Folsom Auto Repair

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

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

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

  10 Reasons Why We Love European Cars   There are so many reasons to love European cars, everything from their superior quality in engineering, to speed and the pleasure you get from operating such a finely tuned machine. Here are our top 10. 1. Wider Variety of Choices In Europe, the variety of auto manufacturers is vast in comparison to the United States as each is independent such as BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo, to name a few. In the US, a single motor company owns many makes of vehicles such as GM who owns GMC, Chevy, Buick, Cadillac, etc. 2. More Value for Your Money    When you are going to make a significant investment, you want to get the most bang for your buck. European cars typically have more features out of the gate. However, American carmakers have made quite a bit of progress on this front; it is still better to spend a little more and get a better-quality car, especially when it comes to an entry-level stock model. You will find it i ... read more

Winter is in full swing now that the new year has arrived, which means that road conditions are now the stuff of nightmares. Rain, snow, ice, and salt are all potential hazards to be aware of, and protecting your vehicle from the winter elements is the best way to ensure its longevity and safety down the line. Adhering to these 5 tips on how to protect your vehicle during the winter will go a long way toward making that a reality!   Covered Parking:   If you have access to covered parking, use it! Keeping your car covered while parked is essential in protecting it from the cold weather conditions. Additionally, keeping your car in a covered area such as in a covered carport or your garage will make getting into and out of your vehicle a more pleasant experience during the winter months. And if you live in an area where it snows, you can avoid having to scrape built-up ice and snow from your roof and windows.    Regularly Washing Your Car:   Salted roads m ... read more

The holiday season is a magical time of year, especially in our gorgeous state of California! If you’re looking for a way to get in the holiday mood, there’s no better way than by taking a short drive to experience the holiday traditions, sights, and experiences that Northern California has to offer. Read on for 5 magical NorCal holiday destinations for you and your family to enjoy throughout the season.   Yosemite National Park   To start your magical holiday season off on the right foot, there’s no better place to start than with a trip to California’s own Yosemite National Park. Spending the holidays in Yosemite won’t disappoint, with options to choose from like sleigh rides through the snow and Curry Village outdoor ice-skating rinks in Yosemite Valley. If skiing and snowboarding are more your style, Badger Pass Skii Area is home to one of the oldest downhill skiing areas in California.  If you’re concerned about when Yosemite ... read more

Since California is not a state known for a lot of rain, most drivers appear to “forget” how to drive when the first raindrops hit the ground. To help everyone remain safe during the rainy season, here are some tips on how to drive safely during winter rains. Make sure your tires are in good shape. When it doubt, bring your vehicle to our auto repair team for a visual tire inspection. If we see that your tires are wearing unevenly, the air in them is low, or that you could benefit from a tire rotation, we’ll let you know. Tires are a critical safety feature on wet roads because the deep tire tread does a better job of cutting through the water and reducing the risk of hydroplaning. Check your brakes. Your car’s brakes should be in good shape if you want your vehicle to stop safely and on short notice. When you hear squeaking or grinding when you apply the brake pedal, be sure to head straight to the auto repair team of Foreign Autohaus. We will perform a bra ... read more

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, also known as ADAS, are becoming popular features in today’s modern vehicles. But what do these driver assist systems mean to you and your automobile? ADAS is an evolving technology that could potentially change the way we commute in a huge way. Driver assist systems could start anywhere from your car helping you drive more safely, all the way up to driving the car without your help. It’s mind blowing how ADAS systems have the potential to help society with the following travel issues: Drive a blind person to the doctor’s office without the need for a hired driver. Reduce the risk of human-induced accidents. Drive children back and forth to school without having to disrupt the parents’ work days. Cars that park themselves while the family goes shopping. Cargo trucks driving cross-country to deliver goods without the need of a driver. Improved ability to study, work, and sleep while riding in a car. While this is incredi ... read more

Photo by Matt Ragland on Unsplash It’s September, and there are so many exciting things going on! School is back in session. Business is picking up again. The weather is starting to change, and people who love the outdoors are cramming in as many road trips as possible. A lot of people are excited to start heading into the mountains for ski season. Mountain road trips are quite demanding on your vehicles, and you need to make sure your vehicle is ready for the drive. Mountain road trips can be rough on your clutch, your transmission, your brakes, your suspension, and your tires. The more remote your mountain destination, the more rugged the terrain will be.  You don’t want to risk a breakdown in the middle of ... read more