Truckee Auto Repair

We live in a disposable society. Everything from elaborate packaging to our clothing. Even cell phones are disposable. When replacement is cheaper than repair, the term "built to last" goes by the wayside. An exception is our vehicles. They're still a very big investment and TRUCKEE drivers want to make them last as long as possible.  We also want to make keeping them running as cheap as possible. When talking vehicles, it's all about preventive maintenance. There is an old saying that says, "A stitch in time saves nine," and that is really true when it comes to taking care of your vehicle. A great example is coolant service in TRUCKEE.Your coolant not only protects your engine from overheating and freezing, it must also protect cooling system components from corrosion. Over time, coolant becomes corrosive and actually starts to damage your radiator and other parts. That's why you need to have your cooling system serviced on a regular schedule.The same is true for your power ... read more

CA service centers have a menu board that lists the services they provide. Some TRUCKEE drivers may not be familiar with all of the items on the board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed.The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc fuel system cleaning: Over time, the vehicle fuel system gets gum and varnish built up. A fuel system cleaning gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors. Saves gas, by the way.The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc headlamp replacement: Halogen and standard headlamps gradually fade. It's usually good to change them every year or so.The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc inspections: TRUCKEE drivers get inspections for many reasons. Maybe they're going on a trip or just want to make sure their vehicle's ready for a CA summer or winter. Maybe they just bought a used vehicle and want to give it the once over. An inspection may reveal some things that are broken or ... read more

Sometimes busy TRUCKEE residents dream about going back to the “simpler” days of our grandparents. But if you could travel back in time and take a road trip around CA in a Model T, you might change your mind. The improved designs and quality of today's automobiles have significantly reduced the amount of time TRUCKEE residents spend at the side of the road during breakdowns. With proper maintenance, today's vehicles can stay on the road longer than ever before.Some of those improvements, however, have led to higher repair costs. For example, older cars often broke down from vapor lock. Gas vaporized while traveling from the gas tank to the fuel pump. No gas, no power. The car quits going. The solution was simple — you just sat by the road until the car would start up again. Today's TRUCKEE drivers would hardly tolerate that kind of inconvenience, and it's likely that yesterday's TRUCKEE drivers didn't care much for it, either. So on today's vehicles, the fuel pum ... read more

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

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