In business since 1983!

Truckee Auto Repair

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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.

Yearly Archives: 2018

Fresh Air Inside Your Car in TRUCKEE

Air quality has certainly become a hot issue in our modern world. We install air filters on our ventilation systems and in our vacuum cleaners. There's a filter that cleans the air going into our vehicle's engine — so why not one for the air in the passenger compartment?Foreign and domestic vehicle manufacturers haven't been ignoring the issue. Cabin air filters are becoming a standard feature on newer vehicles. These filters can clean particles out of the air down to three microns, which accounts for pollen, dust and most pollutants. TRUCKEE residents who suffer from allergies or have a respiratory disorder should be a lot more comfortable. And even if you don't have a medical need for the filter, the cleaner air in your car just might help you breathe better, figuratively as well as literally.Cabin air filters are still fairly new in the TRUCKEE area, so you'll have to check your vehicle owner's manual to see if you have one ... read more

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Cabin Air Filter

Keeping Your 'Old Faithful' Auto Running

At The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc we've had a lot of TRUCKEE customers asking how they can make their vehicles last longer. These questions are actually a reflection of a trend that's been building for several years in CA. The median age of personal vehicles is now over nine years. And 33 percent of all vehicles on the road have over 75,000 miles (120,000 km) on them. It looks like it's going to keep heading in that direction for a while. With high fuel prices, a lot of CA folks are putting off buying a new car. So let's say you're one of the average in the TRUCKEE area; you've got a nine-year-old car with 80,000 miles (130,000 km) on the odometer. What can you do to make it last another year or two?Let's start with the premise that there's no reason that a modern car can't run for 200,000 miles (320,000 km) with proper care in TRUCKEE. The engineering and manufacturing quality is there.Of course, some parts will wear out along the way, but there's no reason for ... read more

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Maintenance

Exhaust Service at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc in TRUCKEE

Whenever they hear the term "exhaust service," most TRUCKEE residents think about exhaust pipes and mufflers. Well, actually, exhaust service at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc is a lot more comprehensive these days. For example, catalytic converters were mandated in 1976 and on-board emission control computers in 1990. Governmental emissions requirements have forced manufacturers to come up with much more sophisticated ways to comply with environmental regulations.Exhaust service has really become exhaust and emissions service. High-tech computer controlled emissions devices are now a big part of exhaust service. Because it is so sophisticated, your recommends you have your emission system checked out by a qualified TRUCKEE exhaust technician regularly to make sure everything is working right - usually every 6 months or 10,000 miles/16,000 kilometers.If your Check Engine light comes on, especially if it's flashing, get your car looked at right away. Technicians at The Auto & Tire Doctor In ... read more

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Exhaust

To Save Gas Around TRUCKEE: Keep up with Your Scheduled Service

  One topic that hits the news in CA on a regular basis is the price of gas. The answer for some CA drivers is to buy a vehicle that gets better fuel economy. For those of us in TRUCKEE who don't want to add a car payment to our monthly expenses, we need to improve our fuel economy any way we can.Following recommended service intervals by coming into The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc is one of the best ways people in TRUCKEE can keep their vehicle running efficiently. That means better fuel economy. When you give it some thought, it only makes sense. Dirty oil or transmission fluid can't lubricate or clean. That means more drag which reduces fuel economy.Keeping up with scheduled oil changes and transmission services will save gas for CA drivers.Dirty engine air filters are another efficiency pirate. They rob your engine of enough air to effectively burn the fuel, so you need more gas to get the job done. Replacing a dirty air filter can pay for itself in fuel savings before the next oil ... read more

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Fuel System

What to Do In Case of an Accident

If you've ever been in a vehicle accident around TRUCKEE, CA, even a minor one, you know how upsetting it can be. It's hard to think straight and know what to do.Let's review what you should do in case of an accident in TRUCKEE, CA:When an accident occurs, you should always stop. Leaving the scene of an accident is considered a crime in CA, even if it's not your fault. And hit-and-run penalties are fairly severe, possibly resulting in steep fines, loss of your driver's license or even jail time in our local TRUCKEE lockup.Most places, including CA, require that you try to help someone who is injured by calling for help or performing first aid if you are able.Warn other TRUCKEE motorists by putting out flares, using your flashers or lifting your hood.Call 911 as soon as possible. Tell the operator if medical or fire help is needed.Always file a police report. It's tempting to skip this if ... read more

Selecting New Tires and Wheels

Some of us TRUCKEE drivers just love tires. All those little rubber hairs on new tires and the smell is wonderful. We live in a great time for tires. No matter how you drive around CA, where you want to go or the look you're after; there is a tire for you.The same is true about wheels. The hardest part is choosing from the thousands of wheels available at CA tire shops.The team at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc can help you get some things in mind before you make a purchase. Let's start with function and think about how you drive.For example, maybe you have a large SUV but you don't drive off-road around CA, so an off-road tread isn't important. Also, because you are not out bouncing over rocks in the CA backcountry, you don't need a high profile tire to protect your rims. So that means you can probably go with the low-wide look.If you have a winter season with rain and snow or if you find you need better ice and snow performance, they make great, high-performance snow tires that won ... read more

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Tires and Wheels

Ethics of Automotive Repair in TRUCKEE

We're going to be talking about the ethics of automotive repair. It seems like news outlets really like hit-and-run reporting; they hit everyone from groceries stores to retail to physicians. And the TRUCKEE automotive service and repair industry hasn't been given a pass either.Unfortunately, every profession in TRUCKEE has some bad actors that hurt the reputation of everyone else. On the automotive side, industry associations and professional licensing organizations are very committed to high ethical standards.Yet some people remain uncomfortable with TRUCKEE automotive service and repair. It may start with the fact that our vehicles are a big investment and we rely on them for so much in our lives. That alone guarantees our attention. And how well we understand the recommendations really impacts our comfort level.If we understand what's recommended and the benefits of taking care of the work – and the pitfalls of putting it off ... read more

Getting the Right Tires and Wheels in TRUCKEE

A lot of people get custom wheels in TRUCKEE. When you do this yourself (over the internet . . .) you could run into trouble if you're not careful. Sometimes, once they're mounted, they just don't fit right. The tires rub in turns or on bumps. You don't want that. Consulting your The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc tire professional can ensure you get the right fit. First he'll ask you a series of questions about your TRUCKEE driving needs and what you want in your new wheels. Now, not every wheel can go on every car. Care must be taken so that tires and wheels are not too large or that the wheel is centered too far towards the outside or the inside so the tires rub.If you don't want to make any modifications to your vehicle, you would need to focus on the wheels that would fit. With trucks, some people in TRUCKEE like much bigger tires so they need a suspension lift.Also, most TRUCKEE drivers don't realize that you need to keep the rolling diameter of ... read more

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Tires and Wheels

The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc Tire Safety: Washington vs. Lincoln

  Welcome to the The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc automotive blog. Today, let's talk about the effect of tire wear. Let's focus on stopping in wet TRUCKEE conditions. In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way. If it can't move the water, the tire will actually ride on top of a thin film of water.That's called hydroplaning. If it's really bad, TRUCKEE drivers can actually spin out of control - endangering themselves and the other drivers around them. At best, you won't stop as fast. So how does a tire move water? It has channels for water to flow through. Look at your vehicle tire and you'll see channels: channels that run around the tire and channels that flow across the tire. They're designed to direct water away from the tire so it can contact the road better.And the deeper the channel, the more water it can move. A brand new The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc tire has very deep channels and can easily move ... read more

Categories:

Tires and Wheels

Recommended Service Intervals at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc

Most people in the TRUCKEE area are aware that automotive manufacturers have recommended service intervals. Following recommended service intervals is very important. The engineers that design our vehicles have tested the various systems and components to meet durability and safety standards. Some of these standards are self-imposed and others, like those for emissions components, are government mandated for areas in CA.The maintenance schedules are designed to achieve the standards. Think of the benefits of following recommended intervals as falling into three general categories: Protection, Efficiency and Safety.Protection. Let's start with motor oil. First of all, the engineers recommend a particular weight and type of motor oil for your vehicle. All of their oil change recommendations assume using the proper motor oil. Motor oil contains detergents and other additives that clean the engine and provide corrosion resistance. Over tim ... read more

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