Los Angeles Auto Repair

Preventative Maintenance is More Important as Vehicles Age The average age of vehicles on the road is rising, and as cars get older, they need more service and repair. The non-profit Car Care Council recommends that motorists who own an older car, truck or SUV become more diligent about preventative maintenance. “With the average vehicle age exceeding 11.5 years, the chance of a breakdown or service issue on an older vehicle is much greater,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “The Car Care Council urges drivers of older vehicles to implement a preventative maintenance plan for their vehicle to minimize the chances of a roadside breakdown and to also help their vehicle run more efficiently and economically.” According to Experian Automotive, the average age of passenger vehicles on the road is rising, up from 11.29 years in the first quarter of 2015 to 11.61 years in 2019. The most common maintenance procedures to keep a car operating safely ... read more

With fall upon us and winter right around the corner you may have turned on your car’s heater for the first time already. It’s not uncommon for car owners to get in their car on the first cool morning to find their car heater blowing out cold air. Let’s look at some common reasons car heaters fail to put out warm air. Minor Problems Some car heater problems can be relatively minor, impacting only the heating system of the car. Things like a malfunctioning fan can be more easily repaired and can fix your heat problem without a major impact on the vehicle. Smaller repairs like this can be done quickly and at a lower cost than other problems that may cause your heat to stop working. Serious Problems The heating system in your car is complicated because it isn’t like a space heater or home heater. The car heater works in conjunction with other car systems, sometimes a heater problem can be a sign of a larger ... read more

Sadly, there is no quick fix and no magic cure-all liquid that you can buy bottled in any store or on any website that will repair leaks in your coolant system. These products are designed to seal leaks in the coolant system and while they may work temporarily for a minor leak. Over time the expansion process of stop leak products can restrict the flow in the radiator, heater core, and other components of the cooling system.  Stop leak products can even cause blockages in the cooling system and cause your vehicle to overheat. Products like this make promises but can severely plug up your cooling system and its components, which can lead to catastrophic failure of the cooling system and other major engine parts. These failures are often more costly than the original repair would have been and can even leave you stranded with a broken car on the side of the road. If you think that you are having issues with your vehicle’s cooling system. Call us right away at 310-473-2235 to b ... read more

So how often does your car battery need to be replaced? You might be surprised to know that it’s roughly 3 to 4 years. This is just the average and many batteries fail earlier and some even later. So, to make sure you don’t get surprised by a sudden no start condition. At Westside Transmission & Automotive our certified mechanics check your battery every time you come in for any auto repairs or maintenance. Even if your battery is testing OK, we’ll still recommend replacing it around 4 years old just to make sure you always get where you’re going; nobody wants to be left stranded! AUTO BATTERY REPLACEMENT SERVICE WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST All vehicles need a good battery to start and run well. The latest vehicles increasingly rely on computers to run every electrical system, and these computers need clean, consistent power to not only allow your car to start but keep running. Car batteries that are old, weak and leaking acid can cause serious damage to electri ... read more

Wondering which gas to use in your car? The vehicle’s manufacturer makes it easy to decide what to put in your tank. Just look for the fueling info in the car’s manual, or if you don’t want to thumb through all those pages, check inside your gas-tank door. A label there should indicate whether your car needs premium unleaded fuel. Using lower-grade gas than what is required for your car may affect its power, torque, and overall performance. Your fuel economy may decrease as well. But here’s an important question: Does the language in your car’s manual suggest premium gas, or does it say your car requires it? If it’s a suggestion rather than a necessity, your car (and your wallet) will likely be fine with regular unleaded fuel. Premium vs. Regular Unleaded gas is considered “premium” or “regular” depending on its octane level. This determination can vary state to state, but typically, gas with an octane leve ... read more

Purchasing a used car can be a scary and daunting experience. There are many factors to consider before taking the plunge. It is important to take several factors under consideration and taking the time to properly check out the vehicle can save you a headache down the road. Before you purchase a used car, take some time to check the exterior, interior, and underneath the hood to make sure there aren’t any major problems. Take the car for a test drive to see how it handles on the road. Finally, check the vehicle’s history and negotiate a reasonable price before coming to a final decision. Follow these tips to help take the headache out of looking for a used car. ExteriorPark the car on level ground before checking it out. Inspecting the car on even ground allows you to see if anything in the undercarriage is out of line or sagging. It also makes it easier for you to see and check the state of the tires. Tip: Engage the parking b ... read more

Even the smallest engine components like your spark plugs can greatly affect the performance of your vehicle. In a four-cylinder engine spark, plugs can fire up to 1600 times, that equals 400 fires per min per cylinder. Worn fouled or damaged spark plugs can damage your engine, reduce fuel efficiency and cause poor performance like misfiring, hard starting, and sluggish acceleration. Check your owner’s manual to see at what intervals your vehicle requires its spark plugs to be changed. The regular maintenance of your vehicles spark plugs can prevent more costly problems from developing in the future. Here is what to look for: Rattling, pinging or knocking sounds The misfiring of spark plugs can cause sounds from the force of the pistons and from the failure of the combustion to not work properly. Pistons move at very high velocities and bad spark plugs that misfire could lead to constant rattling, pinging and knocking sounds coming from your engine compartment. Hard vehicle ... read more

With kids returning to school and those of you out there with teenagers know how excited they can be to get their drivers licenses, getting their first cars, and possibly even being allowed to drive unsupervised. This can be highly stressful and fear-inducing for parents no matter how responsible your teenaged child is. Half of all teens will be involved in a car crash before graduating from high school. Parental involvement doesn't end when a child gets a license. Teen drivers who continue to practice with their parents increase their chances of avoiding a crash. Parents need to set clear boundaries and rules for teenage drivers and it is also important for parents to set a good example for their kids, by abiding by traffic laws and not texting and driving. Also, kids that take part in drivers training have better odds of avoiding fatal crashes. In California, we have a provisional licensing program for novice drivers. This licensing program is proven effective at reducing teen dr ... read more

Children are the biggest joys in our lives in protecting them from danger is a fulltime job whether you are their mom, teacher, scout leader, or their bus driver. Bus drivers are skilled drivers who must also deal with keeping a busload of kids safe at one time, so keep that in mind when you are dropping your kids at the bus stop. Give your child’s bus driver the support they need by helping to teach your kids about proper bus riding etiquette. The greatest risk to your child is not riding a bus but approaching or leaving one. Before your child goes back to school or starts school for the first time, you and your child need to know traffic safety rules. Teach your child to follow these practices to make school bus transportation safer. FOR PARENTS Safety Starts at the Bus Stop Your child should arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. Visit the bus stop and show your child where to wait for the bus: at least three gia ... read more

Your smog test can be just as daunting as taking your SATs if you are unprepared. If you don’t pass, you can’t keep legally driving your car and the repairs can get costly. This test ensures that your vehicle is not producing more than its’ share of emissions and that it is contributing to keeping the air as clean as possible. These following tips may just help increase your chances of passing when it comes time to have a Smog Test done. Investigate That Check Engine Light This is the biggest and easiest issue to avoid; if you go into your smog test with your engine light on, it’s an immediate fail. Simply get your vehicle diagnosed and resolve the issues to get one step closer to passing. Make Sure Your Tires are Properly Inflated To The Correct Tire Pressure Most states run a dynamometer test, which forces your car to run at high speeds while staying stationary. When your tires aren’t fully inflated, your engine must ... read more