Chico Auto Repair

Steering is one of the things we take for granted in our vehicles.  Let’s break it down into two areas: first, the power assist and second the actual parts that steer the vehicle. Most people under 40 have never driven a car or truck without power steering.  Most vehicles today have a hydraulic power steering pump that provides boost to help you steer.  The pump is usually driven by the serpentine belt, but some newer vehicles have an electric pump.  Some vehicles even have an electric motor that directly powers the steering. The important thing to keep in mind is that these pumps and motors will eventually wear out and the hoses will start to leak.  You can postpone that day by having a power steering service from time to time.  We will drain the old fluid and replace it with fresh fluid.  This removes water and contaminants that can corrode power steering parts.  Ask your service advisor for the recommended change interval. What about ... read more

There's not much CHICO residents can do about the price of gas in CA, but we can control - up to a point - how much we use. Our driving habits can dramatically affect our fuel economy. The first thing we can do is watch the go-pedal. Hard acceleration just sucks the gas. Gently leave stop lights and plan lane changes so you don't need to floor it. That can save you hundreds of dollars a year in improved fuel economy. Go a little slower on CA roads. CHICO residents who go more than 60 mph/100 kph will see their drop dramatically. Leave early so you don't need to rush to be on time. And cruise control is your friend – steady speeds use less gas. Plan errands ahead. Make fewer trips by combining errands around CHICO. Hey, at current CHICO gas prices, a lead-foot might as well be a gold foot. Give us a call. D AND E AUTO REPAIR 3328 D ESPLANADE CHICO, CA 95973 (530) 343-9703 At D AND E AUTO REPAIR we install quality NAPA replacement parts

Most CHICO motorists know that their owner's manuals have schedules for  vehicle maintenance. What they may not know is that there are actually two service schedules: the regular schedule and the severe service schedule. The distance and time intervals are lower on the severe service schedule. Now when you hear “severe service”, you may think it doesn't apply to you because you don't feel your driving conditions are severe or extreme – it's just normal everyday driving around CHICO. At D AND E AUTO REPAIR, we discuss the conditions that manufacturers classify as severe so that you can make the judgment on your own driving. Most CHICO drivers operate under severe driving conditions at least some of the time. How do you know which schedule to follow for your vehicle? Carefully think about your driving conditions and decide if you should do your preventive maintenance closer to the severe service recommendation or th ... read more