Van Nuys Auto Repair & Service Center

Van Nuys service centers have a menu board that lists the services they provide. Some Van Nuys drivers may not be familiar with all of the items on the board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed.

AutoAid & Rescue fuel system cleaning: Over time, the sedan fuel system gets gum and varnish built up. A fuel system cleaning gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors. Saves gas, by the way.

AutoAid & Rescue headlamp replacement: Halogen and standard headlamps gradually fade. It’s usually good to change them every year or so.

AutoAid & Rescue inspections: Van Nuys drivers get inspections for many reasons. Maybe they’re going on a trip or just want to make sure their vehicle’s ready for CA summer or winter. Maybe they just bought a used sedan and want to give it the once over. An inspection may reveal some things that are broken or are getting close to having a problem.

AutoAid & Rescue oil change: – there are several options: Some Van Nuys centers offer just an oil change and new filter as an option. Most will also check and top off all of your other fluids and do a quick visual inspection with a full service oil change. In my way of thinking, the full service option is best because it makes sure you have adequate fluids and may uncover an emerging problem. There may also be options for higher mileage fluids or an upgrade to synthetic oil.

AutoAid & Rescue PCV valve replacement in Van Nuys: PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve. It’s a little part that releases pressure from the engine. It can get gummed up and that can lead to engine damage. Just needs to be changed now and then.

AutoAid & Rescue power steering service: Often overlooked. Your family AutoAid & Rescue technician will evacuate the old fluid, clean out the system and replace it with clean fluid. Keeps the sedan system running well for a long time.

AutoAid & Rescue serpentine belt service: That’s the belt that powers the sedan engine’s accessories like the alternator, air conditioner, power steering and brakes. You’ll want to replace the serpentine belt before it breaks, because that’ll shut you down.

AutoAid & Rescue shocks and struts: This starts with an inspection of the suspension components. Shocks last a long time and wear out slowly, so many Van Nuys people don’t notice when it’s time to change them. If they’re worn or leaking, they need to be replaced.

AutoAid & Rescue transmission service: This involves removing the transmission fluid and replacing it with clean fluid. It’s like an oil change for your transmission.

AutoAid & Rescue tire rotation and wheel balancing: The tires are rotated from front to back using the recommended rotation pattern. This helps tires wear more evenly. Wheels need to be balanced from time to time to keep them turning without any wobble or bounce. Helps the ride and saves tire wear.

The Check Engine Light strikes fear into the hearts of some Van Nuys drivers and is totally ignored by just as many. Just what it means is a mystery to most of us Van Nuys motorists.

Let’s get the urgency issues out of the way first. If your check engine light is flashing, that means that something is wrong that could cause important engine damage. Naturally, you need to get that taken care of right away. If your check engine light is flashing, you shouldn’t drive at CA highway speeds, tow or haul heavy loads. Take it easy all the way to your Van Nuys service center.

If the light is glowing steadily, you should keep an eye on it for a day or two. If the light doesn’t go off, schedule an appointment with your family AutoAid & Rescue service advisor to get it checked out.

Some more Van Nuys information on how the Check Engine Light works may be informative for Van Nuys motorists. Most of your engine functions are controlled by a computer, not surprisingly, called an engine control computer. The computer is able to adjust many engine parameters for environmental conditions, engine condition and even the way you drive.

In order to make these adjustments, the computer relies on a network of sensors to provide data. The computer knows the proper operating range for each sensor. When a sensor reading is out of range the computer runs some tests and may turn on the sedan's Check Engine Light.

A simple example is a loose or missing gas cap. This may cause one of the sensors to read out of range. The computer doesn’t know if it’s a serious condition that caused the reading or just a loose gas cap, so it stores a trouble code and turns on the Check Engine Light.

Now when you tighten up the gas cap the sensor readings will be in the correct range. The computer will keep checking on the report for a day or two. Since a bad reading didn’t come up again, it turns off the Check Engine Light. The computer will also try to make adjustments to compensate for some readings. If it can do so, it’ll then turn off the Check Engine Light.

If the problem can’t be resolved then the light will remain on and you should get your sedan looked at. Your family AutoAid & Rescue service specialist will plug a scanner into the on-board diagnostic port and read the trouble code stored in the computer. The trouble code will give the technician a starting place as he diagnoses the cause of the problem.