Rocklin and Sacramento Auto Repair

When you’re driving and you hear a squeal or groan when you turn, it may be a sign your power steering pump is on its last legs.  The same is true if you feel your steering is slipping or doesn’t respond to your hands like it used to.   Precise, responsive steering is, of course, important when it comes to safe driving, so this is something you should have one of our technicians look at sooner rather than later.   There are different types of power steering pumps, and they all perform a similar function.  They make it easier for you to turn the steering wheel with little effort as the power steering system multiplies that force so you can precisely aim a vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds.   The type of power steering pump your vehicle has depends on the power steering system it uses.  One works by hydraulics, taking energy provided by belts driven by the engine which pressurizes power steering fluid to the wheels.  There are a lot of ... read more

Every day that goes by, our bodies get a little more wear and tear on them.  Our vehicles have the same issue.  The older we get and the farther we travel, certain parts start showing some wear.   Think of your hips. There are parts of our vehicles that are similar to them; just like hips allow your legs to pivot in several directions, your vehicle has similar parts called ball joints, and they connect your vehicle’s wheels to the suspension, allowing them to move together.  These ball joints get a good workout every time the vehicle is moving, especially on bumpy roads.   Usually, these joints are well lubricated with grease, so they’ll work smoothly and quietly. They’re surrounded by a rubber sleeve called a boot, but that can wear out with age or exposure to moisture or debris.  When the rubber breaks, the grease can leak out, and damage accelerates. When the ball joints start wearing out, you may start to hear clunking sounds that com ... read more

Your vehicle’s engine is an engineering work of wonder with many complex parts working in harmony to get you down the road. One of those simple but important components is called a serpentine belt. It is driven by a pulley on the engine and transfers that power to many of your engine’s most important components.  The serpentine belt may drive the alternator, water pump, power steering pump and air conditioning compressor.   When it’s working like it should, you won’t even notice the serpentine belt.  But when it starts to fail, you may hear a squealing noise coming from under the hood as the belt starts slipping.  Heat and time take their toll on the serpentine belt, causing it to crack or even to start shredding.  When this happens, it may not drive your alternator correctly, and your battery light may come on.  If the water pump isn’t turning, your engine may overheat, causing the heat gauge to show hotter than usual. When t ... read more

Regardless of whatever current gas prices may be, if you could use less gas, wouldn’t you? Well, here are 10 things that are robbing you of better fuel economy that you can change for the better:    •    Not enough air in your tires.  Underinflated tires have a smaller rolling diameter and more resistance to rolling.  Keep them inflated properly, plus ask us about more fuel-efficient tires.    •    Faulty oxygen sensor.  A faulty or dirty oxygen sensor can cause your engine to burn too rich a mixture of air and fuel.  That can also trigger a Check Engine light.  Have us check yours.    •    Oil age and type.  Contaminated or improper viscosities of engine oil can create more resistance in your engine.  Have regular oil changes and consider newer high-mileage oils.    •    Bad wheel alignment.  When your wheels aren’t lined up straight ... read more