Van Nuys Auto Repair & Service Center

If you've ever been in a car accident around Van Nuys CA, even a minor one, you know how upsetting it can be. It's hard to think straight and know what to do. Let's review what you should do in case of an accident in Van Nuys, CA: When an accident occurs, you should always stop. Leaving the scene of an accident is considered a crime in CA - even if it's not your fault. And hit-and-run penalties are fairly severe, possibly resulting in steep fines, loss of your driver's license or even jail time in our local Van Nuys lockup. Most states, including CA require that you try to help someone who is injured by calling for help or performing first aid if you are able. Warn other Van Nuys motorists by putting out flares, using your flashers or lifting your hood. Call 911 as soon as possible. Tell the operator if medical or fire help is needed. Always file a police report. It's tempting to skip this if everything seems to be ok ... read more

For advice on how to make your sedan last longer, visit us at AutoAid & Rescue 14526 Erwin Street Van Nuys, CA 91411 818-901-1113 These days many people in the Los Angeles area are really committed to making their cars last a long time. First thing: you've got to start with what you've got. It'd be ideal if people started with a brand new car, never missed a scheduled service item, paid attention to the severe service maintenance schedule and had regular inspections. But if you've had the vehicle for a while, or bought it used, its maintenance history is what it is; and that's where you start. Go through the maintenance schedule for your sedan and see what's been done and when. Have your Van Nuys service advisor at AutoAid & Rescue do an inspection and come up with a list of stuff that needs to be done. Review the list and prioritize the work ... read more

Imagine you've left Van Nuys and you're up in the arctic on a dog sled. Your dog team is pulling straight and true. You can cover a lot of ground fast. Now imagine what would happen if one or two of the dogs wanted to go their own way and were pulling off to the side. That would slow you down. You would have to work harder to keep the sled going where you want it. The dogs are all working as hard as before, but you're covering less ground for the same effort. You're wasting kibble. The same is true of your vehicle when the wheels are out of alignment. That wheel that's pulling to the side is dragging down the rest of the car; so you push a little harder on the gas pedal to keep up your speed. You're wasting gas. So have your wheel alignment checked at least once a year. Get it checked right away if you feel the car pulling to one side. Sometimes we bump a curb or hit a poth ... read more

Weight is the enemy of fuel economy. Everyone from here to Tarzana knows this makes sense. Some of us in the Tarzana area carry a bunch of unnecessary weight, and I'm not talkin' what you see in the mirror. Guys; sports equipment and tools. Ladies; well, just take a look around the passenger compartment and trunk. I think my car has about forty-five pounds of French fries on the floor. All that extra weight wastes gas as you drive between here and Tarzana, and everywhere else. Lose the junk and save some money. ...And you really only need one of those spare tires

If you've walked through the automotive fluids of an auto parts store in Los Angeles, you'll know how overwhelming the sheer number of products available can be. How do you know what's right for your vehicle? As you know, these fluids all serve a function in making your car run as you drive around the Los Angeles area. Your vehicle manufactruer has specified a particular type of fluid for every system from the motor, to the cooling system, brake fluid and so on. When you realize that not every variation is applicable to your vehicle, the task becomes more manageable. First let's talk about why there are so many varieties. Starting with motor oil, we see that manufactruers match the properties of a particular weight or type of oil with the design needs of the engine. For example, engines with sophisticated valve trains often require a thinner weight of oil. Some vehicles around Los Angeles come from the factory f ... read more

A recent report stated that over 80 percent of the vehicles on our Van Nuys CA roads have one or more service or repair that's needed, but hasn't been taken care of. Now that's a lot of undone service. That translates into something over 160 million vehicles in the U.S. alone. Some of the neglected items are minor. Others are serious safety concerns. There are several reasons why we hesitate to take care of recommended services; especially services that our Van Nuys CA automotive advisor recommends when we're in for something else, like an oil change. The first issue boils down to comfort with car care. We don't always feel we know enough to make good decisions. Some of that can be attributed to the fact that vehicles are so reliable these days. They almost become an appliance. Of course you love your sedan, but if you don't have to worry about it breaking down all the time, you're not forced to ... read more

Before departing on your long awaited and deserved summer ROAD TRIP, be sure to have your brakes, tires,battery, wipers, belts and hoses, spare tire and Air Conditioning Checked. It's Complimentary at AutoAid in Van Nuys

Most people in the Los Angeles area are aware that automotive manufactruers have recommended service intervals. Following recommended service intervals is very important. The engineers that design our vehicles have tested the various systems and components to meet durability and safety standards. Some of these standards are self-imposed and others, like those for emissions components, are government mandated for the areas around Sherman Oaks, Encino and Tarzana in CA. The maintenance schedules are designed to achieve the standards. Think of the benefits of following recommended intervals as falling into three general categories: Protection, Efficiency and Safety.Protection. Let's start with motor oil. First of all, the engineers recommend a particular weight and type of motor oil for your sedan. All of their oil change recommenda ... read more

This fuel saving tip is so simple, no one from here to Encino will believe it. It has to do with your gas cap. The first thing is to make sure it's screwed on tight. If it's loose, gas vapor will be constantly leaking out; wasted gas. And air will get in and that can cause your oxygen sensor to read incorrectly and the oxygen sensor will tell the engine management computer to adjust the fuel-air mix and, well, you get the pictrue; you'll be burning more gas around Encino than you need to. This could cause the check engine light to come on as well. A worn gas cap can have the same effect. If you constantly smell gas when you walk by your tank, you might need a new gas cap. So, twist your cap until it clicks three times – that means it's on tight. Have your Encino area service advisor at AutoAid & Rescue ... read more

The government mandates a lot of equipment on cars in Van Nuys Ca: emission devices and control computers, safety equipment like airbags and crash worthiness requirements. All of this is great for the Van Nuys Ca motoring public, but it does add quite a bit to the price of a new car....click to view video: http://autoaid.autotipsblog.com/2010/03/23/maintaining-your-older-car-in-van-nuys-ca