San Carlos Auto Repair

By KM. Photo Common Toyota Problems You Need To Look Out For Toyota vehicles are known for their reliability and durability. However, even the most reliable cars need regular maintenance to keep them running smoothly. Ignoring routine maintenance can lead to more serious issues down the road and, ultimately, more money spent on costly repairs.   Let's discuss some of the most common vehicle problems with Toyota vehicles and how you can avoid them with proper preventative maintenance and a knowledgeable auto repair shop you can rely on.  Engine Oil Leaks  One of Toyota's most common service issues is engine oil leaks. Components become brittle or crack over time due to regular exposure to heat and pressure, causing oil leaks. To catch or prevent this issue from occurring, it's important that you have your vehicle inspected during the engine oil change (roughly every 5 thousand miles). Let’s make sure your vehicle’s seals remain properly lubric ... read more

Photo by Joshua Naidoo on Unsplash   Cracking the Code: Toyota's Codes Have you received diagnostic readers as gifts recently?    These tiny devices attach to your vehicle’s diagnostic system, allowing you to get the service codes behind warning lights on your dashboard. While they don’t have the range and depth of the sophisticated diagnostics we use at A+ Japanese Auto Repair, they can give a clue about what’s going wrong in your vehicle and where to proceed.    Understanding the problem is the beginning of finding an answer   It’s not enough to have the code. You will also need to understand what parts the code corresponds to and how the different codes in play wo ... 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

The story of A+ Japanese Auto Repair began in 1997 but continued to unfold in 2001 when Adam and Eric took over the facility from their parents. Our family-owned and operated shop provides quality auto repair, quality parts, and courteous service to customers in San Carlos, Belmont, Redwood City, Foster City, Woodside, and San Mateo. We are committed to ensuring you receive the best automotive repair for your Honda, Acura, Toyota, Lexus, Nissan, Infiniti, Subaru, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Kia, Scion, Hyundai, Isuzu, and hybrid vehicles.  Here is precisely what you can expect when you bring your vehicle to A+ Japanese Auto Repair:  We stand by our core values of integrity, quality, and commitment. We aim to become your lifelong auto repair shop. Together, we can enter a partnership to keep your Japanese vehicle performing in tip-top shape.  Our service advisors and technicians are ASE-Certified, and we continue to receive training to stay on top of the automotive industry.&nb ... read more

Modern vehicles are built with two air filters -- engine air filter and cabin air filter. Even though these filters have similar designs and construction, they each perform distinctly separate tasks. The team at A+ Japanese Auto Repair is here to help you understand how your cabin air filters and engine air filters function and why these components essential for both your health and your vehicle’s health.  Your vehicle has a complex intake system that pulls in the air for your engine’s internal combustion process. Your engine air filter is responsible for filtering out any dust and debris from your engine. This process ensures only clean air reaches your engine. When you bring your vehicle to our shop, we will look at your engine air filter for any signs of excessive dirt, grime, or debris. If needed, we will suggest a replacement. Without a pristine engine air filter, your vehicle’s overall performance might be diminished, as debris and dirt can obstruct combus ... read more

Congratulations! You just got through another winter! Since Spring is almost here, it is the perfect time for some spring cleaning. The team at A+ Japanese Auto Repair is here to remind you not to forget about your vehicle. Your vehicle, most likely, needs a little extra TLC after going through the winter weather.  With Spring quickly approaching, here are 4 items to check to get your vehicle ready for Spring:  Let's start with your windshield wiper blades. During the winter, your windshield wipers are working overdrive. Cold temperatures take a toll on your vehicle's rubber components, including your windshield wipers. Early Spring is the perfect time to examine and replace your windshield wipers, especially since we have all heard of the saying: "April showers bring May flowers."  Take time to inspect your tires! Rain on the roads can lead to slipping and sliding.  Be sure that your tires have the proper ... read more

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! This Day is the perfect time to show your appreciation and gratitude for that special someone in your life. If that special someone loves cars, the team at A+ Japanese Auto Repair is here to help. We can help you find the perfect gift for that car enthusiast in your life.  This task is relatively easy, seeing as the team at A+ Japanese Auto Repair are also car lovers. We would love any of these gifts if we received them from that special someone in our life. Here are 11 valentine’s day gifts for the car lover in your life:  Car Wash Kit: For many of us, our vehicles are a member of our family. With a car wash kit, your loved one can make their special vehicle spark and shine. You can purchase a complete car wash kit at an auto parts store.  Headlights Restoration Kit: Yellow, filmy headlights are the worst. With a headlight restoration kit, your special someone can get rid of those dull headlights.  Car Cove ... read more

First and foremost, the team at A+ Japanese Auto Repair would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! We can’t believe how fast the year went by. We are grateful that so many of our customers stuck by our side during these past months -- we couldn’t be more appreciative, and we look forward to seeing what 2021 holds for us.  If you are like the team at A+ Japanese Auto Repair, you will always improve as a car owner. We truly do love our vehicles -- imagine a day without them. Going into the New Year, we thought it would be helpful to come up with a few resolutions that will both help us be better car owners and save money in the long run:  Don’t forget about preventive maintenance! When it comes to your vehicle’s health, routine maintenance is critical. With regular appointments at A+ Japanese Auto Repair at the necessary intervals, you are not only an excellent car owner, but you are protecting one of the most important investments you will make in ... read more