Los Altos Auto Repair

Good day, Cayenne here, and you know I love going to the dog groomer for my monthly nice warm bath.  They know how to wash me and make me happy.  I always come home with my coat looking shiny and silky, smelling fresh.  Your vehicle, too, deserves that same treatment, looking shiny and clean.  So turn on the water, get the suds, and start barkin' about washing your car!

Most would agree they'd rather drive around in a clean, shiny vehicle than one coated with a layer of dirt.  When warmer weather comes around, some of us are bound and determined to wash our own vehicles.  And to protect the paint and its luster, there are a few things to keep in mind when you get out the bucket and soap.

• Cool body.  It's not a good idea to wash a vehicle when the body is hot.  If it's been sitting out in the sun or you've been riding around on a sunny day, make sure you cool your vehicle off by either moving it to the shade or wetting it down with cool water. The problem with washing a hot vehicle is that it dries so fast; minerals in the water can form hard-to-remove spots on the paint.  And some of those can be really difficult to get out.  Best to avoid it.
• Slippery when wet.  Make sure you wet your vehicle down thoroughly before you get the washing mitt out.  Experts keep a couple of buckets of soapy water on hand and use soap engineered to remove dirt from a vehicle without stripping off the wax that might be on it. 
• The washing mitt.  Experts say to use a mitt with hundreds of moisture-absorbing strands.  Start washing at the top and move down.  If you keep dipping the mitt into the buckets frequently, a minimal amount of dirt will stick to it, which will prevent scratching the paint. 
• Wheels last.  Wait until you've finished washing the body before washing the wheels.  Some detailers prefer special wheel-washing tools or brushes. 
• Rinse it well.  Hose the vehicle off thoroughly to remove all soap, then dry immediately.  Some people swear by a chamois; others prefer cloth.  Cotton or microfiber towels will do.  

The next time you have your vehicle in for maintenance, you might ask your service advisor for recommendations on vehicle washing accessories.  They are usually up on the brands that produce the best results.  You may not be a detailing pro, but there's no reason your vehicle can't look like you are.

I leave you with this quote for thought,

"I spent three hours washing my car, and it's supposed to rain tomorrow.

Cayenne

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

Hello Duke here and you know the cost of dog food can vary depending on the quality, what's in it and where it comes from.  Your vehicle's repair costs can also vary from one car to the next because not all vehicles are built the same.  So today, we will bark about the various reasons your repair costs can be so different between one car and another.  Let's start barkin'!

Ever wonder why it costs 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 is way more than you remember it was for your car.  How can there be that big of a difference?

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. 

In the case of replacing the evaporator, the one in your former car may have been located in a spot where the technician could get to it easily.  Plus, the part may have been less complicated 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 is supplying 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 —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 try to suggest more repairs than are needed or inflate their prices.  But those shops are unlikely to stay in business very long since their reputation 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 have developed a trust for his or her 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 can keep your vehicle on the road for 200,000 miles/320,000 km, an average of 15 years, some vehicles can save you up to $30,000 or more. Investing in repairs can make a lot of sense. 

I leave you with the cost quote,

"Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship." - Benjamin Franklin

Duke

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

TPS sounds like Tender Porterhouse Steak to me.  Hi Cayenne here, and no, TPS does not mean that.  Actually, it means Throttle Position Sensor.  So today we bark about what that is and how it affects your vehicle's performance.   Let's get barkin'!

You know you have an accelerator pedal; step on it and your vehicle is supposed to go.  But did you know there is a part in your vehicle that tracks the throttle's position? It's called the Throttle Position Sensor, or TPS.

The TPS is a sensor that helps your vehicle figure out the right mix of air and fuel is reaching your engine.  It does that by monitoring the throttle and sending the information to your vehicle's computer.  Other factors play a role in how well your engine is performing, including air temperature, how fast the engine is turning over and air flow. 

When the TPS isn't working right, you may find your vehicle won't accelerate or doesn't have the power you're expecting when you press on the accelerator.  In some cases, it may accelerate on its own.  Sometimes your vehicle won't go over a certain speed.  Your Check Engine light may go on.

Any of these symptoms should be checked out soon.  If your TPS stops working properly, your vehicle may not be safe to drive.  Fortunately, most vehicles have a "limp home" mode that will allow you to get off a busy road to a safe spot. 

Your service advisor can let you know which TPS is the correct replacement for your vehicle.  Your shop may need to reprogram the new TPS to ensure it works correctly with other software in your vehicle.

It's a fact of life these days that computers control many of a vehicle's functions. The sensors that feed information to those computers help make your vehicle work the way it was engineered to and keep you motoring down the road safely and efficiently.

I leave you with this dog thought,

Perks of being an adorable dog, with great cuteness, comes no responsiblity

Cayenne

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

Hey Duke here and you may remember a song that went, "Objects in the rearview mirror may appear closer than they are." While that was a song about life's lessons, there are a few things we should all know about the importance of rearview mirrors in safe driving.  So let's check our mirrors and get barkin'!

While new electronic devices are helping drivers stay aware of surrounding traffic in high-tech ways, the good old rearview mirror remains a dependable way of letting you know what's around you.  There are usually three on each vehicle: one attached to the windshield inside and two attached outside on each of the front doors.

They must be adjusted properly before you start driving (not while you're driving). Experts say the windshield rearview mirror should cover the area behind the vehicle, while the outside mirrors should not simply duplicate that view but extend it to the sides, where blind spots normally are.

Your rearview mirrors must be able to hold the positions they're adjusted in; if there's play in them or they move around, you'll never be sure they're pointed in the direction that will let you see where traffic is.  The one on the windshield must be firmly attached.  If it won't stay where you want it, head to your service facility, where they can tighten it or replace any necessary parts to ensure the mirror maintains its aim. If it has fallen completely off the windshield, a technician can reattach it using the proper adhesives or fasteners.  There may also be electronics that require proper connection.

The outside mirrors cover your blind spots, and they must be able to hold their adjustments as well.  Many adjust electronically; switches and motors can fail, electrical connections can detach or become corroded and the reflective glass can crack, discolor or develop a hazy fog.  A technician can diagnose and repair those problems and recommend any replacement parts you might need.  Mirrors that are adjusted manually should also be restored to proper working order to maintain this important rear visibility.

Drivers don't think about their rearview mirrors all that much.  On reflection, don't they deserve respect and care for the important job they do?

I leave you with this funny quote,

Monkeys are superior to men in this: when a monkey looks into a mirror, he sees a monkey.~ Malcolm de Chazal

Duke

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