Torrance Area Auto Repair

  We all want to save money and kick off the new year right. At Walt's Auto service, we want to share 12 maintenance tips that will save you money in our January blog. Who knows, perhaps you will save enough to take your family on a mini vacation road trip this summer!   Spare Tire Check We often take our tires for granted and just hop into our cars and drive from point A to point B. How often do you actually think of your tires? Now, when was the last time you thought about that spare tire in your trunk or mounted under your vehicle? Even less, right? Well, imagine finding yourself on the side of the road needing that tire, and it is flat. YIKES! Now you have to call a tow truck, spend a ½ day waiting around, and it might just cost hundreds of dollars on top of that. You might be thinking, hmmm, I better check my spare tire next time I hit the gas station, and yes, we encourage you to check all of your tires regularly, even though we hope to never need it; 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

  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 February, Walt's Auto Service family! We want to touch on the importance of vehicle safety when snow is involved for this month's blog! If you plan to hit the slopes for a ski adventure or go mountain exploring in high snowy altitudes, this blog is for you!    The prep begins before the driving; always remember to check roadway conditions, including chain controls, before you leave the comfort of your home with Caltrans QuickMap. Did you know that 17% of all car crashes occur during the winter season? Prepare yourself by packing extra items & supplies. Excess water & snacks are a must, as well as a vehicle emergency kit, spare clothes, tools, flashlight, etc.    Check Engine Light On?  A check engine light can mean many things about the state of your vehicle, from a simple computer malfunction to something more serious. You do not want to head to a snowy area with this light on! It ... read more

  For our January blog, the team at Walt's Auto Service wants to highlight our Fleet Services for the residents of Torrance and the outlying communities of Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, Hawthorne, Carson, and Gardena! If you own a fleet of vehicles and require quality, prompt fleet service, and repair in Torrance, CA, this blog is for you.    Fleet service and repair are crucial to keeping ALL of your vehicles on the road and avoiding unexpected, messy, and sometimes costly repairs, which can take your cars out of commission--and can majorly cut into your overhead! The last thing you need is one of your employees calling about a vehicle emergency on the side of the road during these busy times. A simple solution to this problem is to trust the highly trained auto mechanics at Walt's Auto Service. We will ensure that all the confusion and headaches are avoided with our quality auto repair team.    Walt's Auto Servic ... read more

As we welcome in December, we wanted to prepare our loyal customers for the upcoming winter months by putting together some of our car maintenance tips for winterization! Even though we live in a warmer state, the changing temperatures & changing seasons are reason enough for some advice!    Cabin Air Filter Replacement The wintertime is a great time to replace your air filter. Who wants to sit in a musty vehicle? No one. The odd smells most likely come from a dirty cabin air filter if you notice a strange scent. A cheap filter only blocks dust from getting inside your vehicle. A higher-quality filter will trap much smaller particles and help keep pollen and other allergy-causing debris out of your car. But by installing a new filter, you are improving the air you breathe when driving.   Tire Inspection One significant step you can take in the winter is to get a full tire inspection from our skilled auto mechanics. You can trust our expert technicians to as ... read more

Do you find yourself wishing for clearer vision on the roads? Perhaps your windshield wipers are creating an annoying “buzz” when they move across your windshield & your visibility is becoming impaired. For our November blog, the Walt’s Auto Service team wants to focus on your vehicle’s windshield wipers! Your vehicle’s windshield wipers do the most to protect you while you’re on the roads, and it’s imperative to keep them in good condition. Below are our tips and tricks to extend their lifetimes & to know when it’s time for a fresh pair- especially as we head into the winter/rainier months.  How to Extend Windshield Wipers lifespan Wipe - As you can imagine, in the fall/winter weather, we have an increase in dirt, leaves & other debris that can easily attach themselves to your blades & under the wipers themselves. If left for long periods, that grime begins to harm your windshield & your blade’s lifetime ... read more