Santa Monica Auto Repair

As your vehicle ages, its components endure natural wear and tear. One of those components may include the thermostat. Your car’s thermostat is part of the cooling system, and it is in charge of measuring the engine’s temperature. It allows the release of coolant when the engine gets too hot. Below are some of the symptoms that your thermostat has gone bad. Overheating The most common sign of a bad thermostat is engine overheating. If the wrong temperature is being read or the thermostat is stuck closed, it won’t release the coolant necessary to cool down your engine. It’s important to replace a malfunctioning thermostat as soon as possible. An engine that overheats can be severely damaged. Fluctuating Temperature Gauge Another sign that your thermostat is broken is an erratic temperature gauge. This gauge is located on your dashboard. If you notice that the temperature fluctuates a lot, this can indicate that the thermostat is malfunctioning.  Coolant ... read more

  The winter season is coming to an end, and soon we will begin enjoying the warmer weather of spring. The flowers will start blooming, and the birds chirping this spring. Therefore, you will enjoy driving your car with the windows down while listening to good music. As you prepare your mind for spring, preparing your car for the season is essential. Earlier preparation will save you time and headaches later in the season. Here are tips for getting your car for the long drives and vacations that come with spring; Tips for Ensuring your Car is ready for Spring Season Checking Your Tires You can save money by measuring your tire's tread and ensuring none of them is balding. Proper traction is essential for the rainy spring weather ahead. The winter conditions cause potholes. Therefore wheels need alignment in readiness for the new season. Also, it is necessary to replace the winter tires with all-season tires or summer tires before spring. Replacing Wiper Blades and Fluid ... read more

For many of us, we see March as the beginning of spring. But for some, it is still tax season. If you've received or are expecting a refund this year, you should listen up before blowing it on something you regret later. Let's face it: inflation is getting to most of us. With gas prices already high, we can't risk having car problems too. It is a time of year when many of us need to start saving money and prioritizing our needs over wants first. And we recommend putting some of that extra cash to the side for maintenance and repairs that can boost your car's efficiency.   Why are we telling you this? Your vehicle needs some upkeeping, and the cost to keep one right now is high. Preventive car care is key if you want your vehicle to be efficient and last a long time. Not only will you need an oil change, but throughout the year, your brakes might wear down, your fluids may get dirty, your tires may need to be replaced, etc. It's always good to have an "em ... read more

Just like your body needs water and blood, your car needs several important liquids to get you from place to place. Besides gasoline, there are many different fluids that go with various auto internal systems. While mechanics can go in-depth on vehicle fluids all day, we figured it would be best to summarize all the five essential fluids your car needs to run. As a responsible driver, you should know what each one does and how to identify them. Motor/Engine Oil Of course, we have to start with the most well-known and important one: engine oil. This type of liquid helps to keep your engine components lubricated and reduces wear and tear. A good driver should keep up with their motor oil regularly by inspecting it using the dipstick. It is typically light brown to dark brown in color, depending on how new it is. Oil changes are normally done anywhere from 3,000 miles to upwards of 12,000 miles; you should always follow your manufacturer's recommended oil type and interval. Transmi ... read more

If you feel like your car has been in a slump or you want to freshen up for confidence in the new year, then auto detailing may be precisely what you're looking for. At 26th Street Auto Center, we offer mobile auto detailing where our professional team can assist you with a thorough cleaning, restoration, and finishing of a vehicle. A car wash can only do so much to make the exterior of your vehicle look clean, but a detailing service will have your car looking shiny and new (inside and out). Why Do It? Mobile auto detailing is a wonderful way to maintain the interior and exterior of your vehicle. We can get to every crack and crevice there is in and on your car with the right tools and products. Looks aside, these are other several other benefits that a mobile car detailing service can do: Save you time – We come to you! There's no waiting in lines, and you don't have to worry about scheduling time out of your busy schedule. Save you money – You'll rece ... read more

When driving, brakes are a critical component of a vehicle as it controls stopping when needed. You cannot use a car without the brake pedals. Moreover, when brake pedals have a problem, stopping your vehicle may be a problem and, as a result, may lead to an accident. That is the reason why you need to have your brakes serviced by professional mechanics immediately you feel them spongy, mushy, or squishy. Reasons Why Brake Pedals Feel SpongyDamaged/Leaking Brake Line(s) Brakes lines may be corroded by rust as they are made of steel tubing. The rust from moisture and road salt makes brake lines brittle, and with time the rust breaks the lines causing small holes, which then leaks brake fluid. The brake fluid loss then causes a loss of hydraulic pressure, making the brake pedal feel spongy. Thus, when your brake pedals feel soft and low to the floor when applying them, get immediate help from your mechanic.   Old or Low Brake Fluid ... read more

From a rigid back, tense neck, to achy shoulders, your daily commute can harm your body if you're not sitting the right way. Some car seats don't adequately accommodate the lower back curve, putting extra strain on your spine. And compact cars may lack enough legroom and headspace, forcing some motorists to squeeze their bodies into unhealthy forms to operate their vehicle. Often, it's how we sit that may hurt us later on! Studies have shown that poor driving posture can increase pressure in the neck, back, shoulders, arms, wrists, fingers, legs, and feet. Over time, inadequate posture could cause chronic pain and more severe injuries in car accidents.   Luckily, you can mitigate posture-related uneasiness by adequately adjusting your seat and your mirrors. Here are some crucial tips to follow! Support Your Back Move your tailbone as close to the back of the seat as possible. You should have 2-3 inches between the back of your knees and the front of your chair.&nbs ... read more

With Fall finally here, it's the perfect time to give your tires some love. Your tires are essential to the performance, safety, and even fuel economy of your vehicle. There are various services and maintenance practices you should do to keep your rubber wheels healthy and safe. 1 - Check the Air Pressure Proper air inflation is key when it comes to your tires. With the right amount of air in your tires, they will last longer, wear more evenly, and possibly even improve your gas mileage. To find the factory-recommended tire air pressure, please look in your owner's manual or the driver's door frame sticker. Once you measure your tires with a gauge, you can judge whether or not you need to add more air. Some people like to overinflate the tires for an extra "cushion," but doing so can do more harm than good. Both underinflated and overinflated tires can lead to premature wear of your tires. 2 - Measure Tread Depth Tread is the next most important thing to check ... read more

Many vehicle accidents take place at night. There are a lot of factors that come into play, but a big reason why people get into accidents at night is vision impairments.  There are several steps you can take to make sure you can see as much as possible when you're driving in the dark: Keep a clean windshield/windscreen. Glares from oncoming vehicles can disguise other obstacles on the road. To ensure the safest ride possible, take time to wipe off that film that gets built up on the inside of your windshield. You should also make sure your wipers are in good condition and have enough wiper fluid in your car. Make Sure Your Headlights Are Working at 100% Brightness. When the sun starts to set, we depend entirely on our headlights to see where we are going. If you've noticed that your headlights aren't as bright as they used to be, then you may need to have them replaced. It's natural for the bulbs to dim down over time, but you should swap them out every sever ... read more

Your car's engine is likened to the heart of your vehicle, and it's one of its most significant parts. The check engine light is connected to your car's onboard diagnostic system alerting you of any problems, and it's usually yellow or red depending on your vehicle. It's always dreadful for many drivers when the engine light turns on, but you shouldn't panic. However, with your check engine light on, it's vital to try and avoid driving. The check engine light and other warning signals indicate an underlying problem in your vehicle that you shouldn't ignore. When the check engine light turns on, remain calm and make a quick assessment of the situation to determine your next move. Why You Shouldn't Drive with the Check Engine Light On The check engine light could be pointing to a small or a big issue in your car. If the light turns on and keeps flashing, it signals a severe problem. You should stop your vehicle immediately, evaluate the situation, a ... read more