San Carlos & Valley Springs Auto Repair

Check engine light coming on is not a happy moment, but it does not necessarily mean major problems. Your Toyota’s onboard computer may illuminate the check engine light for one of hundreds of reasons – and many of them can be fairly benign. As long as the check engine light is not flashing, and you don’t feel any misfires, you have time to look for a “mechanic near me” and to bring your Toyota to a shop for check engine light diagnostics. While there are literally hundreds of reasons why the check engine light might come on, the most frequent ones include gas cap that does not hold pressure and worn out spark plugs. Either one of these conditions is easily corrected. Naturally there will be times when the check engine light requires in-depth diagnostics and expensive repairs, but you should not assume this at the outset. At Toole’s Garage in Valley Springs we can diagnose the check engine light and tell you exactly what’s necessary to fix ... read more

Control arm replacement is an infrequent repair, but as we keep our cars longer and longer (national average is over 14 years), it becomes more likely that control arms may fail. After all, they help the vehicle to remain in full contact with the ground and help us to maintain control – but to do so, they get a workout every time we drive the car. When the control arms start to fail, you will likely hear popping noise when driving over bumps, and car might veer to the side when driving. Uneven tire wear is also one of the symptoms of control arms going bad. So if you notice any of these symptoms, bring  your vehicle to our Valley Springs auto garage, and our nationally ASE certified mechanics will inspect your vehicle and let you know what it will take to fix it. In most cases we can replace control arms the same day, so you will have your vehicle back soon, ready for the road. Toole’s Garage is a family owned and operated auto repair facility in Valley Springs, and ... read more

Toole’s Garage, the premier Valley Springs auto care facility, offers broad range of suspension services and repairs, including control arm bushing replacement. Control arm bushings play a vital role in connecting control arms to the frame. Without them the control arms would wear out fast and a ride would be a noisy one. So what are the signs of bushings needing replacement? If you hear suspension squeaking when going over bumps, or you hear knocking sound (that’s likely metal-to-metal contact – something bushings are supposed to prevent), there is a good chance control arm bushings are failing. When you bring your vehicle to our Valley Springs auto care shop, our nationally ASE certified technicians will inspect your vehicle and we will let you know the root cause of the problem. Bushings can usually be replaced the same day, so if you drop off the car in the morning, it will be waiting for you before the day is over. All repairs performed by our mechanics are cov ... read more

Your Honda’s suspension keeps your ride controlled and comfortable. At Toole’s Garage in Valley Springs we offer full range of suspension services and repairs. Shocks, struts, ball joints, tie rods – whatever your Honda needs, our nationally ASE certified technicians can diagnose the problem and repair your vehicle, usually the same day. Suspension problems can develop for a variety of reason, most frequent being passage of time. As your Honda ages, things wear out and will need to be replaced. But since they usually wear out slowly, it’s easy to miss the signs. It’s only after the suspension has been repaired that we notice how much smoother the ride is, and the better vehicle control. Here are a few signs that indicate that it’s a good idea to have the suspension checked out by a professional mechanic: Unusual noises If you hear noises from the suspension when driving over a bump, or uneven road, it’s time to take your Ho ... read more

Despite the spring rains, we know that the warmer weather is coming, and you will rely on your Honda’s air conditioning to keep you cool while cruising the highways. At Toole’s Garage in Valley Springs we offer full range of Honda a/c services. Like other parts of your vehicle, the AC might develop faults that affect its performance and this can make spring and summer driving a challenge. That’s why we recommend that you get a jump start on the ac system repairs. Below is a list of items you may wish to consider before it gets hot outside. Signs that your Honda’s a/c needs repair: If you notice any of the symptoms below, call your local auto repair shop and bring your Honda in for an a/c checkup. No air Kind of obvious, but often we don’t really notice the “no air” condition until we need that cold air blast. So check that the system blows cold air on demand. Strange noises If you hear any ... read more

Regular oil change is one of the simplest, yet one of the most important maintenance services that will keep you BMW humming through the years. Fresh engine oil not only has the correct chemical and mechanical properties, but it also carries away dirt and gunk that gets created when various moving parts of the engine work in close proximity. The longer the interval between oil changes, the greater the degradation of the oil’s chemical and mechanical properties due to age and heat, and also, the greater the amount of gunk and dirt that the engine oil circulates through the engine – because engine oil filter has a limited capacity to filter out all those impurities. That’s why with every oil change professional mechanics also provide a fresh oil filter, so the system can work as designed, and provide maximum lubrication and cleaning for the engine. The rule of thumb says that you should have your BMW go through an oil change every 5000 miles (if using 100% synthetic o ... read more