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.
0
Momentum is building for HR 2057, the House's version of the Right to Repair Act. Right to Repair legislation has been gaining speed and building support quickly over the past few years, and this just may be the year that it makes it all the way. The Right to Repair Act would give independent repair shops better access to important information they need to repair new model vehicles. You can read about Right to Repair legislation here, and there's a great update I found in the Fairfax Times here.
51 House Members Support Right to Repair originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Saturday, January 9th, 2010 at 14:53:51.
ABS. Antilock Braking System. This is boring stuff, that is until you find yourself sliding down a 500-yard sheet of ice pulling a loaded 20-foot trailer. That's where I found myself yesterday on the way back from a trip to Chicago to pick up a sad, rusty old Porsche. With no warning at all, the tractor trailer in front of me began to contort itself into that dreaded jack-knife shape. A tap of my brakes and my vehicle started to follow suit. Luckily, the Titan has great brakes, and the ABS was able to calm things down pretty quickly. There was a lot of fanfare when these amazing braking systems were first adopted by carmakers, but these days we've all got ABS. Some of us even have a daily reminder thanks to the ABS light that glows forever on the dashboard. Endless Check Engine light visits have dulled us when it comes to dashboard warning lights, but that ABS light is trying to warn you of a potentially dangerous situation! If your car has more than 50,000 miles, it might be a good time to clean your ABS sensors to be sure your brakes can stop you in a slippery situation.
ABS: Just Three Lonely Letters, Until You Need It originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 at 14:48:24.
Since this is an auto repair blog, not my personal podium for political commentary, I'll skip talking about how stupid a Cuban embargo looks in the year 2010. But I do have an automotive angle. Since the trade embargo began in 1960, Cuba has become famous for its collection of classic American cars. It's not that they have extremely rare cars, it's that they managed to keep them running without any proper replacement parts for almost 50 years. That's some feat, and it's been accomplished by sheer determination on the part of die-hard Cuban auto enthusiasts. They are so proud of this achievement that the Cuban government has decided to recognize the so-called Yank Tanks that roam its streets by opening an automotive museum featuring many American cars kept alive in Cuba, including a 1905 Cadillac that was used until some time in the 1980s! My point is this: If Cuban mechanics can keep a 1905 Cadillac running without any parts to do it with, you can do anything you want to your car! All it takes is determination, confidence, and a quick trip to the auto parts store.
For more information on the Cuban automotive museum, The Depósito, read this.
Thinking Like a Cuban originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Saturday, January 2nd, 2010 at 23:47:26.
There's a good chance that at some point in your long driving career you'll be faced with a body repair. That aggro jerk in the lifted Dodge 4x4 who thinks four inches is a safe distance between your bumpers at 50 mph might end up taking a bite out of the rear of your vehicle. Or that teenager in his parents' mega SUV might shave a few pounds off your bumper in a parking lot. Whatever the cause, it happens. Most of the time, and thankfully, the damage from low impact collisions is confined to the bumper. Traditionally these bumpers are simply replaced due to time and other constraints. You can make bumper repair a Greener affair by having your plastic bumper cover repaired rather than replaced. Modern methods allow for seamless and near-perfect repairs to plastic bumpers. And think of that huge hunk of plastic you'll be keeping out of the landfill! Remember the tip: Repair, don't replace.
Quick Tip for Green Body Repairs originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 at 10:18:59.
There's no reason to go to the dealer or even pay that little guy at the watch repair place to put a new battery in your dead keyfob remote. Carmel didn't want to pay, and she took matters into her own hands. She even had enough spare time to send me a nice note about it:
Dear Matt, I wanted to thank you for the article on how to change the batteries in the mercedes remote! It worked perfectly.
Carmel York
Having saved a bunch of money, and having the satisfaction of fixing something herself, Carmel can spend her extra loot on something for herself -- like an exciting New Year's party hat!
Another Saved Remote! originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Sunday, December 27th, 2009 at 20:44:54.
I'm no expert on auto insurance, which is why I'm leaving the auto insurance advice to the experts at Smartmoney.com. They recently published this interesting and enlightening article, "10 Things Your Auto Insurer Won't Tell You." It's definitely worth a read. For example, did you know that your insurance rate can be affected by your credit history? Wow, that can be a real bummer for somebody with a perfect driving record but an old credit card default. Check it out.
10 Things To Know About Auto Insurance originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Sunday, December 27th, 2009 at 20:44:20.
It's amazing to me how many Americans are embracing the concept of Green living. We're not only recycling, but it seems more and more people are starting to make regular decisions based on their impact on the environment. I think it's great! Well, unless it means I can't drive my vintage cars anymore, I'll jump teams for that. But in the spirit of a more Green lifestyle, I think it's always a good idea to consider Mother Earth when we have the chance. Repairing your car after it suffers body or paint damage is a good opportunity to make a Green decision. Auto painting is traditionally an environmentally unfriendly process. Chemicals in the paint are very hard on the atmosphere. With no alternative, body shops are forced to make the sacrifice and minimize the harm done by incorporating expensive filtration systems and efficient use of materials. Even then auto painting is an environmental disaster. Thankfully, we now have a Green alternative for painting your car. Newly adopted water-based paints are making a huge difference in the environmental impact of auto painting. Brands like PPG's Envirobase auto paint provide the same paint quality your car came with without the headache. If you're having body work or paint repair done on your car, make it a Green repair and find a shop who uses a water-based paint exclusively.
Want Your Body Repair to be Green? originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 22:18:58.
Got a car guy or gal on your list that still needs a great gift? Don't despair, there's still time to order online and have something amazing and original at your door in time for the big day. Check out my two hot gift lists, Great Car Gifts Under $20 and Great Car Gifts Under $100 and you're bound to find something. Get clickin'!
Great Last Minute Gifts for Car Folk! originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Sunday, December 13th, 2009 at 22:16:53.
It's amazing to me how many Americans are embracing the concept of Green living. We're not only recycling, but it seems more and more people are starting to make regular decisions based on their impact on the environment. I think it's great! Well, unless it means I can't drive my vintage cars anymore, I'll jump teams for that. But in the spirit of a more Green lifestyle, I think it's always a good idea to consider Mother Earth when we have the chance. Repairing your car after it suffers body or paint damage is a good opportunity to make a Green decision. Auto painting is traditionally an environmentally unfriendly process. Chemicals in the paint are very hard on the atmosphere. With no alternative, body shops are forced to make the sacrifice and minimize the harm done by incorporating expensive filtration systems and efficient use of materials. Even then auto painting is an environmental disaster. Thankfully, we now have a Green alternative for painting your car. Newly adopted water-based paints are making a huge difference in the environmental impact of auto painting. Brands like PPG's Envirobase auto paint provide the same paint quality your car came with without the headache. If you're having body work or paint repair done on your car, make it a Green repair and find a shop who uses a water-based paint exclusively.
Want Your Body Repair to be Green? originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Sunday, December 13th, 2009 at 10:13:01.
After a conversation with a fellow shop owner recently about auto warranties, I decided to add a quick note to tell all of you to beware of 99% of the warranties out there. If you buy an extended warranty from your dealer as your manufacturer's warranty is running out (which I don't recommend, by the way), it's most likely legitimate. They may do a little fast talking, but you won't be scammed. What are bogus are the type of warranty that is sold to you over the phone, with no inspection of your vehicle. A huge percentage of the time these warranties will take your premiums and leave you high and dry when it comes time to do a major repair on your car. If you are considering adding warranty protection, read all of the fine print and do a LOT of research online to see what other people think about the warranty. Be safe!
Beware of Auto Warranties originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Friday, December 11th, 2009 at 09:08:31.
Back to top
