Rocklin and Sacramento Auto Repair

Every car in Sacramento California is at risk for theft. So it's up to us to make our cars a less appealing target and more of a challenge – hopefully sending potential thieves to look elsewhere. The National Insurance Crime Bureau recommends a layered approach to protecting vehicles: Common sense Visible and audible devices Immobilizing devices Tracking devices Let's review each of these. First, common sense: you would be surprised how many vehicles are stolen from Sacramento California where the keys were left in the ignition with the doors unlocked. Always take your keys, and lock the doors. In fact, in some places it's against the law to leave a vehicle unattended with the keys in the ignition. And don't leave spare keys in the car or hide them outside – because a thief will find them. Try to park in well-lit areas that have a lot of foot traffic. If possible, park near the end of a ... read more

Most people in the Sacramento area are aware that automotive manufacturers have recommended service intervals. Following recommended service intervals is very important. The engineers that design our vehicles have tested the various systems and components to meet durability and safety standards. Some of these standards are self-imposed and others, like those for emissions components, are government mandated for areas in California.The maintenance schedules are designed to achieve the standards. Think of the benefits of following recommended intervals as falling into three general categories: Protection, Efficiency and Safety.Protection. Let's start with motor oil. First of all, the engineers recommend a particular weight and type of motor oil for your vehicle. All of their oil change recommendations assume using the proper motor oil. Motor oil contains detergents and other additives that clean the engine and provide corrosion resistanc ... read more

With high fuel prices in Sacramento, California, comes lots of gas saving advice. Some of it, like what you hear on   is great.  When you get one of those e-mails that's going around telling you how to save gas, try to think it through.Does it really make sense? Does it defy the laws of physics?Do some research on the internet or ask your Sacramento, California, service advisor at Made In America Made In Japan.There aren't any magic pills you can drop in your gas tank, and the government hasn't suppressed a device you can clamp on your fuel line to make your vehicle run on air. Not even in Sacramento!So next time you get one of those e-mails, check it out with an automotive professional. You'll get more bang for your buck with an oil change or an engine air filter replacement.We're here for you at Made In America Made In Japan, so give us a call at 916-442-3287 for good honest advice about your vehicle. Made In Amer ... read more

So you love your job, and your family life is great. Congratulations! You have achieved balance. But can you say the same for your wheels? Sacramento drivers can tell if their tires are out of balance by vibrations at higher speeds on California roads. If one of the front tires is out, you feel the vibration in the steering wheel. If it's a back tire, you'll feel the vibration in your seat.Tires and wheels are pretty heavy. When a tire is mounted on a wheel at Made In America Made In Japan, it is usually not perfectly balanced. So the technician will spin the tire on a machine to determine where it's too heavy. He will then place weights on the wheels in strategic locations to balance it out. When a tire is out of balance, it actually bounces down the road instead of rolling smoothly. Since the average size tire rotates at about 850 revolutions per minute at 60 mph/97 kph, it is actually slamming into the pavement 14 times a second. That's where you get your vibration.Most people in S ... read more

Something you're going to be hearing a lot about around Sacramento, California, is diesel engines. We're not talking about semi-trucks and buses; we're talking about diesel engine cars, pick-ups and SUVs.Most people in California are surprised to learn that around half the cars on the road in Europe have diesel engines. Nearly all import brands offer a range of diesel engines abroad – even the ultra-luxury brands like Mercedes and BMW. For the most part, these diesel engines haven't been available in Sacramento, California. But that's about to change.In the past, North American diesel fuel has had a much higher sulfur content than European fuel. Recent environmental laws have required changes in diesel formulation and emissions standards here in Sacramento, California, so we are now ready to start seeing more diesel options offered over the next few years.Why are so many Sacramento drivers interested in diesel engines? Well first off, diesel fuel is more energy d ... read more

When I was a kid, my dad always made sure he took the cars in for Spring and Fall checkups. I was telling a friend that it's about time to get into Made In America Made In Japan for a checkup and he said that he read on the internet that modern cars don't need seasonal service.My friend is (technically) right about some things, but from a practical standpoint, a seasonal check up still makes sense.Back when my dad was teaching me about how to take care of the family vehicle, most of them used a different weight of oil in the winter and in the summer. But most of today's modern engines run the same oil year round. High-tech engines and high-tech motor oils are better able to handle the seasonal changes.Your owner's manual or Sacramento service advisor at Made In America Made In Japan can tell you the right oil to use.Of course, you're concerned about the coolant or antifreeze. You don't want to overheat in the Cali ... read more

Today we want to talk about your engine air filter.  That’s the filter that cleans the air before it’s burned in your engine.  People wonder how often they should change their engine air filter.  The simple answer is when it’s dirty.  That’s a function of how much air has passed through the filter, so your manufacturer will recommend a mileage interval for replacing the air filter.  But you can imagine that how dirty the air is would affect how quickly the filter gets filled.  If you drive where there’s lots of dust, pollution or pollen, your engine air filter will get dirty more quickly and need to be changed sooner.  That’s why we check the air filter with every full-service oil change.  We can visually tell if the filter needs to be changed. Your filter can only hold so much dirt.  Once the filter is full, dirt will pass through to the engine.  This dirt gums up the combustion chamber and hurts fue ... read more

  Which item is most often stolen from vehicles in Sacramento?Is it: Stereo Wheels Air Bag DVD System Well, if you said stereo – you used to be right. But airbags have now surpassed stereos as the biggest target for theft in California – approximately 50,000 a year are stolen across the country. New airbags cost about $1,000, but go for $50 to $200 on the black market in California.Stolen airbags are making their way back into cars that have been in an accident. Of course, the danger to the consumer of having a stolen airbag installed is that you can never be sure what may have previously affected them and if they will work right when you need them. Contact us at Made In America Made In Japan for more information about where to get your airbags checked or replaced.Find us at 1200 I St, Sacramento, California 95814You can reach us by phone at: 916-442-3287 There are reports that 1 in 25 airbag r ... read more

No matter how well they're made, vehicles in Sacramento, California, will have design or manufacturing problems. And when the government thinks a problem is really serious for people in Sacramento, California, they require the manufacturer to issue a recall notice and fix the vehicle  free of charge. The manufacturer then tries to contact everyone in California who owns that type of vehicle to get the recall work done. Perhaps you have received a postcard notifying you of a recall. The government has links on its websites, or just visit AutoNetTV for links. There are many websites with free recall information and searches. There's CarFax, AutoByTel and the DMV.Recalls are serious but not all that common. Sometimes there are fewer issues, and for these, manufacturers issue a Technical Service Bulletin, or TSB, that tells service centers like Made In America Made In Japan how to repair a frequent or difficult problem ... read more

With front-wheel drive being so common these days in Sacramento, California, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most Sacramento drivers don't even have to think about it. And rear-wheel drive differentials don't need to be serviced for years, so it's understandable that it's not something on the top of Sacramento customers' minds. It's not uncommon for drivers to not know they have a differential let alone know that it needs service. Call Made In America Made In Japan in Sacramento at 916-442-3287 for information about differential service, or stop by our Sacramento, California, auto center at 1200 I St, 95814. To better understand what a differential does, think about our local Sacramento high school track. There are lanes marked off on the track. For the longer distance races, the starting lines are staggered. The starting lines for the outside lanes are ahead of the starting lines for the in ... read more