Los Altos Auto Repair

Hello Duke here, and have you ever wondered why dog treats can vary in cost when they are very similar in size and ingredients?  Well, maybe you don't, but I do. It's kinda like your vehicle, why does it cost so much more to fix a similar problem in two different vehicles? Let's say you now own an SUV and before that, you owned a car.  Your SUV's air conditioning system needs a new evaporator, but the cost for the new one is way more than you remember it was for your car.  How can there be that big of a difference?  Well let's get barkin" and discover why.

There are many reasons.  For one thing, vehicles aren't all the same.  Yes, they have engines, steering wheels, and suspensions, but engineering and design can vary widely across styles and brands. 

When replacing the evaporator, the one in your former car may have been located in a spot the technician could easily access.  Plus, the part may have been simpler and therefore cheaper.  Your SUV may require the entire dashboard to be removed, using special tools, to detach the A/C lines from the evaporator.  Plus, since it supplies cool air to a larger cabin, it may be more complicated and the part itself may cost quite a bit more.

But you're not an expert, so how do you know the price is fair? This is where it helps to establish a good, long-lasting relationship with a reputable service repair facility.  They know you, they know your vehicle and they value keeping you as a customer. A facility that doesn't care about repeat business may suggest more repairs than are needed or inflate its prices.  But those shops are unlikely to stay in business for very long, since word gets around. 

If you've been taking your vehicles to the same shop for several years, you've had experience with them and know their policy on labor costs and parts prices.  At some point, you may wonder if it's worth it to keep putting money into your vehicle, and if you know your service advisor, you may have developed trust in their advice. 

Keep this in mind, too.  Vehicle designers and engineers have made significant progress in areas such as powertrain technology and rust prevention.  That means today's vehicles are meant to last longer.  One study in a major consumer magazine shows that if you keep your vehicle on the road for 200,000 miles (320,000 km) over an average of 15 years, some vehicles can save you up to $30,000. Investing in repairs can make a lot of sense. 

I leave you with my joke of the week on how much something costs.

How much did Santa pay for his sleigh?
Nothing—it was on the house!

Duke

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com

Hey, it's Brandy and you ever wonder what one of the best things is to ever happen to your vehicle's engine?  It's the little thing that usually looks like a can, the oil filter.  Just like your kitchen sink strainer filters out errant food particles that could clog your drain, the oil filter cleans out small particles that could harm your engine.

Your engine operates in a dirty, hot environment and gathers a lot of tiny contaminants like dirt, dust, little metal shards and unlucky bugs that get sucked in.  Get those things circulating in your engine and those little particles can cause friction, which starts wearing out those finely machined metal parts. 

You know how important it is to change your oil regularly.  It's vital that you change your oil filter at the same time to keep the oil as close to brand new as possible.

Most oil filters look like a metal can with some holes in the bottom.  Inside, there are carefully chosen materials that can screen out the contaminants while at the same time allowing the lubricating oil to pass through.  Early oil filters had steel wool, metal mesh or actual screens.  Then they tried fabric filters using materials such as linen and cotton.  Finally, a less expensive disposable filter using paper and cellulose did the trick.

Cellulose or other synthetic media are used in most oil filters today.  Cellulose is inexpensive and effective.  Fibers filter out particulates and let the oil flow.  The other synthetic media can screen out even tinier particles without significantly restricting the oil from passing through.  Engineers continue to work on even more advanced filter materials.

Choosing the right oil filter is something our pros at Allied Auto Works can help you with, since there are a lot of them out there.  Factoring into that decision are your driving habits, how far you drive and the temperatures to which your engine will be subjected.  While some filters cost more than others, they may be worth it to extend your engine's life. 

But most important is remembering to have your oil changed at Allied Auto Works regularly, at the intervals recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer. Just like you wouldn't want to have a plumber come over to fix a clogged kitchen drain, you certainly wouldn't want to have to pay for major engine repairs if they could be prevented by regular oil and filter changes.

Today I am going to leave you with a filter joke,

Just been in to Starbucks and the barista was wearing a face mask

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com

Vroom! Cayenne here today.  Have you ever been driving along, your exhaust system's rumbling so loud that people turn and stare to see if it is a Hot Rod as you pass by?  You're wondering when the police are going to pull you over for illegal noise. Your mind immediately thinks, aha! A broken muffler. Well, your exhaust system is composed of many more parts than just a muffler.  So today we are going to make some noise and find out what all the racket is about.  Let's get barkin'!

Your engine makes power because of thousands of tiny explosions from detonating fuel.  Those explosions make a racket, so engineers came up with a system that acoustically dampens that sound in addition to getting rid of harmful exhaust.

In the engine is the exhaust manifold that looks like several pipes that join up into one pipe.  It directs exhaust to the catalytic converter. The catalytic converter converts harmful gases into less harmful gases using certain chemical reactions.  Then comes the muffler that has baffles inside to quiet the sounds of your engine noise.  Finally: the tailpipe.

All of those pipes and parts are joined together by clamps and held up by brackets, and they ride over some pretty bumpy roads.  They are also exposed to the elements, like salt, water, rocks and grit.  Chances are that one of those clamps or brackets has been weakened by corrosion.  When you hit a bump, bingo! The crack widens into a gap and there's a spot for the engine noise to come roaring out instead of being directed into the muffler's quieting chambers.

You might be surprised to know that the exhaust system can rust from inside out.  How? Moisture is one component of exhaust, and moisture on the inside can do the same kind of damage as moisture from the outside. 

It's a good idea to have your exhaust system looked at regularly by a technician.  He or she can evaluate the condition of the metal and recommend when it might be time to replace parts before they break.

Then you'll have a decision to make.  Newer exhaust systems are made out of stainless steel that is much less prone to corrosion issues.  Others are made of aluminized steel that also fights rust.  You've probably already guessed that they can cost more, but the extra price up front may give you an exhaust system that will last much longer. 

Sure, with a repaired exhaust system, you won't have quite the head-turning vehicle you once had.  You'll just have to live with all the quiet.

I leave you with this thought this week,

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough" — Mario Andretti

Cayenne

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com

Whoa!  Stop!  Put those brakes on!  Hey Duke here, and sometimes you just need to stop, put the brakes on, and slow down in everything we do, but especially our vehicles.  Without brakes........well your in for problems.  So today, we will stop and listen while I bark about Disc Brake Service.    

Every time you drive your vehicle, you wear down your brakes just a little bit.  And after a while, that adds up.  Gradually, your stopping power isn't like it used to be.  Since brakes are one of your vehicle's most important safety features, it just makes sense to keep them performing well.

Most vehicles have disc brakes.  One key component, as the name suggests, is the disc.  Most vehicles have discs on their front and rear wheels.  The discs (also called rotors) are made of metal, and each rotates with the wheel hub.  Your brakes also have pads that make contact with the rotors when you press down on the brake pedal, and the friction stops your vehicle.

After many, many stops, that friction wears down both the pads and the discs and reduces their ability to stop the way you need them to.  The discs may also become uneven from all the heat they generate, and your brakes won't stop as well as they used to when they were newer. 

Some signs that your rotors need attention include vibration at the wheels when you stop, discolored rotors (the metal looks blue), excessively hot rotors, or grooves in the metal.  If you see any of these signs, it's time to bring in your vehicle for us to inspect your brakes. 

A technician will measure the thickness and trueness of the rotors and check the surfaces for wear.  If they need to be replaced, they'll be done in pairs, so if a front rotor is bad, the other front rotor will also be replaced. Usually, your brake pads will be replaced at the same time.  You can ask your service advisor if higher-performance brakes would benefit you.

When your vehicle is at the shop, the technician will check other components of your brake system to make sure they are operating safely. Brakes are vital to the safe operation of your vehicle.  Keep them well-maintained so they can be there when you need them.

I leave you with this funny brake quote.....and think about it if you will,

"I brake for hallucinations." — This classic 1970s bumper sticker humorously suggests the driver isn't seeing things quite right.

Duke

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com

Hey, it's Brandy and today we will bark about your brakes and when they start to wear out.  What do you do?  Well, let's bark and find out and as I bark, "Them's the brakes!"  

Your vehicle's brakes wear out.  It's inevitable. You'll notice it when you step on the brake pedal and feel it harder to stop, or there's vibration when you are braking. 

Most modern vehicles have disc brakes that each use a brake pad that presses on a disc (disc brakes!) called a rotor.  The friction between them enables you to stop, and each time you do a little bit of the pad and the rotor wears down.

The original brakes on vehicles used a rotor that was thick enough to last through at least two replacements of the pads.  But vehicle manufacturers who want to save costs and weight now make them thinner, and sometimes the rotors have to be replaced after the first pad replacement.  But not always.

Vehicle manufacturers specify a minimum thickness to provide safe braking.  Sometimes, rather than having to have your rotors replaced, they can be put on a lathe and resurfaced.  In other words, the surfaces of the disc can be slightly shaved off so the surface is flat and doesn't wobble. 

Whenever you bring your vehicle in to have the brakes checked, the technician will measure the thickness of the rotors to see if they can be resurfaced without leaving them too thin for safe braking. If they can, with the right tools and skill, the rotors can be resurfaced.  If not, the rotors should be replaced. 

Discuss the options with your service advisor.  Our service center can recommend replacements that are designed to help stop your vehicle as well as or better than the vehicle's original rotors.

Either way, keep in mind that keeping your brakes in top condition can supply the margin of safety that may one day save your life or the lives of those around you.

This week I leave you with this witty quote, brake-related,

"Living with a conscience is like driving with the brakes on." - Budd Schullberg

Brandy

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com

It's time to Stop, Look, and Listen!  Cayenne here, and I am making a full stop on the Brake Master Cylinder.  Yes, I did say Brake Master Cylinder just to confirm that is what the part is called and how important it is, or it would not be called a Master.  So let's put the brakes on and start barkin'!

When you step on your brake pedal, you want to feel confident that your vehicle’s going to stop.  If your brakes aren’t working right, it’s a risk to your safety and the safety of others on the road.  After all, you’re driving a machine that weighs thousands of pounds, and you have to be able to stop that big machine quickly and with control, especially with some of the speeds you travel on the highways. 

The heart of your vehicle’s brake system is the master cylinder.  When you apply the brakes, the master cylinder has pistons, springs, and brake fluid.  That fluid amplifies and distributes the force of your foot through brake lines to calipers at all your wheels.  Those calipers squeeze down on rotors or discs, which slow and stop your vehicle.

For safety, a master cylinder has two cylinders: one for the two front wheels and the other for the two rear wheels.  That way, if there is a failure in one, you’ll still have braking power on half your wheels.

The master cylinder doesn’t last forever, of course, and here are some signs it may have problems.  When you press on the brake pedal, it feels soft and spongy.  You may see the brake light on your instrument panel go on.  You may notice brake fluid leaking or discolored. 

All of those are signs of brake issues that need attention, and among the possible culprits is a failed master cylinder.  When you bring it in for a technician to look at, they’ll check not only the master cylinder but also the other components, such as pads, discs, shoes, brake lines, and hoses.  If your master cylinder needs replacing, we’ll make sure all the other parts meet the manufacturer’s specs as well. 

Brakes are important.  Really important. Full stop.

Cayenne

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com

Happy New Year 2026!  Duke here and it's one of those things that can happen on a multi-day road adventure or a quick trip to the grocery store.  You're on a car ride with your owner, and they hit a pothole, go too fast over a speed bump, or nail a curb.  When it happens, you think, "I wonder if that was hard enough to do any damage?"  But things seem ok, and they continue on their way while you enjoy the wind in your face.  So today, we will bark about alignment and why it matters to keep our dog car rides smooth and enjoyable.

Keep in mind that any blow to your vehicle's suspension can throw it out of alignment.  It can be a hard knock from the road or from another vehicle, such as being involved in a minor accident.  When your suspension is out of alignment, it means that the wheels aren't all pointing where they should.  And after a while, it can cause your tires to wear unevenly and affect steering and handling.

Let's go back to that pothole or curb you hit hard.  Even if you think there was no damage, if you wait until you see tire wear, you may need to replace all four tires, which is not an inexpensive proposition.

That's why it's a good idea to have your alignment checked regularly by a qualified technician. If you get regular oil changes (a MUST!), consider having an alignment check while your vehicle is in for service.  That's especially important if you drive roads that resemble the lunar surface.  If you buy new tires, it's also strongly recommended that you have your alignment checked. 

You can have your front wheels aligned or all four, and if your vehicle is newer, it's not a bad idea to spend a little extra for the four-wheel alignment check.  Good alignment pays off with better steering and handling, less tire wear and—BONUS—better fuel economy since aligned wheels offer less resistance when they roll on the road.

I leave you with this quote to start the New Year,

"Staying on the straight and narrow is tough when all the cool stuff is on the detour."

Duke

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com