Los Angeles Auto Repair

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

Making sure our kiddos know the importance of being safe around vehicles on the road is a big job. Whether your kids walk, bike, ride the school bus, or if you take them to school yourself; it is extremely important that they take proper safety precautions. Here are a few tips that might make having a conversation about road and vehicle safety easier. Walking to school Set clear safety rules and boundaries, and practice walking to school with your kids. Walk on the sidewalk, if one is available; when on a street with no sidewalk, walk facing the traffic. Before you cross the street, stop and look left, right and left again to see if cars are coming. If possible when crossing the street do so at street corners and if possible, in crosswalks. Do not jaywalk! Make eye contact with drivers before crossing. Make sure that they see you before stepping into the street and that they have come to a full and complete stop. Stay alert and avoid distracted walking. It is important to exp ... read more

Preparing Fido for a road trip long trips can be stressful for both humans and pets alike so this week I want to give out some helpful and fun tips that will help make road tripping with man’s best friend a fun, safe, and hopefully a mess-free experience. To help prepare your fur kid I believe it is best to start with small trips to help your them acclimate to riding in the car. Start with small rides to the local dog park or local pet-friendly hiking areas. Sometimes going for a nice long walk or playing with your dog can help siphon off some of that nervousness. Especially if you have a high energy breed and it will also prevent accidents in the car. In my personal experience, my dog loves car rides. We have a blast on trips he is the best road companion ever. My 9-year-old Dachshund, Wally loves his car seat and basking in the California sun as we go on long drives. The only downfall is the nose art on my rear passenger side window. If you have a pet that doesn’t adjust ... read more

There are so many components to a car and the regular maintenance all of them might seem overwhelming. Cars are built to last but some car repairs should never be ignored. If you can keep up with some important maintenance, your car is sure to operate reliably and safely for many years to come. Here are 5 car repairs that you should never skip: OilOil is referred to the lifeblood of your vehicle's engine and is what keeps your car engine parts working and rotating correctly. Over time, exhaust gases from the cylinders will contaminate the oil and its effectiveness will be reduced. Oil is also broken down by the heat of the engine. Many current cars can go 5,000 or even 10,000 miles between oil changes. Consult your owner's manual to see how often your automobile's oil needs to be changed. Air FilterWhen you have a clogged air filter with dirt and dust, it can reduce your horsepower, gas mileage, and even cause your engine to stall. The co ... read more

With summer upon us, many of us are embarking on summer road trips and many of us will be taking along man’s best friend. Driving while being distracted by your pet is a very real threat to public safety, 30 % of people have admitted to being distracted by their pets while driving. In my personal experience, my mother and I were on vacation in Cambria, CA in 2005, while I was home from school for Christmas vacation. We were crossing the street at a corner in a crosswalk when a woman driving with a dog in her lap very nearly ran us over. It was one of the scariest experiences I have ever had in my life, my mom and I still talk about it. I personally didn’t even get my drivers license until I was in my mid to late '20s, but since adopting my dog nearly 6 years ago and purchasing my first vehicle this experience has stuck with me. While doing research for this blog I have found that 90% of pet owners admit to driving in their vehicle with their pet and that 98% of those pe ... read more

When it comes to your vehicle cheap parts just won’t do! You rely on your vehicle to get you and your family to important places like work and school safely and on time. Cheap parts tend to fail sooner than higher priced and better quality parts. When they fail, you also risk having them damage other parts of your vehicle, further raising your repair costs.  As a result, you need to take the time out of your busy schedule to find an auto repair shop to correct what should have been repaired correctly in the first place. That is, if you are lucky enough not get stranded on the side of the road somewhere and now add having to deal with more lost time and towing as well. At Westside Transmission & Automotive we have been providing excellent auto repair services for all makes and models of vehicles in Los Angeles for over 20 years now. Jack, the owner, has been in the auto repair business for over 26 years. We perform all auto repairs on all makes and models and specialize ... read more