Boise Auto Repair

Temperatures around Boise will hit 106 degrees today and even higher tomorrow, with triple-digits forecast for the rest of the week. That kind of heat puts extreme stress on an engine and this is a good time to think about getting your engine checked out. You definitely don't want to be one of the motorists on the side of the road, hood open Catastrophic overheating happens all the time in hot weather. and steam and fumes pouring out. An auto engine runs optimally at 200 degrees Fahrenheit and produces a great deal of heat. Overheating will destroy it within minutes. In the depths of winter, when it is the teens and single digits, an engine may run just fine without a cooling system! Most of the time, though, a cooling system is essential to keep the engine within operating temperatures. The higher the outside temperature, the less margin of error there is and the faster heat will damage your engine. The cooling system consists of the radiator, water pump, cooling fan a ... read more

Likely some of you have used online medical record access - you log in to a secure site and you can see procedures, prescriptions, bills and other health records from your provider. It's convenient and gives people more information to make better-informed health care decisions. Sample of Mechanicnet page showing service record of a Plantation customer’s car. We now have the same type of thing for our customers at Plantation Tune Tech Automotive Service Center. We have recently partnered with Mechanicnet, a leading comepany in customer outreach for auto repair shops. The next time you stop in for service, we will inform you about the Mechanicnet portal and give you the login information. Logging in is really very simple and you will have instant access to all the service information Plantation has on your car. The uses of repair ... read more

We do a great deal of foreign auto repair at Plantation and we currently have a 1977 Porsche 911S (named "Waldo") in our shop for restoration, which includes engine rebuild, new electrical systems, full interior detail, reseal the transmission, suspension update and event new wiper blades! Auto technician Ryan Glenn, left, and service adviser Ed Guild work on Waldo’s engine. These old Porsches are very popular and collectors love them. Boise Porsche car enthusiasts even have a local club. Since its founding in 1931 by Austrian engineer Ferdinand Porsche, Porsches are known for high performance and longevity and Porsche also designed the Volkswagen Beetle. While Porsches are well-made cars, they do need a fair amount of maintenance. </span>The original ... read more

At Plantation, we pride ourselves on hiring the best auto techs to our team. We are pleased to announce the addition of Tom Lenan. Tom Lenan, Plantation Tune Tech auto technician and aftermarket specialist Tom is an advanced apprentice auto technician, working toward his ASE certification. He started with in the US Army from 2000 to 2003, where he maintained Humvees and heavy trucks. In the Army, Tom learned engine work, electrical, heating and cooling, suspension and other systems. Tom also completed the auto technician program at North Valley Occupational Center in California and worked at GM dealerships. Tom lives in Eagle with his wife and three children and moved here because he wanted a better place to raise his family. For fun, Tom likes doing things with his family and working on cars. Tom has expertise in instal ... read more

Not many people are aware of this, but we offer auto detailing at Plantation Tune Tech. In addition to doing complete engine rebuilds, our highly talented Ryan Glenn details car interiors and exteriors (he really loves everything about cars!). We don't do a lot of volume with detailing. Typically, it's something we do when someone brings their car in for an extended period of time, like for engine work, or something else that will take a long time. However, if you want to have the best detailing around, give us a call and we'll get you in our schedule. Exterior High speed cut and buff, orbital or hand waxing. Removes oxidation, minor scratches, "spider webs" and restores and protects paint. Trim restore. Cleans, moistens and extends the life of dried-out plastic and rubber trim. Shines stainless steel and chrome. Wheeling cleaning, including acid and polish wash. Removes most of the road grime related to brake du ... read more

At Plantation Tune Tech, our auto technicians often do heavy engine work, including overhauls. Other Boise auto shops frequently send us their work that is too difficult for them to perform. However, sometimes, the engine is beyond what we can do and the customer needs a remanufactured engine. We are pleased to work with JASPER Engines and Transmission on acquiring rebuilt engines for customers who need them. Unfortunately, many people who need a new engine will get one from a junkyard - bad idea! Junkyard engines are often steam cleaned and look good. But an engine is a complex piece of machinery and if it's from a junkyard, it could all kinds of problems no one knows about. You're rolling the dice and it could be a very expensive gamble. For example, the engines of vehicles involved in rollover accidents may continue to run, even running wide open while upside down, starved of oil and incurring damage ... read more

Benjamin Phillips, Plantation Tune Tech auto technician We are pleased to welcome back Benjamin Phillips, who has been an auto tech at Plantation Tune Tech since 2008 but took some time off in the past year and is now back at Plantation. Benjamin is certified by the American Society for Automotive Excellence. He has worked at a number of dealerships and independent shops over the years and has a wide variety of automotive skills. He studied automotive technology at the Sequoia Institute in California. Says Benjamin, "I enjoy helping people out and getting them back on the road and I like the diagnostics - it's the puzzle part, trying to figure out what's wrong. It's a challenge because nothing is ever the same." Benjamin lives in Boise with his wife and five children and enjoys camping and spending time with his family

During November, stop by Plantation Tune Tech and receive a set of NAPA wiper blades for your car for only $2 each. Comparable wiper blades cost $8 each. We'll even install them for you for free. We will ask you to provide your email address so we can send you updates about our services, including special offers like this. It's a good idea to get new wiper blades annually. Boise is a fairly dry place but still, we get out fair share of rain and snow and it really starts in November. Each year, many accidents happen because of dirty windshields. And a main cause of dirty windshields is worn wiper blades. Wiper blades are actually very delicate. They're thin, exposed strips of soft rubber. One of the worst things you can do is run them over frosty or icy windshields. That will grind them down and roughen them, so when you turn them on to wipe off water, they will leave streaks and gaps. Even if you don't run wipers over frost, they will eventually get worn out. So, stop by toda ... read more

Fall is here and it's not just a good time to get ready for winter - there are some important steps that motorists should be taking to care for their car in general. This blog has some great suggestions. Among the ideas: Change your wiper blades. This should be done annually, every fall Check your spare tire to make sure it is properly inflated Check and top off all fluids Replace the air filter Check battery terminal and lights

Winterizing tips to keep you safe this season Don't let your car wind up like this because you didn't winterize! Right about now is the time to start planning your winter car preparations. Winter makes demands of all of a car's systems: brakes, electrical (especially the battery), tires, cooling and more and we offer a thorough winterizing service. This story from howstuffworks.com gives a good overview. Among other things, it includes what should you keep in the car with you, what parts you should check before driving, how important is gas and oil during the winder, and what to do about tires and brakes