Palo Alto Auto Repair

There are some things on your vehicle that you should have confidence in and never worry about. Is everyone buckled up? Do I have a full tank of gas? Your vehicle should make you feel safe and secure, and keep you and your loved ones safe throughout your travel. It goes then, without much, saying that you also need to be confident in your brakes. This function is the one thing keeping you out of harm’s way in the event of an accident or road hazard. Think about it, you do not want to find out in the middle of a busy highway when everyone has slammed on their brakes that yours have not been properly maintained or are failing. Knowing that your brakes are in great condition will keep you safe, and prevent a leading cause for many accidents on the road. There are several checks that you can do on your brakes, but the best advice is to get your brakes checked frequently. Your mechanic can do this easily with every tire rotation or oil change. Your brakes should be insp ... read more

Soon spring will be in the air and with it comes pollen, dust and pollutants that are drawn inside vehicles through air conditioning and ventilation systems. Cabin air filters clean the incoming air, removing allergens, and should be replaced regularly. “A dirty or clogged cabin air filter can cause contaminants to become so concentrated in the cabin that passengers actually breathe in more fumes and particles when riding in the car than when walking down the street. With allergy season quickly approaching, replacing the cabin air filter is a simple way for you and your passengers to breathe easier while driving. A restricted cabin air filter can cause musty odors in the vehicle and impair airflow in the HVAC system, possibly causing interior heating and cooling problems. Over time, the heater and air conditioner may also become damaged by corrosion. In addition to trapping pollen, bacteria, dust and exhaust gases, the cabin air filter prevents ... read more

I think we’ve all faced this question at some point in our lives, usually following a stressful roadside breakdown or a costly repair estimate from another local Palo Alto auto repair shop. Once you get past the initial stress of the situation, you might begin to weigh your options, research new and used vehicles, or swear off driving all-together. When it’s all said and done, the decision typically comes down to one major factor…cost. What may surprise you is: In most cases it’s more cost effective to get your car repaired than buy a new car. This is especially true if your current vehicle is paid off. Sometimes people can forget to take into account that even if your initial downpayment on a new car is cheaper than the cost of your repairs, your new car also comes with a whole new set of payments – every month! Palo Alto Shell’s advice? If your car or truck still fits your needs, keep it. Don’t fo ... read more