Van Nuys Auto Repair & Service Center

If you're a quart low in your sedan, there isn't enough motor oil to lubricate your engine properly. The extra friction causes drag that reduces fuel economy while you're driving around the Los Angeles area. The same goes for dirty oil; it doesn't reduce friction properly. The result is you get to watch those numbers at your local Los Angeles gas pump rolling higher and higher. The transmission also needs the proper amount of clean fluid to do its work. When it's in need of service, the transmission drags your fuel economy down. So keep it clean and give yourself a fighting chance

A lot of gas is wasted in the Encino area by dirty fuel delivery systems. Let's start at the tank. The gas tank gathers dirt, rust and sediment over the years. That's why there's a fuel filter to clean the fuel after it leaves the tank. A dirty filter will rob the engine of the clean gas it needs to run efficiently. The fuel intake components get coated with gum and varnish over time. This results in fuel being delivered inefficiently and some of that gunk getting into the engine. A fuel system service at AutoAid & Rescue will leave your intake as clean as a whistle. The big fuel thief is dirty fuel injectors. They deliver fuel to the engine at a specified pressure and in a particular spray pattern. When they're clogged, the fuel doe ... read more

A question for our Van Nuys CA motorists: How long have you been enjoying the romantic glow of your check engine light? Hey, it's not there to create ambiance; it's a warning that something's wrong. When your check engine light comes on get it checked at a capable Van Nuys CA service station. Many conditions that cause the check engine light to come on affect fuel economy. Some very dramatically. Always make sure you tighten your gas cap until it clicks. A loose gas cap can cause a false sensor reading that'll make the check engine light come on. If your date's eyes are smoldering in the reflected glow of the check engine light, try to think of all the gas money you'll save by getting it fixed. Give us a call when you are ready: 818-901-1113

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