Northridge Auto Repair

As a driver, the last thing you want is for your engine to overheat while you're on the road. Unfortunately, it can happen, especially if you haven't been keeping up with regular maintenance on your vehicle. If you find yourself in this situation, there are a few things you can do to help mitigate the damage and keep yourself safe. 1. Turn off the A/C and Turn on the Heater When your engine overheats, it's crucial to turn off your car's air conditioning system to reduce the load on the engine. Turning on the heater will help pull heat away from the engine and release it into the passenger section. This may not be comfortable during hot weather, but it can help keep your engine from overheating until you can safely pull over. 2. Safely Pullover If your car is still overheating after driving for a few minutes with the heater on and A/C off, you should pull over. Turn off the engine and let it cool down for at least 20-30 minutes. This is the safest approach to coolin ... read more

If you're one to put things off, you've probably found yourself driving with the fuel light on or with your gas gauge reading 'E' at least once before. It's not uncommon, but it can be very stressful not knowing how much farther you can drive before running out of gas.  How Far Can You Drive With the Fuel Light On? The answer to this question depends on the make and model of your vehicle, as well as your driving habits and road conditions. For the most part, you can typically drive between 30-50 miles after the fuel light comes on. However, this is simply just an estimate, and it's always better to play it safe and fill up your gas tank as soon as the light comes on. What to Do If You Run Out of Gas If you do find yourself running entirely out of gas, don't panic. Here are some important steps to take: Pull over to a safe location: If you're driving on the highway, pull over to the side of the road as soon as possible. Make sure you're out ... read more

Preventative maintenance is the routine care and upkeep of a vehicle to keep it running smoothly and to prevent major problems from occurring. The goal of preventative maintenance is to identify and address potential issues before they become more serious and costly to repair. By regularly performing preventative maintenance, you can extend the lifespan of your vehicle and reduce the risk of unexpected breakdowns or costly repairs. Here are some common preventative maintenance tasks that are recommended for most vehicles: Oil Changes: Regular oil changes are one of the most important preventative maintenance tasks. Oil helps to lubricate the engine, reduce friction, and keep the engine cool. Over time, oil can become contaminated and lose its effectiveness. Regular oil changes help to maintain the health of the engine and reduce the risk of serious problems. Tire Rotations: Regular tire rotations help to evenly distribute wear on the tires, which can extend the lifespan of the tires ... read more

When you see the check engine light on, it can mean a variety of things. It is one of the car's main diagnostic lights that appears. Will it damage your car if you keep driving with the lights on? Let's find out. Figure Out the Problem ASAP This is one of the most obvious things to do when the light is on. Once you've figured out what is the problem is, you can determine from there if the car is safe to drive. Sometimes, it can be something as simple as low oil pressure or the engine overheating. In that case, you can fix the problems yourself and the light will most likely go away. Keep in mind that some cars have a red light, which means stop using the car, and some have a yellow light, which means investigating the cause. Don't Drive Fast If the engine check light is on, the worst thing you can do is drive at higher speeds. Instead, go slower and take it easy on your engine. If you are carrying a load, make sure that the load is as light as possible. Until you ... read more

Brake fluid is one of those car fluids that tend to get overlooked. When most people think of brakes, they immediately jump straight into looking at the brake pads or shoes, calipers, and rotors. While brake fluid doesn’t require as often of service as motor oil, it is essential in enabling your vehicle to slow down and stop on time. One of the biggest problems with brake fluid is that it gets contaminated over time. The most common culprits are water/moisture and copper. First off, water is a big enemy of brake fluid because it causes rust with many of your brake components. On another note, moisture can dilute the brake fluid and cause its boiling point to lower. Therefore, moisture in the brake system can lower your stopping power and increase your chances of overheating brakes. In extreme cases, brake failure can occur from moisture in the brake system. You will need to have your brakes bled, or brake fluid flushed to combat this problem. Copper is also another contaminati ... read more