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.

Monthly Archives: December 2018

Hitting the Brakes in TRUCKEE

Safety should always be an element of your vehicle care. So even if you don't care about how your vehicle looks, you should practice preventive maintenance to protect yourself — and other TRUCKEE drivers — on the road. And good safety starts with good brakes.Brakes need a regular inspection. There are  parts that wear out or wear down, and it's best to replace them before you have serious problems. Of course, if you are having trouble with your brakes, NOW is the time to fix them. If your brake warning light is on, that's a good sign that you need your brakes checked. You can also tell something is wrong with your brakes by the feel of the pedal or unusual sounds while braking. If the brake pedal is low, feels spongy when you press it or is hard to push, that indicates a problem with your brakes. If you hear squealing, grinding or clunking noises when you brake, that can also indicate serious problems. If vibrations accompany ... read more

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Brakes

Direct Fuel Injection Update from The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc

For those of you in TRUCKEE, CA who pay attention to these things, you may have been hearing about the new direct injection engines and want to learn more about them. Some deliver the power of a V8 with the economy of a V6.For example, in one family of engines the conventional V6 makes about 250 horsepower. The direct injection version of the same engine makes over 300 horsepower and gets essentially the same fuel economy. The turbocharged version makes over 350 horsepower.So what are the differences from a conventional engine?The core difference is in the fuel injection system. The system most vehicles use now is called a port injection system. The fuel injector squirts fuel into a port just outside the cylinder where it's then drawn into the engine with the air.With a direct injection system, the injector squirts the fuel directly into the cylinder. The gain in power and economy come because fuel injected directly into the cylinder du ... read more

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Fuel System

Blind Spot Safety for TRUCKEE Driving

Blind spots may be a good thing when it comes to a spouse's annoying habits, but when driving an automobile in TRUCKEE, they are definitely to be avoided. So, while it's not good marital advice, it's good auto advice to minimize your own blind spots and stay out of other TRUCKEE drivers' blind spots, especially when it comes to large, heavy vehicles like trucks and buses.First, minimize your own blind spots. Do this before you pull out of the driveway or parking space. Adjust your rearview mirror so that you see as much of the area behind you as possible. And, no, this doesn't include the passengers in the back seat. The rearview mirror isn't designed to be a baby monitor.Next, lean to the side until your head almost touches the driver's side window. Now adjust the driver's side mirror so that it just catches the side of the vehicle. Then, lean to the middle of the car and adjust the passenger's side mirror in the same way. Th ... read more

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Safety

Treat Your Vehicle to Good Tires at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc

When we shop for shoes, most of us know that we can get two pairs of cheap shoes or one good pair for about the same price. And since the two cheap pairs wear out in about the same time as the good pair, there really is no difference in cost. If you like having a closet full of shoes to match your moods and outfits, then cheap shoes can be what you want. But if you spend a lot of time on your feet, you probably know that cheap shoes can come with an added cost of sore feet and other foot ailments. When you add in the benefits of comfort and protection, the more expensive shoes are actually the better value.Buying tires at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc in TRUCKEE is a lot like buying shoes, except that TRUCKEE vehicles don't have changeable apparel and don't need a closet full of tires to match. Vehicles spend a lot of time on their tires—all the time, in fact—so they need tires that can stand up to the job. Tires are work ... read more

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Tires and Wheels

What Is a Differential and Do You Have One?

With front-wheel drive being so common these days in TRUCKEE, CA, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most TRUCKEE drivers don't even have to think about it. And rear-wheel drive differentials don't need to be serviced for years, so it's understandable that it's not something on the top of TRUCKEE customers' minds. It's not uncommon for drivers to not know they have a differential let alone know that it needs service. Call The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc in TRUCKEE at 5305872178 for information about differential service, or stop by our TRUCKEE, CA, auto center at 12000 PIONEER TRL, 96161. To better understand what a differential does, think about our local TRUCKEE high school track. There are lanes marked off on the track. For the longer distance races, the starting lines are staggered. The starting lines for the outside lanes are ahead of the starting lines for the inside lanes. That's to compensat ... read more

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Drive Train
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