Sherman Oaks Auto Repair

Your vehicle's wheels can be forced out of alignment due to daily occurrences on the road. It can happen due to uneven roads, debris, hitting curbs, speed bumps, potholes, and more. You may not notice it right away, but even the slightest misalignment of your vehicle's wheels can start to affect other components.  When you drive your car with bad wheel alignment, the tires begin to become worn down, and typically it happens unevenly. Worn down tires can be dangerous to drive with and you'll end up needing a new set much sooner than you probably anticipated. This is why it is so important to take care of your wheel alignment as soon as you notice any symptoms that indicate your car is due.  The best way you can get ahead of tire wear and your car's needed wheel alignments is by having the alignment inspected every 6,000 miles or 6 months. Here at Sherman Oaks Exclusive, we can assist you with your vehicle's regular inspections and will give you our expert ... read more

Whether you're something who doesn't drive often or you have a car that you don't use as much as another, you may wonder if your vehicle sitting idle has any effect on its performance or maintenance. A typical vehicle owner may think that not using a car can extend its lifetime and help better maintain it - however, this is not the case! A rule of thumb to follow is to start your car at least once a week. This will help get the juice flowing and help prevent some of the issues that can occur with an idle vehicle. Think of your vehicle like your body - sure you want to rest, but you also want to get up and get exercise regularly to keep your joints moving and your blood flowing. Your vehicle needs the same exercise.  So, what actually happens to your vehicle as it sits idle?  The battery begins to lose its charge. When the battery loses its charge, you may find that you aren't even able to start your car.    Your tires can lose air pressure and b ... read more

We know that it can be an annoyance to get into your vehicle on a hot California day only to find that your air conditioning isn't blowing cold air. Air is coming out of the vents, but it feels lukewarm and never gets really cold, even on MAX. Not only are you stuck in a hot car for the remainder of your ride, but you're probably also wondering why your A/C isn't blowing cold air anymore. Let's take a look at some of the causes for this particular symptom. There are actually a few different causes for why a car's air conditioner would stop blowing cold air. The most common is that there is low or no refrigerant left in the A/C system. This is typically caused by a leak somewhere in the air conditioning system, which is not uncommon after certain periods of time. Things like the o-rings and seals can wear down with regular use of your vehicle and cause refrigerant to leak, in turn causing the system to run on low refrigerant.  Another potential cause for no co ... read more

You may have heard the term "brake fade" before, or have at least experienced it. A brake fade is when you experience a temporary loss or reduction in brake power. It can be a scary occurrence, and is definitely something you want to avoid as a driver.  When you apply pressure on the brake pedal, the brake system works together to slow down your car. If you experience a brake fade, you may have total brake failure. This often times leads to accidents and scary situations on the road. It is often temporary, but all it takes is a few seconds to not stop in time to hit another vehicle. This is why it is so important to take care of your vehicle's brakes and try to prevent this from happening.  What causes brake fade? Brake fade happens when the brake pads overheat. When they overheat, they aren't able to create friction with the rotors.  How can I avoid brake fade?  Stay on top of your vehicle's brake system maintenance such as having good bra ... read more

There's nothing worse than that dreaded feeling of walking up to your vehicle while parked to find that it has been hit. You don't find a note or any sign that someone is trying to take blame for the damage, and now you feel that you may be helpless in the situation.  We know these situations can be extremely stressful. Luckily, there are certain measures and steps that you can take which can help you better navigate the problem. Here are the next steps for what to do after you find that someone has hit your parked car: First, you may want to look around and see if anyone saw anything. Often times, there may have been a witness to the hit that can help identify the make/model/color of the car. Also, check for a note on your windshield to see if the guilty party left their contact information.  Document the accident thoroughly by taking lots of photos of the damage and surrounding areas. Be sure to note down the address and remember if you saw any vehicles parked by ... read more

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Sherman Oaks Exclusive! We hope that you had a lovely holiday with friends and family and have many more happy holidays to come. With all of the upcoming holidays comes lots of traveling, so if you are planning a road trip in the near future, we recommend that you follow the measures listed below to prepare you for the journey ahead.  Be sure to have your vehicle inspected by the experts here at Sherman Oaks Exclusive before you hit the road. Our experts will ensure that your vehicle is in top working condition to help you avoid stressful situations on the road.    Have all of your winter maintenance completed before you leave, which includes checking tires, windshield wipers, fluids, lights, and more.   Have lots of blankets and coats packed in your car if you’re traveling in the cold this winter.    Have an emergency kit stored in your vehicle to assist in the case of an emergenci ... read more

The NEW 2020 Land Rover Defender has received a number of different reviews from the critics, ranging from postivie to negative across the board. There's no doubt that the new Defender is visually appealing, taking a step from the Land Rover's usual more rugged appearance to a sleeker, more modern design. While the original Land Rover (which eventually became the Defender) was created as a cross-terrain vehicle great for off-roading, this new 2020 Defender looks far from a vehicle you'll be taking on dirt roads for a spin.  While the overall asthetic of the vehicle looks great, many of those who have seen the vehicle in person have commented that the panels on the car seem to be plastic - not exactly what you would expect in an off-road vehicle. But regardless, the inside of this vehicle and the features included have taken modern technology in cars to the next level.  Aside from an amazing looking interior, some of the perks include the Pivi Pro digital infotai ... read more

Car overheating, no matter what the reason, is cause for concern. And for many people, sends a wave of panic through their body. Why Is My Car Overheating? There are many things that could cause car overheating, and if you're the one who's having problems, you probably want answers - fast. Therefore, our Sherman Oaks Auto Repair has put together some of the reasons your car may be overheating: low coolant level a leak in the engine's cooling systems it has a bad thermostat the water pump is broken there is trapped air inside the cooling system the radiator fan isn't working it has a clogged radiator core you need to replace the radiator cap it has a blown gasket Car overheating isn't something to be taken lightly, nor should you procrastinate on getting it checked and repaired. If your car is overheating, please contact our Sherman Oaks Auto Repair immediately! We are the largest ... read more

The ignition is key to an engine’s performance and relies on important components like the batteries,plugs, ignition coils and wires. The goal is to produce a high-voltage spark from the battery to ensure combustion of the fuel mixture. The process of charging low voltage to high voltage occurs in the ignition coil and travels through wires. When all the parts work in sync, a high voltage spark is delivered to the spark plugs. Ignition Maintenance and Battery Service Regular ignition maintenance and battery service are effective ways to keep your car running smoothly, prevent roadside breakdowns and to avoid a battery repair. The most common problem with car batteries is incomplete charging. A battery repair specialist can help pinpoint the problem. When a battery repair is not feasible, the battery will need to be replaced. Battery service includes: Visual inspection of batteries cable terminals. Test to check cranking amp capacity of the battery. Cleaning ... read more

Vehicle maintenance intervals are determined by the auto manufacturer after much testing. Each vehicle varies, including the interval for replacing the air filter. Most Jaguar and Land Rover engines require that you change the air filter as part of the scheduled maintenance at 30,000 miles. However, if you drive in severe conditions, you may want to change the air filter more frequently. Severe conditions include: Driving in the desert Driving on gravel roads, particularly in mountainous terrain Driving through construction zones on a daily basis where during times that dust is created. While most people tend to bring in their vehicles for service, you may want to check the air filter yourself if you drive in severe conditions. You can usually tell when you need to replace the air filter – you’ll see black areas on area where the outside air is filtered into the filter. Replacing the air filter is usually a simple enough job as the filter housing near the top of the engine ... read more