Folsom Auto Repair

Help! My Car is Overheating! What Should I Do?  We've all been there - you're cruising along, and suddenly, your car starts overheating. It's a stressful situation, but knowing how to handle it can save you from further damage and keep you safe. As an auto repair business, we've got your back. Here are some quick tips on what to do when your car overheats. 1. Don't Panic, But Act Fast: Take a deep breath and stay calm. As soon as you notice the signs of an overheating engine - steam, rising temperature gauge, strange smells - pull over to a safe spot. Don't wait it out! 2. Give It a Break: Turn off the engine and let it cool down. Be patient. Opening the hood right away can lead to steam burns, so wait at least 30 minutes. 3. Coolant Check: Open the hood and check the coolant levels once safe. Most likely, this is the culprit. Top it off; if you have coolant, be sure not to touch any engine parts. 4. Call for Help: If you're unsure about what caused ... read more

"Raindrops keep falling on my head." If you reside in California, you can attest that we have had more rainy days than sunny days. Some would say this weather feels as if we live in Seattle. The Sacramento Bee reported it has rained for nearly half of 2023. It has rained 39 of the past 82 days! With the excessive amount of rain comes road hazards. Potholes are typically caused by weather, traffic volume, and the age of the road. It seems to be that every road and freeway in California is bombarded with potholes. The excessive amount of rain has increased the potholes in our area. When the water seeps into the crack of the road, it can expand during cold weather, causing the pavement to break apart. Once a vehicle drives over these areas, the pavement breaks more, creating potholes.  Avoiding potholes on the road will save you money. Hitting a pothole can cause damage to your car and a possible collision. Avoid potholes while driving by following these tips: d ... read more

5, 4, 3, 2, 1: HAPPY NEW YEAR! Can you believe it? It is 2023. The beginning of a new year is full of goal-setting and resolutions. It is time to make a 2023 automotive goal. Creating new habits can be difficult; luckily, we have tips and tools to help you. Avoiding or putting off preventative maintenance will decrease the life expectancy of your vehicle. Not only will it reduce the lifespan of your car, but it will also create a reactive mentality. Setting an automotive goal will shift the car care mindset to proactive vs. reactive. Please do not wait to care for your car till it is a problem. Making a habit part of your lifestyle starts with consistency. Choose one day out of the month to work on your automotive goal. For example, make the first Sunday of the month "Car Care." Below is a list of items to check when working on this goal: -Check windshield wipers -Check headlights -Check the condition of your tires and air pressure -Clean-out middle consol ... read more

Cha-ching, Cha-ching! The sound you hear every time you pull up to the gas pump. Nationwide everyone is feeling the effects of record-high gas prices. In California, gas prices are reaching a record high for the second time in 2022. Breaking records is fun, but not when it affects our bank accounts. Are you asking yourself: How can I improve my gas mileage? What driving habits affect fuel efficiency? How can I save money at the gas pump? The best place to start is...our driving habits. This is one area we can correct quickly.  1. Slow down; it is not a race!! Avoid accelerating quickly when driving—rapid acceleration and speeding while driving will burn more gas. Refrain from braking at the last minute.  2. Turn off your car. If you are waiting to pick up children from school or practice, turn off your vehicle—an idling car will burn gas. In a recent article, the California Energy Commission states that an idling vehicle can burn as much as ... read more

It's that time of year--time for some SPRING CLEANING!!!  Temperatures are warming up and we see some road trips in your future.  Oh yes, road trips are in the planning process, hotels are booked--let the countdown begin!  Spring cleaning is not only for your home but also for your vehicle.  Time to clean out, clean up, and show your car how much you care. Today we are going to tackle a couple of areas of the vehicle that we call the "problem" areas.  These areas tend to be neglected the most and store a lot of junk.   The trunk is also known as the junk drawer of the car.  Our trunk ends up being a catch-all for anything and everything.  Think about it right now, what's the oddest item living in your trunk? Most likely that item has nothing to do with your car.  Clean-out unnecessary items in your trunk.  Make sure your trunk emergency kit is stocked with all the essentials: jumper cables, flashl ... read more

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL? The NFL football season is here!  Truth be told you do not have to love football to enjoy tailgating.  Whether you are a sports fanatic or a food fanatic, tailgating is a MUST!  If you are a first-time tailgater or experienced, let's go over the "Tailgating Essentials."Tailgating Essentials: Bluetooth Speaker: Nothing keeps the energy up more than music.  A fully charged portable speaker is compact and easy to pack.  Don't forget to charge your speaker before the big game. Cooler: Investing in a good cooler will be beneficial in the long run. It will keep the food cool and can serve as extra seating when not in use. Folding Chairs: Extra seating is a must!  No one wants to eat their food standing up.  Sit back, relax, and have a good time.   Portable Grill: Now to the most important part--the food!  Grilling and football are the dynamic duo.  A ... read more

How to Save Fuel While Driving With the warmer weather approaching, Americans are starting to plan their summer trips.  AAA predicts  Americans will take 700 million trips in the summer.  Due to Covid, travelers are taking more long distance road trips.  Now pair that up with the recent fuel shortages and we need a "Summer 2021 Game Plan." Here are 5 ways you can save fuel while driving; 1. Slow down speed racer!  Change your driving habits: if you tend to brake at the last possible second or go from 0 to 45 instantly you might want to rethink your driving methods.  That's right, experts say that speeding increases fuel consumption and decreases fuel economy.  Although every vehicle reaches optimal fuel efficiency at different speeds, gas usually decreases quickly at any speed above 50mph.  Accelerating and braking gently can improve your fuel efficiency.  Practicing this tip can improve gas efficiency by 30% on the fre ... read more

At Foreign Autohäus, we only use Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts. These are the same parts used by the dealer, or available for purchase at the dealer over their parts counter. It is our belief, these parts offer the best value for the money, as we know they will work, are approved by the vehicle manufacturer, and fit before we remove the old part

There are many reasons to consider using an independent shop like Foreign Autohäus. Cost is probably the most important. Generally, an independent facility will be substantially less expensive than a dealership. Dealerships have extremely high overhead that must be passed on to the customer; an independent shop's overhead will be substantially less. Foreign Autohäus uses the same diagnostic equipment as the dealership, employs only highly skilled and certified technicians, (just like a dealership), and only uses Origingal Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts. These are the same parts you would buy if you went into the deaership and bought them at the parts counter. We use OEM parts because we know they wlll work and fit everytime

We have negotiated a discount rate with Enterprise Rent a Car for our customers while their vehicles are in for service. We will be glad to arrange for a rental car when you drop your vehicle off at Foreign Autohaus