San Carlos Auto Repair

You have a busy day ahead of you -- you get in your vehicle, ready to run to the grocery store for some supplies and then make it back in time for your morning meeting when you notice your check engine light flashing incessantly on your dashboard. You decide you will get it checked tomorrow; you are just too busy today. But a few days go by, the light stays on, and you finally remember that your check engine light needs to be looked at.  When you see that check engine light illuminated on your dashboard, we recommend reacting right away and scheduling an appointment with the technicians at A+ Japanese Auto Repair for an appointment. When the light appears on your dash, you might only have a short period to bring your vehicle to qualified technicians to prevent more extensive problems. Here are five reasons why you shouldn't ignore your check engine light because it may mean any of these easily preventable problems:  Loose Gas Cap: The air-tight seal for your fuel system ... read more

School is just around the corner. Some of us might have little ones that aren’t so little anymore and need a vehicle. This is a big decision for any parent, as you need a safe, secure, and affordable vehicle. The team at A+ Japanese Auto Repair is here to help you evaluate the vehicle right for you and your son or daughter. Of course, safety always comes first.    The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently changed its system for its Top Safety Picks and Top Safety Pick Plus winners, making it a lot harder for vehicles to make the cut.  The safest cars are in the Top Safety Pick Plus category -- they need to earn a Good rating in all crash tests, get Advanced or Superior scores for front crash prevention, and come with Acceptable or Good rated headlights. Before this system change, automakers could install higher rated headlights on various models and still make the cut. However, this year, they have to meet the other criteria.    The Top Saf ... read more

You are driving down the road with your family. Each of you is hugely excited for the day at the beach, enjoying the warm summer, when your engine starts to smoke. You immediately pull over amid the confused and concerned comments of your passengers. Do you know what to do next, specifically do you know how to handle an overheating vehicle?    If you ever find yourself dealing with an overheated vehicle, we want you to be prepared. Most likely, heat isn’t able to escape the engine, which can be caused by a cooling system leak, damaged radiator fan, broken water pump, or even a clogged coolant hose.  A few things to note before checking your vehicle's cooling system. Navigate your vehicle to a safe place before getting out of the vehicle. Freeways and city streets can be very dangerous. If you find yourself stuck in the middle of a freeway, it has been advised not to get out of the vehicle. Call for help and wait for assistance.  B ... read more

With summer almost here, we might be getting a little stir crazy, spending all this time indoors. With shelter in place in the Bay area, one thing we all learned is that “it is not about the destination, but the journey.” You can quickly get out on the road and explore the Bay Area from the comfort and safety of your vehicle. It doesn’t matter if you are looking for a drive through the redwood trees or along the coast, California, specifically the Bay Area, has something for everybody.    Here are six scenic drives to take in the Bay Area:    Skyline Boulevard (Route 35): This mountain ridge road is often overlooked, but if you are looking to step on the brakes and appreciate the views and scenery, Skyline Boulevard is perfect for you. We recommend stopping at the vista points and capture this moment with a photograph.  Panoramic Highway: If you are looking for a tour of Northern California’s most scen ... read more

Most driving accidents are caused by human error, and many accidents can be avoided with these ten tips. At our auto repair shop, our goal is the safety of you and your vehicle. We recommend following these ten driver safety tips:  It is no surprise that number one of the list is vehicle maintenance. Whether it’s bald tires, brakes, a low battery, or a slow leak, if your vehicle is unsafe, our technicians at A+ Japanese Auto Repair will be able to quickly and accurately assess and fix the issue. Preventative maintenance doesn’t just extend the life of your car, but it keeps your vehicle driving safely and smoothly.  Make sure to practice defensive driving. Defensive driving involves maintaining a safe distance between you and other vehicles, while also not speeding. On the other hand, aggressive driving increases the risk of accidents. An aggressive driver typically will aggravate other drivers, creating a more dangerous and ris ... read more

We can officially say goodbye to winter, as spring is officially here! Spring means falling leaves, golden rays of sunlight peeking out behind the clouds, and of course, spring cleaning. The team at A+ Japanese Auto Repair doesn’t want you to forget about your vehicle this spring. During winter, your vehicle accumulates a massive amount of dust and debris. Spring is the perfect time to give your car a thorough cleaning. Here are some tips and tricks for spring cleaning:  Start with the outside:  Make sure to scrub your tires with a tire-cleaning spray and brush.  Wash your vehicle bumper-to-bumper. We recommend washing your car twice in a row.  Don’t forget about the underbody of your vehicle. A lot of debris and dirt can gather on your car’s underbody during wintertime.  Dry your vehicle with a microfiber cloth when all finished.  Now, you’re ready for your vehicle’s interior:  Carefully search your vehicle, includi ... read more

Your tires are the only thing that maintains contact with the road. As you can imagine, they are essential to your safety on the road as you drive through San Carlos. Some tires require specific makes and models, and each tire has a different price and purpose. No tire is equal. The team at A+ Japanese Auto Repair is here to help you understand your tires.    Here are five things that every car owners need to know about tires:    Price: Usually, with tires, you get what you pay for. There are many suppliers out there that offer excellent tires at an affordable price. If the price of a tire seems too good to be true, don’t hesitate to ask our team. We can also point you in the right direction if you have any questions about tires.  Different Cars: When you purchase your car, it will come with a specified set of tires designed for your vehicle’s brakes, smooth handling, or steering response. If you decide to replace your tires with new ones, you wil ... read more

In cold weather conditions, your car has to work much harder. It takes much longer for your engine to reach fuel-efficient temperature, especially if you are making several short trips. Heated seats, window defrosters, and heater fans use additional power as well, adding to winter just not being a fuel-efficient season. Your battery is working harder too -- your battery’s performance decreases in cold weather, so it is especially hard for your alternator keep your battery charged.  With all this being said, there are several tips and tricks you can use to maximize your car’s fuel economy in the winter:  If you can, park your car in a warmer place, so you can increase the initial temperature of your cabin and engine.  Combine trips so you are driving less often with a cold engine.  Don’t let your car idle more than 30 seconds to warm it up. Your engine actually warms up faster while you drive.  Minimize your use of seat warmers or defroste ... read more

The holidays are one of the busiest times of the year. The team at A+ Japanese Auto Repair are here to make sure you stay safe during the holidays, especially with holiday traffic. The roads will be absolutely packed, which is why the team at A+ Japanese Auto Repair has put together a few tips and tricks to keep you safe on the road during holiday traffic:  91% of holiday travel will be completed by personal vehicles, which means the roads will be packed with drivers frantically getting to their destination. It is important to be mindful of this.  Plan your route ahead of time. Many apps allow you to input your address ahead of time to see which routes are the safest and fastest. You can even input your desired arrival time, and these apps will tell you when to leave to make it there on time. Decide when you want to leave. Leaving a few days before Christmas can save you a headache and allow you to spend much-needed time with your loved ones.  Prepare for the long li ... read more

  We all love the magic of Halloween, from trick-or-treating to classroom parties and even the occasional trip to a haunted house. Even though Halloween can be fun and festive, it can take a turn for the worst. Take a look at this scary statistic: children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than any other day of the year.  Here are some Halloween safety tips to make sure your Halloween night stays safe and spooky for all the right reasons:  A responsible adult should accompany young children on any trick-or-treating routes.  Make sure you only travel in well-lit, familiar areas.  When crossing the street, put those electronic devices down, keep your eyes and head up, and walk calmly across the street.  Avoid masks, if possible, as they can obstruct vision.  Consider fastening reflective tape to costumes and bags, or even give your children glow sticks for maximum visibility.  All costumes, wigs, and a ... read more