San Carlos Auto Repair

What do I check when the check engine light comes on?  If the check engine light comes on, start by checking the tightness of your gas cap. We have seen several times that the check engine light is illuminated by either a loose gas cap or a gas cap that wasn't fully seated after a fill up. A few other things that you can inspect yourself when the check engine light comes on: 1. Open the hood and look for any loose electrical connectors. 2. Under the hood, check for the main air intake hose (from the air filter box to the engine) for proper connections, any cracking on the hose, and any loose or disconnected vacuum lines. 3. Look under the vehicle and check for any leaking fluids or hanging components. We have seen where road debris can cause damage, which in turn will illuminate the check engine light. 4. Check your vehicle gauges to make sure the temperature gauge isn't too hot - ("too hot" is any time the needle goes past the middle point between ... read more

Unfortunately, family-owned businesses seem to be a rarity. However, A+ Japanese Auto Repair in San Carlos has been a family-owned and operated business for 21 years. We continue to stand out among the other repair shops and dealerships in the area. There are many advantages and you have flexibility when you decide to work with a family-owned business: We treat your vehicle as a big investment because it is. You need a technician and repair shop that doesn’t just care about racking up a hefty invoice, but about taking care of you and your vehicle, looking toward the longevity of your car. You are more than just a number, and we want to protect your investment.  You’ll get parts that meet or exceed manufacturers’ specifications. You also have the freedom to choose replacement parts that meet your budget and improve performance. You will receive the cutting-edge technology of the automotive industry. We invest heavily in training our technicians, state-of-the-ar ... read more

It can be quite scary -- watching your teen driver take a big step and drive themselves to school. You can imagine them, blasting the radio and stepping on the gas pedal, but with a reliable and safe vehicle, you can breathe a little easier. These cars are equipped with safety features, from automatic braking to blind spot monitors. Safety is the top priority when it comes to auto repair and picking out the safest car for your teen driver. Here are the safest Japanese cars on the market:  Toyota Corolla: All of the latest and greatest safety features can be found in a Toyota Corolla. This car is also an economical option, both price and fuel wise.  Honda Fit: The Honda Fit is small, but mighty, as it is quite a roomy Japanese vehicle. As a bonus, it is quite safe and gets great gas mileage.  Toyota Prius V: This car is a little bigger than your typical Prius, but all the safety features and economical advantages remain the same. What more can you ask for?  Subar ... read more

This summer, explore what Northern California has to offer. Our beautiful state has so many different hiking locations! At A+ Japanese Auto Repair, we want to make sure your car is ready to get you where you want this summer. Check out these hiking trails that you’ll be sure to love! Explore, Castle Lake Trail, located in Mount Shasta. This 11-mile hiking trail offers a spectacular view of lakes and peaks, giving you some of the most unique views that you'll ever see in Northern California.  Experience Cinder Cone Nature Trail, located 4 hours northeast from San Francisco in Old Station, California. See Lassen’s volcanic landscape from this cinder cone. You will be able to see the landscape that was transformed by volcanic activity.  Purisima Creek Trail, located in Half Moon Bay, that overlooks the slopes of the Santa Cruz mountains. From there, you will be able to see the beautiful redwood trees and creeks. Experience Santa Cruz’s beauty from this l ... read more

There are tons of mobile apps out there designed to help us make our lives more efficient, including apps for directions. Most of these direction apps are geared toward being hands-free, meaning they are safe for you to use while driving. In fact, many of these apps are equipped with warnings to remind you to put down your phone while driving and listen to the voice commands programmed into the mobile app.  Not only are there mobile apps, but there are several GPS devices that are designed solely for the purpose of driving directions. Mobile apps, however, can be used for various forms of transportation, not just driving such as walking and biking. Here are 5 of the most helpful, free direction apps:  Google Maps: This is the classic direction app and has proved its sufficiency time and time again. It has tons of voice commands too, really demonstrating its ability to be hands-free.  Waze: This app not only offers directions but has several bonus features, including u ... read more

Summer is just around the corner, which means it is the perfect time to start planning your summer vacation. We can’t wait to embark on our summer adventures, especially if that means a road trip with your family. We are fortunate to live in such a lovely area, as we are surrounded by many beautiful places all within a day’s drive. Here are the top 7 road trip ideas for summertime in San Carlos: Nicasio, one of the tiniest towns in Marin County, is complete with some of the most delectable cheese and wine tasting in the region. Point Reyes, including Point Reyes National Seashore and make sure to hike and picnic along Abbotts Lagoon. North Bay Movie Tour in Petaluma is an excellent way to spend the day. George Lucas, the creator of “Star Wars,” filmed the classic, “American G ... read more

At A+ Japanese Auto Repair, we recognize how busy your day can get. From racing across town to drop your son off at his baseball game to being stuck in rush-hour traffic for your morning meeting, you have a jam-packed schedule. Sometimes, a trip to an auto repair shop can make your busy day even busier. With us, we strive to ensure your experience with us is stress-free and seamless, so you can continue to check items off your to-do list. Here are five ways we make auto repair convenient for you:  Complimentary loaner vehicles: while our technicians are servicing your vehicle, you can utilize one of our ten loaner cars to get where you need to be. Yes, you can make it to your son’s baseball game or your morning meeting.  Complimentary courtesy shuttle: our team can take wherever you need to go in the local area. Just because your car is in the shop doesn’t mean your day needs to come to a complete halt.  After Hours Drop-off and Pickup: you can quickly drop ... read more

Spring is almost here, which means we can say good-bye to chilly temperatures and say hello to green grass, sunny skies, and of course, that pesky pollen. Some of the outside elements can find their way into our vehicle, and we might see ourselves doing more sneezing instead of stepping on the gas. If you are looking to minimize the allergens in your vehicle and still enjoy the spring flowers, we recommend following these helpful tips:   Use the A/C system instead of rolling down the window. When you roll down the window to feel that breeze, you may be letting in several allergens. Wool seat covers and cloth floor mats are likely to trap dust mites, pollen, pet dander, and mold spores. If you can get rid of the wool seat covers and cloth floor mats, you can be saving yourself from being exposed to several allergens. Mold can cling to any wet towels, clothes, or leftover food you have in your vehicle. Remove any areas or items that may have excess moisture that can lead to ... read more

Whether it's a vehicle's first winter or fifteenth, it's important to properly prepare it to handle dropping temperatures and inclement weather. Here's a maintenance checklist to make sure cars are ready for winter. Test the Battery  Batteries expend more energy in cold, winter weather than they do during warmer months. A weak battery may die more quickly when temperatures drop. Before it gets too cold, drivers should consider testing the voltage of their car's battery and replacing it if necessary. Check Lighting Conditions When winter comes, most car owners take lower temperatures and other conditions into account. However, it's easy to forget that winter also means fewer daylight hours. Before the days begin to shorten, it's important to make sure that a vehicle's lights are in good shape, which means clearing up foggy or yellow lights and making any necessary repairs or replacements. Top Off Antifreeze Antifreeze keeps the engine from reac ... read more

Anyone who drives a gasoline car regularly should be familiar with the most common types of maintenance, especially when overlooking them can compromise one's safety. In addition to damaging the performance and mechanics of the car itself, neglecting to change spark plugs regularly can put drivers at risk of untimely or dangerous breakdowns. Here's how to know when to replace spark plugs. What Is a Spark Plug? Spark plugs are composed of a metal center electrode, an outer casing made of steel, and a ceramic insulator which contains an air gap. While the car runs, the spark plug transfers an electrical charge of very high voltage from the ignition coil outside of the engine and brings it into the combustion chamber inside of the engine. This results in a spark which lights the fuel in the engine, giving the car energy. The Lifespan of a Spark Plug How long a spark plug can go before being replaced varies by what type of spark plug is in the car. Copper tip spark plugs can la ... read more