Los Altos Auto Repair

Did you know that dogs have a "maintenance mindset?" Hi Duke here, and you probably want to know what that means.  Dogs often exhibit a "maintenance mindset" in that they thrive on routine, predictability, and consistent care, which support their physical and mental well-being.  People, on the other hand, do not always have a "maintenance mindset" when it comes to their vehicles.  So today, I will bark about having a mindset for maintenance... let's get focused and barkin'!!!

When it comes to their vehicles, some Los Altos residents don't have a maintenance mindset. They know they need to take care of their cars, but it's really hard to get them to remember to do it. Los Altos drivers generally accept that many things in life require regular maintenance, but just may not have applied it to their vehicles.

Here's something that will help: The key to good vehicle maintenance starts with the oil change. Think about it – when you go in for a full-service oil change, your friendly and knowledgeable Allied Auto Works service advisor will check all your fluids. If one of them is low, he can look for the reason. If your serpentine belt is cracked, he'll see it and let you know. Corroded battery cable – they've got you covered. And at Allied Auto Works, we check whether your vehicle manufacturer has recommended any services at your current mileage.

The oil change becomes kind of a focal point, a way to check in to see what needs to be done. The fact is that vehicle inspection surveys consistently reveal that over 80% of vehicles have one or more unperformed repair or maintenance services. Vehicles are generally very reliable and can take a lot of abuse and neglect. But you have to remember that vehicles are complicated machines. There are parts and fluids that are critical to their operation. Without them, the vehicle won't run at all.

So when you come into Allied Auto Works for an oil change, you get advice from your friendly, knowledgeable service advisor and reminders about recommended services so you can avoid a total failure. And remember that your friendly and knowledgeable Allied Auto Works service advisor can help you work out a maintenance and repair plan, prioritizing and scheduling the work to make sure you and your family are safe and to help you avoid expensive breakdowns.

I leave you with this thought,

A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open.

Duke

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

Cayenne here and can you think of anyone who enjoys aging, even us canines?  Wrinkles where you don't want them, gray hair, eyes that won't focus anymore,  hearing loss, and no stamina.   Now, I must say, my nose is still everything at 16 years of age (that's dog years), so it makes up for my other senses, which are not as acute as they were when I was a young pup.  Where am I going with all this.....your tires.

Believe it or not, your tires age, too, and they don't get better the older they get.  And here's the important thing to know, even if they can still pass a tread depth test, they may simply be too old to be safe 

Here's the best way to understand this.  Have you ever found an old deck of playing cards with a rubber band wrapped around them?  Try stretching the rubber band.  SNAP! It's all cracked and brittle.  And you haven't stressed that rubber one bit since the time you put them in that drawer.

Now you know what's happening to your tires.  Rubber ages.  Just like us, the day we come into the world, we start to go downhill (no pun intended).  Oh, engineers can make a tire last longer than ever before.  But that gas that keeps us alive—oxygen—seems to love to chemically mix with some components in rubber.  Oxidation causes rubber to become hard and brittle.  The rubber band test.

Is there an age test that can tell you when a tire is too old to roll? Well, not really.  They don't all age the same.  Hot climates can make tires wear out more quickly.  Some experts say a tire can last up to 10 years, but it should be inspected every year after age 5.  Others say tires should have an expiration date of 6 years.

Since no one would ever ask a tire its age, how do you know how old one is? Believe it or not, tires made after the year 2000 have a date code stamped on either the inside or the outside of the sidewall.  It's a four-digit number; the first two tell you the week, the second two tell you the year. So if it has the number 1916, it was made in the 21st week of 2016. 

Another way to find out whether your tires still have enough life left is to have your vehicle service facility inspect them.  They look for signs of age, such as developing cracks in the rubber, the condition of the sidewalls, and, of course, that old standby: tread.  If it's time to "retire" them, discuss options with your service advisor.

I leave you with this funny quote about aging

"The older I get, the more clearly I remember things that never happened." — Mark Twain

Cayenne

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

Hi all, Brandy here and you know there is nothing worse than not getting a clear picture.  You know what I mean.  We've all been through it. The vehicle ahead of us kicks up mud, slush, snow, or salt on our windshield, and we can't see a thing.  And not being able to see a thing when we're driving?  Not a good thing.  So today, I will bark about how to get a nice, clear picture of what is ahead of you.  Let's get barkin'!!

We've all been through it. The vehicle ahead of us kicks up mud, slush, snow or salt on our windshield and we can't see a thing.  And not being able to see a thing when we're driving?  Not a good thing.

Debris on a vehicle's glass can be blinding when driving directly into the sun.  And other things can ruin visibility: scratches on the glass, fogged windows, mineral deposits. 

So let's make one thing clear:  Your windows.  Here are some tips.

• Number one rule: don't use abrasives on glass. That means no gritty cleaners designed for metal.  Avoid at all costs those dark green abrasive pads on some kitchen sponges designed to clean metal pots and pans, UNLESS the manufacturer specifically says they can be used on glass.
• Use the appropriate cleaner for the substance being cleaned. Special automotive glass cleaners are available, and your Allied Auto Works service advisor can make recommendations.
• Vinegar can work wonders. Sometimes you'll see hard, grayish water spots on your windows that nothing seems to take off. Distilled white vinegar (available in the grocery store) gets rid of them safely, quickly and easily.
• Use a microfiber cloth designed for cleaning glass; that's what professional detailers choose.
• Clean the insides of windows, too. The film that forms on the inside of vehicle windows can result from plastic interior surfaces decaying in the heat of sunlight (plastic contains oil). The film can also be caused by cigarette smoke. Clean that oily layer off thoroughly.

Now that you have clean windows, here's how to keep 'em clean.

• Replace your wipers at least once a year. Rubber deteriorates with age, even if you rarely use your wipers.
• You might consider a newer type called a "beam" blade. Most have an aerodynamic design that cleans your windshield better, especially at higher speeds.

Your service advisor at Allied Auto Works can recommend quality wiper blades for your vehicle and install them properly.

Visibility.  See what we mean?  And if that doesn't work, get some glasses.....lol  

Brandy

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

Hi Cayenne here. A driver brought her vehicle into the shop the other day and told us she was getting lousy fuel economy and that the engine was running rough.  Plus, the Check Engine light was on.  Our technician checked the code the engine had generated (which indicated why the Check Engine light was on) and found the problem.  It was a faulty Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor.  So today we are going to flow into the MAF sensor and what it does.  As I always bark.....Let's get barkin'!

This MAF sensor is an important part of your vehicle.  What it does is calculate the amount of air going into your engine.  As you may know, air is taken into your engine where it's mixed with fuel.  Then the spark plugs fire, the explosive fuel/air mixture detonates, and these sequential explosions provide the power to get your vehicle moving down the road. 

It makes sense that if the MAF sensor isn't sending the engine's computers the correct information about the amount of air entering the engine, the fuel/air mixture won't be right. It will be either too rich (too much gasoline relative to the amount of air) or too lean (not enough gasoline relative to the amount of air).

In this driver's case, the MAF sensor was damaged and needed to be replaced.  Another thing that may cause the MAF to give an incorrect reading is if its wires are dirty or faulty.  So, replacing or cleaning the wires important as well.

Other symptoms that your MAF sensor is bad? If your engine hesitates when you step on the gas, stalls, or your vehicle is jerky when you accelerate. 

A malfunctioning MAF sensor is not just bad for performance.  Driving with your vehicle in that condition can cause more damage to your engine.  When you bring your vehicle in for us to check, a technician will thoroughly examine your engine to make sure all issues are taken care of.

As I always say, go with the flow unless you are entering dangerous territory, then turn around and go another way.

Cayenne

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