Van Nuys Auto Repair & Service Center

The car of one of my neighbors was burglarized recently, and the thieves stole a nice car stereo and back-seat DVD entertainment system. According to a report at CNN.com,  $1.25 billion in personal items and accessories are stolen from vehicles in about 1.8 million thefts each year. My neighbor had -- stupidly -- left his car unlocked. Did he have an alarm? Yep, but it wasn't activated, either. He mistakenly thought, because we live in a small, gated neighborhood, that his car was safe. Law enforcement officials say that finding unlocked cars is still the number one way thieves are getting in. Luckily, this form of theft can be easily prevented with a little common sense. Summer is here, and according to the NHTSA, July and August are the banner months for would-be theives. Pay at ... read more

Driving around with your baby should be fun. But it can be challenging for new mothers to figure out the best way to travel with a baby on board. There are enough challenges to parenting without stressing over getting your child from one place to another. Read on for tips to make driving with your baby on board a breeze.         Give Yourself Plenty of Time If you’re going on a longer trip, you’ll need extra time for stops to feed and change your baby, so be sure to factor this into your family t ... read more

The nose knows when something isn’t quite right: the Car Care Council shared this educational infographic which easily outlines six car smells that could mean trouble for your vehicle to help drivers sniff out when something may be wrong with their car. We all love basking in that “new car smell,” but there are other odors we should never ignore. Identifying these suspicious smells early on can help car owners avoid the hassle and expense of an unexpected breakdown, says the Car Care Council. The Car Care Council provides tips like these as part of its free “Be Car Care Aware” education campaign to consumers to help reinforce the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance, and repair. “When you smell any peculiar odor, you should not ignore it. Instead bring your vehicle to a professional service ... read more

Southern California is full of some of the best driving roads around. Whether you enjoy a spirited run in the canyons or a comfortable drive on the freeway, there’s no shortage of fun to be had in So. Cal. for car enthusiasts. These are some of the best destinations for quick road trips in Southern California. Schedule your travel times to avoid rush-hour traffic, and you can get to any of these places within just a few hours (depending on your starting point), making them perfect for day or weekend getaways!     Santa Barbara, Cal ... read more