Los Angeles Auto Repair

Now that winter is already a memory, it is perfect for a profound reminder of the seasonal-care-tips smooth transition into spring. Do not be surprised to hear that this is the car care month. As you say goodbye to cold temperature and harsh weather conditions, do not ignore the spring car maintenance tips for a smooth drive in the months coming up now that it is time to plan road trips amidst the warm weather. Your 5-Point Spring car Care Tip Remember that spring is the perfect time for you to prepare ensure that your vehicle systems work at optimum during the upcoming travel season. Here is a maintenance checklist for you! Change the Fluids Driving in harsh weather takes a toll on your car. Salt and fluids may have accumulated in your car's engine systems. It is important to schedule changes for basic fluids such as oil. Remember that oil picks up impurities as it runs to lubricate and cool the engine. Check Your Car Battery You can perform basic tests such as battery fluid ... read more

Every vehicle comes equipped with a timing belt; this part on your vehicle controls the camshaft and crankshaft of the engine being able to rotate. It also operates the opening and closing of the valves in your engine allowing gasoline and air in and out. The job of the timing belt is to coordinate the engine's functions; this will cause fuel to ignite in the combustion chamber. Knowing what the timing belt is and what it does is one major step, but how do you know when your timing belt needs to be replaced? How do you know how often you need to replace your timing belt? Knowing how vital your timing belt is to the operation of your engine, you need to know that it will wear out over time, and will at some point need to be replaced. There are mileage intervals that are generally set by manufacturers that say you need to have your timing belt replaced. For most vehicles, it is anywhere between 60,000 – 100,000 miles. If you look in your owner's manual you will find the su ... read more

Do you think your car feels sluggish? You're not sure what's the cause behind it! If so, you are in the right place. Let's find out. If your vehicle has too many miles on it then that might be the cause that slows down the acceleration. If your car is new then there could be an underlying problem. It's good to know what's causing the issue as it won't be safe to drive a sluggish car for too long. Read on for more information. Causes Behind Why Your Car Feels Sluggish The following causes are possible: #1. It's possible that the fuel filter of your vehicle might be clogged. If that's the cause, it's time for maintenance and cleaning it. #2. The malfunctioning sensor can lead to the issue, but a professional can help. There could be an issue with the fuel pump! #3. A failure in the fuel delivery system of the car. You'll know there is an issue when you push the gas pedal and the car feels sluggish. #4. Bad coil leading to a misfiring engine ... read more

They design your automatic transmission to switch gears automatically using a system of built-in sensors and internal oil pressure. This automatic switching process takes the place of manual transmissions that require the driver to shift gears manually. If any of the components involved in this process are broken or missing, problems with your transmission are likely to occur. In this article, we look at a few common transmission issues (and how to solve them). Signs There's a Problem with Your Automatic Transmission One of the clearest signs of automatic transmission trouble is your car not shifting when it's put in gear. For example, if it takes your car a few extra seconds to shift into drive (or if it doesn't shift into gear at all) this is a sign of a transmission issue. A good mechanic may suggest a fluid exchange service to resolve this issue. Other potential fixes include resetting the car computer or contacting a certified mechanic. If you're notic ... read more

The appropriate maintenance of your fluid flushes contributes significantly to optimal car functioning. Coolant flushes form essential parts of the cooling system. They minimize engine overheating, which results in significant car troubles. Engine coolants are a combination of ethylene or propylene glycol and water, generally in a 50/50 ratio. There are different types of engine coolants, and it is essential to get the correct type that works for the specific vehicle. Importance of Engine Coolant The absence of the coolant would make the heat from the combustion style ruing the engine quickly. A once in a year coolant flush maintains effective working of the cooling system. Why should you get a coolant flush? Eliminates Anti-freeze Old antifreeze tends to turn acidic and begins to clump. Coolant flush replaces the old stuff with fresh antifreeze, which performs its function effectively. Eradicates Contaminants Old antifreeze loses its anti-corrosive properties. This results in th ... read more

Tire tread is similar to a facial expression; if you look close enough, it can tell how your tires are doing. Clues to your vehicle's health are sprinkled through the tires based on how they wear. Inspecting whether your tires wear in the center, edge, or on the outer can help you determine if maintenance or service is needed. Understanding what's normal and unusual tire wear can prevent you from running into a problem in the future. To help you decipher the story your tires are trying to tell, below is a short guide on 5 of the common types of tire wear. Patchy Wear Patchy tire wear will suggest that the wheels may be out of balance. Regular tire rotations can prevent a patchy tire. This type of maintenance can stop the wear from worsening in the future. The moment you notice patchy wear, alert your trusted tire specialist at University Tire & Auto Service to find a schedule best for your vehicle to extend its lifespan.  Cent ... read more

Several essential parts work together to keep your car driving straight. When the wheels become misaligned, your vehicle may become more difficult to control. If you recently went too fast over a speed bump or hit a pothole, the wheels could get knocked out of balance. Over time, you may notice a significant hit to performance, followed by a decrease in gas mileage. Below are five crucial signs; it's time for a wheel alignment.   Crooked Steering Wheel  An off-center steering wheel is a common sign that the wheel alignment needs to be adjusted. If you have to strong-arm the steering wheel to keep it driving straight, it's time to reach out to a trusted mechanic.  Vehicle Vibrating  Misaligned wheels will cause your tires to fight to move in different vibrations. This struggle between all four wells can cause your vehicle to vibrate in severe cases.  Uneven tire wear  Your tires can give ... read more

University Tire's Night Out The entire University Tire & Auto Service Team, has laid out a plan for 2019 that we believe will help us continue to work diligently and to provide both new and current customers more efficient and effective service. One way we like to keep our team members moving forward in a fun and positive environment is a night out at Little Tokyo's X-Lanes! Our entire University team participated in a night of Bowling and Billiard games. Each game had its own level of competitivness but it also brought out natural born competitors like our team member, Lui! However, when it came to bowling, no competition was tough enough for senior team member, Elmer who took home the win and granted him bragging rights until the next company night out. Did someone ask, WHAT ABOUT THE FOOD? Of course! The night was not complete without the classic and delicious pepperoni and melted cheese pizza! That pizza left us satisfie ... read more

John here - just got back from Continental Tire's proving test facility in Uvalde - just outside of San Antonio, Texas. Wow! Unbelievable experience!! First some context: I was born and have spent the majority of my driving life here in Los Angeles. And it's a bit ironic that here in LA, a place many would argue is the car capital of the world and home to some of the most exotic, expensive cars in the world, you sure can't drive very fast. So it was a huge thrill for me to tear down the track in a brand new BMW M240i Coupe and feel the differences in handling between Continental tires and their competitors. It's real. We also got to rock crawl in Jeep Wrangler Rubicons with General Tire's new Grabber ATX on the off-road course. I can tell you from just this first experience, this is addicting! I want to go back! Thanks to everyone at Continental Tire for creating an amazing experience. We at University Tire & Auto Service are proud to be a Continental Gold De ... read more

Elmer, our shop's senior technician, attended last Sunday's Auto Club 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway. Tickets were generously provided by one of our vendors, O'Reilly Auto Parts. Here he shares his first NASCAR experience: "It was exciting from beginning to end! I went with my neighbor and my two oldest sons, ages 10 and 14. It was the first time for all of us. We've always seen races on TV and had an idea of what to expect, but to be there was another experience. It's fantastic - the energy, the noise, the cars passing by so close and so fast. You don't want to miss a moment! I was amazed how the crews worked together as a team towards one goal: to win. They're trained, they work hard, and they work fast. Thanks to University Tire and O'Reilly. We're looking forward to the next one!" Contact our office for more info ... read more