Sacramento Auto Repair

There is nothing Sacramento drivers dread more than seeing the worrisome “check engine” light illuminate on their dashboard. While it may be true that engine troubles are a major inconvenience (for both your transportation and your wallet), by simply paying attention to the right signs early on, you can catch any engine issues from the start and have them repaired before things escalate into larger problems. To help you recognize potential engine trouble early on, we have put together a short list of signs to be on the lookout for with your vehicle. Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire One of the earliest signs of engine trouble an unusual amount of exhaust smoke coming from your vehicle. A simple way to tell what’s occurring within your vehicle is by looking at the color of the smoke. If the smoke appears blue then it’s a sign of oil burning, while white smoke indicates coolant is burning and black smoke is a sign of an increase in g ... read more

While the majority of Sacramento drivers may be familiar with routine maintenance and repair such as oil changes and engine checks, many aren’t aware of when or why they may need their timing belt replaced. First, it’s important to understand what your timing belt is and why you need it. Your timing belt is responsible for perfectly timing the opening and closing of your valves in synchronization with the up-and-down movements of your pistons. Over time, this belt needs to be replaced to continue to allow your vehicle to smoothly function while on the road. While most driver will be faced with replacing a timing belt during the life of their vehicle, it may not need to happen as frequently as you may think. In fact, most vehicle owner’s manuals suggest that timing belts be replaced anywhere from 60,000 to 106,000 miles. High mileage cars may be able to continue with a timing belt past its interval time, however, it isn’t recommended for maintaining a quality ve ... read more

In Sacramento and throughout the country, countless drivers rely on their clutch to allow them to smoothly shift gears while on the road. Unfortunately, due to time and external factors, this important mechanism can become jammed or fail, making your car dangerous to drive. While a clutch repair is a less expensive process than other transmission issues, no one enjoys being inconvenienced by having to be without a vehicle or shelling out extra cash. The key is to catch the problem as soon as it occurs to ensure your clutch can be repaired quickly and affordably. To help ensure you are aware of any potential issues with your clutch, we have put together a short list of signs to be aware of. Difficulty Shifting Gears The first, and most obvious, sign of needing a clutch repair is experiencing difficult while shifting gears, or noticing that your vehicle is slightly shaking every time you attempt to shift. This symptom may be most noticeable when attempting to put the c ... read more

If you live in Sacramento, CA, or the surrounding areas, you know there are a lot of auto repair centers and mechanic shops from which to choose. Everyone needs their vehicle serviced from time to time. And, hopefully less often, everyone needs repairs. If you are new to the area or are recently looking for a repair shop to call, choosing wisely can be daunting! How do we—as car and truck owners –choose the right repair shop for our vehicles? At Standard Auto Care, we want to help guide you in choosing a trusted auto repair shop in Sacramento, Ca, for your vehicle, whether you choose us or not. This quick guide should have you feeling confident in finding the right place for your vehicle in no time. 1. Certification Wherever you go and no matter what type of vehicle you own, your repairs should be completed by a certified mechanic/technician. Look for ASE accreditation. 2. Price Price alone s ... read more

If we’re being completely honest, luxury car owners do not want to bring their vehicle to “just any auto shop.” For example, a BMW is known as a top-of-the-line, luxury automobile. Owners know they have one of the best-manufactured vehicles on the roads. Simply put, a BMW is a masterpiece At Standard Auto Care in Sacramento, CA, we understand the love of luxury. Over the decades, we have experienced the uniqueness of these amazing vehicles and their owners, who demand high-quality work from their chosen auto repair shop (as they should!) What BMW owners look for in a repair shop: Specialization: a high-end, German-made automobile is an exceptional animal. Owners want to select a repair shop with extensive knowledge of BMW design and construction. High Standards: the shop’s history will give insight on their legitimacy as a luxury vehicle repair center. Word-of-mouth and online reviews are strong statements of a shop’s reputation. Qua ... read more

We are all experts in some area. Unfortunately, very few are experts on their vehicles—particularly regarding the alternator. That’s okay! Fortunately, our team here at Standard Auto Care can be your vehicle experts. Let’s start with what the Sacramento alternator Repair is. In simple terms, the alternator is a “power recycler and restorer.” Its role is to generate an alternating current to the electrical components of your vehicle and to work with the battery to create power for the interior/exterior lights and instrument panel. Clearly, the alternator is a pivotal piece of machinery. In fact, your vehicle’s electrical system depends heavily on a well-working alternator, otherwise the battery reserve would last for a very short time. When an alternator stops working altogether, repairs can be expensive and we want to help you avoid failure! Warnings from your vehicl ... read more

A vehicle’s suspension system (shocks or struts) can easily be neglected. After all, we have many responsibilities and often the most glaring issues fail to make their way to the top of our priority list. At Standard Auto Care, our team will make your vehicle our top priority. In doing so, we want to equip car and truck owners in the Sacramento, CA, area with six very recognizable signs that indicate you need to visit us for suspension repairs in Sacramento, CA.Sign #1: Rough Rider Your car or truck should ride smoothly. When the struts or shocks are wearing down, they stop absorbing the road, meaning you will begin to notice every bump and dip in the road—and it will be uncomfortable. Sign #2: Nose Dives If this is happening with your vehicle, it will be difficult to miss. When shocks are in need of replacement, you are likely to notice the body “lurch ... read more

Replacing a transmission is the second most expensive vehicle repair you will ever make—a close second to replacing the engine. We see this time and again: transmission repairs in Sacramento, CA, are put off, underestimated, and unnoticed, which will inevitably result in unnecessary expenses ranging from $1,800-$3,000…or more! Our team here at Standard Auto Care wants to help vehicle owners in the Sacramento, CA, area take care of your cars and trucks so you get the longest life and safest travels out of them. Take note of the following warning signs that are tied to potential transmission issues: Shaking when shifting gears A healthy transmission will not shake. If your transmission is functioning normally, your vehicle will run smoothly during gear shifts. Do you feel a jerking or shaking when shifting gears? Give our team a call—this annoyance could turn into a b ... read more

When you buy a vehicle, you might want it to last forever. But no matter how much you want that to be the case, it’ll never happen. There are plenty of things that can go wrong with a vehicle as it ages and you use it on a regular basis. Transmission repair is something that may very well become necessary. And when you have a feeling that you need transmission repair in Sacramento, who do you call? The answer is easy! Standard Auto Care! And here are just a few reasons why. Reason#1: We are family owned and operated When you are dealing with transmission repair, working with a family owned and operated business is in your best interest. You will get personal service from people who are part of your community. We will treat you like a family member because we live and work among you. We are one of your neighbors and we strive to offer you nothing but the best, most fair service. Reason#2: We promise n ... read more

here are plenty of things that can go wrong on any vehicle you drive in Sacramento. If you suspect your vehicle needs alternator repairs, you might not know that much more about it. There are actually a number of alternator repairs that are necessary from time to time. The professionals at Standard Auto Care are happy to take a look at your vehicle’s alternator in order to advise you on what needs to be done. Here are a few issues that can arise within an alternator. -Complete Replacement If the unit is defective from years of hard use, there is sometimes nothing you can do other than replace it. Even if it can be fixed, it is sometimes cost effective to simply replace the alternator. -Parts Replacement If most of the alternator is operational, it might be possible to replace just a small part of it in order to get the device up and running again. In some cases, the voltage regulator needs to be replaced. Small pieces within the alternator can go bad and cause the whole devic ... read more