Van Nuys Auto Repair & Service Center

By Jack Bulko, AutoAid It’s spring, and as the Willie Nelson song goes, “it’s time to get on the road again.” That’s what many of AutoAid’s customers are hoping to do after a year of stay-at-home orders. Before you rev your engine and drive off to “places you’ve never seen before,” you may want to check beneath the hood, under the car and in the trunk for any unexpected creatures. Cats, rats and other small animals look for warm places to rest and nest in the colder weather. And if you left food in the car, well, they get hungry too. Rats, in particular, can cause havoc to your vehicle’s wiring, hoses, fuses, upholstery, and more. That’s what happened to Ted, a longtime customer, who for most of last year didn’t move or start his car. It just stood idle in his driveway for months. He was terrifi ... read more

By Jack Bulko, AutoAid One of the most common situations clients call me about is not knowing what to do when their college-age son or daughter has car problems at their out-of-state school. Why do my clients call me with these issues? Because I’m willing to get on the phone with a mechanic or car dealer and ask them the questions that your son or daughter may not know to ask. I can make the entire experience much more pleasant. That’s why so many of my clients tell their kids, “no matter what, if you’re having car problems at college, call the Mensch with the Wrench.” Take Alice, for example. I’ve been working on her family’s cars since she and her husband were married 30 years ago. Before her son, Keith, went to college in Arizona, she came to me and asked, “Jack, what is he going to do without you? Since he started driving two years ago, you and ... read more

Welcome back to the AutoAid Blog as we continue our discussion of common (and commonly confusing) dashboard warning lights. Ever see a light you didn’t recognize on your dashboard? Is one lit now? Not sure if your vehicle is safe to drive? If your check engine light is illuminated and you’re not sure why, check out Part One of this article for the lowdown on the CEL, or just swing by AutoAid in Van Nuys and let us check it out. If you have some other dashboard warning light illuminated, read on and get illuminated yourself! Battery Warning Light The battery warning light usually appears when you start the car, and then vanishes. If it stays on, or appears while driving, it could be an issue with your battery or with your alternator, or with the drive belt that powers the alternator. In any case, a battery warning light shouldn’t be ignored, especially at night when headlights and other components cause a higher strain on the battery. If your battery is more than 2 y ... read more

If you drive a car, you know about dashboard warning lights. Of these, the Check Engine light is one of the most infamous, and here at AutoAid we get daily calls from perplexed drivers with this mysterious light. “Check engine light” is also ranked among the most popular internet search terms for anything car care related. Modern cars, however, have a variety of warning lights you may catch a glimpse of when you start your car. These are lights for tire pressure, cooling system warnings, engine oil warnings, and more. So, if one of these lights illuminates, what should you do? Keep driving? Panic? Call a tow truck? Should you stop driving where you are, or is it okay to to “limp home?” Could you keep driving for a few more days, or weeks? Let’s tackle some of the most common warning lights below. Check Engine – Flashing vs. Solid We have all seen the dreaded Check Engine Light. This warning light can be an indicator of many different problems, whic ... read more