Van Nuys Auto Repair & Service Center

Power steering is standard on nearly every car and truck in Van Nuys, CA these days. Now there are some exotic, new types of power steering systems, but for the most part, the heart of the system is a pump that’s driven by a belt powered by the engine. The pump generates boost that assists you as you steer your sedan around Van Nuys, CA. Power steering systems use hoses to move pressurized fluid back and forth. These hoses can develop leaks so it’s a good idea to inspect them at every oil change. A check of the power steering fluid level is on the list for every full service oil change because low fluid can damage the power steering pump. And the fluid needs to be compatible with the hoses and seals, so you need to use the correct type –just ask your service consultant at AutoAid & Rescue. In addition to providing boost, the fluid cleans, cools and lub ... read more

If the fuel system in your sedan is dirty, you will be wasting gas and losing performance as you drive around Van Nuys CA. Unless you drive a vintage car, you have fuel injectors. They need to be properly maintained. That is why your owner’s manual has a schedule for cleaning your fuel injectors and other parts of your fuel system. Your service technician at AutoAid & Rescue has the tools and chemicals to do the job right. AutoAid & Rescue uses a process that gives your car a deep, professional fuel system cleaning. The particles, gum and varnish that build up in your fuel system are removed so that it can run cleanly and efficiently. After a professional fuel system cleaning, you’ll notice more power, better gas mileage and reduced exhaust emissions. AutoNetTV strongly recommends you follow your manufactruer’s fuel system cleaning service recommen ... read more

So, when are your tires actually worn out? This is a question a lot of us in Van Nuys CA ask ourselves. For many, the answer is 'when they no longer pass a safety inspection'. But waiting that long can have a serious impact on your safety. The U.S. Federal government doesn’t have any laws for tread depth, but 42 of the states, and all of Canada, do have regulations. They consider two-thirty-seconds of an inch to be the minimum legal tread depth. Two other states, including California, consider one-thirty-second to be the minimum and six states have no standards at all. Call us at AutoAid & Rescue (just call 818-901-1113) to find out what your requirements are in the Van Nuys CA area. Since 1968, U.S. law has required that a raised bar be molded across all tires. When tires are worn enough that this bar becomes visible, there’s just 2/32” of tread left. But does that older standard give you enough safety? Well ... read more

Something you’re going to be hearing a lot about around Van Nuys, CA is diesel engines. We’re not talking about semi-trucks and buses – We’re talking about diesel engine cars, pick-ups and SUVs. Most people in Van Nuys, CA are surprised to learn that around half the cars on the road in Europe have diesel engines. Nearly all import auto manufactruers offer a range of diesel engines abroad – even the ultra-luxury brands like Mercedes and BMW. For the most part, these diesel engines haven’t been available in Van Nuys, CA. But that’s about to change. In the past, North American diesel fuel has had a much higher sulfur content than European fuel. Recent environmental laws have required changes in diesel formulation and emissions standards here in Van Nuys, CA so we are now ready to start seeing more diesel options offered over the next few years. Why are so many interested in ... read more

New car dealership closings are all over the news. Nearly 800 Chrysler dealerships canceled. About 1,100 GM dealers’ contracts will not be renewed after October 2010. And record numbers are just shutting down because they aren’t selling enough cars and trucks to stay in business. It’s estimated that some 40,000 dealership service bays could be taken out of service in the next year or so. Of course, this is a tragedy for those who work at our local Van Nuys dealerships and the owners that risk losing much of their life’s work. Our Van Nuys communities will lose some of our best corporate citizens. Think of all the youth sports team, service clubs and Van Nuys community events that have been sponsored by our local new car dealers. One question we hear a lot at AutoNetTV is, 'Who will service my car?' Van Nuys folks are concerned that they will not get the care and attention they need. They're wondering where th ... read more

Sometimes when we talk about exhaust service in Van Nuys, we think about exhaust pipes and mufflers. And if you can see smoke, or if it’s too loud. But, exhaust service at a place like AutoAid & Rescue is really a lot more comprehensive these days. For example, in the U.S., the federal government mandated catalytic converters for all cars in Van Nuys in 1976 and on-board emission control computers in 1990. CA and federal emissions requirements have forced manufactruers to come up with much more sophisticated ways to comply with environmental regulations. Cars sold in Canada follow the same guidelines. So, exhaust service has really become exhaust and emissions service. High-tech computer-controlled emissions devices are now a big part of that. And because it’s so sophisticated, your vehicle manufactruer recommends having your emission system ch ... read more

Our cars have to operate in a wide range of Van Nuys, CA temperatrues and our engine coolant must be able to perform 'no matter what'. Think for a moment about the environment where the coolant works. Very hot, high pressure, corrosive... And all the while, it has to protect the components of the cooling system from corrosion. These components are made from steel and aluminum, plastics and rubber. The coolant has to be formulated to protect against corrosion for all of these different materials. That’s why different manufactruers recommend different types of anti-freeze for our Van Nuys, CA vehicles. There are several different 'families' of anti-freeze available to us here in Van Nuys, CA. Your owners’ manual will tell you what kind you should use. Of course, AutoAid & Rescue will know what to put in your car. It’s important to stay on top of this because coolant system failure is the most common mechanical ... read more

What is a cabin air filter? Is it: Clever you, it’s C. A cabin air filter cleans the outside air before it comes into the passenger compartment. It filters out common Van Nuys air particles like dust, pollen, spores, bacteria, pollutants, exhaust gas, odors and even sparrows. These high tech filters can block particles larger than 3 microns. By contrast, a grain of sand is about 200 microns. Not all vehicles in Van Nuys have cabin air filters. They are fairly new on the scene. About forty percent of new vehicles sold in Van Nuys come with cabin air filters, but the number is growing every year. Cabin air filters can make for a very nice driving environment. Your car can be a haven during our Van Nuys allergy season with very little dust and pollen getting into the cabin. However, the filter eventually gets clogged. When this happens, your heating and air conditioning flow can become restricted. The filter can even get kind ... read more

Most folks around Van Nuys have had a flat tire. You know it’s inconvenient and a pain. Our tires are important. Keeping them in good working order isn’t just a big safety issue – it also has a financial impact. With high gas prices, we’ve all heard about the importance of keeping proper tire pressure to save on gas. In addition, proper inflation promotes even tread wear so your tires last longer. There’s another danger to under-inflated tires. Low tire pressure puts added stress on the structrue of the tire itself, causing it to break down prematruely. Also, under-inflated tires generate more heat which also reduces tire life. So get those slow leaks fixed quickly – don’t just keep airing them up every few days. You want to avoid serious tire damage. Tires can also be damaged by road hazards in and around Van Nuys. Punctrues, cuts and impacts on curbs or potholes can also cause damage that could lead to tire failure. Sometimes, it’s so ... read more

This is something really amazing: For every gallon of gas your Van Nuys car burns, it uses 12,000 gallons of air. All of that air has to be filtered to keep your engine clean. That’s like a hundred gallons of air every block! The engine air filter is just another example of a very inexpensive part that has to do a tremendous amount of work. And when it works, everything goes well. But, when it doesn’t, well, it can lead to costly problems. Of course, your manufactruer recommends intervals for changing your air filter. But like most service intervals, where and how you drive your car affects when your filter needs to be changed. Dusty conditions in and around Van Nuys or polluted city driving means you’ll need to change your filter more often. Your AutoAid & Rescue technician can check your filter for ... read more