Castro Valley Auto Repair

When that infamous “check engine” light comes on – what should you do? 1. If it is “flashing on and off” get off the road and tow it in. STOP DRIVING!! If you don’t have AAA, call us at 510-886-9299 and we can help arrange a tow. And if you still don’t have AAA, get it. 2. If the “check engine” light is on, but not flashing, then the problem is not an emergency – but should be addressed so you don’t compound problems. Depending on the nature of the trouble code, ignoring the “check engine” light can lead to a damaged catalytic converter or other components – so bring your car to Adams Autoworx within a day or two of the “check engine” light being illuminated. Yes, you can get one of those $99 scanners on Amazon, or have “Uncle Bob” use his scanner, but with both options, they can only provide you the code and limited data ... read more

Adams Autoworx are HUGE fans of Toyota’s Scion Brand.  We love to service and repair them - they are one of our favorite car lines because they are: 1.       Reliable-They don’t break down 2.       Fuel Efficient 3.       Economical-They last forever, or close to it 4.       Hipster approved 5.       Not a car Mom or Dad would drive So it was with sadness that we read couple of days ago that Toyota announced that it would no longer produce Scions – as of 2017 they will incorporate some models into the Toyota lineup.  A Toyota spokesperson said that the decision was not taken lightly. Industry analysts think one of the main reasons was that low gasoline prices had an adverse impact on the sales of the Scion - which was built with fuel economy in mind. The good news is that Adams Autoworx will continue to ... read more

Photo Credit: Jaguar MENA, Ray T, Lucas Lima 37, CONCAVO WHEELS Recently, Consumer Reports released a result of its annual survey of car owners. One of the unexpected results was that some newer cars (2010-2014) consumed as much as a quart of oil per month – such consumption would be considered normal in cars that had over 100,000 miles, but newer cars should not be anywhere near that figure. Following BMWs, Subarus, and Audis were most likely to experience this problem: BMW 5, 6, and 7 Series and X5 Subaru Outback, Legacy, Forester and Impreza Audi A3, A4, A5, A6 and Q5 Audi spokesman Bradley Stertz, according to AP, said that "a class action lawsuit against Audi over oil consump ... read more

Photo Credit: Mic   If you drive a Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, or Subaru, you have surely heard about the Takata airbag recall. The Takata airbag recall has exceeded 35 million vehicles and counting. If you haven’t received a notice from your dealership, chances are that you will soon. Some dealers still have pretty long wait times, but many are finally catching up, so you may be able to schedule service within a few days, likely less than 2 weeks. If you received a notice, call your dealer to schedule an appointment. And it ... read more

As you probably know, Volkswagen admitted to using special software to game the emission tests in its diesel cars sold in the United States. When tested, cars would show legal emission levels, but during regular driving, they would have much higher emissions, in some cases as much as 40 times the permissible level.    EPA has threatened to impose fines up to 18 billion dollars.    Justice Department started a criminal investigation.    Reuters reported that according to EPA, Volkswagen initially denied it was trying to game the inspections, and claimed higher emissions where due to "various technical issues and unexpected in-use conditions.”    After EPA threatened to withhold certification for its 2016 models, Volkswagen admitted they gamed the tests. Volkswagen management said it was "deeply sorry" for the breach of trust, and promised full cooperation with German authorities.   In the meantime, EPA said they ... read more

Finding a great place to take your car is very important to "w inning" with cars. My recommendations based on 30 years in the automotive field are to look for a service center and advisor, much like you would a new doctor, dentist, lawyer, accountant, church, or significant other (really). Step one is to determine your needs. Good questions might include: 1. How long have you been in business? 2. Are you ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) Certified 3. Are you AAA Certified 4. What are your base warranties. Industry standard is 90 days 4000 miles. For comparisons sake, Adams Autoworx offers 24 month, 24,000 mile base warranties.  5. Does the shop work on the Make of vehicle that you own? 6. Can the shop perform extended warranty service? 7. What does their Yelp and Google reviews look like?  8. What does their website look like? These are great questions to start. Then maybe have them do a little service, like an oil change, smog check, or wheel ... read more