San Carlos Auto Repair

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

Winter is coming! With winter almost here, many of us will bring out the warmer jackets and scarves as we prepare for those chilly temperatures. Many of us don’t realize that it is important to prepare our vehicles for winter too. The process is called winterizing your vehicle.  We recognize that there is so much to do during the winter months, especially during the holiday season. At A+ Japanese Auto Repair, we want you to be able to rely on your vehicle during these busy times. To make sure you can depend on your vehicle during winter, bring your vehicle to A+ Japanese Auto Repair. To make sure your vehicle is ready for winter, our technicians will examine these components, along with others:  Oil change: An oil change is a quintessential example of preventative maintenance, but you would be surprised to learn how many people forget about this service. When the weather drops, the cold will cause your oil to thicken. When your oil is too thick, it can’t lubricat ... read more

We can’t believe how fast the year is going. Soon enough, the holidays will be upon us! This year, Thanksgiving falls on November 26, which will be here before you know it. We recognize that holidays might be different this year in the wake of COVID-19.  AAA reports that there are typically 50 million drivers out on the road during Thanksgiving week on a typical year. Along with the increased number of drivers, there are often poor weather conditions, reducing visibility and road traction. The team at A+ Japanese Auto Repair doesn’t want you to worry, as we are here to help prepare you for the upcoming holiday traffic.  Schedule an appointment today at A+ Japanese Auto Repair today, and our team will thoroughly examine your vehicle. We are conveniently located at 780 Industrial Road, San Carlos, CA 94070, 650-946-1856 Not ready for service yet? Stop by for our Free Pit Stop Service. We will have our auto repair technicians in San Carlos check your under hood fl ... read more

California is experiencing a record number of wildfires across the state, and these fires lead to a vast amount of smoke and ash. The team at A+ Japanese Auto Repair would like to thank all the firefighters working so diligently to keep our communities safe and sound. Next, we hope each one of our customers is safe and healthy during this troubling time. The influx of smoke and ash in the atmosphere can also negatively affect our vehicles, specifically your cabin air filter.  Your cabin air filter keeps particles, including dust, dirt, pollen, bacteria, and ash, from entering your cabin. The state of your cabin air filter is directly related to the quality of the air you and your passengers breathe in your cabin. A new cabin air filter will be sparkling white, but you might find the air filter blackened with ash and other debris after a relentless fire season. If your cabin air filter is filled with dirt and grime, your risk of breathing contaminated air rises significantly.  ... read more

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 ... 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 ... 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 scenic geography ... 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