Palo Alto Auto Repair

Halloween is one of the most anticipated times of the year for young children. To help keep trick-or-treaters as safe as possible, Palo Alto Shell reminds motorists to drive slowly, especially through neighborhoods, to be extra careful when entering or exiting driveways or alleyways, and to be car care aware by making sure their vehicle’s brakes, lights and wipers are working properly. 1. Brakes A vehicle’s brake system is the most critical safety item on a vehicle, but brakes wear out and eventually need replacement. Several factors that affect brake wear include driving habits, operating conditions, vehicle type and the quality of the brake lining material. Never put off routine brake inspections or any needed repairs, such as letting the brakes get to the “metal-to-metal” point, which can be potentially dangerous and lead to more costly repairs. 2. Windshield Wipers & Fluid A dirty windshield may look spooky but does not help to ... read more

October is Fall Car Care Month. Why not take a little time to be car care aware and make sure your vehicle is ready for the harsh winter weather ahead? Let Palo Alto Shell show you a few simple steps now can save you the headaches and cost of an emergency breakdown later. 1. Battery - Keep the battery connections clean, tight and corrosion-free. Cold weather is hard on batteries, so it’s wise to check the battery and charging system. Because batteries don’t always give warning signs before they fail, it is advisable to replace batteries that are more than three years old. 2. Heater, Defrosters and Wiper Blades - Check that the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system are working properly as heating and cooling performance is critical for interior comfort and for safety reasons, such as defrosting. Fall is also a great time to check your air filters. Wiper blades that are torn, cracked or don’t properly clean yo ... read more

Most vehicle owners are aware that a car tune-up and preventative maintenance services are small investments in their vehicle that will repay them with dividends in improved fuel economy, longer engine life and cleaner air. You can protect that investment by establishing and following a maintenance plan. Check your owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule. Is a Tune Up Still Necessary Today? Even today’s modern vehicle should have a tune up to ensure you get the maximum reliability and safety from the vehicle you depend upon daily. A car tune up is an orderly process of inspection, diagnosis, testing, and adjustment that is necessary periodically to maintain peak engine performance or restore the engine to original operating efficiency. Over the years, ignition systems have become much more dependable. Many engines don’t even have distributors anymore, but use a DIS or Direct Ignition System instead. These systems e ... read more