Los Altos Auto Repair

Happy Holidays!  Duke here and I have some severe service maintenance advice for you this holiday season. 

Since driving requirements and lifestyles differ among Los Altos drivers, your vehicle manufacturer publishes two auto maintenance schedules: the regular schedule and the severe service schedule. Which schedule should Los Altos drivers follow? Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Are most of your trips less than four miles/six kilometers around Los Altos?
Are most of your trips less than 10 miles/16 kilometers in below-zero CA temps?
Are most of your trips off-highway in CA?
Do you drive often in dusty Los Altos areas?
Do you regularly tow a trailer or carry heavy loads around Los Altos?
Do you drive in very hot or very cold CA weather?

Think about your typical week. Do you live by your nearest Los Altos on-ramp and enjoy a non-stop commute? Or, do you drive the neighborhood carpool in stop-and-go traffic on Los Altos surface streets?

Let's suppose your owner's manual says the severe service oil change recommendation is 3,000 miles/5,000 kilometers and the standard recommendation is 5,000 miles/8,000 kilometers. You know that you need to change the oil somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 miles/5,000 and 8,000 kilometers. Analyze your driving patterns and Los Altos weather and road conditions to determine which end of the spectrum you're closer to.

Why should Los Altos residents care about this? Normal condensation causes moisture accumulation in the engine oil. Short trips around Los Altos or winter driving means that the engine doesn't heat up enough for the moisture to evaporate. The water in the oil turns to oil sludge that clogs up your engine and doesn't let the oil protect it adequately. That's why CA residents need to change their oil more often – to clean the sludge out before it causes problems.

Carrying heavy loads (with or without a trailer) in CA summer weather causes your engine and transmission to run at higher temperatures and with more stress. The fluids will break down more quickly. Additives that clean and prevent corrosion will be depleted sooner. Air pollution and dust cause fluids to get dirty faster. Ditto for filters. All of these things can lead to premature wear and eventual repairs. If you want some expert advice, talk with your friendly and knowledgeable Allied Auto Works service advisor. We can help you restore your vehicle to good working order and help you know the best schedule to follow.

Have safe and sound travels this holiday season and I will bark with you in 2024!

Duke

Allied Auto Works
650.968.7227
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
https://www.alliedautoworks.com/

Happy Holidays, Cayenne here and you know we live such busy lives nowadays: work, social events, running the kids and dogs all over Los Altos. Some days it's all we can do to keep track of everywhere we need to be. That's why you've gotta be organized. Smartphones, calendar apps - we have to keep track of it all.

So let's talk about schedules. Specifically, automotive service schedules. And particularly, the scheduled services that are sometimes forgotten.

Here is a list of 10 service items that are often overlooked by Los Altos residents. They're all very important and need appropriate attention. So here we go, in no particular order.

1. Power Steering Service
Be honest; have you ever thought of this on your own? Your power steering fluid gets dirty and builds up moisture over time. Cleaning out your power steering system means that dirt and gum are removed and your power steering parts are protected from corrosion. Next time you're in for an oil change, ask your Allied Auto Works service advisor if it's time for a power steering check-up.

2. Wheel Alignment
When your wheels are out of alignment your vehicle pulls to one side. It's pretty annoying, but it's also dangerous. And it causes your tires to wear out really fast, which is an unnecessary expense! Most owner’s manuals suggest you get your alignment checked once or twice a year.

3. Differential Service
Did you even know you had a differential? Well, you do - one, two or three in fact. Differentials are often called gear boxes and they're part of the drive-train that transfers power from your vehicle engine to your wheels. They don't need service that often, but you can't completely forget them. Check with your friendly and knowledgeable Allied Auto Works service advisor.

4. Cabin Air Filter
More and more cars these days have cabin air filters (a great feature, in my opinion) to clean the air in the passenger area where we sit. They filter out dust and pollen. When they're clogged up, they can get smelly. Change your cabin air filter on schedule to enjoy fresh, clean air, which can also help with allergies.

5. Timing Belt Replacement
Most cars and some vans and trucks driven around the Los Altos area have timing belts. Without going into a lot of detail, let's just say that your car won't run without it – period. And if it breaks while you're driving, it can do thousands of dollars worth of engine damage. Check your owner's manual or speak with your Allied Auto Works service advisor. If you're approaching 60,000 miles or 100,000 kilometers; definitely look into it right away.

6. Transmission Service
Transmission service is very basic, but it's often forgotten by Los Altos drivers. Your vehicle transmission needs clean fluid from time to time to keep operating efficiently and avoid pricey repairs.

7. Air Conditioning Service
Most of us don't think about our air conditioning until it fails on a hot day in Los Altos. If you're lucky, you just need to add refrigerant. If you're not, some of the components may have been ruined. Of course, these components are not cheap. Regular air conditioning service at Allied Auto Works in Los Altos adds clean refrigerant which cools and lubricates your air conditioner and conditions the seals.

8. Brake Service
No we're not talking about squealing, grinding brakes here. We're talking brake fluid. Over time, the fluid gets a lot of water in it. Because water compresses differently than the brake fluid, your brakes won't work as well. It may even get dangerous. The water can also rust out brake system components and then your brakes can fail altogether. Check with your Allied Auto Works technician for recommendations.

9. Coolant System
Another thing that's so easy for Los Altos drivers to forget about: When you don't change your antifreeze on schedule it becomes corrosive. Fresh coolant contains additives that maintain the pH balance in the coolant. These additives wear out and the fluid in the radiator can actually eat holes in the radiator or hoses. Then you're stranded - bummer.

10. Fuel System Cleaning
In these times of high fuel prices, fuel system cleaning is vital. Fuel gums up a bunch of parts as it moves from the gas tank and through the engine. A thorough fuel system cleaning at Allied Auto Works in Los Altos will keep clean gas flowing into the engine. Your fuel injectors also get gunked up over time and need to be cleaned. Having your fuel system cleaned on schedule at Allied Auto Works will really help your fuel economy.

There you have it: 10 services that are often overlooked by Los Altos residents. Did you know that a recent survey showed that 90 percent of vehicles on the road have at least one scheduled maintenance service that hasn't been performed? Considering our busy lives, we're not surprised. Allied Auto Works can help with any of these services. Give us a call or come see us.

I leave you with a funny quote on schedules,

"I am definitely going to take a course on time management... just as soon as I can work it into my schedule." ~ Louis E. Boone

Have a safe and wonderful holiday this season,

Cayenne

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
650.968.7227
https://www.alliedautoworks.com/

Duke here and you know with a name like Duke, I feel that well I am in charge in the house even though I let my owners think they are.  Being in charge is a great feeling and it is also nice to know your vehicle's in charge too.  So today we will be barking about making sure your vehicle's battery takes charge (battery testing).

OK, so you probably take your vehicle's battery for granted.  Turn the key or push a button and it starts right up.  During times of warmer weather, you probably think your battery can take it easy.  But it may surprise you to learn that hot weather can be much harder on a vehicle's battery than cold.  So it's wise to know what condition your battery is in BEFORE you find out the hard way—being stranded by a dead battery.

Your vehicle's battery won't last forever; an average battery will last 3-5 years.  When was the last time yours was replaced? You probably have no idea.  Your vehicle will usually give you some hints that it needs attention.  See if any of these are familiar:

• your engine doesn't turn over as quickly as it used to
• your headlights are a little dimmer
• your Check Engine or Battery dashboard light is on
• you hear a click when you try to start your vehicle
• some electrical equipment in your vehicle isn't behaving the way it used to
• your engine smells like rotten eggs
• the terminals on your battery are corroded
• your battery was made more than 4 years ago

Even if there are no signs your battery is on its last legs, it's a good idea to have it periodically checked at your vehicle service facility, at least once a year. A technician will check the date it was made (it's on the battery's case). They'll inspect your battery, cables and connections, looking for corrosion, bulges in the battery or any other abnormal signs.

Using special diagnostic equipment, the technician can run some tests on your battery and vehicle's electrical systems. They can measure how fully charged your battery is and how much potential it has to hold a charge.  Then, your service advisor will tell you how much more life to expect from your battery or recommend it be replaced. 

If you need a new one, your service advisor can recommend options for you. Important factors include brand, warranty, where the terminals are on the battery, and the ability to handle different cranking loads and temperature ranges.  Bet you didn't know vehicle batteries can be that different!

When placed in command, take charge ~Norman Schwarzkopf

Duke

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
650.968.7227
https://www.alliedautoworks.com/

Happy Holidays, Cayenne here and with holiday lights lighting up the South Bay I thought it would be a great idea to bark about headlamp replacement.  Nothing worse than driving down the road with oncoming traffic and seeing someone with a headlamp out or worse both out.  Yikes!!!  So without further ado, let's start barking about headlamp replacement.

Did you know that having a burned-out headlight can result in your rearview mirror reflecting some flashing lights? In other words, you might get pulled over by the police for only having one working headlight, because in most places it's against the law. 

Not only is it illegal to drive with one headlight burned out, but it's also dangerous. You can't see down the road nearly as well at night with only one headlight, and other drivers can't see you as easily either.

The good news is many newer vehicles warn you when one of your headlamps burns out. When that happens, have it taken care of as soon as you can.  While there was a time when all headlamps were pretty much the same, the same isn't true these days. There are halogen, Xenon, LED and other technologies used in modern vehicles.  Plus there are sealed beams (like those on older vehicles) and capsules.

If you have a burned-out headlamp, ask your service advisor for recommendations.  Usually when one side goes, the other isn’t far behind. Many suggest replacing both headlamps at the same time.  Your vehicle's owner's manual can tell you what the manufacturer recommends.  You also can ask your service advisor about upgrading to a headlight that might give you better visibility. 

In order to make sure you're able to see down the road the way your vehicle was designed and not blind oncoming drivers, it's vital that new headlights be aimed properly.  That's another good reason to have this service performed by a technician. Now, that's a really bright idea.

Tinsel out! Light up your holiday!

Cayenne

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
650.968.7227
https://www.alliedautoworks.com/