote for this week,

"I speak to be heard and understood, not just to fill the silence." ~ Oprah Winfrey

Cayenne

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

Hey, it's the Duke. I am sure you have heard the saying "Being in the right place at the right time," meaning timing is everything, and that includes your timing belt. If your timing belt is not working at the right time, everything in the engine is affected. So today, we will bark about how important your timing belt or chain is. So let's get barkin' before time runs out!

There’s an important part in your vehicle that shields your timing belt, timing chain, or cam belt from debris and gunk that can be kicked up from the road. It’s called the timing cover. It’s important because the timing belt or chain coordinates parts of your engine called the camshafts and crankshaft. When they’re in sync, everything runs smoothly. When they’re not, it can cause some serious engine problems.

If your vehicle has a timing belt, without the protection of the timing cover, that belt can come loose from the timing gears or break.  If your vehicle has a timing chain, the cover keeps engine oil circulating around it, lubricating it.  When that starts to leak because of a bad gasket, the chain may not get adequate lubrication.  

If your vehicle has a timing cover problem, you may notice engine oil leaking if a gasket is not sealing tightly.  You may hear a strange metallic sound coming from the engine.  Another sign that timing is off is that you notice you’re losing power when you’re going up a hill. 

Usually, the timing cover will not wear out. But if you drive on roads where you’re getting a lot of debris and dirt kicked up into your engine compartment, the timing cover can get damaged and affect your vehicle’s operation.  It eventually could lead to engine problems, so if you notice any of the symptoms mentioned, have one of our technicians inspect your timing cover and gasket.  

Here is my "Time" quote for this week,

"Better three hours too soon than a minute too late." – William Shakespeare.

Duke

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

Cayenne here. I love to go for car rides with wind in my hair and smooth driving down the road. Sometimes, though, my owner's car gets all bouncy, and that is not enjoyable at all.  What could that be you say, well it's probably the shocks.  So today, we are going to bounce right into this subject.

When Los Altos drivers think about preventive maintenance, what usually comes to mind is oil, fluids and brakes. We don't generally think about our shocks or struts, but these auto parts keep our tires on the road.

Los Altos drivers don't think about shocks as often as oil changes because shocks and struts last a long time and wear out slowly. They don't need to be checked as often as our brake pads or air filters. When your shocks have 50,000 miles (80,000 kilometers) on them, their performance will have noticeably degraded. If you want to restore the handling and ride designed for your vehicle, try replacing your shocks and struts.

Of course, if you drive off-road around Los Altos, carry heavy loads, tow a trailer or put in a lot of mileage on poor driving surfaces, your shocks or struts will wear out more quickly. You'll need to replace them more often or upgrade to better shocks.

Your suspension system uses springs and shocks to absorb the “shocks” and vibrations of driving over road surfaces. Springs support the vehicle's weight, suspending it above the axles so the body of the vehicle is protected from most of the bumps on the road. Shocks control the bounciness of the springs by moderating rebound. They also push your tires down onto the road's surface, maximizing traction. Without shocks, your wheels would bounce over bumps and lift against curbs and corners. Shocks are important to the safe handling of your vehicle as well as a comfortable ride. Struts are a combination shock and spring in one unit.

Worn shocks result in lowered vehicle handling performance. If your vehicle “squirms” around corners or gets “floaty” over bumps, then you need to check your shocks. If the rear end of your vehicle squats while accelerating, the front end dips while braking, or one corner sags, you probably need new shocks.

If you're unsure whether you need new shocks or if you're considering upgrading to a higher quality shock, then consult your friendly and knowledgeable Allied Auto Works service advisor. He or she can advise you on the condition of your shocks and how to match your driving needs to the quality of your shocks.

At Allied Auto Works, we know good vehicle care is essential to the safety, performance, and efficiency of your vehicle. It can improve the comfort of your ride as well.

Here is my bouncy joke for this week,

How do you make a water bed more bouncy?

You use spring water.

Cayenne

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

Duke here. You have heard people say, "Give me a break!" but today, I will give you a Brake—brake lights, that is. If that little brake warning light pops up on your dash, do you know what it means? Well, if you said no, you wouldn't be alone. You know it has something to do with your brakes, but exactly what? You're not sure. One of the reasons is that it could mean many different things.

It could be something simple, like putting your parking brake on and forgetting to take it off. This is an easy fix; you'll be on the road in seconds.

Or, it could mean there's something wrong with your anti-lock brake system. That is a pretty complex symphony of speed sensors, computers and wiring, and sometimes things get a little out of whack. You could have a defective sensor or some wiring may have gotten damaged or come loose. A trained technician at Allied Auto Works with special equipment can sort it all out.

It's also possible you have low brake fluid. That could be caused by a number of things. One simple reason is that your brake pads have worn down. Replacing them could solve the problem. Another possibility is that you have a leak in your brake system. That could be serious. If your brake fluid level gets really low, your stopping power goes down along with it, and a vehicle that can't stop is a safety hazard to you and others on the road.

Of all the warning lights on your instrument panel, pay attention to the brake warning light. If it comes on, come on over to Allied Auto Works very, very soon. A vehicle is great when it's moving. But if it can't stop, well, that is a disaster waiting to happen.

We’d love to hear from you. Let us know if you have any questions.

I leave you with this breaking and entering joke from my favorite Looney Tunes friends,

Elmer Fudd and Daffy break into a distillery.

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

Hello California on this beautiful Summer day!  Cayenne here and today I am going to inject with some schooling on fuel injection.  So let's get barkin' on this fuel-burning subject!

Los Altos residents know that engines need to burn fuel to operate. Fuel is pumped from your fuel tank to your vehicle engine, where it is squirted—or injected—into your engine's cylinders. This is the function of the fuel injectors.

There are two ways to inject fuel into an engine. Fuel needs air to burn, so in the first method, fuel is injected into a port and allowed to mix with air before it is drawn into the cylinders. In the second method, fuel is injected directly into the cylinders and mixes with air after it enters the vehicle engine.

Direct injection engines burn fuel more efficiently than conventional vehicle engines. Some models can deliver the power of a V8 with the economy of a V6.

For example, in one family of engines, the conventional version (a V6) delivers about 250 horsepower. The direct injection version delivers over 300 horsepower and gets about the same gas mileage. The turbocharged version delivers 350 horsepower.

Why the big difference in power? Direct injection systems allow fuel to be squirted into the vehicle engine at hundreds of times the pressure of a conventional engine. This atomizes the fuel better (breaks it down into tinier droplets), which means more of it gets burned, which translates to more power for your engine. It also results in cleaner emissions.

Fuel injectors are precision instruments. They have to deliver the right amount of fuel at exactly the time the vehicle engine needs it. They are also engineered to inject fuel with a specific spray pattern. This spray pattern allows for maximum fuel efficiency and proper atomization. Direct injection engines require a much higher degree of precision than conventional engines. For this reason, they are equipped with more sophisticated computers.

When fuel injectors get dirty, their precision drops off. The spray pattern won't be precise, and the timing of fuel delivery may be off. This decreases fuel efficiency and fuel economy as well as delivering less power to the engine.

Los Altos residents should understand that fuel injectors are not cheap to replace. Direct injection fuel injectors are even more. And we're talking about a mortgage payment to buy a set of new fuel injectors for a diesel engine.

So, keeping your fuel injectors clean is just good auto advice. The best way to do this is to change your air and fuel filters regularly and practice other habits of good vehicle care and preventive maintenance. Cleaning additives in your fuel can also help.

If you do end up with gum or varnish in your fuel system, you'll need a professional fuel system cleaning. This will clean out your whole system, including the injectors. The good news is that with proper maintenance, Los Altos drivers will enjoy better fuel economy and their fuel injectors will last for a long time.

Contact us for more tips to help you improve your performance and safety.

Wishing you all a safe and wonderful 4th of July week, I leave you with quote,

"Fourth of July — it was good enough for George Washington, it's good enough for me." ~W. C. Fields, 1933

Cayenne

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