Gardena Auto Repair

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

National Tire Safety Week Tips to Stay Safe on the Road 4th of July   This week 6/28 - 7/4 is National Tire Safety Week and with the 4th of July holiday weekend upon us we'd like to remind you about the importance of tire safety. Your tires are the only part of your vehicle that touches the road, so it's imperative to keep them in top shape to help you stay safe on the road.  Here are a few important tips to remember: Pay attention to tire tread depth - Tire tread depth condition should be routinely checked. Make sure your tires are not close to balding, once the rubber on the tire has been worn down it can greatly reduce the vehicle’s handling and performance. Keep an eye on tire pressure - Check tire pressure monthly and before every long road trip. Keeping tires properly inflated will help ensure longevity and even tire wear, resulting in optimal performance. Driv ... read more

Your tires experience tremendous amount of wear and tear and is often neglected despite being the only part of the car that touches the road, however you can extend the life of your tires and stay safe on the road just by following these simple tips:    - Check tire pressure monthly and before every long road trip (Driving with improperly inflated tires is very dangerous and can cause damage to your tires, not to mention affect your drive and lower your fuel efficiency)    ​- Get tires rotated every 5,000 miles although this varies on vehicles and driving demands (performing scheduled tire rotation preserves the balance handling and traction, and promotes even tread wear)   - Adjust your driving style (aggressive acceleration, braking and steering will put an extra strain on your tires causing them to wear your faster)   - Check your alignment twice a year, we offer free tire alignment inspections! (Driving over a pot hole o ... read more

Tax day deadline has been extended to May 17th here's a reminder if you own a business, or self employed (rideshare driver, freelance writer, for instance) you might qualify to deduct the cost of car repairs on your federal tax return. Here are some of the car repairs and routine maintenance you can deduct on your federal tax return (according to tax prep company H & R block)  Oil changes Repairs, such as replacing a broken headlight or fixing faulty brakes Tune-ups New tires New air filters New windshield wipers In order to deduct these repairs good record keeping is important - keep track of your mileage (differentiating personal / business) with a mileage tracker (everlance, stride, mileage IQ) ... read more

  TIPS TO HELP EXTEND YOUR CAR’S LIFE   The average price to purchase a new car is estimated at $38,000 in the U.S. and with yearly rising prices for ownership that does not even include maintenance, there's a reason most vehicle owners tend to keep the same car for at least 11 years. The modern vehicle is already engineered to last long as long as it is maintained properly.  Components of your vehicle can be serviced to prevent major repairs which is the name of the game. At a minimum, you should follow the factory scheduled maintenance. According to Consumer Reports, the average lifespan of today’s cars is about eight years or 150,000 miles. As a professional in vehicle maintenance, we often wonder why manufacturers make claims that transmission fluid is a lifetime fluid and boast this fact, while the factory warranty ends anywhere from 36k to 60k miles? How can you claim the guarantee at a lifetime and only cover you to 60k miles? We ... read more