Los Altos Auto Repair

The biggest issue for Los Altos area drivers is always safety. When your vehicle wheels are out of alignment, the vehicle will pull to one side, which could lead to an accident. When you're vehicle is out of alignment, you should have it taken care of right away at Allied Auto Works in Los Altos.

When undergoing an alignment service at Allied Auto Works, your vehicle is put on an alignment rack where the tires, steering and suspension parts are checked for damage. Then the alignment is charted and checked against the factory settings.

Precision adjustments are made to bring the wheels back into alignment. This gets all four wheels going in exactly the same direction.

Los Altos drivers should be aware of the signs of alignment problems. These include the car pulling to one side. Also, the steering wheel may not be centered when you're going straight. If you see the edges of one or more tires rapidly wearing down, you should have your Los Altos service center look it over. If you've been in an auto accident in CA, you should get your alignment checked.

Obviously, a big jolt can seriously knock things out of alignment, but Los Altos area drivers also need to understand that a series of smaller ones can add up.

That's why we recommend periodic alignment checks. If your vehicle owner's manual doesn't specify the interval, once a year might be appropriate. Or check with a service advisor at Allied Auto Works in Los Altos.

One thing's for sure: the cost of the alignment at Allied Auto Works is cheaper for Los Altos drivers than having to buy a couple of new tires because of neglect.

 Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
650.968.7227
https://www.alliedautoworks.com/

When your vehicle has a problem or just needs some routine service, you might get a little nervous. Your vehicle's so important to your life in Los Altos, you need to get back on the road as soon as possible – with the problem fixed right the first time.

If you've ever checked into some of the technician training Allied Auto Works professionals receive, you may be surprised at how much specialized knowledge and skill goes into diagnosing and repairing a modern car. For example: Today there are four cylinder engines that generate more power than the 1980s-era V-8's. I mean a new V-6 Toyota Camry could beat Sonny Crocket's Ferrari in a race to 60 mph/100 kph.

Our engines are more and more powerful and at the same time their fuel economy keeps inching up – even with steep Los Altos gas prices. They are also amazingly reliable: Kudos to the automotive engineers. But the advances come at the price of simplicity. The modern vehicles driven around CA are so much more complex from a mechanical standpoint that it makes your head spin – not to mention the electronics.

Some vehicles have several networked computers controlling most of the engine functions and many other vehicle operations as well. Los Altos motorists take all of this sophistication for granted, but somebody has to fix it when it breaks. It's a real challenge for Allied Auto Works in Los Altos technicians to keep up, but we work hard to stay ahead of the technology. It requires a high level of commitment on the part of the technicians and the Los Altos service centers as well.

Allied Auto Works technicians receive training through a combination of formal classroom training, training provided at Allied Auto Works by parts and equipment manufacturers, online courses and home study courses.

In addition to the expensive training, there's the financial commitment for Allied Auto Works to purchase the diagnostic and repair tools.

There are many independent certifications held by the pros at Allied Auto Works. The ability to repair your vehicle requires a strong combination of training and resources. No one can know everything, so Los Altos auto service centers subscribe to data services, technical libraries and even online communities that can help them when they run into a difficult problem.

It's like those medical diagnosis shows on TV. Here are the symptoms – what's the diagnosis and treatment? Diagnosis is every bit as much an art as a science. At Allied Auto Works, we want everything to be simple, straightforward and inexpensive – but sometimes it just isn't.

The next time you bring us your vehicle, don't worry. You're in good hands at Allied Auto Works.

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
650.968.7227
https://www.alliedautoworks.com/

If you're a quart low in your vehicle, there isn't enough motor oil to lubricate your engine properly. The extra friction causes drag that reduces fuel economy while you're driving around the Los Altos area.

The same goes for dirty oil; it doesn't reduce friction properly. The result is you get to watch those numbers at your local Los Altos gas pump rolling higher and higher.

The transmission also needs the proper amount of clean fluid to do its work. When it's in need of service, the transmission drags your fuel economy down.

So keep it clean at Allied Auto Works  and give yourself a fighting chance.

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
650.968.7227
https://www.alliedautoworks.com/

At Allied Auto Works we get a lot of Los Altos drivers asking about vehicle trip preparation. That's a big deal. You could be driving through mountains and deserts in some pretty lonely areas around CA, so it's important to know that the vehicle is up to the task and won't leave you stranded.

Smart Los Altos drivers plan ahead for a major road trip – and there are a lot of things to get ready. Where should you start? You could start with the tires. Look them over for tread wear and check to see that they are properly inflated. Take a quick test drive around Los Altos to see if you can feel any vibrations: Are the wheels in balance? Is the car tracking straight? Is the alignment ok? Come to Allied Auto Works for a peace-of-mind trip inspection.

2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
650.968.7227
https://www.alliedautoworks.com/

The next thing is a full service oil change to make sure all of your fluids are topped off and you have fresh oil for the trip. And if your car has over 75,000 miles/120,000 km, you may consider putting in the high-mileage formulation to clean harmful sludge deposits in the engine. 

How about your transmission and brakes? Have you had your transmission and brakes inspected in the last six months?

How are your wiper blades? There's nothing like not being able to get rid of the bug juice on a long road trip away from Los Altos.

Check your owner's manual for any other recommended services, and have Allied Auto Works in Los Altos do the multi-point inspection before you head out on your trip.

Consider also having the coolant system serviced at Allied Auto Works – you want to stay within the vehicle manufacture’s recommendations. If you're towing a trailer around CA you'll want to be keep in mind that you'll be going a long way under severe conditions.

A lot of Los Altos drivers overlook severe conditions like towing, CA summer heat or driving on dirt roads. Plan ahead for your next road trip – Allied Auto Works wants you to get there and back.