Sacramento Auto Repair

The Spring season is upon us! It is important to prepare your vehicle for spring to ensure it's safe and running smoothly after the Winter months. Here are 7 steps you can take to prepare your vehicle for spring:  Clean the exterior of the vehicle: This will prevent your vehicle from rust and corrosion. Washing your vehicle to remove any salt, dirt, or other abrasive grime accumulated during the winter season. Check your tires: You will want to check the tire pressure and tread depth to ensure they are in good condition. Colder temperatures cause your tires to lose pressure which will lead to poor fuel economy and extra tread wear. Check your wipers and wiper blades: Spring brings a lot of pollen and rain, so it's important to have working wipers in good condition. Make sure your wiper fluid is topped off as well, as the pollen could stick to your windshield. As always you should check your fluids. You will want to check the coolant, power steering, brake fluid, t ... read more

Do you know what to look for when you purchase motor oil from the auto store? When an employee asks you synthetic or conventional (regular), do you see the difference? If this scenario leaves you feeling doubtful, let's explore what these options mean for you.   First of all, synthetic oil is hands-down better than conventional oil. However, it depends on whether your car actually needs it. Synthetic engine oil uses a higher quality base than the less-refined base oil used in traditional oil. Full synthetic oil renders increased engine performance and protection than conventional motor oils, and they are formulated to present supplementary performance benefits. Standard oil, when compared to synthetic or blends, breaks down faster.   Synthetic motor oils are chemically engineered to be more consistent. It goes through an intricate process that removes impurities from crude oil and gets tailored for the needs of modern engines. Synthetic engine oil beats conventional o ... read more

Most of us will be hitting the highway for Thanksgiving soon, and we should be prepared with things to entertain us amid the congested traffic. You (and your children) might grow impatient, so it would be nice to distract yourselves. How about some fun family road trip games to play? Here are some fun games to play to keep you and the kiddos happy until you get to your destination: 20 Questions This game goes in rounds. Each round, a mysterious thing or person is chosen by one person for the rest of the passengers to guess. There are only 20 questions that the entire car can ask, so choose your questions carefully. If no one can correctly guess the "thing" by the end of the 20 questions, then the person who's been asked the question wins.  I Spy I Spy is a classic tradition and very similar to 20 questions. To play this game in the car, you can declare one of the children to be "it." This person has to pick a specific thing in the vehicle to center the ... read more

The TPMS warning light is your vehicle's Tire Pressure Monitoring System warning light. When this light comes on your dash, your vehicle is warning you that it has identified that one or more of your tires has insufficient tire pressure.    Proper tire inflation is essential for many reasons. It is necessary for handling your vehicle, longer lifespan of your tires, optimal fuel efficiency, and overall safety. Continuing to drive your car with the light on is not safe. Here's why!   When you drive your car with low tire pressure, you are causing your tire to wear down excessively and prematurely. You may notice uneven wear on your tires if you look closely. If you ignore the warning indication, then it can cost you a new tire much sooner than you think. You are also hindering your ability to handle and maneuver your vehicle, which can be very hazardous on the road. Low tire pressure also puts you at risk for a tire blowout and negatively affects your vehicle ... read more

Fuel pump replacement is a vital part of your vehicle's maintenance. A fuel pump is responsible for transferring gasoline from your tank to your engine. In other words, it supplies the fuel at a steady pressure to ensure that the engine is running smoothly. There are two types of fuel pumps: mechanical and electronic. Vehicles with carburetors have mechanical pumps, whereas cars with fuel injection systems have electric pumps.   Symptoms of Faulty Fuel Pump The signs of fuel pump failure are similar in both types of pumps, although mechanical and electronic pumps can fail for various reasons. Vehicle jerks or sputters at high speeds You experience a loss in acceleration You lose engine power when driving uphill or carrying heavy loads Your engine surges Your engine will not start If you have experienced any signs of a failing fuel pump above, please bring your car to Sacramento Specialty Auto for a proper diagnosis. We have state-of-the-art tools and experienced techni ... read more