Turlock Auto Repair

The Truth About Leaky Vehicle A/C Systems & What To Look Out For As summer heats up in California's Central Valley, air conditioning becomes essential in every vehicle. A malfunctioning air conditioning system can make a car ride unbearable, and it can be costly to repair.   In this article, we'll dive into the truth about leaky vehicle A/C systems and what to look out for. We'll cover the causes, symptoms, and potential consequences of a leaky A/C system, as well as tips for preventing and fixing leaks. Causes of leaky A/C systems A leak in the A/C system can be caused by several factors, including the age of the vehicle, lack of maintenance, and damaged components. Age of vehicle As a vehicle ages, its A/C system may become more prone to leaks due to wear and tear on the components. The rubber seals and hoses that keep the refrigerant contained can become brittle and crack over time, leading to leaks. Lack of maintenance Regular maintenance of the A/C sy ... read more

7 Must-See Day Trip Spots In California's Central Valley Are you looking for a day trip destination that's just a short distance from home? Look no further than California's Central Valley! With our diverse landscape and abundance of activities, there's something for everyone.    Here are seven must-see day trip spots that will have you feeling rejuvenated from our local perspective at Nona's Auto Center in Turlock, CA! Yosemite National Park Yosemite National Park is one of the most iconic and well-known national parks in the United States. Located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Yosemite is home to some of the most stunning natural scenery in the world. Visitors can hike, bike, or drive through the park to experience its beautiful waterfalls, granite cliffs, and giant sequoia trees.   If you're lucky, you might spot some of the park's wildlife, including black bears, coyotes, and mountain lions. Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe is a fresh ... read more

By Nito The 3 Most Overlooked Vehicle Fluids You Should Check Regularly  When it comes to vehicle maintenance, most people think of things like oil changes and tire rotations. While these are important, there are three other vehicle fluids that often get overlooked: coolant, windshield washer fluid for safety, and brake fluid. Here's what you need to know about each one of them.  Coolant  Coolant is a mixture of water and antifreeze used to keep the engine from overheating. Coolant should be regularly checked and exchanged every two years or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first). If your coolant level is low or the coolant looks cloudy or rusty, it's time for an exchange. Make sure you use the right type of coolant for your specific car make/model—check your owner's manual if you're unsure.  Windshield Washer Fluid  Windshield washer fluid is essential for keeping your windshield clean while driving. Without it, dirt and debris can qu ... read more

By Jittawin.21   Tips for Driving in the Central Valley Rain It's that time of year again! The days are getting shorter, the weather is cooling off, and we see more rain in the forecast. Here in the California Central Valley, we don't get a lot of rain, so when it does come, it can be a bit of a shock to our systems and cars.    If you want to prepare for the next few months of potentially wet weather, you can do a few things to get your vehicle ready. In this blog post, we'll discuss tips on getting your car ready for rainy roads. Keep reading to learn more!   Tip #1: Check Your Tires  One of the most important things you can do to prepare your car for wet weather is to ensure your tires are in good condition. In particular, you'll want to check the tread depth and tire pressure.    The tread depth is important because it provides traction between your tires and the road. If the tread depth is too low, your car will have tro ... read more

Photo by Nathan Moore   September is road trip season The weather is finally taking a turn for the better as the California Central Valley heat takes a dip. This marks the perfect time of the year to take a road trip or start planning your next!   Turlock, CA, sits nestled in the heart of California's Central Valley, making it the perfect starting point for a road trip. Visitors and locals alike looking for road trip ideas will find no shortage of destinations within a few hours' drive of Turlock, CA!   4 road trip destinations near Turlock, CA Here are four must-do road trips out of Turlock:   Highway 1 to Big Sur - Highway 1 is one of the most iconic roads in California, and the drive from Turlock to Big Sur is one of the most scenic in the state. The route winds along the coast, offering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Visitors can stop at Pfeiffer Beach for a beach hike or take a detour to Hearst Castle. Yosemite National Park - Just ... read more

Photo by Fredrick Lee on Unsplash   What's On Your Road Trip Playlist? We all love the scene in the movie where the passenger tosses their legs out the passenger side window, leans their seat back, and cranks up the music. Road trips, day trips, and summer lake days are the nostalgia fuel we crave. The California Central Valley abounds with lakes, rivers, mountains, and hiking trails to suit everyone's particular tastes. Find the right playlist and the right crew, and you are on your way to making memories.   What's your favorite road trip playlist? Do you like classic road trip fuel by Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Bob Seger? Or maybe you have kids, and they want to listen to the latest radio hits as you try desperately to drown ... read more

Welcome to 2021, we hope your holidays have been wonderful and joyful. As we return to our shop, the signs that greet us remind us of the lingo and terminology we use at the store, some of which might be a touch confusing. Have you often seen or heard terms bandied about in a service shop and wondered, “What does that mean?”, but smiled and nodded along? In this month’s blog, we’re exploring the meaning of ASE certification, OEM parts, and the importance of both to you, our customer. ASE is an acronym for an organization, the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence. It’s the accreditation authority for the United States in auto repairs. Not every mechanic has this certification. Many beginning mechanics start out working under the direct supervision of a ASE-certified technician. As they grow, learn the trade, and seek acceptance, they may become accredited as an ASE-certified technician themselves. (Our technicians are certified.) This is im ... read more

While the best practices of Preventative Maintenance can help you avoid most roadside breakdowns, sometimes, emergencies and accidents are just unavoidable. Do you know the steps to take if you are in an accident? There are some things you should do before you get in an accident: Consider a Roadside Assistance Membership Plan. Groups like AAA are very helpful to be in when disaster strikes, and are often included in tiers of your car insurance. Have an emergency kit. This is especially important if you decide to drive through snow in heavy winter. A first aid kit and a reflective vest would be good investments. Check for your insurance card. Make sure it is up to date and just include a copy you can give another driver in an accident. Get a good solar flashlight. You can leave one of these in your back window and let it charge all the time, and when you need power, it will be there for you. We can recommend the Goal Zero 250 for its roadside flashing settings. Once you find yourse ... read more

At Nona’s Auto Center in Turlock, we repair over 40 different makes of automobile. But one niche of the market we’re in seems to have a lot of love from our customers, and that’s Asian vehicles (Acura, Daewoo, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Isuzu, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki, and Toyota). This month, we thought we’d take a look at Asian vehicles and ask, why are they so popular in the U.S. and in California? Here’s five guesses: They’ve got style. Asian vehicles are not a very hard sell. They’re just plain sexy. Even their utility vehicles feel more stylized and interesting to drive. It’s a small wonder that their affordable compacts often wind up as street racers when better engines are available. Asian cars look like racers and feel like them, too. They're practical, efficient, dependable cars. We’re looking at Honda really intently here. People seem to love Honda cars and t ... read more

Do you know what one of our favorite things about cars is? You’re going to laugh when you find out. One of our favorite things about cars is the clever marketing that goes into their commercials. There are some fantastic car commercials that will make you burst out into laughter, make you cry, or touch your heart. That is why, in this month’s blog, we thought we would share our five favorite car commercials of all time. Lucky for us, there are so many terrific car commercials to choose from. But to be fair, we are choosing the commercials for the car brands we service and repair here at Nona’s Auto Center in Turlock. Yes, we admit it would be fun to highlight a car commercial for an exotic luxury brand, but that’s not who we represent. Instead, we are sticking to the car commercials that accurately reflect the American, Asian, and European vehicles we see on a regular basis. Subaru Barkley Family commercials -- Because they’re all so ad ... read more