San Carlos & Valley Springs Auto Repair

Toyota Tacoma has a well-deserved reputation for reliability and off-road fun. But in order to serve you well, it needs regular maintenance. At Toole’s Garage in San Carlos we offer complete range of Toyota Tacoma services and repairs. Whether your pickup needs routine oil change, or if facing complicated engine diagnostics and repairs, our technicians, highly skilled and nationally ASE certified, will take great care of your vehicle. Our San Carlos auto repair facility offers everything your Tacoma needs to serve you well for as long as you wish to maintain it. While Tacoma can boast “Toyota Quality”, even Toyota products can have an “off” year. For the Tacoma, model year 2016 was such a year. Owners reported a variety of transmission problems, excessive engine noise, and floor and steering vibration was also reported. Another bad year was 2009, with interior accessories not working properly, and radio in particular, as well as parking lights overheating ... read more

Have you ever wondered why some auto repair shops seem to be always busy? At Toole’s Garage in San Carlos we believe it's all about service, quality, and a genuine passion for what we do. If you drive a Toyota Highlander, you understand how important it is to keep your vehicle in top condition. Whether it needs regular maintenance or unexpected repairs, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Product of the world-famous Toyota Production System, Toyota Highlander vehicles exhibit quality and reliability you would expect from a Toyota. Having said that, even the Toyota Highlander vehicles can have an “off” year.  For the 2010-2013 models, many owners experience transmission problems, including slipping and rough shifting. This often requires a transmission fluid flush or, in some cases, a complete transmission rebuild. The 2014-2019 models face issues with excessive oil consumption, which may require replacing the engine valve seals. Lastly, the ... read more

Spark plugs generate the spark that ignites the fuel-air mixture which powers your vehicle. Over time they will fail and will need to be replaced. At Toole’s Garage in San Carlos we offer complete Toyota care, including spark plug replacement. Depending on the quality of the spark plug materials, they can last as little as 30,000 miles (copper spark plugs ) to as much as 90,000 miles (iridium spark plugs).  When we select the spark plugs for replacement, we follow Toyota recommendation for your particular model and year of production. When spark plugs start to fail, you may notice engine misfires, and the Toyota onboard computer will illuminate the check engine light. Whenever you see the check engine light “on”, bring your vehicle to Toole’s Garage in San Carlos for an inspection. Our nationally ASE certified technicians will inspect and diagnose your vehicle, and will also perform a free digital vehicle inspection, so you always know the overall conditi ... read more

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

Ignition coils provide the high voltage electricity necessary for your Toyota’s spark plugs to generate the sparks that ignite the fuel and air mixture that powers the engine of your vehicle. When ignition coils start to fail, it will cause a range of problems, including stalling, misfires, loss of power, and of course the onboard computer will turn on the check engine light. At Toole’s Garage in San Carlos we offer ignition coil diagnostics as well as ignition coil replacement, if it should turn out that one or more coils are failing. It is not advisable to drive with failing ignition coils, since loss of power or stalling on a freeway or in the middle of a busy intersection can lead to danger for yourself and others. If you notice any of the symptoms of failing ignition coils, make an appointment with your local mechanic, to have your Toyota professionally diagnosed. Our San Carlos auto care shop offers comprehensive automotive maintenance and repair services. Our natio ... read more