San Carlos Auto Repair

  Honda is big at A+ Japanese Auto Repair We deal in ten different Japanese brands at A+ Japanese Auto Repair. One of the most loved brands is Honda! We find them to be very reliable cars if you keep up with the proper maintenance, which is why we recommend them to first-time Japanese car buyers.       What do the Honda Service Codes mean? Honda’s manufacturer-suggested maintenance is for every 5,000 miles. There are plenty of engine codes to learn surrounding the engine messages of a Honda. Here’s what the service recommendations mean:   Service A is the simple act of replacing the engine oil. Just draining and refilling, nothing more.   Service B is all the little things that can cause trouble when left unchecked: replacing the oil filter, a brake inspection, and anything else your owner’s manual deems to be significant at 5,000 miles.    Service 1 means rotating the tires and verifying the tire pressure and the con ... read more

Photo by vishal bonthapally on Unsplash   A+ Japanese knows, services, and loves Japanese cars. Most people will know by our name alone that A+ Japanese Auto Repair can service your Toyota. But did you know that we also specialize in the Toyota brand?    Our shop has long earned a reputation in San Carlos for Toyota service. Many times, San Carlos has voted our shop the #1 Independent Toyota auto repair and service facility. We have ASE-Certified technicians that specialize in Toyota and know it exceptionally well. We happen to love to work on Toyotas, and it’s a treat for us when we can work on something a little unusual to the domestic ones we see.   Our brand new client Jon recently brought in his JDM ... read more

Photo by Maximalfocus on Unsplash   Cars seem to be advancing very quickly in recent years. The United States of America finally addresses the dependency we place upon oil with new technology. Soon, that technology will become more affordable. Before that, it will become inevitable due to the climate crisis. The first to leap forward will likely bear the highest cost.   Environmentally, we are running out of options. Combustion engines are individually not terrible as polluters, but given our dependency on cars for travel in America, there were too many cars not to damage the environment. California, long aware of the cost of heavy pollution, has since taken steps to reduce smog and emissions from vehicles.    ... read more

Photo by Anthony Garcia on Unsplash   December is at hand, and this year's holiday season has begun! We hope 2021 has been good to you and the whole family; and that you've managed to keep ahead of things this year, despite a very rushed feeling after the slow torture that was 2021.   We also hope you remembered to take care of winter prep for your car; earlier if you have plans to go North or Northeast into the Rockies for skiing this year. Driving in colder areas means thinking practically about getting your car in the right condition for bad weather. If you haven't and don't intend to, we recommend you at least consider the security of hiring a rental car, one that is suited for winter driving in the ... read more

Photo by Holly Mandarich on Unsplash   November is here! Soon, we'll be contemplating family trips that navigate over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house. With the calendar turning to deep autumn, it's time to look ahead to colder weather and the occasional upset. In November, the rain can become a sudden surprise, especially when traveling North.    Soon, the month will be rocketing towards the holiday season, when traveling is at its peak. And if you wind up on the highway and your wipers are not in good enough shape to handle what mother nature is throwing out, it can be a terrifying ride-- and you may be forced to pull over and wait out the weather.   But now that you are ... read more

Photo by Eugene Triguba on Unsplash   October is here! Fresh cool breezes, autumn colors, and the smell of pumpkin pie will begin to file in over time. For kids, the month of October is a countdown to one of the most beloved rites of passage for kids in suburban America: Halloween!   We hope you grew up in a place where trick-or-treat was special, too. Do you remember the excitement of trick-or-treating as a child? Halloween is a great experience for boys and girls as they venture out on their own or with friends searching for adventures with their neighbors and their front door hauntings. It’s also a bit of a dare, and it comes with dangers-- the night, costumes, and the adrenaline of a sugar-high. Protect all the k ... read more

Photo from A+ Japanese Auto Repair’s Website   As we head into Autumn, A+ Japanese Auto Repair’s website has some great deals to offer you on our Specials page!   Our current specials include a Back To School Service! It’s regularly a $195.00 charge, but we’ve discounted it to $145.00.*   But one of the best services we offer here at A+ Japanese is an everyday thing we want you to know about: we want you to try our free pick-up and delivery service.    If on the drive into work, something seems wrong or there’s an engine light to address, we’ll come to you (within five miles), pick up your car, and bring it back to the shop. We’ll communicate our findings to you and work out when the repairs can be done, and then get to work.    You’ll be updated along the way with any important details or questions we might have. Along the way, we’ll consult with you on any work that might raise your bil ... read more

Photo by A+ Japanese Auto Repair   As we get closer to school being back in session, some of us will see first-time drivers emerging from our own homes. High school seniors will be driving to school for the first time, and some of us will be sending our kids out of the nest and off to a university or a college.    Our kids are young. Some are inexperienced drivers who will be going back to school while our even younger children may be walking or bicycling to school-- sometimes on the same roads. It’s crucial that we send our kids out in safe and reliable cars.   Here are the ten car repairs you shouldn’t put off before school starts:   Check the Brakes - Brakes are number one for a reason. Kids will dart in and out of the road on their way to and from school. Drivers, young and old, need all the reaction time they can get.     Check the Battery - People often forget that batteries have water or a gel solution in them. After a ... read more

Your car is, in some ways, is a member of your family! However, just like any member of your family, your car can be vulnerable, especially during the summer! This article will go through some basic steps you can take and habits you can adopt to help your vehicle survive through the deadliest season for vehicles -- the scorching summer!    First, you have to make sure that you always park in shady areas. Frequent high temperatures and sun rays can burn your car paint and make your vehicle look like a (literally) hot mess! Just because you are having a good time in your car during a summer day doesn’t mean that your vehicle is not getting damaged! Damaged car paint is one of the most painful experiences a driver can get. It takes so much time and resources to fix a damaged paint that it’s not worth it!    A great habit to implement if you want to keep your car in shape is to check the tires regularly. A good rule of thumb is to start with the tire treads ... read more

Your tires are your first point of contact with the road. As you can imagine, it is essential to take care of your tires and wheels as they play a crucial role in your overall safety and security. An essential component of tire maintenance is wheel alignment -- alignment doesn't' just involve your vehicle's wheels and tires, but actually your vehicle's entire suspension system.    Your vehicle's suspension system comprises various components, including your tires, air pressure, springs, shock absorbers, and steering linkages. Each of these parts needs to be performing in tip-top shape, or your tires might not connect with the road safely and correctly. If your wheels are out of alignment, you most likely won't be able to steer straight, your drive won't be as comfortable, and your fuel economy won't be as effective.    Poorly conditioned roads, potholes, curbs, and so on all wreak havoc on your vehicle's suspension system and ali ... read more