Albany Auto Repair

Fall Auto Tune Up in Albany, CA Most modern cars are self-tuning in large measure - the onboard computers adjust air intake, timing, richness of the air-fuel mixture, and many other parameters. So the traditional tune-up has become a thing of the past. Still we highly recommend a "Fall tune-up" - since there are still plenty of components and systems that need a professional mechanic to inspect, adjust, and make sure that the vehicle is ready for the wet roads that the Autumn brings.  When it comes to wet roads, first thing to check is the condition of the tires - the main concern is that the tread depth is sufficient to properly remove water from under the tires, to prevent hydroplaning and loss of control over the vehicle.  When talking about vehicle control, suspension needs to be checked as well, since worn suspension can significantly increase braking distance. While we are talking about braking distance, a brake inspection is a good idea as well ( unless yo ... read more

Prius vehicles have been with us forever, or so it seems. They are known for their reliability, and generally speaking, worry free operation. However, your Prius may need to have the inverter replaced at some point in time. In the past, Toyota issued a recall for inverter related problems, and hopefully your Prius has been to a dealership to have the work completed. Even so, there might have been thermal damage to the system that later results in inverter failure, or the inverter may fail simply because of age and use. So if at some point your Prius goes into neutral, and you notice hybrid system warning and power steering warning come “on”, there is a possibility that inverter replacement is in the cards. Naturally you will need a competent mechanic to diagnose the exact root cause of the warnings, so we recommend that  you bring your Prius to our Albany auto repair facility – our technicians, certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellen ... read more

At Adams Autoworx Albany we offer comprehensive Toyota services and repairs for residents of Albany, Kensington, El Cerrito and Berkeley. Our full service auto repair and new tires facility is conveniently located on San Pablo Avenue in Albany, CA. Whether your Toyota needs maintenance, diagnostics, or major repairs, you can bring it to Adams Autoworx knowing that our nationally ASE certified technicians will take great care of your vehicle. Our modern Albany auto care facility offers friendly service as well as full range of automotive repairs. Whether your Toyota Corolla needs new brake pads, or your Toyota Camry requires check engine light diagnostics, our technicians will get your car repaired and ready for the road. With all services and repairs we offer free digital vehicle inspection, to provide transparency and offer our clients an electronic copy of the results so they are up-to-date on the condition of their vehicle. While on the subject of digital tools, our technicians ar ... read more

Brake fluid is vital to your safety. It transfers and amplifies the power from the brake pedal to the calipers that press the brake pads against the rotors, thus causing your Honda to slow down and to stop. Brake fluid is highly hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water from the environment. As a result, over time water content of the brake fluid will go up until it starts to impact braking performance, and in severe cases can cause brake failure. That’s why we highly recommend regular brake fluid change aka brake fluid flush. Fortunately, unlike oil change, you only need to replace brake fluid every 2 years or so. If you are not sure if your Honda needs brake fluid change, bring it to our Albany auto care shop, and our highly skilled, nationally ASE certified technicians will inspect the fluid, and measure its water content. If it turns out that your Honda does needs brake fluid flush, our technicians can complete testing and brake fluid exchange the same day – you can drop ... read more

Even though most late model vehicles come with timing chains now, there are still millions of Honda vehicles that are equipped with a timing belt. Typically, your Honda will need to have its timing belt replaced every 90,000 to 105,000 miles – the exact interval can be found in your Owner’s Manual. Timing belt failure can have very expensive consequences, so we highly recommend following Honda’s replacement schedule.   When we replace the timing belt, we also look at pulleys and tensioners and replace them as well. It’s is also a good idea to replace the water pump at the same time, since majority of the water pump replacement cost is in the labor – which has already been performed in order to replace the timing belt. If you are not sure if your Honda needs timing belt replacement, call us and we will inspect your vehicle and let you know if timing belt replacement is necessary, based on the condition of the belt itself and other components. If it ... read more