Northridge Auto Repair

The winter weather usually gets many people stuck indoors. When spring comes, the weather starts looking up; an excellent season to embark on that family vacation or road trip you dreamt of all winter. But is your car ready for the spring and summer seasons? If you have plans to drive more often in spring, here are five practical car care tips for spring. 1. Check the Oil and Oil Filter It would help if you observed oil and oil filter changes according to your car manufacturer's manual. It's one of the most affordable car maintenance services, which ensures excellent engine cleanliness and performance. Oil changes also ensure your engine achieves higher fuel economy and a longer lifespan. 2. Steering and Suspension Inspection The constant freeze-n-thaw cycles in winter lead to road damage, and potholes become a norm. Driving on such road conditions can significantly impact your vehicle's steering and suspension systems. That makes the car pull to one side and compromise ... read more

Your vehicle's belt and hoses play a major role when it comes to how smoothly the car runs. Like most drivers and car owners, you probably don't pay much attention to the belt system under the hood. However, the hoses and belts help in powering major vehicle systems, especially for heating and cooling. Suffice to say, preventive maintenance on your car's belts and hoses system can save you from untimely and costly repairs. Here are some of the belts and hoses you should pay attention to and exactly what you should focus on. Timing Belt This notched rubber belt helps to turn your vehicle's crankshaft and camshaft. The belt is crucial that the vehicle cannot run without it. If it breaks while you are on the road, you should pull over immediately and have a certified mechanic have a look. If left unattended, a minor fault in the timing belt could translate to major engine damage, which might be too costly to repair. As a rule of thumb, you should replace your timing belt ... read more

It's smart to put that parking brake on when you are situated on a hill for any length of time. You can protect your transmission from wear and tear by doing so. But when you come back from wherever you were and you try to head out, what if your parking brake is stuck and you can't get it to turn back off? Driving with it on is sometimes possible, but you can cause a lot of damage to your braking system. Avoid this issue and solve it before you take the vehicle on the road. Here are some causes of the parking brake sticking: Cold Weather If it's really cold out, ice can cause the brake to freeze into place. To help it thaw out, turn the car on and the engine can help to melt the ice away. You can gently rev the engine to heat things up as well and then after the car has warmed a bit, try to disengage the brake. Rust Brakes can become rusted or corroded over time and if that happens, the parking brake can definitely get stuck. It's ... read more

Changing the filter should always come with getting your oil changed. It's no use driving with fresh oil while still having a dirty, contaminated filter, as the leftover particles can seep through to all parts of your engine and wreak the worst havoc on it. But the life of your engine depends on quality, and knowing the right kind of filter takes professional expertise. Dirt, grime, and other toxins have an ugly way of sneaking into your engine, and the primary task of the filter is to wield it out efficiently for the life of your vehicle. Plus, a good oil filter can keep old motor oil from making its way back into your engine. One of the first air filters that comes to mind is the full-flow oil filter, which is specifically designed to deep clean any toxins or impurities out of your vehicle's oil. These impurities can cause dirt and grime to collect on your engine and may block it from running properly. Plus, the full-flow oil filters can help protect your car from winter dam ... read more

Fuel injectors are a preferred choice of fuel delivery system in the engine for vehicle manufacturers nowadays. Injectors have taken over the job of their predecessors-carburetors, in a much more technologically and environmentally efficient way. Understanding Fuel injector A fuel injector provides fuel for the internal combustion process in the engine to produce energy. A fuel injector is managed by the internal computer of the vehicle, which directs the time, pressure, direction, and frequency of fuel delivery in the combustion cylinder. The spray of fuel inside the cylinder results in the ignition of hot, compressed air and a small explosion that moves the pistons forcefully to generate power. Indications of a Malfunctioning Fuel Injector An efficient and clean fuel injector is vital for optimal engine performance, emissions, and fuel efficiency. It is essential to perform proper and regular maintenance of the fuel injector to prevent any disruption in the engi ... read more