Los Angeles Cash for Cars Blog

Los Angeles Cash for Cars – Automotive Tips Blog

OBD2 port located under the drivers side dash
Andrew Marks

What Is the OBD2 Port on My Car For?

Understanding Your Car’s OBD2 Port What It Does – How to Use It – Why It’s Essential for Smog and Repairs Have you’ve ever noticed a small trapezoid-shaped plug tucked beneath the  drivers side of the dash, and wondered what it does, that’s your OBD2 port — short for On-Board

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Andrew Marks

The Complete Guide to OBD2 Scan Tools

What Is an OBD2 Diagnostic Scan Tool and How Does It Work? The small tool that lets you diagnose your cars check engine light, and save big on repairs. It always starts the same way: You’re cruising along, music on, everything feels right with the world, until that little amber

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Andrew Marks

California Car Culture: The Heartbeat of Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California the Center of Car Culture The City of Angels – Car Capital of the World No city represents California car culture quite like Los Angeles. From cruising the Pacific Coast Highway to showing off custom rides at weekend car meets, L.A. has earned its reputation as the

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Typical Car Catalytic Converter
Andrew Marks

How a Faulty Catalytic Converter Can Cause a Check Engine Light

Reasons a Catalytic Converter Can Fail or Work Below Efficiency The check engine light is your car’s way of warning you about potential problems. One common cause is a faulty or underperforming catalytic converter. This critical component reduces harmful emissions by converting carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides into less

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Close up of rear wheel of a car hydroplaning
Andrew Marks

Why does a car hydroplane and what to do when it does

Hydroplaning: Why It Happens and How to Stay in Control In an instant. One moment you’re cruising along, and the next your car starts to skid like it’s lost all grip. That’s hydroplaning—a sudden and scary loss of control caused by water between your tires and the road. In this

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Mechanic showing worn out brake pad.
Andrew Marks

How to perform car brake inspection

How to Inspect Your Car’s Brakes — A Detailed Guide Your car’s braking system is one of its most critical safety components, and understanding how to inspect it can save you from accidents, costly repairs, and breakdowns. This guide walks you through how to properly check your brakes — from

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Clean and detail your car to get more cash when you sell it.
Andrew Marks

How to Clean and Detail a Car Like the Pros

So, You Want to Clean and Detail Your Car Like a Pro? Keeping your car clean isn’t just about looks — it’s about protecting your investment, creating a better driving experience, and, if you’re a Turo host, delivering a five-star rental experience. Learning how to properly clean and detail your

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Checking off items on car road trip checklist.
Andrew Marks

Road trip automotive preparation checklist

How to Prepare My Vehicle For A Road Trip? Planning a road trip? Whether you’re driving your personal vehicle or listing a car for rent on platforms like Turo, making sure your car is in top condition before a long drive is essential. A thorough road trip car maintenance checklist

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Turo host handing car keys to Turo car renter
Andrew Marks

Things to Consider Before Renting Your Car On Turo

Is Renting Your Car on Turo Worth It in 2025? Are you wondering if renting your car on Turo is a smart way to earn extra money in 2025? With the rise of the gig economy and more people looking for passive income, platforms like Turo are becoming increasingly popular. But

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New brake pads and discs help to sell your car fast online.
Andrew Marks

Everything you need to know about brakes on a car

How Your Cars Brakes Work Your vehicles braking system consist of many different parts working together to help your car slow down, stop, and maneuver in a safe and controlled manner. All modern day cars use a brake booster, master cylinder and hydraulic fluid to help the driver brake easier

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Mechanic showing worn out brake pad.
Andrew Marks

Know When To Service Your Cars Brakes

How Do I Know When Its Time Replace My Car Brakes? Different driving patterns will have a major effect on how often your brakes need servicing.  Front brakes usually wear out faster than rear brakes because they handle a higher percentage of the braking load, especially on a front-wheel drive

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Cash for Cars With Bad Gas
Andrew Marks

Unleaded vs. Premium Gasoline?

What Gas Should I Use In My Car? While driving home you hear a beeping sound form your car that brings to your attention the yellow light on your dash, signifying your low on gas. The closest gas station you can find is one of those discount brand stations. You’re not

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Car obd2 scanner showing misfire on cylinder one.
Andrew Marks

Six Possible Causes of an Engine Misfire

Why is My Cars Engine Misfiring? You notices that your car is shaking while idling and the check light is on. The guy at the auto parts store hooks up his car scanner and it reads a misfire on cylinder one. Why is this problem happening? There are many potential

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Cash for Cars With Full Tank of Gas
Andrew Marks

Signs Your Car Has Bad Gas

Did I Put Bad Gas in My Car? When your car is sputtering, making pinging sounds or its of sluggish when driving, you may have bad gas. Even though contaminated gasoline is not very common. It does get into the tanks of unsuspecting drivers vehicles more often than you might

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Andrew Marks

Is it it easy to sell a car online?

Why Is It So Hard to Sell My Car Privately? Selling a car privately might sound simple — list it online, wait for calls, and walk away with cash. In reality, it’s often one of the hardest ways to sell a vehicle. Between no-shows, endless messages, and lowball offers, many

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Andrew Marks

What Does “As Is” Mean When Buying a Car

Should I buy a Car “As Is”? When buying a new car or truck you will most likely be getting a manufacturer’s warranty. The warranty covers the cost of any unexpected repairs for x number of years or miles which ever comes first. When buying a used vehicle its presumed

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How to sell your car like a pro - car with for sale sign
Andrew Marks

Sell Your Car Like a Pro

Details to You Should Take into Consideration when selling your car The car care tips provided are not only to help you sell your used car fast. But also to be a checklist for routine maintenance to help keep your car in excellent condition. The better condition your car is

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Sell Car for Cash on Craigslist
Andrew Marks

Tips for Selling Your Vehicle Privately

How To Create An Online Car Ad When you sell your car privately make sure the advertisement is accurate, when it comes to its condition. Its best not say it has never been in an accident unless you know for sure. Do a CarFax or another similar car history report to

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Clean Oil Gets More Cash for Cars
Andrew Marks

How To Check Your Cars Oil Properly

How Often Should I Check My Cars Engine Oil? You should check your cars engine oil regularly. If you notice that your cars oil level drops between oil changes then it’s a sign that your car is burning to much oil, leaking, or its simply just time to add more.

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Timing belt replacement every 100,000 miles.
Andrew Marks

What Does a Timing Belt Do?

The Timing Belt Is A Very Important Part Of Your Car. What we all want is to protect our vehicle and to make sure to keep it maintained properly against wear and tear, and an unwanted breakdown. Its no surprise to learn that one of the highest potential dangers to

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Good tires help sell your car faster.
Andrew Marks

When to Replace Your Car Tires

How to know If My tires are safe to drive on? Most people do not know when to replace their cars worn car tires? Your car tires performance is critical to the safety, performance and efficiency of your vehicle. Estimates by the N.H.T.S.A. show tire failure has attributed to 400

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Cash for Cars With Check Engine Light On
Andrew Marks

The Most Common Reasons Why Your Check Engine Light Is On

What Causes a Cars Check Engine Light to Go On? Few things cause more stress for drivers than seeing the check engine light suddenly appear on the dashboard. This warning light can signal anything from a loose gas cap to a major engine problem. While the causes vary, there are

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Ignitions problems that cause misfiring
Andrew Marks

What Does A Tune-Up Include?

A Tune-Up Includes All cars need a periodic tune-up. What does a tune-up include? It is important to keep your car running well? Your local mechanic or dealer completes a series standard procedures during a tune-up. Inspect and/or replace spark plug wires Clean and/or replace the spark plug Replace rotor

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close up of salvage title brand on California Certificate of Tilte
Andrew Marks

What Does Salvage Title Mean?

The Difference Between A Clean and A Salvage Title You may have heard the term salvage title when buying a used car. When selling your car privately some people will ask if your vehicle has a clean title. A clean title is in reference to a salvage brand. The insurance

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Check engine light on dash we buy cars with check engine lights
Andrew Marks

Why Is My Check Engine Light On?

Your Car Wont Pass The California Smog Test A smog technician won’t test your car if the check engine light is on. But why does this light matter so much? Have you ever noticed it turn on and then off again—or stay on no matter what? Here’s a quick explanation.The

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