Truckee Auto Repair

You've likely heard how important oil is to your vehicle's engine. Did you know that there's one part that's responsible for holding that oil so you can use it every day? It's called the oil pan, and it sits at the bottom of the engine. The oil pan is a vital, though simple, part of your engine's lubrication system. Oil circulates through parts of your engine to keep them lubricated. It reduces friction so everything works smoothly. Without oil, friction would quickly destroy your engine. The oil pan keeps that oil contained in the lubrication system, so it's important that the oil doesn't leak out. Since it's a metal part attached to another metal part, there is a gasket between the oil pan and the part of the engine it attaches to. Various things can put stress on the oil pan and gasket, including weather extremes, the speed you're traveling and the condition of the oil. You may drive over a couple of bad roads and kick up debris onto your oil pan. All this wear and tear, heat and ti ... read more

There's a segment of the TRUCKEE area population that's not committed to proper vehicle maintenance. Now, the ignition system in your vehicle is electronic and controlled by the engine management computer. Spark plugs rarely get fouled and will last for as much as 100,000 miles (160,000 kilometers). So tune-ups used to force you in to The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc for service, and while you were there you just took care of whatever else was on the list.Also, in recent years, a large percentage of new vehicles in TRUCKEE have been leased. These folks plan on turning the vehicle in after two or three years, so they haven't focused on the maintenance that helps a vehicle last longer.Given all that, what's the benefit to keeping up with factory scheduled maintenance? Well, your vehicle will perform better and return better fuel economy.Those benefits pay for themselves as they go along. The big plus is that major repairs are ... read more

TRUCKEE consumers are demanding. We want a safe, reliable vehicle that handles well and is comfortable to ride in. Oh, and we want good fuel economy, too. We also want vehicle repairs that are cheap, fast and easy. Unfortunately, one usually comes at the cost of the other.Today's vehicles have made significant improvements in reliability and performance over the last few decades. They also deliver more power to TRUCKEE drivers more efficiently than ever before. For example, some of today's 4-cylinder engines are equal to yesterday's V-8's. Our vehicles also offer an amazing range of features that make them more comfortable and convenient than ever before.But all of that improvement has come at a price for TRUCKEE vehicle owners. Our vehicles are more complicated and difficult to repair than ever before. They have numerous mechanical and electrical systems. Fuel systems are so complex they have to be run by a computer. Our vehicles are covered with sensors and high-tech electronic ... read more

When autumn comes around in TRUCKEE, leaves fall, nights get longer and there's a definite nip in the air. Time to unpack the boots and gloves and fold some extra blankets onto the beds. It's also time for TRUCKEE drivers to winterize their vehicles.Here is some expert auto advice for TRUCKEE drivers on what vehicles need to keep everyone safe and rolling throughout the CA winter months.1. Check your antifreeze. Top it off or change it if necessary. You don't want your radiator, engine or hoses freezing up. If your vehicle isn't generating enough heat to keep you warm, your antifreeze might be low, or you might have a thermostat problem. Either way, you should get it checked out before the full force of CA winter sets in. If you are due for a cooling system service at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc in TRUCKEE, get that done as well.2. Check your brakes. The slushy wet conditions of winter increase stopping distances. Ice exacerbates the problem. Your first ... read more

Have you checked out the price of new vehicles at TRUCKEE car dealers? Ouch! Add financing and insurance and a new ride may not seem so attractive. A lot of TRUCKEE, CA, folks are hoping to make their cars last a lot longer.Fortunately, with the current state of automotive engineering and manufacturing, there's no reason a modern vehicle can't be made to last for a 150,000 miles (250,000 kilometers) or more for smart TRUCKEE drivers.The old adage: 'a stitch in time saves nine' is really true for TRUCKEE residents when it comes to car maintenance. A great example is coolant service.Over time, coolant becomes corrosive and actually starts to damage your radiator and other parts. Smart TRUCKEE drivers have their cooling system service taken care of right on schedule at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc.Ditto for your power steering system, brake fluid, air conditioning system, differential and transmission. Of course, oil changes should be done right on schedule to avoid the build-up ... read more

The hottest CA news story may be different every day, but there's one topic that seems to come up over and over again – the price of gas in TRUCKEE. If you feel like most of your paycheck goes into your gas tank, this post is for you. Here are several basic things people in TRUCKEE can do to greatly reduce their gas consumption, save money, and help the environment. You can really improve your fuel economy by how you drive – but first, here's a review of things you can do for your vehicle that'll save gas no matter how you drive.The first one for TRUCKEE drivers is keeping tires properly inflated. That can save 2 miles per gallon/.85 km per liter. Driving on low tires is like driving through sand – your car just has to work harder. Most TRUCKEE service centers will fill up your tires for free, so just ask The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc. Also, make a habit of checking your tire pressure whenever you fill up. Many TRUCKEE gas stations have an air hose y ... read more

  Which item is most often stolen from vehicles in TRUCKEE?Is it: Stereo Wheels Air Bag DVD System Well, if you said stereo – you used to be right. But airbags have now surpassed stereos as the biggest target for theft in CA – approximately 50,000 a year are stolen across the country. New airbags cost about $1,000, but go for $50 to $200 on the black market in CA.Stolen airbags are making their way back into cars that have been in an accident. Of course, the danger to the consumer of having a stolen airbag installed is that you can never be sure what may have previously affected them and if they will work right when you need them. Contact us at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc for more information about where to get your airbags checked or replaced.Find us at 12000 PIONEER TRL, TRUCKEE, CA 96161You can reach us by phone at: 5305872178 There are reports that 1 in 25 airbag replacements are stolen ... read more

Since driving requirements and lifestyles differ among TRUCKEE drivers, your vehicle manufacturer publishes two auto maintenance schedules: the regular schedule and the severe service schedule. Which schedule should TRUCKEE drivers follow? Here are some questions to ask yourself:Are most of your trips less than four miles/six kilometers around TRUCKEE?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 TRUCKEE areas?Do you regularly tow a trailer or carry heavy loads around TRUCKEE?Do you drive in very hot or very cold CA weather?Think about your typical week. Do you live by your nearest TRUCKEE on-ramp and enjoy a non-stop commute? Or, do you drive the neighborhood car pool in stop-and-go traffic on TRUCKEE 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 recommend ... read more

Recalls are pretty serious for TRUCKEE residents and don't happen all that often. But sometimes cars have less serious problems that TRUCKEE residents still might want to know about. For these less serious cases, the vehicle manufacturer issues what is known as a Technical Service Bulletin – or TSB. These bulletins tell TRUCKEE service centers (including The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc) how to repair a problem that occurs frequently or is especially difficult.Your TRUCKEE service center receives updated information through subscription plans, which are sometimes available in consumer versions too.Whatever your source, pay attention to TRUCKEE vehicle recalls to keep you and your passengers safe. No matter how well they're made, vehicles are bound to have problems with their design or manufacturing. Think of all the moving parts. When the government thinks a problem is really serious, they require the vehicle manufacturer to issue recall notices to TRUCK ... read more

These days many people in the TRUCKEE area are really committed to making their cars last a long time. First thing: you've got to start with what you've got. It'd be ideal if people started with a brand new car, never missed a scheduled service item, paid attention to the severe service maintenance schedule and had regular inspections. But if you've had the vehicle for a while or bought it used, its maintenance history is what it is; and that's where you start.Go through the maintenance schedule for your vehicle and see what's been done and when. Have your TRUCKEE service advisor at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc do an inspection and come up with a list of stuff that needs to be done. Review the list and prioritize the work, talk about budget and make a plan to get caught up.Making a plan is so important. Suppose you go in for an oil change and learn you need your cooling system serviced, a transmission service and are coming up on a timing belt replacement in the ne ... read more