Torrance Area Auto Repair

    The winter season is here, and it is time to wax our skis and snowboards and plan for our snow day adventures in some of the best southern California ski resorts! When we look forward to snow adventures and planning our trip, it is easy to forget to schedule a check-up on our vehicle to make sure we make it there and back again safely. So remember to schedule your vehicle check-up at Walt’s Auto Service, and we will help you feel confident in your adventures.   Are you ready for fun in the snow? We sure are, and the drive is not as far as you might think!   Bear Mountain Bear Mountain is an excellent place to learn how to ski or snowboard. With 27 fantastic trails on the slope and only 2 hours from Los Angeles, this snow adventure with an elevation drop of 1,700 feet and 8,800-foot peaks, you are sure to get some good runs no matter your skill level.   Snow Summit With over 18 miles of skiing, Sn ... read more

When is the best time to buy a car? Fall and Winter!   If you are in the market for a new car but don’t want to break the bank, you will want to read this blog. If you are ready to buy a new car, it pays to know the best time of year to make that purchase. When you time it just right, you can save big bucks, especially if you are not picky about upgrades or colors.    First tip: Being flexible with a vehicle’s features can give you the most bang for your buck because you can purchase the car already on the lot and ready to go. Dealerships are more flexible in negotiating prices with a car they already own and can sell on the spot.    With all the sales advertised, from holiday discounts to year-end deals, it makes you wonder when is the best time to buy a new car. Whether you are looking to upgrade or if your reliable old car is on its last leg if you, follow these guidelines to find the best deal possible.   What are the signs that you ... read more

  What is the difference between an oil change and an oil change service?   Offering a fast 20-minute oil change sounds excellent to the busy family; however, it is overall a disservice to both vehicle and customer alike.   Here at Walt’s Auto Service, we believe not including a vehicle inspection with an oil change is risky for our customers. Imagine leaving an auto repair shop after your oil change just to have your serpentine belt break. What customer would not prefer, even expect an auto repair shop to inspect their car while it is already in the shop than find themselves broken down after leaving the parking lot of our auto repair shop?   As expert auto mechanics and auto technicians in the South Bay area, including Torrance, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, Hawthorne, Carson, and Gardena, we see the value of vehicle inspections at every service, no matter the age of your car. We provide oil services to your car for your ... read more

When gorgeous leaves begin to fall, they collect on the roadway, become wet and soggy, and can get highly slippery; this can cause driving conditions similar to ice driving. On the rare occasion when the temperatures drop below freezing, wet leaves will also freeze and turn into dangerous slippery leaves on the roadway. Not only does this reduce the car's traction, potentially causing skidding or losing control of your vehicle, leaves often disguise the painted road markings, making it more challenging to know the locations of the lanes. Here are some tips to increase your safety this fall Drive slowly if you are driving on a road covered that is with leaves, especially when driving around turns. Always allow yourself plenty of room to stop in case of an emergency. When you keep a greater distance between you and the car in front of you, you keep everyone safer. A pile of leaves can make it difficult to see potholes and bumps in the road. Children love to jump into piles of le ... read more

  Summertime is here, and so is the heat. At Walt’s Auto Service, we care about you and your car, which is why we want to share summertime auto maintenance tips, so check out what you can do to extend the life of your vehicle.   Inspect the AC AC and summertime in California are synonymous. When the summertime heat hits, we want our AC system working without a struggle, so testing it is an important step in keeping ahead of the curve.  When you turn on your ac and have hot air blowing, it could mean that you need a Freon charge. This is the refrigerant your system is pressurized with. Topping off your system can be the boost you need; however, there could also be something else going on with your AC system that one of our trusty ASE-certified auto mechanics can diagnose and repair.   Check your tires' air pressure  After a long winter, wintertime wear and tear is likely on your tires. Be sure to check your air pressure and check for signs of i ... read more

  How many people in your inner circle know CPR? Do you know? It’s been researched and discovered that, sadly, 70 percent of Americans feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency. This feeling of helplessness is due to improper training or a complete lack of it. This alarming statistic hit’s very close to home- “because home is where 88 percent of cardiac arrests occur.” - CPR.BLOG. Our team at Walt’s Auto Service wants to highlight an event dedicated to changing this significant and deadly statistic for the better. Our shop and crew are close to this organization because its founder is one of our employees’ sons, which we will get to later. Introducing the Heartshield Project. “The Heartshield Project is a non-profit organization with a mission to save lives through education about Sudden Cardiac Arrest, SCA, its risk factors ... read more

  It's finally June, and our team wishes you and your family a wonderful sunny month. We wanted to change things up for this month's blog and tap into our adventure side with a blog focused on fun summer road trips you can take! In the mood for a quick drive or a weekend getaway? The excellent team at Walt's Auto Service has you covered with scenic plans & a vehicle that is fully prepared to get you to all your summer destinations safely. Topanga State Park Keeping it under two hours north of our shop located in the cliffs and canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains lies Topanga State Park. This exquisite landscape features over 35 miles of trails through open grassland, large live oaks, and spectacular views of the wondrous Pacific Ocean. Being located entirely within the Los Angeles city limits, Topanga State Park is considered the world's largest wildland within the boundaries of a major city. Here you can find great hikes and mountain biking trails for miles ... read more

Happy May to you all; our team at Walt's Auto Repair wants to tackle the daunting issue of brake maintenance & common problems drivers can run into if they aren't taken care of properly. Your vehicle's intricate brake system relies on each individual connected brake part to function successfully & safely. If a loose bolt or parts have become worn down, it will affect the entire brake system. The driver can hear or feel the first indicator that something is wrong. We will dive into different sounds & what they could mean for you & your vehicle's brake system.    Constant Squeaking  This noise is prevalent in older vehicles due to worn and tired brake pads. When these pads have reached their last leg, they are thin they can rub against your rotors. This sound is a warning sign for you to get new brake pads before further damage is done. If you have a new vehicle & this is occurring, it can be due to overheating due to the pads not bei ... read more

Happy April to our Walt's Auto Service family!   For our April blog, we wanted to tackle the topic of a good spring clean for your vehicle! There is no time like April to prep your car for all the incredible adventures you plan to take, so it can help you enjoy the outdoors in the coming driving season! Our vehicles go through a difficult time during the colder months— salt, gravel, sand, dirt, and muck all conspire to leave cars filthy inside and out! We present our tips for spring cleaning for your vehicle!  Windex Is Key It's incredible how simple cleaning your car's windows can be. But it is often the most straightforward cleaning steps that can yield the most significant rewards and improve the safety of your vehicle. It's essential to clean the visual points into our car- the mirrors! From the side mirrors, rearview & our primary windshield, we turn to Windex for a fast yet effective answer. Windex spray and a wipe with some paper tow ... read more

  "All repairs three years 36,000 miles", no you're not dreaming; it truly is our warranty. Happy March from the team at Walt's Auto Service, your go-to automotive repair shop in Torrance!  For March, we chose to dive into our outstanding warranty & how you can have the best peace of mind with our warranty backing you up for three years or 36,000 miles. But what's so special about that? Did you know that most dealerships only offer one year or 12,000 miles until your coverage is gone? We don't just say double that at Walt's. We triple most dealerships' warranty - on most repairs on your vehicle! Even AAA's warranty currently stands at only two years or 24,000 miles. Our team at Walt's Auto Service has a reputation for being an incredibly honest shop. We take the standard warranty & we present our above standard warranty because we believe in our work.   "Walts' were professional, great communicators, polite a ... read more