Castro Valley Auto Repair

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

Carfax, a company that keeps track of vehicle repair data, estimates that in 2022 there were over 153,000 vehicles targeted for catalytic converter theft. That's a considerably higher number than the insurance industry report of 52,000 claims. At Adams Autoworx we are not surprised at this discrepancy - many clients who had their catalytic converters stolen drive older cars, and so do not carry comprehensive insurance coverage, which would pay for catalytic converter replacement. They pay out-of-pocket. Apparently nationwide that number is significant – hence Carfax estimate is 3 times higher than insurance company data. This number also makes sense when considering that new catalytic converters are often on back-order, and depending on the vehicle model, one may have to wait months to get a replacement. If the lower number (as reported by insurance companies) were correct, auto repair industry would not be experiencing so many delays getting the new catalytic converters ... read more

Toyota vehicles are extremely popular in the Bay Area – reliable, value priced, and if well maintained, they will last for 200,000 – 300,000 miles.  At Adams Autoworx we offer premier Castro Valley Toyota service and repair. Whether your Toyota Corolla needs transmission fluid flush, or your Toyota RAV4 needs new brakes, our technicians will get your vehicle serviced and ready for the road. To get the most value out of your Toyota, we recommend regular oil service and following manufacturer’s schedule of services. If you adhere to the manufacturer recommended maintenance schedule, your Toyota will reward you with years of faithful, reliable service. At Adams Autoworx we combine superior customer service with technical excellence – technicians working on your Toyota are certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), and they use state-of-the-art digital diagnostic equipment to get to the root cause of any problem your Toyota m ... read more

Your Subaru has an electrical system that comprises a range of components including battery, starting system and alternator, among others. There are also dozens of sensors and embedded special-purpose computers that gather and send information about the overall condition of your Subaru. Needless to say, when one of these components fails, you may begin to experience different issues with your Subaru. Electrical problems are not as common as mechanical issues, but they often are more difficult to pinpoint, so it takes an experienced mechanic to diagnose and repair electrical problems.   Signs your Subaru may have electrical issues While identifying the cause of an electrical fault might require technical expertise, there are a few symptoms that tell you it’s time to get professional help for your Subaru: Engine might struggle to crank Starting your Subaru requires a significant amount of electrical power, which is supplied by the battery ... read more