Stockton Auto Repair

The catalytic converter in your vehicle is an important part of the exhaust system. The exhaust system ensures that toxic fumes do not build up inside your vehicle and that your car has the best fuel economy possible. While your car’s engine goes through the combustion process, harmful gases are passed through the catalytic converter. The catalytic converter will transform those harmful gases into less damaging ones, which are then released from your car. Over time, catalytic converters can fail, which can lead to poor engine performance, dangerous exhaust fumes, and not passing emissions testing. The causes behind a failing catalytic converter include incorrect timing, the wrong fuel/air mixture, bad spark plugs, a malfunctioning oxygen sensor, and more. The most obvious sign of a catalytic converter problem is an illuminated check engine light and the smell of rotten eggs. Here at Toole’s Garage in Stockton, CA, we are here to help when you need catalytic converter repa ... read more

All cars have a thermostat and it is the most important component of a cooling system. It regulates the flow between the coolant, radiator and engine. Although it is very small in size, the job it performs is very important to make sure that the temperature is safe to operate. How does a car thermostat work? Coolant will flow through the engine, and then it picks up the excess heat. It then leaves the engine and goes to the radiator. Here the excess heat is removed. It will then go through the cooling system and ends back in the engine. The thermostat is a valve that is situated between the engine and radiator. When the coolant is too warm, the valve opens and lets the hot coolant through to the radiator where it is cooled down. If the coolant is not hot, the valve will stay closed and the coolant will continue to circulate in the block. The thermostat has a type of wax that expands when the heat gets a certain temperature, and this will let the valve open up. When ... read more

Toole’s Garage Stockton recommends regular oil change every 5000 miles or 6 months. If your vehicle uses conventional oil, we recommend motor oil change every 3000 miles. Regular oil changes are crucial to your vehicle’s engine longevity. Modern engines work very hard, and at high temperatures. Due to stringent government mandated fuel economy standards, vehicle manufacturers attempt to minimize weight of the vehicles, while maximizing performance. Modern engines tend to be smaller, yet work harder and run hotter. Engine oil deteriorates in high-heat environment and loses its correct mechanical and chemical properties. Thus regular oil changes become even more important. During an oil change, we drain out old engine oil, along with impurities and debris it collected while circulating through the system. We also replace the oil filter. When we refill the engine, the new oil contains just the right mechanical and chemical properties to lubricate, protect, a ... read more

The best way to keep your vehicle safe, healthy, and in good condition is to take it to a reliable auto repair shop for maintenance. When thinking about your vehicle’s needs and services, 30/60/90k maintenance might come to mind. Having your car serviced every 30,000 miles as prescribed by many different vehicle manufacturers is a good rule of thumb when it comes to taking care of your car overall.    What is 30/60/90K Vehicle Maintenance? 30/60/90K vehicle maintenance means having your vehicle serviced every 30,000 miles, despite whether or not there is something seemingly 'wrong' with your car. People may be deterred from this type of maintenance as a money-making ploy, but it couldn't be farther from the truth. Having your car regularly serviced can uncover symptomless issues with your vehicle, and help to avoid costly repairs further down the road. No pun intended!   Benefits of 30/60/90K Vehicle Maintenance K ... read more

Do you ever wonder what happened to the old fashioned customer service? At Toole’s Garage Stockton we are a family owned auto repair shop that prides itself on superior service – the way it used to be before everything was handed over to computerized voice mail.  When you call our Stockton auto repair shop, one of our friendly advisors will pick up the phone and help you to make the best car care decision – best for you and your vehicle. We are big fans of technology – modern cars require sophisticated digital diagnostic tools to talk to onboard computers – so our nationally ASE certified technicians use state-of-the-art digital equipment, and our website provides artificial intelligence powered chat bot, but often there is no substitute for human-to-human conversation. Toole’s Garage Stockton offers comprehensive auto maintenance and auto repairs. We work on all makes and models, from a little Honda Fit to a Ford F-350. We can handle box truc ... read more

Your water pump is a component that is housed under the hood, and it is responsible for keeping your car running efficiently. Your car's engine is made up of various parts that are constantly moving, which can generate an intense amount of friction and heat. The water pump intervenes by helping the coolant travel from the radiator to the rest of the engine system to keep everything at a stable temp.   When you have a damaged water pump, your engine is very likely to overheat. Furthermore, it can cause unrecoverable damage to the cylinder heads, gaskets, and pistons. There are three major symptoms that your car may display if you have a broken water pump: #1: Coolant Leak The water pump has seals and gaskets to manage a consistent coolant flow from the radiator to the engine block. Over time, these pump parts can loosen up, wear out, split, or crack, allowing the coolant to leak out and possibly onto the ground. If you notice a bright-colored fluid underneath where you park ... read more