Los Altos Auto Repair

Duke here and what a beautiful day it is!  So you've bought a used vehicle in the Los Altos area. Do you know what you're getting? It is hard to know what you're getting because people in the Los Altos area sell vehicles for different reasons. Think about why you've sold vehicles. Did you just want something new or were there problems that you wanted to run away from? Maybe it was a little of both.  So today I will bark to you about "Did you buy a used car, NOW WHAT????"  Let's unveil the possibilities.

Used vehicles in CA with 25,000 to 35,000 miles/40,000 to 55,000 km on them are often lease returns, corporate program cars or rental fleet vehicles. Most Los Altos buyers feel pretty confident about these because they're newer and may still be under warranty. But how well have they been maintained?

Los Altos drivers who are planning to own a vehicle for a long time will keep up on auto maintenance so that they can avoid repairs down the road. But, if you know you're only going to have the vehicle for two or three years, you may not be so committed to maintenance. It would be easy to think that skipping an oil change here and there wouldn't ruin a brand new engine. Then it'll be someone else's problem when it comes time to pay for the damage.

It is very tempting for Los Altos drivers to skip the 30,000 mile/50,000 km service if they know they'll be turning in their leased vehicle in a couple of months.

If the vehicle didn't come with maintenance records, Los Altos used vehicle buyers need to assume the worst. Most likely the coolant system and transmission have never been serviced. The cabin air filter has probably not been changed and a fuel system cleaning at Allied Auto Works may be in order.

You'll want Allied Auto Works to check the A/C, battery, engine air filter, serpentine belt and hoses. A used vehicle inspection at Allied Auto Works is well worth the cost.

And if your “new” used vehicle has been driven an even longer distance, an inspection is even more important. Check your owner's manual or talk with your service advisor at Allied Auto Works about what should have been done. Please don't forget the timing belt; that can be very expensive if it fails.

Allied Auto Works will help you with a plan to take care of services and get the rest caught up. If your budget won't allow you to take care of everything right away, we can help you prioritize your needs and get it taken care of over the next several months. And remember to keep your maintenance records. They'll help you get top dollar on the CA used vehicle market when it's time for you to sell.

I leave you with funny used car joke,

A guy looking in the classified for a used car...

DUKE

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

Hey, it's Cayenne, and today we are going to have an idle bark talk about rough engine idling.  I don't know about you, but when I go for a drive, and start to slow down at a stoplight, the vehicle's idle should be smooth as silk.  But what happens when the engine is missing or idling roughly? That's your engine's way of telling you, "Hey, I've got something wrong with me, and if you don't get someone to find out what it is, I may not start the next time you turn the key."  That's not good, so let's get barkin' and stop staying idle on this subject!

You can help your service facility by describing the problem in detail.  Here's a list of things to make a note of:

• When is the problem happening, when the engine is cold or when it's been running for a while?
• Does the rough idling occur when I'm accelerating or when I'm going at a steady speed?
• Does it happen at high speeds?  Does it happen at low speeds? Does it happen at both?

Make sure you describe the problem in as much detail as possible, as it will help a technician diagnose it.

One of the first things they'll check is how the spark plugs are firing.  Modern iridium plugs are supposed to last a long, long time.  But they CAN eventually wear out.  Inspecting the firing end can help the technician identify the root cause of the problem.  Corroded or worn-out spark plug wires can also contribute to an idling irregularity. 

There are other potential problem spots, too.  The technician may check the ignition coil, timing, piston rings, valves, and cylinder walls. 

If the air-to-fuel mixture isn't correct, it may affect how smoothly your vehicle runs.  Your service facility is equipped with diagnostic tools that help pinpoint the problem.  Once that idle is smoothed out to the way it used to be, you'll be the smoothest operator on the road.

I leave you with this smooth quote,

"Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast" — Navy SEALs Mantra

Cayenne

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