Whole Auto
400 Petaluma Blvd. South, Petaluma, California
Wherever life takes you, Whole Auto can help you get there.
At Whole Auto in Petaluma, our years of auto repair experience means our ASE Certified technicians have the know how and experience to find the problem and make sure your vehicle is in tip-top condition. Whole Auto will repair tires, brakes, transmissions and more, with the honesty and integrity that all our customers enjoy.
Your automobile gets high-quality parts backed by nationwide warranties, plus enjoy peace of mind knowing that we are the premier Petaluma auto repair shop.
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Before today, if I'd been asked about the worst example of body work I've ever seen, I'd have been choosing between a few really, really bad Bondo jobs I've seen over the years. One poor Ford Fiesta I once knew had so much filler on the front end it looked like a clay pot coming at you. Records are made to be broken, and that Fiesta just got knocked off the block by a maroon conversion van. Wow. I'll let the photo speak for itself, but I think you'll agree that it's some pretty low-quality work.
Don't let your car or truck be the butt of jokes, learn how to do decent body work and you'll save serious money at the body shop while keeping your car off blogs like this.
Worst Body Work Ever? originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 23:45:21.
Before today, if I'd been asked about the worst example of body work I've ever seen, I'd have been choosing between a few really, really bad Bondo jobs I've seen over the years. One poor Ford Fiesta I once knew had so much filler on the front end it looked like a clay pot coming at you. Records are made to be broken, and that Fiesta just got knocked off the block by a maroon conversion van. Wow. I'll let the photo speak for itself, but I think you'll agree that it's some pretty low-quality work.
Don't let your car or truck be the butt of jokes, learn how to do decent body work and you'll save serious money at the body shop while keeping your car off blogs like this.
Worst Body Work Ever? originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Sunday, November 29th, 2009 at 23:45:21.
One of my fellow About.com Guides, Cars Guide Aaron Gold, has a funny blog entry going on common car myths. It's worth checking out, and adding to if you have any of your own. You can see it here.
Fun With Car Myths originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Thursday, November 26th, 2009 at 22:16:22.
Here's an other reason to be sure you get a proper written estimate before work begins on your car or truck. Remember, most shop owners are honest, well trained, and essential to the proper maintenance of your car. But this shop owner was crooked, and he will be paying the price for some time. He was fined for charging more than the repair estimate in a number of cases. It's a shame to see somebody with an established shop go to the dark side, but we'll see what happens. In the meantime, you can read about the crime at thespec.com.
Repair Shop Owner Fined For Ripoffs originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 22:59:01.
In the unending battle between shops and insurance giants, put a "V" in the repair shops' column this month. After fighting for quite some time with Connecticut's Hartford insurance company, a determined group of shop owners have been awarded $15 million after a judge found that The Hartford violated state laws meant to keep a level playing field in the auto repair game. According to ABRN, "The class action lawsuit filed by The Auto Body Association of Connecticut (ABAC) and three of its members alleged that the insurance company engaged in a pattern of unfair practices that violated Connecticut law." Too many professionals in this country are forced to bend to the will of insurance companies, it's nice to see a little justice served no matter how small.
Read more about this victory on ABRN.
A Small Victory for Repair Shops originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 22:15:51.
It's common practice for a repair shop to provide a detailed estimate of needed repairs before work begins on your car or truck. If you're getting work done without one, you could be making a big mistake. Estimates aren't just for a consumer's protection, they protect the shop from misunderstandings, arguments and even law suits. Getting the details on paper ensures everybody knows what to expect when work commences, and when it's time to pay up. A proper estimate will detail both parts and labor charges in a way you can read and make sense of. Keep in mind, however, that an estimate isn't the final word on your car repair. Often a mechanic will discover other problems as work progresses, or will find that a different part was actually at fault. There's no way around this until somebody invents an automotive crystal ball, so getting upset at your mechanic over additional charges is usually out of line. The bottom line, don't say yes unless it's in writing, no matter what side of the repair counter you stand on.
The Importance of Estimates originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 22:06:54.
When times get tough, Americans get tougher. That may sound like a propaganda slogan, but in many cases it rings true. People in this country take their cars and trucks very seriously. Even those you would hardly label "gearheads" will step up to the plate if they think their driving status is at stake, and lately they've been doing just that. It's easy for me to tell you, but check out the results of a recent study by Honeywell. They found that more than half of the car owners in the US are getting greasy more often! Here are the results:
- 51% of American vehicle owners are rolling up their sleeves and handling more car care on their own.
- 89% of these newfound DIYers report that they didn't really perform these tasks before -- they hired a professional.
- 51% admit to doing the bare minimum for their vehicles; and 21% have avoided service altogether.
- 14% report addressing more high ticket repairs that could extend their vehicle's life.
That's some serious fixin'! If you can't yet count yourself amongst the 51% that are getting busy, now's the time to step up. Make it happen, and save some serious money in process.
Honeywell is the parent company of Autolite, FRAM, Prestone and Bendix -- all makers of auto repair and maintenance parts and products.
More and More Car Owners Diving Into Repairs originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Saturday, November 14th, 2009 at 22:34:46.
This letter was a good reminder that your car is always communicating with you in its own way.
Hi Matthew, I think I need to have the frame of my car straightened. My tires are going bald on one side and it's gotten to the point that I think I should pay to have the frame repaired rather than keep buying tires. Any advice is appreciated! -- Janice
Janice, a bent or twisted frame can cause your tires to wear unevenly, but there are far more common causes than that. If your car was in a serious accident, you might check the frame, but most likely the problem is in your suspension. Even a pothole can cause part of your suspension to bend or knock itself out of adjustment, making your car a tire-eating machine. Have your alignment checked first, then you can go from there to get to the source of your premature tire wear.
Tame the Tire Eating Monster originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 00:09:00.
Patrick Sullivan writes to remind us how important it can be to carry a fire extinguisher. Even the smallest emergency model is enough to put out most common automotive fires. Patrick has used his extinguisher on more than one occasion, hear his stories:
A tow truck on a hot summer day in Chicago backfired at a red light while towing a disabled vehicle. A small fire began under the hood in the carburetor and the driver was using everything nearby to put it out. I had a small extinguisher and gave it to him and it immediately put out the fire and saved his truck. Another time an old car at a stop sign, same problem. I volunteered my small fire extinguisher and 'poof' his old car was still alive.See? I speak truths!
For only a few dollars, a small extinguisher in the glove box could save a lot of money.
A Reader's Sage Reminder - Fire! originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 23:35:52.
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