Orinda Auto Repair

Orinda Motors is delighted to have a new division to serve our customers: Orinda Classic Car Center. At our facility, we truly enjoy working on vintage vehicles, and we think our passion shows in the work we perform. We think the honest and heartfelt reviews left by our clients are a testament to our actions. Take a look at this recent review from one of our beloved customers, who frequents Orinda Classic Car Center:   “The Appraiser said my fully restored stunning Aquamarine 1960 Thunderbird was a "Cream Puff Extraordinaire ". You can't get a higher rating than that, right? Thanks, John V. and Staff for getting me to the finish line on my dream car restoration. I feel like Doris Day driving over the Golden Gate bridge in one of her movies. Nice. Spoiled. Just Spoiled. I tell John V. what I want and please keep me on a budget and 3 days later he has 3 or 4 ideas of what needs urgent attention for safety and throws in some glamour as well. My rear view mirror ... read more

Orinda Motors cares about the safety of you and your family, and we want your Halloween celebrations to go off without a hitch. From goblins to princesses, we think there will be a quite a few distractions out there on the road. That’s why we have put together some safety tips for driving on Halloween. We want your Halloween night to be more treat than trick, so we encourage you to take a look at the list of the safety tips we have put together:   Don’t use a cell phone or any other electronic device. In fact, we recommend putting it completely away, so it won’t even have the chance of distracting you. This way, you can focus on what’s in front of you. Who knows you might see a ghost gliding past you across the street? Pay close attention to crosswalks and intersections. Kids tend to dart across the street, eager to get to the next home and fill their bags with even more goodies, so be prepared for those enthusiastic trick-or-treaters. Make sure you ... read more

  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

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

Orinda Motors takes pride in restoring classic cars. Heck, that’s putting it lightly. We LOVE classic cars and we are deeply passionate about restoring them. To illustrate what we mean, here are the six reasons we go bananas -- in a good way -- when a client asks us to repair, restore, or maintain their old car.   1.   We appreciate the art form. Classic cars are works of art on wheels. The lines. The curves. The magnificence of the engine. The power. The engineering. The history. Each car was beautifully crafted, albeit on an assembly line, and they have become a major part in the fabric of American culture.   Classic cars are featured in movies, on television, in video games, and in songs. From the time we were babies, we were taught that cars are a piece of art that is both practical and an asset that defines you.   2.  Working on them is like meditation. Imagine going to your favorite place in the whole wide world. Now, imagine sitting i ... read more

  Many of our customers love our rewards card because they know they are earning discounts on future services with every dollar they spend at Orinda Motors, Express Oil Change & Tire Center, Orinda Auto Detail, and Orinda Auto Rental. Every time you use your Rewards Card, it pays to shop at Orinda Motors!   Here is what you get when you use your Orinda Motors Customer Rewards Card:   3% of each repair bill from Orinda Motors or Express Oil Change and Tire Center goes into a special fund to be used as a discount for future services. Discounts earned from the Rewards Card may be redeemed at Orinda Motors, Express Oil Change & Tire Center or Orinda Auto Detail. You can login and check your Rewards Card balance any time on our web site.   This Independence Day, July 4th, we had a terrific time with our family of Orinda Motors customers. As sponsors of t ... read more

When your Check Engine Light comes on, what should you do? Should you panic? Should you ignore it? Here’s a look at why your Check Engine Light may come on and why you need to bring your vehicle in for service soon after it becomes illuminated. When the Check Engine Light comes on and holds steady, it means there is likely a minor malfunction going on within the engine system. Fortunately, many vehicles are built with sophisticated computer sensors that are sensitive enough to alert the driver of minor issues before they become major ones. From a loose gas cap to a part that needs to be replaced, the Check Engine Light will come on if any of these issues are detected by your vehicle’s sensors.   The Check Engine Light notifies the driver of issues that need to be resolved, but how serious can the problem be? Is a steadily illuminated Check Engine Light minor or major? Honestly, it’s hard to say without looking at the diagnostics. Your vehicle is equipped with ... read more