Van Nuys Auto Repair & Service Center

Last night at my sisters for dinner I learned about "Car Surfing" and it's tragic consequence to a young Agoura Hills girl who lost her life  last week to an insanely stupid activity. Our hearts and condolences  go out to her family, friends and community of which my sister is a part of. Car Surfing, like the name implies, is standing on top of a moving car in a surfers posture for a thrill ride. If you hear your teen  driver mention car surfing in phone conversation, personal engagements or in any other format, it's time to intervene. It could save a life. It's bad enough that new teen drivers get into minor and some major accidents, but it's totally uncalled for to risk their lives and those of their friend or innocent bystanders for a cheap thrill. I have a teenage son and this tragedy hit way to close to home. Read ... read more

Many consumers do not know the many ways in which their car’s safety technology works to protect them from danger on the road. In fact, many drivers misunderstood their vehicle's safety behaviors as being "unexpected." A brand-new, one-of-its kind study from the University of Iowa revealed that a majority of drivers expressed uncertainty about how many potentially life-saving vehicle safety technologies work. The survey also showed that 40 percent of drivers report that their vehicles have acted or behaved in unexpected ways. The study found that a majority of respondents had heard of, been exposed to, or interacted with at least one of the nine vehicle safety features studied, but expressed uncertainty about all of the technologies ... read more

In recognition of National Emergency Preparedness Month in September, AskPatty joins with the non-profit Car Care Council to remind motorists of the importance of the "three Ps of auto care" to make sure their vehicle is ready for the unexpected. Preventative: Reduce the chance of unplanned, costly car trouble by following a vehicle service schedule and performing routine maintenance. The Car Care Council's free personalized schedule and email reminder service is a simple way to help you take better care of your vehicle. Proactive: If you find your vehicle needs repairs, be sure to address them in a timely manner to avoid more extensive work down the road. Before traveling longer distances, perform a pre-trip inspection before your journey begins so you have an opportunity to have any repairs made by a trusted technician before hitting the road. Prepared: Keep an emergenc ... read more

  I just had a discussion last night about safe seating with the 8-year-old son of a friend of mine who wanted to be moved up to the front seat. (Sorry Hayden, NHTSA recommends children ride in the back seat at least through age 12!) Did you know that motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13 in the USA? In 2013, a child under 13 was involved in a crash every 33 seconds. Sadly, many of these deaths and injuries could be prevented by proper use of car seats, boosters, and seat belts. AskPatty joins with NHTSA and other child safety organizations like SafeKids.org to observe Child Passenger Safety Week from September 13-19, 2015, and National Seat Check Saturday on September 19, 2015. One of the goals of Child Passenger Safety Week is to en ... read more

Great News! The great customer service efforts of my sons and staff at AutoAid in serving the Automotive Repair and Body and Paint needs of our customers has earned us the coveted "People Love Us On Yelp" recognition. Thank you to all who made it possible. 

Test-driving a car before buying one is crucial, even if it is new. After all, no article, review or guide in the world can accurately convey what it feels like to interact with a vehicle in person. As such, your best bet is to visit a dealership and test-drive each potential purchase yourself. You can also use this opportunity to collect price quotes. Keep in mind that a test-drive is one of the last steps in the car buying process, which means that you should already have a good idea of the  ... read more

Well, it’s that time again: The kids will be heading back to school and I think that makes many parents very happy. Having four kids myself, I look forward to getting back into a regular routine once again. However, with an older son who now is heading to college, there are a few things that are different with him driving every day versus walking to school each day. If you’re a parent facing the same things, here are a few tips you may want to consider. First and foremost should be the safety of the vehicle. Since one of your own flesh and blood is making that daily commute to school, it’s a good time to have a maintenance check performed on the vehicle ... read more

The dog days of summer are here! As families try to make one last road trip before it's time to head back to school, we're sharing a few tips to make sure those adventures go off without a hitch... Unless, of course, you've got a trailer hooked to one!   #1) Start with a Tuneup: If you're taking an extended road trip, make sure your car is in tip-top shape. If it's almost time for a scheduled maintenance or oil change, make a visit to your trusted mechanic and get it done before your vacay to reduce the chance of breakdowns along the way. If you're a do-it-yourselfer, you should check and fill your fluids, including engine oil, radiator coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield washer fluid. Check the groun ... read more

Parents know that coaching a teenager on safe driving skills is vital. Their concern for their young drivers is more than just instinct – the numbers back it up. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16- to 19-year-olds in the U.S. is nearly three times the rate for drivers ages 20 and older. And the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration says more than half of teens killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts. So, who is there to remind teenagers to buckle up when their parents aren’t around? How will they know when the radio is a distraction, or to slow down? While practice, awareness, education, and continued learning are the most important tools a parent can share with their ... read more

The car of one of my neighbors was burglarized recently, and the thieves stole a nice car stereo and back-seat DVD entertainment system. According to a report at CNN.com,  $1.25 billion in personal items and accessories are stolen from vehicles in about 1.8 million thefts each year. My neighbor had -- stupidly -- left his car unlocked. Did he have an alarm? Yep, but it wasn't activated, either. He mistakenly thought, because we live in a small, gated neighborhood, that his car was safe. Law enforcement officials say that finding unlocked cars is still the number one way thieves are getting in. Luckily, this form of theft can be easily prevented with a little common sense. Summer is here, and according to the NHTSA, July and August are the banner months for would-be theives. Pay at ... read more