INSPECTIONS & EMISSIONS

Some states require regular safety inspections and/or emissions inspections on cars and trucks. At Ed's Automotive Center, we are well-equipped and trained to perform these inspections. Our technicians can also perform multi-point inspections on your vehicles as needed.

These are some of the inspection services we offer.

Pre-Purchase Inspections
Are you planning to buy a new car? Don't take chances. Be confident about the car you are buying. Have pre-purchase inspections performed on the vehicle. Pre-purchase inspections involve examining the car's condition to ensure it is worth buying. At Ed's Automotive Center, we have pre-purchase inspection experts - mechanics who will scrutinize any car, make, and model and allow you to make an informed decision. Pre-purchase inspections will definitely give you peace of mind when you buy your next used car.

Pre-Trip Inspection
A pre-trip check up can make the difference between a safe trip and one that ends in a tragedy. The inspection aims at looking for possible defects and potential mechanical problems that could cause disaster. Before embarking on a trip you should make sure your car is fully inspected for safety. You can rely on the experts at Ed's Automotive Center. We have pre-trip inspection experts who are able to conduct safety inspections on any car, make, and model. Our experts are dedicated to ensuring you have a safe trip. Simply drop by or give us a call at 818-982-5589.

Smog Inspections
Cars and Light Trucks model year 2000 and newer, except Star directed vehicles

Exhaust Questions and Answers

Q: What is a rough idle?

A: A rough idle describes a vehicle's engine with spark plugs that are not firing correctly when the vehicle is in park, with no gas applied. Most vehicles idle between 600 and 1,200 RPM and should hold their idle speed consistently.

Q: Why is smoke coming out of my tailpipe?

A: The most common reason for thick smoke coming out of your car's exhaust pipe is the fuel to air ratio in your engine is too rich. This means that the fuel injectors are either adding too much fuel or that the intake valves aren't letting enough air in. This is caused by a cracked or leaking fuel injector, a failing O2 sensor, or air filter that needs replacing.

Catalytic Converter Questions and Answers

Q: Can I drive with the catalytic converter light on?

A: A bad catalytic converter can increase your car's exhaust emissions, but it does not prevent you from driving. At Ed's Automotive Center we know this is true. A clogged catalytic converter will eventually affect the performance of your vehicle in N. Hollywood, Burbank, Sherman Oaks and Studio City. Exhaust gases will not escape easily and create an increase in exhaust gas pressure. The buildup in pressure can lead to high-cost repair bills in the future.

Q: What can cause a catalytic converter light to come on?

A: A catalytic converter helps reduce harmful engine emissions from entering the air by breaking down the harmful byproduct of internal combustion into less-harmful compounds. If your catalytic converter isn't working properly the check engine light will come on. The most common causes for a catalytic convert warning light to display are a clogged, cracked or melted converter. Sometimes the problem isn't the catalytic converter at all but an exhaust leak letting gases out of the system before it reaches the converter.