Castro Valley Auto Repair

After unseasonably warm September, the Fall is coming. With it come colder temperatures, and this means your car’s battery needs to be in good shape to start your vehicle and to keep all the electrical stuff inside running when the engine is turned off. That’s why at Adams Autoworx in Castro Valley we highly recommend Autumn car battery testing, and battery replacement if necessary. Our technicians can test your car’s battery and will let you know if it still holds charge sufficient to keep your car running through the Fall and Winter months. Just like a trusted friend, your car's battery needs a little love and attention to keep you moving. Whether you're driving a Ford or a Lexus, staying ahead of potential battery issues is crucial—after all, no one wants to be stranded! Have you noticed your headlights dimming, your engine cranking slowly, or those pesky warning lights lighting up your dashboard? These could be signs that your battery is nearing th ... read more

Have you ever wondered how long your trusted Honda can keep running before it needs a little extra care? At Adams Autoworx in Castro Valley we can keep your Honda going for a long time. Honda vehicles, like the Accord or Civic, are known for their reliability, but even the best can encounter engine problems as they age. High mileage, wear and tear, and a lack of regular maintenance can take their toll. If you’ve noticed your Honda isn’t running as smoothly as it once did, it might be time to consider an engine replacement. Signs Your Honda Might Need an Engine ReplacementUnusual Noises: If you hear knocking, rattling, or grinding, it’s time to take a closer look. Overheating: Frequent engine overheating can lead to serious issues. Poor Performance: Slow acceleration or a drop in fuel efficiency may signal future problems. Excessive Exhaust Smoke: Blue or black smoke can indicat ... read more

The Honda Odyssey has spacious interior and is a reliable vehicle. It is designed to accommodate the demands of family life such daily school runs, weekend sports events, and long vacation drives. However, the Odyssey requires regular maintenance and timely repairs to keep it roadworthy. At Adams Autoworx in Castro Valley we can provide you Odyssey with everything it needs to serve you reliably for many years – we offer both maintenance services and repairs – hundreds of them in fact – if your Honda Odyssey needs help, our nationally ASE certified mechanics will get it healthy again.   The most common repairs and services we perform on Honda Odyssey vehicles are: Oil Service – we change not just engine oil and engine oil filter, but also check tire pressure, and rotate tires if advisable. We also perform a digital vehicle inspection to make sure other systems of  your vehicle work as they should. Brake Pads Replacement ... read more

Have you ever wondered where to keep your Chevrolet Silverado 1500 in peak condition? Look no further than Adams Autoworx. We are the premier Chevrolet service and repair facility in Castro Valley, and we can keep your Chevy in top shape for as long as you want to own it. We specialize in ensuring your Silverado performs at its best, whether you're tackling rough terrain or cruising through town. Our friendly team is here to make sure your Silverado provides you with reliable service – so whether your Chevy needs new brake pads, oil change, check engine light diagnostics, transmission service, or major engine repairs, our nationally ASE certified technicians will get your Chevy back in top shop. If you own multiple Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vehicles, we offer priority fleet service. Our technicians have decades of Chevrolet repair experience, and can diagnose and repair engine misfires, ignition coil problems, rough idling, can perform spark plugs replaceme ... read more

Oxygen sensors are used in modern vehicles to provide engine control module (ECM) information about the gases coming out of the combustion chamber, as well as the catalytic converters. When the oxygen sensor goes bad, ECM gets incorrect information and cannot properly adjust air-fuel mixture going into the combustion chamber. As a result, you may notice following symptoms: Check engine light comes “on” Engine accelerating in spurts Reduction in gas mileage And yes, black smoke coming out of the tail pipe due to excess fuel entering the combustion chamber. So if you see black smoke coming out of the tail pipe of your vehicle, there is a good chance that an oxygen sensor is the culprit. It is important to get this condition repaired, before excess carbon in the exhaust causes catalytic converter problems. Call Adams Autoworx to make an appointment, or make an appointment on our website. Your vehicle will need professional help to get back in top shape.  

Yet another (annual) study from CarMD.com provides a glimpse of the 2023 car repairs – specifically top 10 check engine light–related repairs. CarMD.com has been providing us with check engine light repair insights for over a decade. CarMD.com analyzed over 15 million failures reported in 2023 and recommended repairs. At Adams Autoworx in Castro Valley we see our share of check engine light-related repairs so we are always eager to study the results reported by CarMD.com. Sadly, catalytic converter replacement took the first spot on the list – with precious metals at or close to all time high prices, stealing catalytic converters (which contain platinum / rhodium) is still a lucrative activity. As for vehicle age, 2007 vehicles were found to be the most likely to need check engine light diagnostics and repairs. So here are the top 10 check engine light repairs as rep ... read more

Adams Autoworx in Castro Valley offers comprehensive automotive maintenance, factory recommended services, diagnostics and repairs. As we write this blog post, various surveys reveal that more and more vehicle owners are keeping their vehicles longer. As vehicles age, more and more parts can fail, and so everybody should be cognizant of the need to inspect engine mounts. As your vehicle ages, engine mounts can break. Usually it starts with just one, but then the remaining mounts are forced to work harder, and deal with greater range of motion because the engine is no longer fully secured to the body of the vehicle. As a result, more engine mounts can fail. Engine mounts not only keep the engine attached to the body of the car, they are also tasked with minimizing vibrations. When an engine mount fails, you may feel increased vibration and increased noise. As more engine mounts fail, these symptoms will become even more pronounced including unusual noises such as rattling or clunking ... read more

Mini Cooper is manufactured by BMW and just as some BMW models have oil leak issues, so do some Minis. At Adams Autoworx in Castro Valley we are Mini Cooper fans, and can get your Mini repaired and ready to serve you well. We have extensive Mini Cooper repair experience, and our nationally ASE certified technicians are equipped with the latest digital diagnostic tools that allow them to get to the root cause of any problem your Mini may exhibit. When you suspect that your Mini is leaking engine oil – because of the oil spots in the driveway, strange smells coming from the engine when it’s hot, or if you notice oil level dropping significantly between oil changes, or worse, if you need to top off engine oil between oil changes – give us a call and have your Mini checked out by a professional mechanic. We can confirm if your Mini indeed has an oil leak, and find its location so we can give you an accurate estimate of the repair costs.     There are some ... read more

Prius Hybrid vehicles were a novelty not so long ago, yet today, with gasoline prices north of five dollars per gallon, owning a Prius is a popular, and financially smart move. Prius vehicles also have a reputation for reliability and low total ownership cost. But there is one Prius repair that owners of these vehicles are likely to face at some point – water pump replacement. Prius vehicles have multiple water pumps, and eventually water pump replacement will become a necessity. Fortunately, our Castro Valley auto care garage offers comprehensive range of automotive services, including Prius water pump replacement. Whether your Prius needs replacement of the engine water pump, the heater core pump, or the inverter coolant pump, our technicians can diagnose the problem, and replace the failing pump with a new, OEM quality pump. As with all repairs, we offer 36 month / 36,000 mile nationwide warranty. As a free bonus, we perform complimentary digital vehicle inspections with serv ... read more

Prius Head Gasket Replacement in Castro Valley, CA Prius vehicles are justifiably known for their reliability and longevity. 300,000 miles is not uncommon for a well maintained Prius. However, as your Prius ages, it may have to face the specter of head gasket replacement, especially if it is Gen3 Prius.    At Adams Autoworx in Castro Valley we provide full range of Prius services and repairs, including head gasket replacements. Naturally, since head gasket replacement is an expensive repair, we will first verify that the head gasket replacement is a necessity. Only after we determine that there is no other course of action, we will let you know the cost and will not proceed until you authorize the repair. In some cases, engine replacement might be a better option.    Symptoms of head gasket failure:  Check engine light comes on – any time your Prius has a misfire, the check engine light will come on – fo ... read more