Folsom Auto Repair

This December, some new drivers may wake up Christmas morning to find keys to a car in their stocking. As they prepare to move out of the home and on to college, parents are buying their kids ‘starter’ cars that they know they can depend on.  Of all the things parents most want their teenage drivers to have in a European import, safety is a top concern, so options like the Porsche 944 have been deliberately left off the list in favor of the more stable, dependable, and safe cars. Here’s a list of the top parent-approved European import cars for young drivers! Volkswagen Passat (2009 - ): Most importantly, the Passat are considered very safe, which is why they make the top of the list! Passats are well-rounded performers that just happen to come packaged in luxury. Audi B7 A4: A luxury car with a lot to offer, this import is much more popular in northern states. But it has many fine features, such as the Quattro AWD, and properly tuned-up, makes a good first Eu ... read more

Although extreme weather isn’t typical in moderate Folsom, sometimes we find ourselves travelling in bad-weather situations. During the winter, already crowded and scary drives must occasionally also add bad weather to the mix. Torrential rain, snow, and ice can turn up on roads unexpectedly. In this way, severe weather can cause major hazards for drivers.  According to the Department of Transportation, on average (nationally), there are over 5,891,000 vehicle crashes each year. Approximately 21% of these crashes - nearly 1,235,000 - are weather-related. When you drive in bad weather conditions, you increase your chances of an accident greatly. When facing bad weather, it’s important to prepare for the situation as best you can. The following steps can’t save you, but they can help you navigate the danger and determine if the risk of traveling is a wise one: Preparedness. Do you have an emergency survival kit in the car? Do you have a solar-powered, hand-crank ... read more

At times, and particularly with foreign automobiles, car owners come to a crossroads about whether to maintain their foreign car, or ditch it for something new and shiny. We thought we’d discuss some of those pros and cons e all face, and make our argument for both cases. Maintaining your current car: The Pros “It’s cheaper than a new car.” No matter how you do the math, a well-maintained vehicle saves you money in the long run. When you are diligently, honestly committed to keeping your car in good shape, it can thrive and carry on for years. Gone are the days when most cars never make it to 100k; nowadays, the goal is 300k. “I like this car!” If you maintain your current car, you are keeping up with a car you already know and can function well in. If you are getting regular service for it and getting any issues and worries looked into directly, then you have a good relationship with a car you’re accustomed to. Don’t ... read more

  Many car owners question the need for fluid exchanges at the frequency the factories recommend. After all, if your car’s fluids are topped off, there’s nothing to worry about, right?  Well, yes and no. Yes, having the ideal levels of fluid in your vehicle is important, but so is the cleanliness of the fluid, the fluid’s viscosity, and if the fluid has increased acidity. That is why the Foreign Autohaus auto repair team wants to talk to you about fluid exchanges in your European vehicles. There are a number of fluids that help lubricate and hydrate your vehicle. But before we get into what those fluids are, we invite you to think about all the fluids running through the systems in your own body. You have blood, saliva, bile, digestive acid, water, and more. If you didn’t have all of those fluids within your body flowing, secreting, and flushing properly, your body would get sick, correct? Well, a German automobile is built with various systems tha ... read more

Although COVID-19 has taken away a lot of social events and opportunities to mix and mingle, there is a silver lining. There are still some fun, family-friendly car shows going on in 2020, in spite of many cancellations. A lot of these car shows are morphing into “car tours”, “fuel runs”, and online events. Since August is typically a big month for car shows, here is our short list of the fun, family-friendly car shows we’ll be excited to see in 2020.   Monterey Fuel Run, August 13 & 14, 2020, up the Central Coast of California Monterey Car Week 2020 was cancelled, but that won’t stop the Monterey Fuel Run participants. This popular car tour is made up of Exotic, Hyper, and Supercars, and it starts in Santa Clarita, goes up the coast to Morro Bay, continues up to Monterey, and includes a bonus event at the Weathertech Laguna Seca Raceway. Our friend and marketer, Jennifer Filzen, was lucky enough to see some of the Fuel Run vehicles in Mo ... read more

How is the visibility from the driver’s seat of your car? Say, can you see well at night because your headlights are working properly? Can you see well when it’s raining because your windshield wipers are in good condition? And oh say, can other people see your vehicle at night, too, when you activate your blinkers and press on the brake pedal? Sorry for the play on words with our National Anthem. We can’t help it. We love our country, and to celebrate the month of July when the founding fathers of our nation started the great democratic experiment, we want to give tribute to a clear 2020 vision. (Another pun, sorry!) All kidding aside, clear vision while you are driving is no joke. You need to see and be seen without any issues. Here are some things to consider when maintaining your vehicle’s viewpoint. Are your headlights working? Are your tail lights and blinkers working? Are your interior lights working? In what condition are your wiper blades? Are yo ... read more

As you know, the summertime sizzle in Folsom and the Sacramento area is real. That is why we want to share our advice on how to keep your cool in sizzling summer weather. At Foreign Autohaus, we service the Air Conditioning systems on a lot of European automobiles. Each automotive brand has its own set of A/C system nuances that our automotive technicians must be intimately familiar with. Therefore, our auto repair team trains and studies everything from potential refrigerant leak causes to why certain components within the air conditioning system are not operating like they should (fans, compressors, dash controls, etc.). Our recommendation for you is to make certain your car’s A/C system is in tip-top shape for Summer. If you have set the temperature to cool and the air is blowing hot, we invite you to schedule an appointment with the Foreign Autohaus team to visually inspect your climate control system. If we find the refrigerant needs a recharge or if anything is out of ord ... read more

With preventive maintenance comes peace of mind. If you are sending your child off to college, you have enough to worry about. There is no need to stress on the condition and safety of the car your son or daughter is going to be driving. When you are preparing for the big college send-off, take the car into your mechanic shop for a thorough inspection before packing it up. By learning and taking care of any essential service items the vehicle may need, you only have regular maintenance to worry about. This way, you can rest assured that your child is driving a safe car while away from home. Preventive maintenance is one of the most important things you can do. It is like going to the doctor for an annual check-up; it is essential to keep your car healthy and have a professional inspect for any unforeseen issues that may be otherwise avoidable. If you can catch a small problem, before it grows into a big one, your money can go toward college, and not go to expensive auto repair work t ... read more

There is nothing like the prospect of a road trip in the spring. It is a time of rebirth, and everywhere you look, there are buds on the branches and plants emerging from the ground. Northern California is filled with such beauty and wild adventures everywhere you turn. Imagine climbing in a convertible and heading down the windswept coastline where California meets the vast Pacific ocean. All along northern California, you will find a variety of landscapes, from beaches to mountains and redwood forests; you will discover off-beat and historical landmarks to keep you coming back for more. If you are looking for some juicy history, you may want to head in-land and learn about the gold rush of 1849. Another highway filled with history is Highway 49. Did you know that the football team was named after this California highway winding its way through the Sierra Nevada's. This is the heart of the wild west as we think of it today. Be sure to explore the Marshall Gold Discovery Historic ... read more

Performance is everything when it comes to maneuvering your car around town and on the highway. If you are looking for increased traction, steering and grip on the road, here are a few tips for you.   Check Your Tire Pressure Every month you should check your tire pressure. Even pressure on all of your tires promotes better handling, better fuel economy, and better performance all around. Remember to check your spare tire; you don't want to be stuck on the side of the road because your flat is flat!   What Tire Pressure To Use? The tire pressure listed on the sidewall of your tire is the recommendation for maximum load capacity; it might not be the right pressure to run your car as a daily driver. You will want to check your vehicle's owner's manual for recommended tire pressure before airing up your tires. You can also often find tire pressure recommendations listed on the side of your car driver's door jam.   Rotate hose Babies Although the recommended ... read more