Orinda Auto Repair

  Back-to-school season is officially here, which means running around to get school supplies, new clothes, and the list seems to go on and on. Amidst this busy time, it can be easy to forget about your reliable car. The team at Orinda Motors is here to remind you about ten car repairs you should have checked regularly:   Oil: Your car’s oil keeps everything running smoothly, and it doesn’t have the right level of oil, your car simply won’t run right. Tire Pressure: Nowadays, many cars are equipped with a TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System), which will alert you if something isn’t right with your tire pressure. Since this system monitors our tires, it is important to have it checked out by a professional. Brakes: Please don’t wait until you hear a screeching noise when you step on the brakes. Having your brakes regularly inspected by a professional is necessary for your, your family’s, and your vehicle’s safety. Power Ste ... read more

Summer is officially here, which means it is time for some summer fun. Because we live in such a beautiful area, a summer road trip is an excellent way to pass the time with your family. When it comes to the safety of you, your passengers, and your car, we think it is always better to be safe than sorry. Before you embark on your summer road trip, we recommend thoroughly preparing your car.   Let’s make sure your car is prepared for your summer adventure. One of the first tasks we recommend is scheduling an appointment for a checkup at Orinda Motors. Our team will thoroughly inspect your car for signs of impending or current problems, along with performing basic maintenance, such as topping off fluids and taking a look at your headlights. Along with a comprehensive inspection, we recommend browsing through our checklist we have put together:   Be prepared for everything and anything. Pack an emergency kit, in the case of a medical emergency or accident. It would b ... read more

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Do you know what you are getting for the car lover in your life? To help answer that question, we have compiled a list of the perfect gifts to get your car enthusiast:   Air Vent Cell Phone Holder: Nowadays, we use our phones for just about everything, including GPS. With a cell phone holder mounted to the car vent, you are able to easily follow the GPS directions, while keeping your eyes safely locked on the road.​ Personalized Garage Sign: If your car lover loves to spend time in the garage, then a personalized sign for their garage is absolutely perfect. Whether that says their name or even car model, it is an excellent addition to any car lover’s garage. Automatic Cordless Tire Inflator: We all know that properly fueled tires have numerous benefits, including better fuel efficiency and a smoother ride. This tire inflator is ready to go without the hassle and inconvenience of a cord. It makes taking care of your vehicl ... read more

With winter upon us, you may be wondering which type of tires is right for you. Most likely, you are struggling to decide between all season or winter tires. The team at Orinda Motors is here to help. After reading this, we hope you will be able to decide between all-season and winter tires.   Winter roads are dangerous, to say the least. You can experience black ice and heavy snowfall all in one trip. As you can imagine, ensuring your vehicle is outfitted with the right tire is essential. Winter tires are armored with certain weapons against wintry roads, including:   Flexible tread rubber, which is designed to allow your vehicle to grip the road better. Thicker tread depths, which reduce the buildup of snow in your tires. Biting edges, similar to small slits, which provide traction when driving on the ice. When your car leaves the factory, it is typically outfitted with all season tires. All season tires are both durable and versatile. You can drive in several wea ... read more

Tires are often neglected and overlooked by the people who drive on them every day. A daily visual inspection is ideal to make sure the tires are in good shape. But in today’s busy world, most people don’t pay that close attention to their tires until the following happens:   The car sensors detect that tire pressure is low. The driver “feels” something going on with the tires or how the car is not driving smoothly. The steering wheel pulls to the left or the right. A loud pop or explosion is heard while driving (Not good!). Another driver is desperately trying to get your attention and point out that your tires are dangerously low.   So the question is:  Do your tires pass the safety test?   First, let’s establish what is “safe”. Safety can mean several things, such as:   Safe level of tire tread: You have more that 2/32 of an inch of tread depth remaining. This means your probably don’t need new tires ... read more

I have noticed that different drivers have different ideas about what “car maintenance” really means. It is indeed very important to change your engine oil regularly. This is a good reason while your engine will last longer and overall be more reliable. A large percentage of owners understand this and make a point to make the oil change ritual a priority. Others struggle with this concept. Failing to change your oil regularly will cost you more in the long run. Others struggle with the concept of maintenance beyond the standard oil change. Many folks consider an oil change as taking care of the car's maintenance, but it is not true. Let's start with the definition of maintenance: “The process of maintaining or preserving someone or something, or the state of being maintained.” There is a process when it comes automotive maintenance, and it starts with the owners manual in your glove box. The manufacturer of your vehicle has recommendations for the up-ke ... read more

The 12th Annual Orinda Classic Car Show is almost here, and you don’t want to miss this fun community event on Saturday, September 10, 2016.   Here are the top 10 things you should know about the 12th Annual Orinda Classic Car Show: The purpose of the Orinda Classic Car Show is to raise money for local charities including the Seniors Around Town transportation program,  Educational Foundation of Orinda, and the Orinda Historical Society. Over the past 11 years, more than $360,000 has been raised for local charities. The weekend kicks off on Friday, September 9th, with the popular Dancing With The Cars party, which is always a great event. The 2016 theme for the Dancing With The Cars party is: “The Italian Job”. You’re invited to come mangia, mangia ... read more

At Orinda Motors, we work with customers to develop a maintenance schedule that’s specific to the make and model of their cars. This begs the question: What are the 10 most common auto repairs? Here is our list of common auto repairs:   A faulty or damaged oxygen sensor is one of the most common repairs we deal with. We replace oxygen sensors quite often. These devices monitor the amount of oxygen we have in our engine. One of the biggest reasons the check engine light turns on, is because your gas caps are loose or missing. It is estimated that 147 millions gallons of gas evaporate each year because of a faulty gas cap. We see a lot of cars with a damaged mass air flow sensor. This sensor measures the the amount of air that is being supplied to the engine. When the mass flow sensor is damaged, it is typically due to a lack of preventive maintenance. This problem is easily avoided by bringing your car to our shop for regular tune-ups. One of the most expensive repair ... read more

Not only is driving a car an honor and a privilege, but knowing how to drive and take care of your vehicle is a survival skill. In a perfect world, we believe that every teenager who wants to get behind the wheel should know the following things about cars and car maintenance by heart before hitting the road.   How to drive a manual transmission. If a teenager or adult is in a situation where the only car available to you has a manual transmission, it could save your life when you know how to drive it. Otherwise, you could be stuck in an unfortunate position to where you could not drive yourself to safety. We recommend learning how to drive a stick shift, and here’s a helpful video that provides instruction:     How to change a tire. If you get a flat tire and you don’t know how to change it, you could be stranded. Changing a tire is easier than many teenagers and adults think. Here is a helpful video that will show you how to change a tire, assuming you ... read more

In 2015, Orinda Motors decided to do something new and special at the Orinda Fourth of July Parade. We sponsored a Grandstand at the end of the parade route, invited our customers to reserve seats in our 80-person Grandstand, and enjoyed a warm holiday together in the shade.   The feedback we received from everyone who joined us was outstanding! Our Grandstand was booked solid, but everyone shared the space with ease. There was a feeling of camaraderie. New friends were made and old friends reunited. We danced. We cheered. We all felt lucky to be in this space, watching the parade go by on this special holiday.   We love our customers and we love giving back to the community. So this year, Orinda Motors decided to do it again! Earlier this month, Orinda Motors sent out an email to all Orinda Motors and Orinda Auto Detail customers, inviting them to reserve Grandstand seats at the Orinda Fourth of July Parade. Within a short week, all 80 seats in our Grandstand were reserv ... read more