Folsom Auto Repair

Hello SUMMER! Sunday, June 20th is the official first day of summer!  With that being said, "Is your car summer ready?" Here is our foreign autohaus "summer ready" checklist.   1.  There will be many trips to the beach, boardwalk, mountains; be safe and CHECK TIRE PRESSURE. 2.  No A/C?? This can ruin your day in a HOT second! CHECK YOUR A/C. 3.  Summer road trips = a bug filled windshield.  CHECK YOUR WIPER BLADES. 4. The weather from winter and spring can do a number on your cars paint job.  GET YOUR CAR WASHED. 5.  Make sure you have the number 1 road trip necessity: JUMPER CABLES. Let's focus on what we think is the most important item from this list: CHECK YOUR A/C.  With temps reaching over 100 no one can drive in a car with a faulty a/c.  Hot, hot, hot means a very uncomfortable car ride.  Be proactive before the temps become unbearable and run a quick check.  Run the a/c for ... read more

How to Save Fuel While Driving With the warmer weather approaching, Americans are starting to plan their summer trips.  AAA predicts  Americans will take 700 million trips in the summer.  Due to Covid, travelers are taking more long distance road trips.  Now pair that up with the recent fuel shortages and we need a "Summer 2021 Game Plan." Here are 5 ways you can save fuel while driving; 1. Slow down speed racer!  Change your driving habits: if you tend to brake at the last possible second or go from 0 to 45 instantly you might want to rethink your driving methods.  That's right, experts say that speeding increases fuel consumption and decreases fuel economy.  Although every vehicle reaches optimal fuel efficiency at different speeds, gas usually decreases quickly at any speed above 50mph.  Accelerating and braking gently can improve your fuel efficiency.  Practicing this tip can improve gas efficiency by 30% on the fre ... read more

What's the 411 when it comes to emergency lights??   Emergency lights turn on during the most inconvenient times.  Let's face it, there is never a convenient time for your emergency dashboard lights to pop on.  Although not convenient, they should never be ignored.  Here is a list of the top 3 warning lights that should be taken serious. Check Engine Light: This icon looks like a silhouette of an engine.  It is safe to say this is the last light you ever want to see on your dashboard.  First instinct when seeing this light...$$$$$.  The check engine light can mean many things because it relates to anything having to do with the car's motor and emissions system.  It can range from a loose gas cap, to a loose wire, to a serious engine problem.  If the light turns on while you are driving, get it to your mechanic as soon as possible.  Your mechanic will be able to run a diagnostic test and find the problem. L ... read more

"Bring out the Big Muscle" The Auto Industry is the "BIG MUSCLE" for the US economy.  Have you ever taken the time to stop, look around, and think, what your day would look like without the auto industry?  We need the auto industry! The moment we wake up to the time we go to sleep, we rely on the auto industry.  Think back to a time when your car was in the shop; was your life inconvenienced?  Did your routine look different?  Did your attitude shift?  100% it is an inconvenience! Our lives revolve around our vehicles. Now, let's look at the auto industry from an economic scope: it is a critical component of economic growth.  Just like its a critical component in our daily lives.  The US economy needs the auto industry.  An article from Auto Alliance states, "America's automobile industry is one of the most powerful engines driving the US economy."  The reach of the a ... read more

  The month of February is generally known as the month of "LOVE." All month our social media has been focusing on "showing your car some love." If your not following us on social media, go give us a follow. Let's continue on the thread of love and focus on 5 self care tips for your car. You heard correctly, self care for your car! All too often we take our car for granted and think it will take care of itself. Wrong. Maintenance is key to the longevity of your car.   Here are 5 self love car tips that sound simple but all too often neglected.   1.  Keep your car clean on the outside and inside. Wash your car regularly.  Over time mud, dirt, and rain will attach to the surface of your car.  The minerals in these natural substances will cause damage to your paint job.  Its important to wash your car regularly, especially after it rains. Have you ever gotten a ride from a friend, you get in the car and before you can even ... read more

Welcome to the New Year and our first blog of 2021! Over the years, you may have heard the expression “OEM parts” come up in conversation. If you’ve ever wondered what it means and why it’s important, this blog entry will bring you up to speed. The first misconception to clear up is that OEM is not a company. It’s an acronym, meaning Original Equipment Manufacturer. When a repair shop such as Foreign Autohaus says, “We only use OEM parts”, we/they are saying that we/they only use the parts that the manufacturer installed the day the car was sold for new-- no substitutes.  It might not sound all that bad, to use a substitute part in the place of an OEM part. Some people have an attitude of “a part’s a part” and don’t really care if an OEM part is used if it will shave a little off the price of their work. Some people like to save a little time or a little money, and cut a corner.  While we don’t argue w ... read more

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