Frequently Asked Questions

We are a full-service auto repair facility and can perform almost any repair or service you might need.

Yes. Imagine waking up one morning with a stomachache. You pick up the phone, call the doctor's office and say, "I've got a bad tummy ache. How much will it cost to make me feel better?" Of course, you wouldn't do that. You know that there could be a lot of reasons for your symptoms and that the doctor will have to examine you, ask some questions, and probably run some tests before she can tell you what's wrong and give you treatment options.

This same scenario plays every day at auto repair facilities. When the cause of the concern isn't apparent, the vehicle will need to undergo a diagnostic process. The typical vehicle has about 30,000 parts, including several networked computers and miles of wiring. Finding what is wrong can be very complicated and take some time. The most experienced technicians at the shop are the ones that tackle the difficult diagnostic jobs. Once they have determined the cause of the problem, they can work out the plan for how to fix it and tell you how much it will cost.

When you look at it this way, it makes perfect sense that 1) the Service Advisor cannot provide an

estimate before the diagnosis is made, and 2) there is a charge for diagnostic services. You expect to pay for an office visit to the doctor and any needed tests before you can be presented with your treatment options and costs; the same goes for your vehicle.

We know it can be frustrating when something is wrong with your car, and you aren't sure what is going to be involved in getting it fixed. We'll do everything we can to help you through the process; communicating with you at each step along the way. We have highly trained diagnostic technicians and state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to uncover the cause of your problems. We use quality replacement parts to help you stay on the road after the repair> That's our prescription for automotive peace of mind.

The short answer is that we work on all Domestic/Asian powered and hybrid vehicles (shop spec). Visit our website for a complete list of all the makes and models we service.

Having your oil changed regularly and your vehicle inspected by a qualified technician is one of the most important things you can do to increase the life of your car. For a complete list of other recommended preventative maintenance, click here

Yes. We can perform all recommended factory maintenance schedules you need to keep your new car warranty intact.

No. All recall work has to be performed by the dealer.

Visit our website, and click the 'Request Appointment' button

We do digital vehicle inspections for all repairs and service and pre-purchase vehicle inspections.

After one of our certified technicians performs a Vehicle Health Report on your vehicle, we can provide an estimate. Sometimes testing is required to determine what repairs are needed, which generally has a fee. You can request your appointment below.

No, we are open Monday through Friday. To see a complete list of hours, visit our website.

We perform a wide range of auto repair services. For a complete list, visit www.royfoster.com

Schedule an online appointment, or give us a call. Every car, truck, and SUV is a complex machine with various symptoms for many issues. We will likely need to see your vehicle before making a complete diagnosis.

We do sell tires. Give us a call, or schedule an appointment so we can find the right tires for you.

There are several factors when quoting a price for an oil change (Number of cylinders, type of oil, vehicle manufacturer). Give us a call so we can provide an accurate estimate.

Most manufacturers recommend rotating your tires every other oil change or 6000-10,000 miles. Neglecting to rotate tires is a significant cause of premature tire wear.

Most manufacturers recommend that your tires should be rotated every other oil change or every 6000-10,000 miles. Neglecting to rotate tires is a major cause of premature tire wear.

YES. The failure of a timing belt in many cars can result in significant engine damage. For example, repairing an engine with a broken timing belt is much greater than the cost of a timing belt replacement. Check your owner's manual or with your service advisor at Roy Foster's Automotive in Reno NV to see when they recommend you replace the timing belt. If you've never replaced your timing belt and have 60,000 or more miles on the clock, talk with your Reno service advisor at Roy Foster's Automotive right away to see if you're due.

When your check engine light comes on, you may be torn between utter panic and just wanting to ignore it and hope it goes away. That's perfectly understandable. That same check engine light could come on for anything from a serious engine or transmission problem to a loose gas cap. There's a widespread misconception that the trouble codes stored in your engine computer when your check engine light comes on will specifically identify a problem. It's more like pointing to the symptoms of a problem.

Cooling system failures are a very serious problem – if your car overheats for too long, you can damage your engine. As soon as possible, find a safe place to pull off the road and shut the engine off! Do not attempt to check the fluid level in the radiator; the hot fluid can cause severe burns. The best thing to do is have your car towed to the nearest trusted auto repair facility.

This is a very serious problem – if your car overheats for too long, you can damage your engine. As soon as possible, find a safe place to pull off the road and shut the engine off! Do not attempt to check the fluid level in the radiator; the hot fluid can cause severe burns. The best thing to do is have your car towed to the nearest, trusted auto repair facility.

It would be best to get your oil changed every 3000 miles or as recommended in your vehicle's owner's manual.

ilky brown engine oil is an indication of coolant in the oil. This can be caused by a blown head gasket (or another gasket), a failed transmission cooler, or cracked casings. This condition is severe and needs to be checked by a professional technician immediately.

Battery cables and terminals should be cleaned and inspected periodically to provide a good electrical connection.

Synthetic motor oils can be best for high output, turbocharged, or supercharged engines. Or for vehicles used for towing (especially during hot weather) and vehicles that operate in extremely cold or hot climates. Although more expensive than mineral-based oils, synthetic motor oils can improve fuel economy and provide longer intervals between changes.

To help ensure dependable, trouble-free performance, replace your car's fuel filter approximately every 30,000 miles or as recommended in your vehicle's owner's manual.

Most manufacturers recommend replacing spark plugs every 30 months or 30,000 miles for maximum fuel economy and peak engine performance. Single platinum spark plugs use platinum on one of the electrodes. These typically last 30,000 to 60,000 miles/50,000 to 100,000 kilometers and have improved ignitability and performance. Double platinum plugs use platinum on both electrodes. These virtually eliminate gap erosion. They may last 60,000 to 100,000 miles/100,000 to 160,000 kilometers

Always replace burned-out fuses with ones of the same amperage (printed on the fuse), and note that if a fuse continues to "blow," you should have the circuit checked professionally by one of our technicians for defects.