Walnut Creek Auto Repair

The long, rainy winter is almost over – just a couple more days of drizzle and the sunshine will return to Walnut Creek. And to get your car ready for the summer, we recommend checking the air conditioning system. If you find that the ac in your car is not working as it should, bring your vehicle to Frank’s Auto Service in Walnut Creek – we provide comprehensive auto ac diagnostics, services and repairs. Auto a/c system can malfunction for a number of reasons – low refrigerant levels, refrigerant leaks, cracked hoses, broken blower motor, faulty sensors, leaky seals – any one of these conditions can result in ac not working as it should. When you bring your vehicle to our Walnut Creek auto care facility, our nationally ASE certified technicians will inspect the ac system and will let you know the root cause of the problem. Most ac problems can be fixed the same day. Our technicians use state-of-the art equipment to diagnose and repair your vehicle. If yo ... read more

Fuel Filter Replacement in Walnut Creek CA   Filter replacements are a fact of life for your vehicle - and not just the oil filter. Timely fuel filter replacement is important for the performance and drivability of your car. Fuel filter blocks debris floating in the gasoline from getting into the engine. Over time, it will get clogged with debris and will need to be replaced.  How often should you have the fuel filter replaced? Best to check the Owner’s Manual for your vehicle. The rule of thumb is to change the fuel filter every 20,000 to 30,000 miles, or about every 2 years. Having said that, if you notice any of the symptoms below, it’s time to get your car to your friendly Walnut Creek mechanic, because fuel filter may be the culprit:    • Noisy Fuel Pump – dirty fuel filter can cause problems with fuel flow, forcing the fuel pump to work extra hard – if you notice unusual sounds coming from the fue ... read more

Every driver must be aware that their safety is at risk every time they step into a vehicle. This is simply true because you cannot regulate how other people drive. Often it can be daunting with many drivers out there who are aggressive and lack the care for other drivers. Unfortunately, so many accidents happen every year because of the handful of those people who speed and drive recklessly. To ensure your safety and the safety of others, choose to practice defensive driving.    Here are several tips on how you can be a defensive driver:   1. Plan Ahead of Time Defensive driving can begin before you start your car. If you have a smartphone, get in the habit of checking weather conditions and traffic conditions. Then, make sure you consider those factors when timing out when you should leave and arrive at your destination.    2. Always Check Lanes This step should be an easy one for most people as we've all had to hear it countless ... read more

Electric Volkswagen ID.4 – the newest member of the Electric Vehicle Family Volkswagen ID Roomzz Concept by Rutger van der Maar, used under CC BY 2.0 Volkswagen made a huge splash at the September 2019 Frankfurt Auto Motor Show with its all- electric Volkswagen ID.3 vehicle. Production version of the Volkswagen was supposed to be in the hands of German customers by September 2020, unfortunately this plan has run into some obstacles. It appears that cloud based software is not working quite as advertised. Software delays are a pesky problem – they can literally take months to iron out. In the meantime, Volkswagen has decided to skip to the next generation and now Bay Area Volkswagen dealers are talking about Volksw ... read more

Subaru makes wonderful vehicles, unfortunately, there is one issue that seems to appear in Subaru cars more often than we would like – head gasket failure. The Subaru head gasket problem is most often seen in following models: Baja - 2003 through 2005 Outback - 2000 through 2009 Forester - 1999 through 2010 Legacy - 2000 through 2009 Impreza - 1999 through 2011 Subaru head gasket failures can occur with as little as 80,000 – 100,000 miles driven.  Here are the signs that it’s time to bring your vehicle for a checkup – and potentially expensive repairs: White exhaust smoke coming from the tailpipe Milky white oil in the reservoir Overheating engine Exhaust bubbles in your coolant reservoir Pungent smell coming from coolant reservoir If you notice any of the above symptoms, time to schedule an appointment – as soon as possible. Driving with a failing or blown head gasket can lead to additional engine damage and even more expensive repair bill ... read more