Automotive Industry News & Information - Oliver Automotive

As cars become more technologically advanced, the importance of your vehicle’s battery becomes more important. In the old days, a car battery essentially worked, or it didn’t; if it was good enough to start the car, it was good enough. Moderns vehicles are a different story. A faulty battery can cause a variety of issues, including engine codes, sensor failures, irregular transmission behavior, and the list goes on.

Battery failure often causes issues that are commonly misdiagnosed, and in the hands of the wrong auto repair shop, a mechanic may spend hundreds of your hard-earned dollars chasing problems that don’t exist. At Oliver Automotive in Novato, CA, our mechanics are familiar with modern vehicles and the problems that accompany them.

If you’ve owned a vehicle long, particularly one with a few miles on it, you have probably encountered a peculiar smell that grabbed your attention. Scents that you encounter while driving (emanating from your vehicle, not the horse farm down the road) are indicators of your vehicle's health and often the first warning that something may be wrong. Oliver Automotive in Novato has assembled this list to prepare for you for the next time you smell something odd, so you’ll know what’s going on next time you notice a funny smell.

Do you need new brake pads? Most of the time, if you think you do, the answer is yes. While a lot of auto parts stores sell brake pads with lifetime warranties, don’t be misled...brake pads will still wear down.

Terry Pellegrini

Customer Review

★★★★★

Took my 2013 Honda Civic to Oliver Automotive for some Dealer recommended repairs. Mike reviewed what the Honda Factory recommended timing was for spark plugs/valve adjustment and advised me they were not yet needed. I did need to replace the drive belt, however. I was promised repair would be done first thing in the morning and would be complete in 1 1/2 hours - it was! My experience at this friendly, clean and knowledgeable shop was great!

When you get in your car, truck, SUV, or minivan to drive and the A/C does not work what could be wrong? Here at Oliver Automotive, we have some simple answers to help you understand how your vehicle A/C system works. The first question we are asked is "Why isn't my air conditioner blowing cold air?" Let's talk about what could be happening.

clutch of vehicle and close up of floorboard

Does your clutch go flat, rendering your car useless until you fill the reservoir back up? Are you tired of the spongy feeling in your pedal, and the mess on your driveway? At Oliver Automotive in Novato, CA, we can fix that for you.

Since the first automobile, vehicle electronics have become increasingly more complex with every passing era. In the modern-day, your car, truck, or SUV likely depends on an array of modules, sensors, and components that control every aspect of how your vehicle runs and drives. Here’s what you need to know about your vehicle’s electronics systems, from Oliver Automotive in Novato.

One of the most annoying sounds known to man is a loud squeal every time you start your car, truck, or SUV. What causes this, and what can you do to fix it? Oliver Automotive in Novato, CA has the answer.