Orangevale Auto Repair

Memorial Day is approaching, which signals the beginning of road trip season. This summer many people will be heading out on that great American road trip! We live in a beautiful part of the world, with such wonders and great places to explore! How could you resist? Here are a few things to think about before-hand to help you get the most out of your adventures. Budget- It is amazing how quickly things can add up when we are on the open road. It is a good idea to set a realistic budget for how much you can afford to spend each day on meals, lodging, and fuel. Route- Plan the route to your destination and your stopping points for breaks. There is the TripTik Travel Planner (AAA.com/triptik) which allows you to map your itinerary and make adjustments at anytime. It also helps locate gas stations, campgrounds, electric-vehicle charging pods, as well as hotel ... read more

We all know how the cost of gasoline can eat into you family's budget, but are there ways to make that 'bite' a bit smaller? Yes! Unfortunately we don't have a time machine, and can't get you back to buck a gallon gas, but we can trim that gas bill a bit with these helpful steps. Keep your engine tuned up - A misfiring spark plug can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 30% (Fuel Savings up to $1.00 a gallon)Keep your tires properly inflated - Keeping tires properly inflated, will not only make your tires last longer but they will keep you safer. Of course proper tire pressure will save you gas too! Under-inflated tires will lower your gas mileage by 0.3% for every 1 psi (pounds per square inch) pressure. Always use the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle, you can find the proper tire pressure for your vehicle on the sticker in your drivers door-ja ... read more

Say you're driving home from work on a Friday afternoon. You're looking forward to getting home, having dinner, perhaps a refreshing beverage and a little relaxation. You're daydreaming about the pleasures that await you, and all of a sudden the car in front of you comes to a dead stop. In that split second, what are you going to rely on to save your weekend (and maybe your life)? You guessed it... Your Brakes! The brake system is your car's most important safety system. Brakes are a normal wear item on any vehicle. They periodically need to be replaced for safety reasons and performance. The entire brake system should be checked every year. The most wearable parts of the braking system include the brake pads/shoes, rotors/drums, calipers, and brake fluid. Speaking of brake fluid, the brake fluid should be changed every 30,000 miles, or as directed in your owners manual. Contaminated brake fluid may lead to corrosion ... read more

Do you drive in stop-and-go traffic, or idle for extended periods? Do you make a lot of short trips? Do you drive on dusty/dirty roads, or tow a trailer? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are considered a "severe driver". This has nothing to do with your driving skills, it's just a measure of how hard your driving habits are on your car's oil. The engine's oil level should be checked often and changed every 3k-5k miles. If you are a "severe driver", you should stick to changing it every 3k miles. Most vehicles should have the oil and filter changed every 3,000 miles or every 3 months. Critical parts of your engine are lubricated, cooled, and cleaned by your car's oil and filter. If you hardly drive the vehicle you should still replace the oil regularly, because the oil will deteriorate after time and lose its lubricating factors. Every other oil change, or every 6,000 miles we recommend performing a 6k servi ... read more

April is national care care month! So take some time to take care of that car that gets you where you need to go every day. Your vehicle is one of the biggest and best investments you will make in your life. Proper maintenance will help ensure the longevity of that investment. There are certain preventative maintenance services that should be performed at certain mileage intervals. Of course, every vehicle is different so you should also refer to your owners manual to be sure of when to have these services done. Services that should be performed every 30,000 miles are: Transmission fluid service Engine coolant drain and fill Brake fluid flush If you have a four wheel drive or all wheel drive vehicle: Transfer case service Front and/or rear differential service A fuel injection service should be performed every 12 months. Other components such as your spark pl ... read more

We all know that sizzling season is coming. You know, the one where we all search for that shady spot to park the car! As you drive around on those hot summer days, spare a thought for your car and its cooling system working hard to keep you cool. Are you doing what you can to help your car keep up with all that heat? Here we have listed a few important tips to help you out! If you would like to check your coolant level, always make sure the vehicle is cooled off before attempting to remove the radiator cap. ( Did we say always? YES, ALWAYS!) Not following this important safety steps could give you your own personal scalding hot steam geyser under your hood... and a nice ride to the hospital. When the vehicle is hot, a lot of pressure builds in the radiator and associated systems, so you should wait at least an hour for the system to cool down and depressurize. If you find the coolant level ... read more

Sometimes we are all called to help others in need. We may do it in small ways, we may do it in big ways. We at Street Tech Auto Care would like to share the story of one of our long time customers who has dedicated her life to helping others in an extraordinary way! Roni Jordan first got involved with the Mother of Peace Community in 2003. Her church (City of Refuge) traveled as a group to Zimbabwe, Africa to see how they could be of support to children orphaned by the Aids pandemic. On her journeys she saw how children at the orphanage were picked up from the homes of their deceased or dying parents, from the street by social workers, or from pit latrines or rubbish dumps where they had been abandoned by desperate or frustrated parents or relatives. In fact, the second day of her visit, she attended the funeral of an 11 month old child who had succumbed to this cruel disease. The Mother of Peace Community in Zimbabwe started from humble b ... read more

Please listen to your vehicle! Most cars have certain indicators in place to warn you of possible damage when things are not 'right' with certain systems. That always dreaded check engine light is one that blares at you. Please don't ignore it, especially if there are symptoms that go along with it. If your check engine light comes on, feel free to stop by anytime and we will quickly pull the codes at no charge. We can then let you know if it's safe to continue driving, or if it could cause further damage, or a costly repair if not addressed right away. Some of your dashboard warning lights should always be taken seriously without delay. If your brake light comes on, it could signify a very serious safety issue, come on by and we can check it out for you. Two other lights or gauges are also very important warning systems. If you lose oil pressure or your engine temperature get abnormally high... you could potentially dama ... read more

Does the thought of spring fill you with dread? Do you feel that coughing, sneezing, and itchy eyes go along with spring-time? We can help you keep those spring elements out of your vehicle. Most modern cars have a cabin air filter that filters out pollen and other contaminants that can come through the ventilation system into your cars interior. Not to be confused with the engine air filter, a component that keeps pollutants out of your engine, the cabin air filter will keep your car's passenger compartment clean from pollen, dust, and pollutants... so you can breathe easy on those gorgeous spring days! If you are curious if your car has a cabin air filter, or if it needs to be replaced, let Street Tech Auto Care help! We can tell you if your car is equipped a cabin air filter, show you where it is, and even show you what it looks like, so you can see for yourself how much it filters out. Of course, if it does need replacement, we will be happy to do that too

We all like to celebrate a New Year, but nobody wants to start the year with a DUI, or worse. We at Street Tech care about you and your safety. If you find yourself a little too merry to drive home this New Years Eve, call AAA for a free ride home for both you AND your car. Find more information about AAA's Tipsy Tow program by clicking on the link below. We promise you won't regret it in the morning! AAA New Years Eve Tipsy Tow Program We at Street Tech Auto Care would like to wish you a happy and safe New Year. We'll see you in