San Carlos & Valley Springs Auto Repair

Buick is a venerable brand that we fully support at Toole’s Garage in Valley Springs – from oil change and brake repair to check engine light diagnostics, transmission service, auto air conditioning refill and repairs, and major engine repairs as well. Our nationally ASE certified technicians are some of the best in the country, and will treat your Buick with the care it deserves. Whether you drive Buick Regal, or one of the Avenir Buicks, our Valley Springs auto care facility has the cutting-edge equipment, access to the latest Buick repair information databases, and we provide our clients with a 36 month / 36,000 mile nationwide warranty. We are big fans of following manufacturer’s schedule of services. These not only involve oil changes and other fluids changes, but also call for inspections of various sub-systems of your Buick, to catch any developing problems early, and to keep your Buick reliable and ready to take you places at a moment’s notice. At our ... read more

Do you know what makes your engine tick? What determines how efficiently and powerfully your engine runs? The answer is engine timing, a complex and crucial process that synchronizes the movement of your engine's valves and pistons. Engine timing is responsible for regulating the combustion of fuel and air in your engine, which translates into the power and performance of your vehicle. Let's take a closer look at this fascinating component! The Basics - What is Engine Timing? Engine timing refers to the coordination of the opening and closing of the engine's valves in relation to the movement of the pistons. This synchronization is not a mere mechanical formality but a carefully calculated maneuver that ensures the engine operates at its optimal efficiency. Ignition Timing Ignition timing, a vital subset of engine timing, governs the preci ... read more

Servicing your Prius should be a regular affair, both to keep your Prius in top shape, and also to prevent unnecessary repairs. Fortunately, Prius vehicles rarely break down, but regular service is what keeps even those rare repairs at bay. Oil change is, naturally, the most frequent, and some would argue, most important service. Regular oil changes extend engine life. They are doubly important for Prius vehicles, though, because most Prius models tend towards excessive oil consumption. Some of the older Prius vehicles can consume as much as 1 quart per 1000 miles driven. At Toole’s Garage in Valley Springs, we recommend that you check engine oil regularly, and top it off every 1000 – 2000 miles, especially if  your Prius tends to consume engine oil in large quantity ( your vehicle should consume very little engine oil between oil changes – 1 quart over 5000 miles would be considered borderline excessive). Another reason to bring your Prius to our Valley Sprin ... read more

Prius vehicles continue to be some of the most popular cars on the Bay Area roads. Well-known for their reliability and longevity (300,000 miles for a well maintained Prius is not unusual). However, with that longevity come some repairs – in the case of a typical Prius it may mean inverter replacement. Prius inverters have not been trouble free - Toyota did issue a recall for Prius inverter related problems. Some vehicles suffered thermal damage to the system which may result in inverter failure. In addition, on older Prius vehicles, the inverter can simply fail due to age. Typical symptoms of the inverter problem is your Prius going into neutral, and hybrid system warning and power steering warning coming “on”. This could indicate that inverter replacement may be a necessity. To be sure, and to avoid blindly “throwing parts” at a problem, we recommend taking your Prius to a professional mechanic who specializes in hybrid vehicles. Our San Carlos auto ca ... read more

If your RAM Promaster City needs service, or diagnostics or repairs, Toole’s Garage in San Carlos offers complete Promaster care. Our nationally ASE certified technicians have extensive RAM diagnostic experience, and use state-of-the-art digital diagnostic tools to get to the bottom of any problem your RAM may exhibit. Whether it’s the heated seat is not working, or your Promaster City has electrical system problem, we can get to root cause of the issue and get it fixed. If your Promaster City is a fleet vehicle, inquire about our priority fleet service – we want to get your van back on the road so it’s making you money. When you bring your vehicle to our San Carlos auto repair facility, our friendly service advisors will take great care of you and your vehicle, and you can also expect a free digital vehicle inspection that will keep you up to date about the condition of your Promaster, and a nationwide 36 months / 36,000 miles warranty on all repairs performe ... read more

Toole’s Garage is a family owned auto care facility that provides comprehensive San Carlos Dodge RAM 1500 services and repairs. We can be a one-stop San Carlos repair shop for all your Dodge RAM 1500 maintenance, repair and tire needs. Whether you own one vehicle or a fleet (we offer priority fleet service), our friendly service advisors and highly skilled technicians will do their utmost to keep your vehicle(s) in top shape. When you bring your Dodge to our San Carlos auto repair facility, our nationally ASE certified technicians will use state-of-the-art digital diagnostics tools to find the cause of the problems you Dodge is exhibiting and will get it repaired and ready for service – usually the same day. Our technicians can work on the entire Dodge RAM 1500 line of pickups, including EcoDiesel vehicles, HEMI-powered Dodge RAM 1500 Rebel, or the Dodge RAM 1500 Laramie Longhorn crew cab. All services and repairs performed by our technicians are backed by a nationwide ... read more

Brakes are probably the second most vital safety item on your vehicle – right after the steering system. At Toole’s Garage in Valley Springs we offer comprehensive brake services. Whether your Toyota needs new brake pads, or your Chevy Silverado needs brake fluid change, or your Ford F-150 needs brake inspection – our technicians, certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), will get your vehicle’s brakes serviced and get it ready for the road. Our Valley Springs auto care facility offers full range of automotive services, but we consider brake service to be especially important. When you bring your vehicle to our shop, you will be greeted by our friendly service advisors, and can expect superior customer service, local shuttle for your convenience and 36 months / 36,000 mile warranty for your peace of mind. Modern brakes, whether disc brakes or drum brakes require regular service and inspections. Brake lines could go bad, stick ... read more

Toole’s Garage in San Carlos is the premier hybrid vehicle care center. We provide comprehensive hybrid services and repairs, including Prius head gasket replacement. Prius vehicles are well known for their reliability and longevity, but with advanced age may come the need to replace a blown head gasket.   Symptoms of head gasket failure: One of the symptoms is that the onboard computer illuminates the “check engine” light. The good news is that the check engine light can come “on” for a wide range of problems – so it does not have to indicate head gasket replacement.   Rattling noise and shaking is a symptom of misfire – this can accompany a blown head gasket because it allows coolant to seep into a cylinder, which causes misfires. This symptom may go away after 20 seconds or so, but will return when a cold engine is started again. Both of these symptoms indicate serious problems, so even though they may not mean a head gasket ... read more

If your BMW does not want to start, and you get the “BMW remote key not detected” message, it means your BMW is not receiving a signal from the key. If you get that message, chances are one of the following events occurred: Keyless operation system is damaged Your key fob is damaged – BMW key fob water damage is a real possibility You have just changed key fob battery, and the key fob needs to be reprogrammed Fob battery is dead Body Domain Control Unit (BDC) problem – this unit controls most of BMW’s electrical components. Hardware damage or damaged/outdated software could trigger Remote Key Not Detected message. Sounds silly, but sometimes we just grab the wrong key fob – if you own more than one BMW, it can happen. At Toole’s Garage in San Carlos we are intimately familiar with BMW vehicles, and can identify the root cause of the BMW Remote Key Not Detected message, fix the problem, and get you back on the road. So if your BMW will not ... read more

Understanding the relationship between a vehicle's cooling system and engine involves unraveling the practical mechanics that ensure optimal performance.  Engine Operation Basics At the core of a car's functionality is the engine, responsible for converting fuel and air into mechanical power. This process generates heat, necessitating a reliable cooling system to prevent overheating and maintain efficiency. The Role of the Radiator The radiator acts as a heat dissipator, efficiently cooling the circulating coolant. This fluid, facilitated by hoses and a water pump, absorbs heat from the engine, and as it flows through the radiator, ambient air cools it. This process is vital for preventing engine overheating. Coolant Circulation The coolant's circulation through the engine and radiator is a straightforward proces ... read more