Albany Auto Repair

Your car’s brake pads are sometimes referred to as “friction items” – they get used up through friction they generate during braking. It’s very difficult to estimate the length of brake pad service, because it depends on the vehicle, type of driving, traffic, terrain ( hilly roads tend to use up brakes much faster) and other factors. Fortunately, modern vehicles usually warn the driver that brakes need to be serviced, and if you regularly service your vehicle at our Albany auto repair shop, we can measure the thickness of the brake pads, and tell you if they need to be replaced.    However, sometimes there are other issues that indicate a need for brake service or repairs. Here are some that should motivate you to bring your vehicle to a “mechanic near me”, and of course we believe that our family owned and operated Albany auto repair shop is just the right place for brake service and repairs:   Low Brakin ... read more

We are huge Subaru fans at Adams Autoworx Albany. That’s why our Albany auto repair facility offers comprehensive Subaru maintenance services, diagnostics, and repairs. Our technicians, certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), are equipped with the latest digital diagnostic equipment so they can talk directly to your Subaru onboard computer. Whether your Subaru Outback needs new brakes, or your Subaru Impreza suffers from an oil leak, or perhaps your Forester has the check engine light on, our technicians will combine their extensive experience with the latest diagnostic tools to find the root cause of the problem, and get your Subaru repaired, and ready for the road. Adams Autoworx is a family-owned Albany auto repair shop that offers comprehensive Subaru care. Every day we strive to live our motto: Quality, Value, Service. When you bring your vehicle to our Albany garage, you will find a clean, modern facility, you will be greeted by our fr ... read more

Symptoms of Water Pump Problems The water pump is an unsung hero of your vehicle. It circulates the coolant throughout the cooling system, including the radiator, and keeps the engine and other components at the correct temperature. Housed under the hood, water pump keeps the engine from overheating. Over time, water pump may start leaking, or may fail. If the water pump fails, it will likely lead to engine overheating, and engine damage, which in the worst case scenario may necessitate engine replacement. At Adams Autowrox Albany we can provide complete cooling system inspection, service and repairs. Signs of Water Pump Trouble:   Rust on the Water Pump If you see physical deterioration of the water pump – rust or grime – it’s likely the water pump needs professional attention. Sometimes grime and rust might occur due to wrong coolant type, or faulty pressure cap. Strange Noises Coming from the Water Pump Area A whining noise coming from under the hood ma ... read more

Vehicle Health Index is published by CarMD and they just released the latest list of the most frequent 2020  repairs that triggered the Check Engine Light. First position on the list is occupied by catalytic converter replacement. Sadly, this is due to large number of catalytic converter thefts. Second position on the list belongs to oxygen sensor replacement. This, again, is the results of catalytic converter thefts – very frequently oxygen sensor gets damaged when thieves steal the catalytic converter. (At Adams Autoworx Albany we highly recommend, and offer, installation of a catalytic converter shield which discourages theft). Items 3-6 are typ ... read more

A timing belt (or timing chain) is an integral part of the functioning of an internal combustion engine. Timing belt synchronizes the rotation of the crankshaft and the camshaft(s). This allows the engine's valves to open and close at the proper times as each cylinder goes through its intake and exhaust strokes. There is also a type of engine, called an interference engine, where the timing belt is also critical in preventing the piston from striking the valves. That’s why a broken timing belt can result in very expensive repairs.  Timing belts typically need to be replaced every 90,000-100,000 miles (but check manufacturer recommendations for your vehicle as they differ from make to make). Timing chains last considerably longer, though they may occasionally break, and they do stretch out a bit.  Since the timing belt is so critical to the proper functioning of your vehicle, every time you bring your vehicle for service or repairs, we perform a digital veh ... read more