Tri-Valley Automotive

Fuel Pump Repair | Tri-Valley Automotive, Dublin Ca.

Tue, 20 May 2025 11:13:17 GMT

Today a customer called and asked for a quote for a fuel pump replacement. They had just come home from a trip to Mexico yesterday and when they tried to start their Suburban this morning it wouldn’t go. After trying several times, it finally started. They took the truck to the Chevy dealer to be quoted a high price. At that point they decided to call around to see if they could fine a lower price. I was able to save them $300 so they decided to bring their Suburban to us.

After they dropped it off, we checked the fuel pressure. Sure enough, it was low. It should be between 55-62 psi and it was several psi below that, plus it was bleeding back, which means it wasn’t holding pressure like it should.

Replacing the fuel pump on a Chevy Suburban involves removing the gas tank…not fun. Luckily, the customer didn’t have that much fuel in the tank, otherwise it could have been messy…and dangerous. The pump resides inside the tank, so the only way to get to it is to have the fuel tank down.

Once re-installed, the truck started promptly and had the correct fuel pressure…and it held it…Hooray!

The customer picked up the Suburban later that afternoon and was delighted to have their truck back.

Auto Repair FAQ – Do you offer any warranty on parts? Labor?

Tue, 20 May 2025 11:11:24 GMT

We use only high quality parts when repairing or servicing your car. We back up those parts, and our labor, with an 18 month/18K mile warranty. We want you to feel comfortable knowing that we took the utmost care when your car stayed with us. We also take care to not get greasy hand prints on your baby. We put down seat covers and floor mats for protection and take that last walkaround to clean up behind ourselves.

Stop by Tri Valley Automotive soon for a free quote.

The Reasons Why Your Brakes Make Noise

Tue, 20 May 2025 11:11:22 GMT

So, you’re driving along and when you step on the brakes to slow, all of a sudden…. SQUEEEEAK. What the heck! Right? That noise wasn’t there before! What’s going on? Didn’t I just have the car in for service not too long ago? Why is this happening? Everyone is looking at me! Well, there could be a number of reasons why your brakes are noisy. It might be time for a Brake Repair .

Even if you just had the car serviced, the best thing to do is have your mechanic inspect it again. If you haven’t had the car looked at for a while, now is a good time to bring it in for a complete inspection.

When the technician removes the wheels, the first thing he will look at is how worn the brake pads are. Brakes will start to make noise when the friction material is significantly worn. We usually measure in millimeters. 3mm is pretty worn and should be replaced soon. 2mm’s means get it done now before it gets worse. 1mm and you’re lucky the rotors aren’t damaged yet. Some cars have wear sensors that will alert you with either a dash warning light or a loud obnoxious squeal.

If you hear a grinding noise, it may be too late. This usually means the brake pads have worn through to the metal backing plate. The grind you hear is the sound of metal on metal and the brake rotors may need to be replaced too. If the rotors are worn unevenly and are not smooth, this could also cause noise. If you experience a vibration in the steering or brake pedal when applying the brakes at or near freeway speeds, that usually means the brake rotors are warped. In this case, the best option is replacement.

Another cause of noise is using the incorrect brake pads. And what I mean by that is using the cheapest pads you could find. It’s the friction material that’s causing the noise. Here at Tri-Valley Automotive, we only use brake pads with a ceramic formulation. This is what the manufacturers use.

Older cars may have other parts in brake system that are starting to fail that will cause noise. If the calipers are starting to stick, this could put constant pressure on the pads. This causes the pads to get a hardened layer on the surface which could cause noise.

If you are hearing things, bring your car down to Tri-Valley Automotive for a no-charge Courtesy Inspection. We will inspect the complete car for you and send that report to your email or text it to you. This report includes pictures of any failing parts and animated explanations. Now you can see what we see.

Click here for a $20.00 off coupon for Brake Repair.

Mazda Miata Clutch Repair | Tri-Valley Automotive, Dublin Ca.

Tue, 20 May 2025 10:59:41 GMT

Today, a good customer of ours called up to say his clutch was slipping on his 1990 Mazda Miata. After discussing with him the symptoms the car was displaying, I told him to drop it off with us. When he got here, I jumped in the car to verify his complaint. I did a quick slip test, where I hold the brake on, rev it up and drop the clutch to see if the clutch will hold and stall the engine (it didn’t), I pronounced it worn out. He gave us the “OK” to go ahead with the repair and asked when it will be done. “Today” I said, as long as we have no problems.

We pulled the transmission out and sure enough, the clutch disc was worn down to the rivets. The clutch pressure plate and the flywheel, both had heat spots on them, and the release bearing was worn out. The rear main seal on the engine, which is behind the flywheel, was leaking as well. We went ahead and installed a new seal to stop the leak which could have ruined the new clutch parts by getting oil on them.

We resurfaced the flywheel and mounted the new clutch parts. Like I had said before, the new parts consist of the clutch disc, the pressure plate, release bearing and a pilot bearing. After reinstalling the transmission, we refilled the transmission with fresh synthetic fluid and a friction modifier additive to help promote smooth gear selection.

Mazda Miata race car | Tri-Valley Automotive, Dublin Ca.

Tue, 20 May 2025 10:56:51 GMT

My race car is a 1992 Mazda Miata. I compete in the Sports Car Club of America’s Solo II competition here in the Bay Area.

Solo (also called Autocross or Slalom ) is a contest of driving skill. We run against the clock on short courses that put an emphasis car handling and agility rather than speed or power. Speeds and hazards to spectators, participants, and property do not exceed those encountered in normal, legal highway driving. But it is a lot more fun!

Water Pump Repair | Tri-Valley Automotive Dublin, Ca.

Tue, 20 May 2025 10:54:17 GMT

This morning a customer called me and said her Chevy Impala was acting up. She told me the charge light came on and the dash lights started flashing. I first I thought maybe it was the alternator that was causing the problem…until she said her power steering went out. When i questioned her about that, she said that it became very hard to steer. Aahh…a light went off in my head! Now I knew…the serpentine belt had come off. She immediately agreed to have it towed over.

When the car got here I popped open the hood, and sure enough, the belt had come off. Now I needed to ascertain why… I figured one of the pulleys seized up. It turned out the water pump had seized and stopped turning and that caused the belt to flip. Of course, when that happened, the alternator stopped turning, causing the charge light and the dash lights to go all wonky. The power steering pump stopped turning as well, causing the steering wheel to become very hard to turn. Suddenly, the car became nearly impossible to drive so she shut it off.

Good thinking on her part. If she had continued to run the car, it would have overheated due to the water pump gone bad.

We went ahead and replaced the water pump and the serpentine belt and filled the system with fresh coolant. The car is back to normal now and runs great.

Auto Repair News – Dublin, Ca. | Mantainence

Tue, 20 May 2025 10:51:30 GMT

It’s important to keep up on your vehicle’s maintenance. Your car will last longer, you’ll experience better gas mileage, fewer breakdowns, less expense over the long haul, and that rewarding feeling you get when you’re taking care of business!

Did you know that changing your oil is the most important part of vehicle maintenance? Most shops today recommend an oil change every 5,000 miles, and I agree. If you choose to use synthetic oil, you can bump that up to 7,500 miles. If you push it much further, your filter will begin to clog.

Be sure to check your tire pressures at every fill up. If you have a car with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), then it will do this for you. Just make sure to fill up the tires that get low. This will increase your gas mileage, give you better tire wear, and a more stable vehicle during emergency maneuvers. You don’t need a fancy gauge; a pencil type will do; however, one with a dial gauge is best.

Your air filter should be checked at least every other oil change. If you drive in a dusty environment, check it at every oil change. If the filter gets clogged, it will affect your power and gas mileage.

The fluid inside your automatic transmission should be replaced along with the filter (if it has one) every 30,000 miles. This will keep the build-up of wear particles down to a minimum. The more build-up inside the transmission, the faster it will cause problems. Automatic transmissions are not inexpensive to repair when something goes wrong. Your bill could easily run up to $2,500 or more for a rebuild. Consider a fluid change to be inexpensive insurance.

Make sure all other fluids are kept topped off or changed on a regular basis. Have the brake fluid flushed out every couple of years to prevent deterioration. Power steering fluid should be changed when it gets dirty. The concentration of the anti-freeze/coolant should be checked every year – certainly before you head off to the mountains to go skiing.

The cabin filter, which filters the air entering into the passenger compartment, should be replaced once a year if your dog is your co-pilot, or if you suffer from allergies.

Before the rainy season starts . . . be sure to replace your wiper blades for better visibility. .

Doing these simple things will keep you on the road! If you’d like, we will even help you remember when to do these things. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call…we’re here to help.

Some Quick FAQ’s… | Auto Repair

Tue, 20 May 2025 10:47:48 GMT

Q: What hours are you open?

A: We’re open Monday thru Friday from 8:00-5:30. Closed on the weekends.

Q: Where are you located?

A: Our address is 6743 Dublin Blvd. ste 5, Dublin, Ca. 94568. We are across the street from the sports park between Dougherty Blvd. and Sierra Ct., in the Murco Center.

Q: What kind of cars do you work on?

A: We work on all Domestic, Asian and European cars and light trucks.

Q: Where can I find reviews about your repair business before I bring in my vehicle?

A: You may go to www.yelp.com or to our testimonials page to read about our excellent service and what our pleased customers are saying about us.

Q: May I receive an estimate in writing?

A: Yes, we will be happy to provide that for you. You will be provided with an estimate before we begin repairs.

Q: Do I need to have my car serviced at the dealer to keep it in warranty?

A: No. The only reason to have the car worked on by the dealer is if the repair or service is covered by the warranty. If it’s not, then bring it to an independent repair facility like Tri-Valley Automotive and save money. In fact, if the dealer tells you that you should only have your vehicle serviced by the factory dealership, they are not being truthful, and are breaking the law.

Q: But aren’t the dealership mechanics factory trained on my car?

A: Yes, but only on new, complicated systems that require specialized knowledge to repair. Most cars don’t fall into this category. If your car does, and the system fails, it should be covered. We can advise you on this free of charge.

Q: What warranty do you give on your repairs?

A: We will give you an 18 month / 18,000 mile parts and labor warranty on all of our service or repairs. For a clutch repair, we provide a lifetime warranty on clutch parts; 2year / 20,000 mile warranty on labor.

Q: Will you install factory parts on my car?

A: We use brand new (in most cases) OEM quality parts. The car manufacturers do not always assemble their own parts, but will contract out to other companies. I try to use the same parts that are purchased from aftermarket suppliers to provide you with a better price.

Auto Repair News – Dublin, CA | More Women Handling Car Repair Duties

Tue, 20 May 2025 10:40:05 GMT

Our women customers are important to us.

And not just because they deserve the same respect as men, which they do, of course. It’s because women are now handling more and more of the auto repair duties. More single women are feeling empowered and not calling the boyfriend or Dad. Married couples are splitting the chores and it’s no longer just up to the men to handle getting the car repaired.

We think it’s great! More power to them! We’ll explain everything that’s happening in easy to understand terms, without making you feel ignorant. A more informed customer is a happier customer.