Gardena Auto Repair

6 Essential Travel Tips for Your Thanksgiving Road Trip   AAA estimates nearly 3.8 million Southern Californians will travel by car this Thanksgiving, 10% more drivers than last year, despite the record breaking gas prices. Our freeways are expected to reach peak traffic on Wednesday afternoon (the day before Thanksgiving) and overall, you can expect traffic to reach near  pre-pandemic levels. Some drivers may be taking a vehicle that is not prepared for an extended road trip and the last thing you want is for your car to breakdown on the highway when you should be at Grandma's sitting at the table having Thanksgiving dinner or relaxing by the pool at your favorite resort.  In order to reduce the chance of unexpected, costly repairs and have a stress-free road trip, here are 6 essential things you should do to make sure your car is ready for travel this Thanksgiving:  Check all fluids (engine oil, power steering and brake and transm ... read more

5 Safe Driving Tips to Follow When Daylight Savings Ends   We're over a month into the fall season which can only mean its near the end of Daylight Savings time. The extra sleep is something we welcome when we turn back our clocks, however the hour difference can have negative effects on your road safety.  When sleeping schedules are interrupted it can have an effect on our body and mind and can make us more susceptible for getting into a car accident. Studies have found that car crashes increased not only at the start of DST but also with the hour time change in the fall.  So as we 'fall back' this Sunday to get ready for the winter here are a few things we recommend you do to keep yourself safe on the road when the time changes:  GET ENOUGH REST -  the change of time can impact the quality of your sleep, you do not want to drive when you are sleepy or drowsy, so stick to your regular sleep schedule so yo ... read more

10 Steps to Get Your Car Ready for Sale and Get Top Dollar for It Are you thinking about selling your car to upgrade for a new car? With used vehicles still in high demand at higher prices due to the slowing production of newer vehicles, your vehicle will have more value when you put effort into taking care of repairs and regular maintenance.  By being prepared not only will you benefit from a car that performs better on the road, when it comes time to sell you'll be able to get top dollar and be rewarded for all the efforts that you put into maintaining your car.   Here are 10 steps to get your car ready for sale and get top dollar for it:    Keep the car clean, get it washed (clean the car inside thoroughly and out, consider getting it detailed) Fix any dents and dings    Get oil changed Inspect, clean and replace tires  Get your wheels aligned   Inspect your bra ... read more

October is National Car Care Month, an important time to be proactive and stay on top of preventative maintenance. Whether your car sat in the driveway the majority of the summer or spent hundreds of miles on long road trips, we highly recommend you take care of these essential maintenance items to make sure your car can safely navigate the wet roads in the winter:  CHECK YOUR WIPER BLADES -  Inspect your blades regularly, look for discoloration and cracks. Clean them off every month with a damp cloth. Wiper blades typically last 6 months.  CHECK AND CHANGE FLUIDS - Make sure all your fluids are topped off. Including but not limited to engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, differential fluid, and washer fluid. CHECK YOUR TIRES - Check tire pressure at least once a month. Under inflated tires can affect braking distances and provide less responsive steering and handling. Pay attention to tread depth and alignment ... read more

It can be a bit alarming when all of a sudden you're driving and you see your dashboard flashing with a light you haven't seen before, it can be something as simple as a loose fuel cap or an issue with your brakes. Some of these lights may not require immediate action, but there are some warnings you should never ignore. Keep your eye out for these 5 dashboard lights:  ABS (Anti-lock brake system) : Causes can include low brake fluid, a blown fuse, or abnormal signals from wheel sensors. If you ignore this light there's a chance of skidding if you need to slam on your brakes to avoid hitting something.   OIL LIGHT: An oil warning light should be taken seriously. It indicates that your oil level in the engine is low or that the oil pump is not circulating oil properly. If ignored, the chance of engine damage is likely to occur. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT: This may be the most obvious one here, but this is the light you really can't afford to ignore. A check engine ... read more