Sacramento Auto Repair

Check your coolant -

Make sure you have a true 50/50 mixture of distilled water and antifreeze to prevent the fluid from freezing in your radiator and make sure that your radiator cap is functioning correctly.

Check your battery -

The chemical reactions required to generate power in a car battery slow down in extremely cold temperatures, and your car requires more current from the battery to start the engine. To avoid a car that won’t start on a cold morning, run a battery load test to see if your battery has enough juice. Check battery cables and terminals for cracks and corrosion. 

Fill your wiper fluid -

Having enough wiper fluid is crucial to keeping your windshield free of ice, snow, salt, and mud. Make sure you use a premixed wiper fluid.  Do not use water or mix wiper fluid with water.

Replace your wiper blades -

Most blades are only good for six months to a year, so chances are you need new ones. While you’re at it, you might want to consider choosing a heavy-duty wiper blade specifically designed for winter conditions.

Inspect (and maybe replace) your tires -

Tires with worn treads are a serious hazard in winter conditions. If you live in an area that experiences a lot of snowfall, consider getting snow tires, which are made of softer rubber that remains flexible in colder temperatures, and have treads specially designed to keep their grip in snow and ice.

If you have all-season tires, check to make sure the tread is at least 5/32” for the best winter traction. If your tread is less than 3/32”, your tires will offer virtually zero traction in snow and be prone to hydroplaning in rain, and should be replaced regardless of the time of year.  Here’s an easy way to test your tread: insert a penny into a tread groove with Lincoln’s head pointing down. If no part of Lincoln’s head is covered, your tires need to be replaced. Flip the penny over and do the same test with the Lincoln Memorial facing down. If any part of the building is covered, your tires are ready to tackle winter weather. No matter whether your tires are new or older, make sure they’re properly inflated for winter conditions. Cold weather causes air pressure in your tires to drop at a rate of approximately 1 PSI per 10 degrees, so check your tire pressure regularly to make sure it stays at the level recommended by the manufacturer. The usual recommended tire pressure is 30-35 PSI depending on manufacturers recommendation, but check your owner’s manual for the exact number. And don’t forget to check your spare!

Change your oil -

Your engine needs lubrication to run, but cold weather thickens oil and reduces its ability to circulate through the engine, so make sure you have fresh oil to keep things running smoothly.

Check your belts and hoses -

Cold temperatures can weaken the belts and hoses that keep your engine running. Prepare for winter by checking all belts and hoses for cracks or signs of wear and tear, and replace them if needed.

Put together an emergency kit to carry in your car -

Be ready for the unexpected by equipping your car with emergency supplies including blankets, flares, reflective triangles, a jack, a first-aid kit, flashlight, ice scraper, jumper cables, shovel, food, water, matches, tool kit, cell phone charger and kitty litter or sand for traction if you get stuck.

Happy 2019!

As we look at our goals for the upcoming year, I like to reflect on 2018; our accomplishments and improvements we made to provide our wonderful customers with the best automotive and customer service experience possible. 

2018 Accomplishments:

• Brought two notable new staff on board in January: my twin baby boys! Benjamin, Director of Outreach and Community Relations, and Jacob, Quality Control Specialist. They started to walk by the end of 2018, so watch out, they are really on the move now!
• We had some staff changes and some other staff who left us and came back, but overall ended the year with a staff of technicians and service writers who are extremely qualified and consider your car their number one priority.
• Utilized new workflow software, so our service writers and technicians can work more efficiently and get the job done more quickly. It also allows us to reach out to customers more effectively through text message, increasing customer service and improve accessibility to staff and the shop.
• Purchased new equipment and tools to expand the services we provide:
  • New scan tools for diagnostics to help identify and repair the hardest diagnostic issues cars can have.
  • Portable rack, so if all racks are taken, we always have a rack open in case someone needs a quick fix; and
  • More specialty tools for European, Japanese, and domestic vehicles so we can continue to work on all makes and models.
• We did several things to increase our knowledge and community engagement including the following:
  • Attended two automotive shop owner conferences;
  • Brought on an intern from the local Met High School for the summer;
  • Met with representatives at the Automobile Museum to find ways to work together; and
  • Continued the annual tradition of providing candy to trick or treaters from the local preschool!

2019 Goals:

• ​Overall building upgrades, including energy efficient LED lighting, a proper service counter, office, and customer waiting room;
• Educational car clinics for our customers;
• Increase our involvement in the community through participating in neighborhood associations and contributing to local causes.

Is there anything else that you’d like to see us doing? We always welcome feedback! We are looking forward to 2019! We hope it will be a great New Year for you, too!