In business since 1983!

Truckee Auto Repair

Virtual Advisor
Call Us:(530) 214-5534
The Auto & Tire Doctor Hours
Mon - Fri: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Express Lube Hours
Appointments Highly Recommended.
Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Smogs available: Smog checks on 2000 and newer vehicles.
Available at both facilities during regular business hours.

Articles:

Custom Wheels and Tires for Your TRUCKEE Ride

  It seems like everywhere you go in the TRUCKEE area you see custom wheels. Big trucks, little cars, mini-vans - it doesn't matter - are expressing themselves with custom wheels. Some CA auto owners want smaller tires and wheels - some want larger - and some want them enormous. So where do you start if you want new wheels? At The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc, we suggest you start with your budget. We know, that sounds so practical. But if the look you're after goes beyond just new tires and wheels and enters into the world of suspension modifications, you need to be prepared for the additional cost.Let's start with something easy - you want to give your ride a unique look and the stock wheel size is just right for you. One of the concerns you will have is that the new wheels have the same offset as your vehicle factory wheels.Your tire and wheel professional at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc in TRUCKEE can help you find the right size wheel or install adapters to make your new wh ... read more

Categories:

Tires and Wheels

How to Get Better Gas Mileage in TRUCKEE

There is no escaping it: things work better when you take care of them. Something most of us in TRUCKEE can relate to is our computers. You've probably noticed how they get slower and slower over time. It takes longer to start up and programs take forever to load. Eventually, many of us just get a new computer at our nearest TRUCKEE computer store. But computer experts know that there are things you can do to delay the need for a new computer purchase. You can run utilities that clean off temporary files and clean your memory registry. You can optimize your hard drive and a number of other things.What you're doing is maintaining your computer to make it efficient. It's the same thing with your vehicle. You maintain it to make it more efficient. It works the way it was designed to and that means it uses less fuel while you drive around TRUCKEE. And you save money.To help organize our discussion, let's think of things that rob us of fuel economy in two ways ... read more

Categories:

Fuel System

Suspension Service at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc in TRUCKEE

During an inspection at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc in TRUCKEE, your friendly and knowledgeable automotive service technician will check for worn, broken or missing parts. Here's a quick rundown of suspension system components: There are the springs which hold the weight of your vehicle. There are several varieties of springs. Springs are heavy duty parts that rarely break or wear out. Shock absorbers work in conjunction with springs to smooth out the ride and help keep the tires on the road. Good shocks are essential for handling performance and ride comfort. You've probably heard of struts. They combine a shock absorber and a coil spring in one unit. Shocks and struts will wear out over time. If your tires develop a cupped wear pattern, your shocks or struts may be wearing out. This is from the shocks bouncing unevenly. You may notice a floaty or drifting sensation when cornering. If the front of your vehicle dives excessively when st ... read more

Categories:

Shocks & Struts

How Does The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc Know What to Recommend?

When you drop your vehicle off at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc in TRUCKEE, they don't just poke around under your hood looking for stuff to do. The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc professionals have lists and procedures they follow for different types of service. First of all, your TRUCKEE service center will note the mileage on your vehicle. They'll then check to see what inspections and services the vehicle manufacturer recommends for a vehicle of your make, model and mileage. If you are a regular customer, they will also check your vehicle's history.If the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations go beyond the services you've ordered, they'll let you know. They'll also indicate whether those services are urgent or if you can wait a while to take care of them. The The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc pros won't do work that you don't agree to.They will, however, perform inspections while they're servicing your vehicle. They'll check belts, filters and fluids. They'll check your windsh ... read more

The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc and the Maintenance Mindset

When it comes to their vehicles, some TRUCKEEresidents don't have amaintenance mindset. They know they need to take care of their cars, but it just seems really hard to get them to remember to do it. TRUCKEE drivers generally accept that many things in life require regular maintenance but just may not have applied it to their vehicles.Here's something that will help: The key to good vehicle maintenance starts with the oil change. Think about it – when you go in for a full-service oil change, your friendly and knowledgeable The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc service advisor will check all your fluids. If one of them is low, he can look for the reason. If your serpentine belt is cracked, he'll see it and let you know. Corroded battery cable – they've got you covered. And at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc, we check to see if your v ... read more

Categories:

Maintenance

Maintaining Your Older Car in TRUCKEE, CA

The government mandates a lot of equipment on cars in TRUCKEE, CA: emission devices and control computers, safety equipment like airbags and crash worthiness requirements. All of this is great for the TRUCKEE motoring public, but it does add quite a bit to the price of a new vehicle.Because new vehicles are more expensive, people in the TRUCKEE area are driving their old vehicles longer. The average vehicle is now over nine years old. Two thirds of vehicles on the road in CA have more than 75,000 miles (120,000 km) on them. As cars age, their performance drops, they have difficulty idling for long periods and are more sensitive to weather extremes. Fortunately today's cars are up to the challenge – but they need a little help to keep on goin'.Give The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc a call at 5305872178 to schedule your next maintenance.Some owner's manuals don't specify service requirements at higher mileage. That doesn't mean it doesn't have to be done. I ... read more

Categories:

Maintenance

Your Vehicle Is NOT Maintenance Free, TRUCKEE Car Owners

A generation ago, TRUCKEE drivers seemed to be more inclined to keep their vehicle's preventive maintenance on schedule. One reason for this may be that vehicles back then were a lot less reliable than they are today. Taking your vehicle in to your TRUCKEE shop every year or two for repairs seemed to be a good reminder to keep the oil changed.For example, almost everyone in TRUCKEE used to take their vehicles in for regular tune-ups. Vehicles had mechanical ignition systems, which meant ignition points, spark plugs and coils had to be replaced and the timing adjusted every few years. As long as the vehicle was in for a tune-up at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc, the vehicle was inspected and you took care of any needed repairs at the same time.Today's engines have electronic ignition systems and engine control computers. Spark plugs can last for up to 100,000 miles/160,000 km. Vehicle reliability has vastly improved in the last few decades, and surveys report few ... read more

Categories:

Maintenance

Automotive Tips from The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc: Causes of Wheel Misalignment

When properly aligned, all of your wheels are pointed in the same direction. Your vehicle will track true and handle the way it is designed. TRUCKEE drivers often associate our wheels being “knocked” out of alignment with an event like a major crash, hitting a pothole, curb or some other object. While these can certainly take your wheels out of alignment, the bumps and bounces of everyday TRUCKEE driving take their toll on wheel alignment as well. Your car can lose alignment over time with just normal driving. When your wheels are out of alignment, the team of automotive professionals at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc in TRUCKEE can return your wheels to the factory settings. Most owners’ manuals suggest an inspection every year or two.Give us a call.The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc12000 PIONEER TRLTRUCKEE, CA 961615305872178http://theautoandtiredoctor.com

Categories:

Alignment

The Edible Engine

You may have had a friend whose vehicle was the victim of hungry rodents.  After all, mice, rats and squirrels—even rabbits—have been known to gnaw on wires in engine compartments, causing vehicle electrical systems to go haywire.  They can disable a vehicle completely and be very expensive to fix. In 2017, some drivers noticed their vehicle's wiring was being chewed and found out the automaker was using a relatively new material for covering their wires: soy.  Many of the repairs to their new vehicles weren't covered under warranty by the manufacturer when it was discovered rodents were eating the wiring.  So the owners filed a class action suit, saying the soy covering was essentially baiting the critters.  The automakers tell a different story, saying mice, rats and squirrels have been chewing through wire insulation long before it was made out of soy.  Regardless of what the insulation is made of, vehicle owners should make sure rodents are ... read more

Under Pressure in TRUCKEE: TPMS

Have you noticed an increase in price when you get a flat tire fixed in TRUCKEE, or have your tires rotated? It might be the result of your TPMS, or Tire Pressure Monitoring System.The federal government began requiring a TPMS system on 2008 model year passenger vehicles and light trucks. Some 2006 and 2007 models may have them as well. The system has a warning light that is mounted on the dashboard that will go on if one of the tires becomes severely underinflated.Why the new requirement? Because underinflated tires are the number one cause of tire failure. Tire blowouts cause crashes and sometimes fatal accidents. Underinflated tires also need longer stopping distance and can skid, both of which also present dangers on CA roads. Many flat tires can also be prevented by proper tire inflation, and though this may seem an economic consideration, TRUCKEE drivers who have changed a flat on the side of the road recognize that this has serious safety concerns as well.Advan ... read more

Categories:

Tires and Wheels
The Auto & Tire Doctor is committed to ensuring effective communication and digital accessibility to all users. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone, and apply the relevant accessibility standards to achieve these goals. We welcome your feedback. Please call The Auto & Tire Doctor (530) 587-2178 if you have any issues in accessing any area of our website.