Frank’s Automotive – Mid Ohio Mobile Mechanic

Fiftieth Anniversary 1969-2019

Mid Ohio Mobile Mechanic — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 18:59:04 +0000

Celebrating The American Dream

It is hard to believe that 50+ years ago my parents, Frank and Angela Lettini, ventured out on their own to open Frank’s Automotive. This is a brief story about the hard work and dedication of two people working together and making sacrifices, to fulfill their American Dream.

Dad and Mom both immigrated to Sacramento between 1958 and 1959. They left war-torn Italy to find better lives and greater opportunities. It was here in 1961 where they first met. During the summer of 1966, dad married his beautiful bride and together they set off on their journey. Over the next two years, they would see their family double with the birth of me and my brother Ray. Dad was working for a local dealer at the time, but he wanted to venture out on his own. With mom, they decided it was time to start their own business. By the fall of 1969, they opened Frank’s Automotive at 4823 Folsom Blvd. The location was perfect, in the heart of East Sacramento, a great neighborhood with young families. The building was less than perfect. The floors were rutted, and no relief was given from the heat during the summer or cold in the winter. Nonetheless, they took great pride in calling it their own.

The business was growing and their first hires were family. My Uncles, Enzo Castellana, Elio Lettini, and Angelo Sardo came to work with them. So too would my Aunt Carmela Sardo, as an office manager. They too came to the states with the same hard work ethic and ideologies as my parents. Together they kept the German cars of East Sacramento in fine-tune. Soon, they outgrew their location. A larger one was needed, somewhere close, so they could continue to serve their clients.

During the fall of 1972, they purchased a plot of land at 5220 Folsom Blvd. There, they would begin building what today is our current location. Construction began in February of 1973 and in 5 months it would be completed. On July 4th, 1973 everything was moved over from the old location and the following day they opened their doors. During those early years, mom would bring dad his lunch and dinner, with my brother and I in tow. During the evenings, while my father was working, she would bathe us in the wash-basin, put us in our pj’s, and lay us down to sleep in the back of her station wagon. Watching my parents working together for the common good of the family was very inspiring and influential in who we would become.

The business continued to grow. In 1976 we hired Brian Russell. Brian may not have been related by blood but he was soon adopted into our family. At the same time, Ray and I began to take more active roles. During our summer breaks, dad would bring us to work. As 7 and 8-year-olds we proved to be more comic relief than actual help. Our uncles, aunt, and Brian became our teachers and mentors. From them, we would learn the skills we carry with us to this day. Dad fueled our passion for customer service. At an early age, he told us the shop’s motto, “ If you like our work tell others. If not tell us.” He explained, that criticism is not necessarily a negative, learn, grow, evolve, and use it to better yourself.

Through the years more would join our work family. Some may remember; Rick Myers and his nephew Shane Johnston. My sweet Aunt Mary Castellana, who replaced Aunt Carmela. A young tech that came to work for us, John Vitkauskas. John would become my right-hand man, a friend, and a brother. Andy Langley, a motivated high school/college student, came to work as an apprentice. Two automotive technical school graduates, Zeke Ramirez, and Devin Wallace joined our team. It was rewarding to watch them develop as technicians. We also hired an Italian who shares in my passion for F1 Racing, Giuseppe Nardoni. Sharon Henry, a new office manager joined our ranks. Unlike past managers, Sharon shares in our passion for cars. Our family continues to grow with the addition of two new apprentices Mike Staveris, Zach Paladini, and Eli Siemering.

As we grew older, Ray and I chose different paths. Ray would go on to take charge of another one of my parent’s businesses, a parts distributorship. He also became a successful restaurateur. My role at the shop evolved, from apprentice to technician, to manager, and now the owner. At the same time, my father was idling back and allowing me to grow into my new role. It was not easy, at times tenuous. Looking back at it, now I can understand. He had forty years invested in growing his business. It became part of who he is. Letting go would be difficult, but he realized that the time had come.

Occasionally my father still comes in, he will make his rounds and reminisces. Now he spends most of his time tending to his garden and pestering my mom. Mom spends her time taking care of the home, garden, and dad. They are always eager to spend time with their grandchildren, passing along stories, and their wisdom. Together they look back at what they have created and take pride in all they have accomplished.

Through the years we have been through a lot, from marriages to divorces, births, and deaths, from working together, to take on new opportunities. We shared these experiences as a family. Celebrating the good times, helping each other through the bad. My greatest moments in life were the birth of my children, Liliana and Luca, they are my pride and joy. Sharing with coworkers and clients was just as important to me as it was with my family. Through good and bad we continue moving forward, growing and evolving.

Throughout the years our philosophy has remained the same, treating clients and those who work for us the way we want to be treated. Doing what is right, and not necessarily what is profitable. We promise to continue providing the quality of care and work that we have offered in the last 50 years. Thank you, our clients, for your devotion and support. We promise to continue evolving with the industry, while not forgetting our most valuable assets, our clients.

With the Utmost Gratitude,
Nick F. Lettini

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Top Signs of a Failing Transmission Position Sensor

Mid Ohio Mobile Mechanic — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 13:20:00 +0000

Your car’s transmission contains many sophisticated parts that must work in synchronicity to power your vehicle forwards. When your vehicle starts to experience transmission problems, the issue could be the result of a failing transmission position sensor. Using specialized diagnostic tools, a transmission repair specialist in Sacramento can pinpoint the source of your vehicle’s transmission problems. To help you figure out what is going wrong with your transmission system, here is a look at the common signs of a failing transmission position sensor.

Car fails to move out of park.

When your vehicle is unable to shift out of neutral or park, this is a clear indication that there is a serious problem somewhere in the transition system. A failing transmission position sensor may no longer send the right signals to the Powertrain Control Module, or PCM. Without signals from the position sensor, the PCM will no longer know when to shift the transmission’s gears out of park into a moving gear.

Transmission shifts into the wrong gear.

The transmission position sensor and PCM work together to allow the automatic transmission to choose the right gear for various speeds of travel and driving conditions. When your transmission shifts into the wrong gear, you may notice that your engine seems to stall out or rev unexpectedly. If your transmission is continually mismatching its gear selection and gear ratios, you may want to ask your mechanic to check on the condition of your transmission position sensor.

Vehicle becomes locked in a single gear.

Many modern vehicles are equipped with failsafe devices, which prevent the transmission from shifting gears if a mechanical or electrical problem is detected. If your transmission position sensor is failing, your transmission may become locked in an unchanging gear. This condition is known as limp mode, and a car that has gone into limp mode is suffering from severe transmission issues. Fortunately, your mechanic will be able to restore your transmission position sensor to proper working condition and return your transmission to full functionality.

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My Tailpipe is Smoking. What’s Next?

Mid Ohio Mobile Mechanic — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 09:25:00 +0000

The exhaust that comes out of your car’s tailpipe can provide you with important information about what is going on with your car’s internal systems. If you start to see smoke billowing out of your tailpipe, this is a sign that your car needs immediate auto repair. A shop that offers radiator repair and other car repairs in Sacramento will have the diagnostic tools that are needed to figure out the source of your car’s worrisome smoke. Let’s take a look at what your tailpipe smoke may be telling you.

Blue Smoke

In certain instances, the smoke that is coming out of your tailpipe may take on a blue hue. When your tailpipe is releasing plumes of blue smoke, the origin of the problem may lie in your vehicle’s motor oil sealing system. When oil leaks from your car’s internal seals, it will burn up as it spills onto your engine. The resulting smoke is usually bright blue in color. To remedy the problem, you may need to schedule a seal repair appointment with your mechanic.

White Smoke

While white smoke may be less worrisome than black or blue smoke, any type of smoke coming from your tailpipe can indicate a mechanical issue in your vehicle. If water or antifreeze have cross-contaminated your car’s fuel lines, your car may start to emit large clouds of white smoke. To prevent your car from overheating, you will want to refill your coolant reservoir and bring your car to an auto repair center.

Light Gray Smoke

Automatic transmission failure can be another source of smoke in your tailpipe. If your automatic transmission system is leaking fluid into your engine, the fluid will start to burn and create light gray smoke. To diagnose a transmission fluid leak at home, you can start by checking your transmission dipstick for signs of low or burnt fluid. A professional auto repair appointment will be necessary to remedy your transmission fluid problem.

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Common Causes of Battery Drain

Mid Ohio Mobile Mechanic — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 09:20:00 +0000

Without a working battery, your car will refuse to start. Along with causing starting issues, low battery power can lead to troubles in the many electrical systems of your vehicle. An auto shop that offers Mercedes service in Sacramento can get to the bottom of your battery life problems. After you have received battery repair services from your local auto shop, you will want to be on the lookout for signs that your battery is being drained prematurely. Let’s review three of the most common causes of battery drain in today’s vehicles.

Illuminated Lights

Most drivers accidentally leave the lights on in their cars at one point or another. Even if your car is equipped with a system that turns off your headlights automatically, your interior lights or trunk lights can also be left on overnight. By leaving your lights on for several hours, you may wind up with a completely drained battery by the time you go to start up your car. To prevent your battery from dying, always remember to shut off all of your car’s lights before you head into your house for the night.

Electrical Problems

Certain electrical components, such as your radio and alarm systems, need to be supplied with a small amount of electricity at all times. However, if any of these systems are experiencing electrical problems, they may start to drain your battery excessively. A certified mechanic can troubleshoot your vehicle’s electrical systems and determine whether they are creating a parasitic drain on your battery.

Alternator Issues

In order for your battery to recharge with power, it must be supplied with fresh charge from your car’s alternator. If your alternator is experiencing troubles, however, the diode may not be able to deliver enough current to recharge your battery. When you notice the signs and symptoms of alternator issues, such as flickering headlights, do not hesitate to schedule a diagnostic appointment with your mechanic. By repairing your alternator, you will be able to safeguard your battery against excessive drain.

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