Torrance Area Auto Repair

  Happy September to you all; as we prepare ourselves to welcome back the cool fall weather, it also means that back to school is right around the corner. Many schools and colleges will be welcoming back their students very shorty & we at Walt's Auto Service want you as parents and loved ones to be prepared as your child begins the drive back to school. Let's start by easing some stress and thoroughly preparing our students with a well-working and equipped vehicle. Walt's Auto Service presents - Getting your child's car ready for back to school.   Cleaning the Vehicle: Who doesn't love a fresh, clean exterior? Cleaning the outside of your vehicle isn't all about aesthetics; dirt & debris can damage the body of your car over time and lead to more costly repairs. Take this cleaning day as a time to explain more details about the exterior of a vehicle with your soon-to-be student. Take them to a local auto shop to pick up cleaning supplies that ... read more

  Anyone who is a dog owner knows just how important your furry friend is and that they are a member of your family. This means your beloved pet will most likely travel with you in your vehicle at some point in its life, whether it be to the vet, the dog park, or a friend's house. We, at Walt's Auto Service are animal lovers too, and we want to discuss the dangers when a pet is left inside your parked vehicle.    Did you know that thousands of pets are injured or die each year due to auto accidents? According to Pet Pro Supply Company ", 84% of dog owners traveling with their dogs are not restraining them. Only 16% of people who transport their dogs use proper safety restraints & 60% of dog owners have driven while distracted by their pets as passengers." We take many risks when traveling with our animals & the dangers that we open up to them if we leave th ... read more

    What a milestone it is in life to learn how to drive for the first time! Do you recall your parents taking me to a local church parking lot (large and empty) and getting behind the wheel for the first time? While it is a joy and a newfound sense of freedom to have a vehicle for the first time, it's also a huge responsibility. Once the driving test is passed (hopefully the first time), it seems all the teen wants and thinks about is "my first car." If you decide the timing is right to purchase a vehicle, it's your job to make sure you are a prepared parent and teacher and your new driver is feeling confident behind the wheel. At Walt's Auto Service, we wanted to put together a small guide to help ease this huge transition!    Double Checking Safety: If you purchase a used or brand new car for your new driver, ensure by bringing the vehicle into Walt’s Auto Service for a Pre-Purchase Inspection that, at the very least, the first car ... read more

  At Walt's Auto Service, we understand how unbearable and uncomfortable the California heat can become, especially given that summer is right around the corner. With temperatures quickly reaching over 100 degrees, it's essential to have a proper A/C system in play. At Walt's Auto Service, we wanted to take the time to discuss good A/C and cooling for your vehicle so you can be prepared to get it fixed before that first unbearable summer heatwave.    When Should I Get My A/C Unit Checked? Thankfully this is a decently easy question to solve; the answer? You tell us! How does the air in your vehicle feel during your ride? Are you feeling refreshed after a couple of minutes? Or do you find yourself eventually caving in and rolling the windows down? If you think you are "cool as a cucumber," then you probably don't need a tune-up. However, if you find yourself rolling down the windows or thinking, "my A/C isn't cool enough,"/" ... read more

Our cars have become so reliable these days that we simply forget to do simple maintenance such as checking the oil levels between services. Not to mention that it is much harder to find a place that can or will do a simple under hood check for you. The responsibility of checking the oil then falls to the car owner. To do so, it is first necessary to shut off the engine and open the hood. Finding the dipstick is a simple matter of locating a looped wire or plastic handle (often painted red or yellow) on the side of the engine. The dipstick should be removed, cleaned off with a cloth, and reinserted into the engine. After it is pulled out once more, the dipstick should be observed to note the oil level. If the level shows between the “add” and the “full” markings at the end of the stick it is fine. If the oil level is below the “add” mark sufficient oil should be added to reach the “full” line. Checking your oil every fourth tim ... read more

At Walt’s Auto Service we want to celebrate EARTH DAY and every day by sharing with you CAR CARE COUNCILS suggestions to help you be greener for a better and more sustainable environment and keep your car running healthy and green! Drive Green – Recognize that how your drive has a lot to do with fuel economy. Avoid sudden starts and stops and go the speed limit. Jerky and aggressive driving decreases your miles per gallon (MPG) and increases wear and tear on your vehicle. Minimize unnecessary miles by combining errands in one trip. Get a Tune-Up – Regular tune-ups, maintenance and having clean air filters will help your car pollute less and burn less gas. With a proper tune-up, you can save 4% on the cost of gas and up to 40% by replacing a faulty oxygen sensor. Simply changing the car’s air filter can improve efficiency by 10%. Lighten the Load – Get the junk out of the trunk and the stuff out of your ... read more

People who exercise on a regular basis often advise more sedentary individuals to “use it or lose it,” the implication being that the body’s health degenerates with disuse. The same may be said of an automobile. All too many car owners mistakenly believe that their cars need not adhere to regular maintenance schedules because they are used so little. The fact is, however, that the various lubricants found in a car lose their protective qualities with non-use. They are likely to deteriorate by virtue of condensation buildup or accumulations of unburned hydrocarbons, varnish, or acids. These latter contaminants will pit an rust metal if they are not boiled, burned or heated away. Following a regular service schedule, no matter how frequently a car is used, will help prevent wear and mechanical problems. If your car is going to sit idle for a lengthy period of time we can help you with some ideas that will assure its good condition upon your return ... read more

Spot fluid leaks check color chart When was the first time you took a close look at your garage floor or the patch of driveway beneath your car in an effort to spot a fluid leak? This type of informal inspection should be conducted on almost a daily basis. Conscientious car owners who frequently spot check for leaks will more likely be rewarded with a minor repair bill, rather than the more costly complication of fluid loss. A puddle of greenish-yellow or reddish fluid is indicative of loss of engine coolant. Motor oil is usually blackish-brown, while transmission fluid has a red tint. Brake fluid is clear, but its location near the wheels may help identify it. These fluids are all considered to be lubricants, the loss of which compromise a corresponding unit’s functioning efficiency and should be checked out right away. If fluid spots are a common sight on your garage floor or driveway, start fresh with a clean piece of card ... read more

HINT: When the check engine warning light comes on, check the owner’s manual for specific instructions. Because yellow “check engine” warning lights often show up on the instrument panel unaccompanied by any apparent symptoms, drivers may continue to drive their vehicle and blame the incident on glitches in the system. However, this should be examined by an auto technician at the earliest opportunity. The reason is the car’s onboard computer system receives information about the engine and other parts of the car from an array of sensors. If any of these sensors relay information about an abnormality, the “check engine” light will come on and the car computer can compensate. The point is not to ignore the warning to the point where failure develops. Those little lights really do mean something, even if it only means there’s a loose connection somewhere. Don’t be in the dark

Anyone who drives a front wheel or an all wheel drive automobile should be familiar with the function of CV (constant velocity) Joints. Their function is to provide power transfer to the front wheels as well as to allow for steering and suspension movement. Packed in grease and protected with rubber boots, the CV joints should be regularly inspected for leaks and cracks. In the event that the boots deteriorate and begin to leak grease, they will splatter grease on the inside of the wheel and on the suspension. Evidence of this splattering will not be obvious from the outside of the vehicle and must be viewed from underneath. For this reason, it is a good idea to have the CV joints inspected at every oil change or 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Replacing a boot immediately after a leak or crack is found costs a fraction of what it would otherwise cost to replace a CV joint or a complete drive axle. If you hear a repetitive knocking or grinding noise from your car the lik ... read more