Los Altos Auto Repair

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
650.968.7227
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
650.968.7227
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
650.968.7227
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
650.968.7227
http://alliedautoworks.com