Orinda Auto Repair

Photo by Jared Belson It may be surprising to hear that mice, rats, and other furry creatures are slipping under your vehicle and into your engine. We typically think of a rodent’s natural habitat as being a woodland or forest area, not the engine compartment of our car. However, your engine is, in fact, the ideal place for a rodent: dark, warm, and secure. Fortunately, our team at Orinda Motors knows how to deal with these four-legged terrorists.  For these rodents, it may seem like the perfect new home, but everything changes when you put the key into the ignition, and these critters are in for an unpleasant surprise. Not only does this spell trouble for these rodents, but it could also harm your engine. The rats move quickly too. In less than twenty-four hour ... read more

  Spring is officially here, which means it is the perfect time to erase all the damage winter has caused to your vehicle, both inside and out. Orinda Motors has a few tips and tricks to ensure your car gets a deep down cleaning.  Clean out and organize all your compartments: When you are in a hurry to get in and out of your vehicle during the winter chill, you may notice debris, trash, and crumbs have accumulated in all the compartments of your car. Make sure to clean them out and to organize any other objects.  Wipe down and wash your consoles: Your consoles and cup holders can get very dirty. We also recommend wiping down any electrical components such as your radio, but be careful not to get them wet. You can also use a slightly damp cloth to wipe down your dashboard.  Don’t forget about your windows. During the winter, your vehicle takes a beating from the harsh elements. Using a window cleaner, clean your windows inside and out. You can shine them up ... read more

Each year vehicle manufacturers release new safety features designed to keep you and your family safe. From automatic high beams to lane keep assist, the future is bright for automotive technology, and the team at Orinda Motors has captured the best and brightest safety features on the horizon for 2019.  Pre-Collision Systems: This safety system includes a forward-facing camera along with a radar that is engineered to alert the driver if the distance between their car and the vehicle ahead is closing too quickly.  Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB): If a collision is impending, your AEB system will automatically begin to brake, hopefully preventing you from crashing into another vehicle.  Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC): Working as cruise control should, maintaining your requested speed on an open road, ACC also goes a step further, adjusting your rate to match a vehicle ahead of you to keep a safe and healthy distance between your car and the other.  Lane Departur ... read more

It’s easy to make resolutions for ourselves and our family, but what about for our car and driving? We drive somewhere every day, either to make it to that morning meeting or to drop your daughter off at the soccer game, so why not think of some New Year’s resolutions for better driving? Not sure where to start? We have a few suggestions:   Of course, it goes without saying: never drink and drive, and also don’t drive while under the influence of medications either. Put your cellphone down. It’s so tempting to pick your cell and reply to that text message but refrain from doing so. Studies have shown that the results of texting and driving are the same as driving drunk. Yikes! Make sure to signal! For many us, we think we have outgrown signaling for safety, but that’s not true. Many, many accidents could have been prevented by signaling. Come to a complete stop at the stop sign. Rolling through stop signs not only can get you a ticket but can ... read more

Overall, cold weather affects your vehicle’s fuel economy, as it takes longer for your engine to reach a fuel-efficient temperature. Warming up your vehicle for your engine to reach that ideal temperature also lowers your fuel economy. However, there are a few tips and tricks you could do to combat the effects of the cold weather on your fuel economy:  Try to park your car in the warmest place, so you can increase the initial temperature of both your engine and cabin.  Only let your vehicle idle for 30 seconds and then gently drive away.  If you can, combine your trips. It will be easier on both your wallet and engine.  If you have accessories that could increase wind resistance, such as roof racks, remove them.  Seat warmers and defrosters definitely keep you warm but try to minimize your use of them, if possible.  Check your tire pressure, not only for better fuel economy but for safety too.  Any extra weight in your vehicle? Do you hav ... read more

Fog can occur at any time and anywhere, but the Bay Area is more prone to this pesky weather. And as fall progresses to winter, fog may even become more common. It becomes a serious and dangerous hazard on the roads, and our team at Orinda Motors put the safety of you, your family, and your vehicle above all else. Here are a few ways to combat the infamous fog that afflicts our area:  It may go without saying but make sure you slow down even if you know the road like the back of your hand.  Low-beams headlights and foglights are best for visibility.  Four-way flashers are an excellent way for other vehicles on the road to notice you, mainly when fog affects the visibility of your car.  If you can’t see any traffic, try listening for it. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there, and fog is known to impact your vision negatively.  Keep your driving speed in line with your vision, reaction time, and stopping distance ... read more

We consider our customers and therefore their vehicles members of our extended family, and when we are looking to add someone to our circle, we have to go through several precautions, including a pre-purchase inspection. A pre-purchase inspection is imperative to make sure that your potential vehicle is reliable and safe. When you bring this car to our auto repair shop, a technician will perform a thorough examination, leaving no stone unturned. We will look for both cosmetic and mechanical issues and anything else that may jeopardize the safety of your vehicle. The power of a pre-purchase is not to be underestimated, as this can prove extremely helpful in the buying process. Armed with this knowledge after a pre-purchase inspection, you can either decide to pass on the vehicle or go back to the seller with a counteroffer, especially if our technicians have come across any issues that will need to be fixed now or in the future. Without a doubt, a pre-purchase inspection is the most ... read more

Orinda Motors is a full-service, family-owned and team-operated auto repair facility in the heart of Orinda. We service and maintain all makes and models of vehicles, both new and old. We strive to be your one-stop solution for all things auto repair, from new car maintenance to classic car restoration.  At Orinda Motors, we make it our mission to be able to provide you with a stress-free, positive experience from the moment you walk through our doors. If you own a newer Honda Accord, for example, our technicians will provide thorough and accurate service. We also are able to service and repair your classic Ford Thunderbird. With us, you can expect to receive the best of both worlds: cutting-edge technology for the service and repair of both new and older cars.  Here are a few examples of the services we provide to vehicles of all ages (from vintage classics to brand new cars):  Scheduled Maintenance  Preventative Maintenance  Computer control Coolin ... read more

We are starting to see neverending blueness when we turn our gaze toward the sky and are beginning to feel the temperatures start to rise when we step out into the sun. The school year is almost coming to a close, as we navigate schedules filled with graduations and end-of-the-year parties. All of these signs point toward summer, which means it is the perfect time to start planning your summer activities. For many of us, this means summer road trips.   Even though summertime road trips spell fun, it can be challenging to keep our little ones entertained throughout the drive. Here are five summer road trip activities:   Edible Necklaces: Thread snacks with holes, such as pretzels, cheerios, or dried apple rings onto the string, tie a knot, and instantly keep your children both full and engaged in an activity for a reasonable amount of time. Audiobooks: Avoid both boredom and car sickness with audio books. You can set up your child with their audiobook or find one you a ... read more

Sometimes, our car is known to make an unusual sound every so often, and it can be stressful when we hear our beloved vehicle whining around a turn or grumbling every time we start it. But most of our vehicles are going to make an unusual noise from time to time. The auto mechanics at Orinda Motors are excellent at deciphering what those noises mean, how we can fix the problem, and have you back on your way in no time. Here are some unusual car noises our technicians have experience troubleshooting and fixing:   A humming or groaning noise originating from your tires: If you are hearing something along the lines of hum or groan coming from your tires, it could indicate premature wear along the inside of your tires. This wear could expose the steel belts on the tires, which puts your tire at greater risk of falling apart. Growling when turning: Do you hear a growling noise coming from your vehicle? This noise could be an indication that your front wheel bearing is defective ... read more