San Carlos, Valley Springs, and Jackson Auto Repair

Toole’s Garage, the premier Valley Springs and Burson auto repair facility, provides comprehensive auto maintenance and repair services, including full range of Jeep services and repairs. From oil changes to engine repair and engine replacements, including, though not limited to, check engine light diagnostics and electric system problems, auto a/c refill and repair, brake services, transmission repair, shocks and struts, ball joints, tire repair and new tires – whatever your Jeep needs, our highly skilled, nationally ASE certified technicians, will find the problem and get it fixed. Toole’s Garage is a modern, family owned and operated auto repair facility serving Valley Springs, Burson and Wallace. You will find full range of Jeep services and repairs available at our auto repair shop. All work is backed by our industry leading 36 months / 36,000 miles nationwide warranty, and we provide free digital vehicle inspection with all services and repairs. So if “me ... read more

It’s hard to believe that MINI Cooper brand is over 50 years old. At Toole’s Garage in Valley Springs we are Mini fans, and our technicians can provide your Mini with comprehensive care – from oil change, to oil leak repair, suspension problems, clutch replacement, electrical issues, to major engine repairs – if  your Mini is ailing, we can bring it back to full health. Our family owned and operated Valley Springs auto care garage offers friendly service, modern, family friendly facility, highly experienced mechanics certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), and state-of-the-art digital diagnostic tools to talk to your Mini’s on-board computers. We have access to the latest technical information, as well as OE quality parts so that all work performed on your Mini is done right the first time.  As a matter of fact, we back our work with 36 month / 36,000 mile nationwide warranty.  For your convenience we a ... read more

Rough surfaces, potholes and bumps could wreck havoc on your Honda but the suspension system is why that doesn’t happen. It is responsible for delivering a comfortable driving experience by smoothing out the effects of the bumps and potholes. It also helps to keep your tires in contact with the ground, giving you controlled ride and preventing rollover accidents. Since it’s hard at work every day, over time various suspension components may wear down or even break. Toole’s Garage in San Carlos offers full range of suspension testing and repairs. Signs your Honda needs suspension repair Suspension deterioration usually happens gradually, over extended period of time, and we do not notice these gradual changes. Only when it’s repaired do we realize how much better the car handles, and how much smoother it rides. Here are some signs to watch out for: Oily shocks If the shocks are leaking oil, shock replacement is a necessity ... read more

As the weather gets colder and wetter, there are a few things to consider to make sure your car or truck is safe and comfortable for winter driving. Tires The grooves, channels and slits in your tire’s tread are carefully engineered to keep a small section of rubber in close contact with the road and channel water away from that “contact patch.” In most passenger vehicles, the tread pattern is designed to give you predictable grip during cornering, braking and accelerating, reduce noise, and provide biting edges when traveling on icy or snowy roads.  These “all-season” tires make some compromises at the limit, but offer a comfortable, safe and long-wearing tire. Some performance cars, though, come equipped with summer tires, designed for maximum grip on dry roads and in temperate climates, but they aren’t as good in bad weather, and certainly not intended for a winter trip to Tahoe.  Take a look at the sidewall and you&rs ... read more

As the weather gets colder and wetter, there are a few things to consider to make sure your car or truck is safe and comfortable for winter driving. Brakes Wet and slick roads increase stopping distances significantly, so you need to brake sooner, react more quickly, maintain longer following distances, and avoid abrupt steering and braking that might induce a skid. Make sure your brake pads and shoes are in good shape, with even wear and adequate thickness, and that your rotors are smooth and sound. Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air, which accumulates and reduces braking performance at the limit (when it really matters), and increases corrosion of brake lines and other parts of your braking system. Be sure to change your brake fluid every two years, regardless of mileage, and keep the system in good working order. Air Conditioning Now that you’re using the heater again, you may not be thinking much about your A/C ... read more

As the weather gets colder and wetter, there are a few things to consider to make sure your car or truck is safe and comfortable for winter driving. Windshield Chips and Cracks If you have a rock chip or small crack in your windshield, you may be able to repair the damage before it grows into a long crack.  Many auto insurance companies waive your deductible and pay for most or all of the repair if you fix rather than replace the windshield, so act quickly when the damage occurs.  When the weather dips near freezing, then warms later in the day, chips and cracks are more likely to worsen. And if you toss a bucket of hot water on your ice-cold windshield to clear the ice or snow, you might see a crack form immediately, just as you are heading off to work or the slopes. Like many things in auto repair, fix things before they fail or at the first sign of failure and you’ll often save money over the life of your car. ... read more

    Air conditioning   Your air conditioning system relies on a closed system that circulates refrigerant through a compressor, an evaporator, a drier and one or more heat exchangers to pull heat out of your car and dump it outside, leaving you 20 degrees or so cooler inside than out. O-rings and gaskets seal the joints in this system and keep the refrigerant inside.  Your compressor moves refrigerant through the system, where it expands to a gas then returns to liquid to “condition” the air without being used up.  Refrigerant gases are environmental hazards if released into the air, so we use special machines to evacuate them from your A/C system and return them after repairs.  When your car sits unused, the tiny seals inside your climate-control system can shrink slightly and let refrigerant escape. Over time, you may lose just enough refrigerant that your vents blow coolish but not cold because you’re low on refrigerant. We’ve ... read more

  Hybrid powertrains Hybrid powertrains rely on liquid coolant to remove heat from the electric motors, batteries and inverters, which are often hidden behind the rear seats, under the floor or in the trunk area, and rely on carefully managed airflow combined with special coolant and radiators.  I remember a Honda Insight that lost this coolant due to a rock striking the grille area, setting a check engine light on the dash.  The owner ignored the warning and kept driving the car, until forced to stop on the side of the road.  That tiny pebble caused the hybrid power system to overheat and take out some other components - several thousand dollars in repairs.  Hybrid batteries use the car’s engine to turn an alternator or an electric motor to charge them, maintaining a complex balance of power to provide brisk acceleration or electric-only driving, then burning fuel to recharge the battery bank and extend driving range.  These cars and trucks are des ... read more

  Rodent damage While you’ve been sheltering in place, rodents may have sheltered under your hood.  In the last couple of months, we’ve seen five or six cars with wiring damage along with remnants of nesting, eating and “visiting the powder room.” Some cars have very complex wiring harnesses that must be replaced as entire assemblies - expensive parts and extensive labor.  Sometimes, the first evidence is a rough idle, a check-engine light, bits of plant material under the hood, or a telltale smell.  These cars usually require a thorough cleaning of the engine compartment, some diagnostic work, replacement or repair of wiring, and some preventive measures. We recommend wrapping wiring harnesses with capsaicin-impregnated tape (it’s spicy hot) to deter rodents from chewing.  Rodent repellents, containing odors rats don’t like such as mint, and fox-urine pheromones, can help a bit, and you can install under-hood strobe lights ... read more

  Catalytic-converter theft The catalytic converter is a component in your exhaust system that converts oxides of nitrogen (NOx) into less-polluting emissions, and they contain several valuable metals.  Toyota Prius cats have larger quantities of these metals, and pay higher prices at the metal recycler.  Thieves target these cars, in particular, for a quick “jack and hack” that’ll cost you a few thousand to repair, but nets them a couple hundred dollars or less. Every car is a potential target, and those parked unused for several days can attract the attention of the bad guys.  Your first clue is usually a car that sounds like the muffler fell off - the entire middle section of your exhaust system gets cut out with a power saw in a minute or two, often stealing or damaging the oxygen sensors, pre-cat and post-cat exhaust pipes, and sometimes even denting things with careless jack placement.  We can install catalytic-converter shields using ... read more