Folsom Auto Repair

Nothing is more annoying than a loud squeal whenever you push on your brake pedals. Beyond the ear-piercing noise, you should take the sound seriously as it could mean trouble for your braking system.    As you may know, brakes are a vital part of every vehicle, but they can be a safety hazard without proper maintenance. There are a few circumstances where brake noises can be normal. You can expect brake sounds when they are not warm, newly replaced, used in wet weather, or rough road conditions. However, the noises should not linger beyond those scenarios. Let's examine some of the common causes behind squeaky brakes:   Worn Pads Worn-out brake pads are the leading cause of squealing brake sounds. The sound should be taken as a warning to replace the pads before they cause damage to the rotor.   Slamming On the Brakes Too Hard While driving, you may face many obstacles unexpectedly. For instance, you may have to dodge another vehicle or other dangerous ... read more

When you purchase something new or expensive, you are likely to get a strong urge to care for the item. To take care of such a significant investment, like your car, you need to read the manufacturer's manual. The owner's manual will ensure that you know how to maintain your new ride and how to keep it running in good shape for years to come. The pages contain everything you may need to know about the car and the scheduled maintenance routines you need to stick to for the car's extended longevity.   Proper Vehicle Maintenance Your vehicle's owner's handbook is a guide listing how much maintenance is needed to ensure it delivers the desired performance and durability. The manual also specifies the repair techniques for proper auto care. After reading it, you'd be able to interpret the warning lights and when you need fluid changes and flushes.    Knowing Your Car There's more to a car than its brand name and model. All vehicles are machi ... read more

A car tire blowout is one of the most dreaded and potentially dangerous things on the road. It's even worse when you are a new or inexperienced driver as it can make you panic, ultimately losing control of your car. Based on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports, tire blowouts are responsible for over 75,000 road accidents killing over 400 drivers. Well, before these numbers get you all terrified, you should understand that a tire blowout does not always mean impending danger. How you react the first few seconds after the incident makes all the difference. So How Do You Handle a Tire Blowout? Stay Calm and Do Not Hit the Brakes The first best thing you can do during a car blowout is staying still and doing nothing at all. Do not hit the brakes, turn the steering wheel or even remove your foot from the gas pedal. Taking any of this action will make you lose control, making things worse. Tightly Grip the Steering Wheel and Steer Straight Once your tire blow ... read more

Picking out the "5 best" emergency kit items is difficult because in most cases, a stranded driver might need everything in the kit. Nonetheless, there are a few mainstays that should take priority if necessary. Here are five suggestions. Jumper Cables Almost every driver at some point has a dead battery. Most have a few during their entire driving careers. Yet, it is amazing how many people with dead batteries do not have a good pair of jumper cables. Reflectors Each year, in just about every state in America, someone is involved in an accident when standing near their broken-down vehicle. In many cases, the driver that causes the accident was not paying enough attention and did not see the vehicle on the shoulder of the road. One way of reducing that chance is to have adequate roadside reflectors and/or flares to alert people of your presence and vehicle. This is also a good way of signaling that you need help. Blanket A blanket might not have anything to do with th ... read more

Getting your car prepared for spring should be a top priority for all. With the summer months fast approaching, you need to take time out of your schedule to have your car primed and ready to go. After a season of colder weather, it's time to pamper your vehicle with some springtime care. The first order of business is getting your oil changed. Oil is the primary lubricant that keeps your engine and its parts running well. It also protects your engine and keeps it clean. With that in mind, it's important to have both your oil and the filter changed at the same time once every 3,000 miles. An inspection of your battery should also be done. It is the one item that keeps your car running at an optimal level during the winter months. It keeps your heater and your lights on as you drive more in the dark during a season of shorter days and longer nights. Plus, it's quite possible that your battery may have had to work a lot harder just to get started. The cold weather has an im ... read more

As a responsible motorist, you need to understand the functions of various parts of your engine so you can keep yourself and your passengers safe on the roads. One basic system you need to understand is the exhaust system, the part of the engine that eliminates harmful byproducts from your car. As the engine functions, it produces a lot of noise that needs to be reduced. That's where the mufflers come in. Without the mufflers, the engine would be too loud and uncomfortable. Simply put, the exhaust is that part of the engine that eliminates unwanted byproducts from the engine and controls the gas output, while mufflers act as silencers. Let's dig deeper into the difference between an exhaust and a muffler. The Exhaust Consider the exhaust system as the gas-controlling part of your car's engine. This system comprises components and piping that guide the gases the combustion process in the engine produces. When fuel burns, toxic gases are produced. If these gases were to b ... read more

The world is facing quite a tough economic time. Therefore, having a way of saving some money, no matter how little it may seem, can go a long way in helping you balance your budget in the long run. As a driver, you need to find ways of saving on your fuel consumption, particularly now that fuel prices seem to be skyrocketing. Below are some tips that you can count on to improve your car's miles per gallon (MPG) of fuel efficiency. Remove Excess Weight If your vehicle has front-wheel drive, having unnecessary things in the trunk weighing down the real axle can reduce the front wheels grip and reduce your mileage. This means that you will have to unnecessarily spend more time and fuel to get to your destination. Therefore, if you would like to improve your car's MPG, you need to get rid of any unnecessary load in your vehicle. Inflate the Tires Properly If your tires are not properly inflated, they can reduce your mileage and force your engine to consume more fuel to move yo ... read more

All cars require periodic maintenance to keep them performing at their best by reducing wear and tear on their components. Here's what you need to know about a coolant flush and its benefits. What is a Coolant Flush? A coolant flush is a cleanse for your cooling system. During a coolant flush, four to five gallons of anti-freeze is put in your cooling system. Over time, your current anti-freeze collects contaminants. The coolant flush removes the old anti-freeze and replaces it with fresh anti-freeze to prevent the buildup of scale deposits and rust, helping your anti-freeze last longer. What Are the Benefits of a Coolant Flush? Removal of Rust and Deposits When you get a coolant flush, rust and deposits are removed from your car's cooling system, preventing your car from overheating and causing various problems. Improve and Extend the Longevity of the Water Pump Lubrication is a part of the coolant flush process. When you get a coolant ... read more

Fuel cleaning is essential, and it should be part of vehicle maintenance for any car owner. Fuel system cleaning guarantees a smooth ride and rids the car owner of unnecessary worries. Build-up on various parts might trigger faulty sensors and cause contamination, which significantly affects the car's functioning. Keeping the fuel system clean grants your optimum gas mileage and prevents engine damage. Some manuals recommend fuel cleaning after 36 months or 45,000 miles, but it is essential to pay attention to the vehicle and get the timely fuel cleaning process. Some signs warn the driver to get fuel cleaning services o to ensure the car functions optimally. Decreased Fuel Economy A clogged fuel system results in decreased fuel efficiency. If you notice your car getting fewer miles than past consumption, there may be a need for fuel cleaning to guarantee fuel economy. Engine Misfires A clogged fuel system fails to generate adequate fuel for the engine. It causes the engine to ... read more

If you aren't a mechanic, changing a tire is never a good time. Flat tires always seem to happen during opportune times. The last thing you'd want to happen is for a flat to occur while you're traveling during the holidays. Most drivers have roadside assistance. However, during this time of year, the wait time may be longer than usual. It's important to know how to change your tire in case the unexpected happens. Changing your tire can potentially save you more time and money. Below we have given a few steps on how to change a tire to keep you prepared for your next road trip.  1. Pull over to a safe spot. Try to find an area far from incoming traffic, which will give you enough space to work on your vehicle. Make sure your car is in park, and the emergency flashers are on. 2. Grab your spare tire, jack, and tire iron. These items are usually located under the floorboard of your trunk. 3. Loose ... read more