San Francisco's Japanese Auto Repair Specialists

An autumn car checkup is essential for transitioning from summer sunshine to unpredictable Fall weather. At Pat’s Garage in San Francisco we recommend a thorough inspection, including four key areas:   Battery Check: A battery that appears healthy during summer warmth, may fail under the strain of cold autumn morning. Checking the battery prevents sudden failures and no-start situations.   Tire Inspection: Dropping temperatures reduce tire pressure. Checking pressure and ensuring adequate tread depth lowers the risk of hydroplaning on slick, wet roads.   Brake Evaluation: Reliable stopping power is critical on slippery autumn roads.   Visibility Check: heating/defrosting system needs to be fully operational during cold mornings, and the windshield wipers need to efficiently remove water during rain – this is not only vital for the driver, but also for the those ADAS systems that use behind-the-windshield ... read more

Ignition coil problems are among top ten reasons for the check engine light repairs. Ignition coils transform low voltage electricity from the 12v battery into high voltage necessary for the spark plugs to generate the spark that causes air-fuel mixture to ignite and provide power for your vehicle. Over time, ignition coils will deteriorate and need replacement. The good news is that typically it takes about 100,000 miles or more. Main cause of ignition coil problems are worn spark plugs – as the gap widens, ignition coils need to produce higher voltage to create the spark. This results in increased heat that causes premature wear of the ignition coils. What are the symptoms of ignition coil problems? If your vehicle’s ignition coils need replacement, you are likely to notice engine misfires rough idle difficulty starting loss of power worsening fuel economy check engine light Above symptoms can have other causes, not just ignition coil problems, so we recommend ta ... read more