Van Nuys Auto Repair & Service Center

The summer road trip is right up there with baseball and apple pie.  It’s an iconic American undertaking that’s been memorialized in countless movies and songs, but it also probably has special associations for each one of us who remembers family car trips or hitting the road with friends as soon as we had the freedom to drive. As we gear up for summer, many are planning their routes and checking their tires in preparation to head out on the open road.  What’s important to remember is that safety and fun go hand in hand, so use this list to help you get ready for the perfect summer road trip. Tune-Up & Tunes Safety Tip #1: Tune Up You should  ... read more

When you have a car accident, the first thing you may say is that the accident wasn’t your fault. It's an instinct, which people looking back often don't understand. Unfortunately, the other driver or drivers probably say the same thing. Determining who is at fault in a car accident comes down to one thing: negligence. All drivers have a responsibility to obey traffic rules and not harm pedestrians or other drivers. Negligence is when a driver acts in a thoughtless or careless way that causes harm to someone else. For example, if the driver fails to stop for a red light or yield, he or she behaved in a careless or thoughtless manner. Who Determines Fault? The answer depends on if the cause is litigated or not. If the case goes to court, a judge or jury determines fault in the case. They are ... read more

Winter has finally waned, spring has sprung, and the passing of Memorial Day means summer road trips are just around the corner! If you haven't already done it, now is the time to prepare your car for the summer travel season with the yearly ‘spring cleaning’ ritual.     1. Give it a Bath. Winter was hard on both the exterior and interior of your vehicle, so be sure to give it a thorough wash to get the salt off of the outside. For the inside, just vacuuming may not be enough; power wash the floor mats to ensure all of the salt and winter dirt is gone. Salt removal is important to both the exterior and interior because it can cause scratching and marring as well as premature rusting. And while the topic has been hotly debated,  ... read more

Ignoring the warnings your car sends out could leave you stranded on the side of the road or with a costly repair bill. According to information released by State Farm Insurance, 77 % of the cars on the road currently need service. And ignoring a small service can lead to a more expensive fix later.  "The closer attention you pay to your vehicle, the more likely you are to detect small problems before they become bigger, more expensive problems," says Tony Molla, vice president of communications for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).  ... read more

It only takes a penny to see if your tires are worn or losing tread. Examining your tires for wear and tear, along with checking tire pressure and alignment, are essential to ensuring your vehicle’s safety on the road and helping to improve gas mileage and performance. The non-profit Car Care Council recommends that motorists be car care aware and check tire condition and pressure regularly. “The penny test is a simple, yet effective, way to check tire tread. If you see Lincoln’s head above the tread, you are ready for new tires,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Tires are critical to a vehicle’s handling and traction, and maintaining proper pressure is vitally important to vehicle safety. Underinflated tires are under stress and will wear unevenly, causing them to need to be replaced sooner. Routinely checking tire balance a ... read more