Berkeley Auto Repair

Your vehicle will not be completely safe or drivable without healthy, properly functioning brakes. A malfunctioning brake system can indicate a major brake leak. There are four components within the braking system where a brake leak can occur. If you suspect a brake leak, it may be inside the brake line, the front brake caliper, the rear brake caliper, or the brake master center. To help you identify whether your brake system is suffering from a leak, below are a few common signs to look out for.  There’s visible brake fluid seeping out. Check underneath your vehicle near the wheels and see if you notice any leaked fluid. Brake fluid will be the consistency and color of vegetable oil. If you suspect brake fluid is seeping out, pop the hood and check the brake fluid level. If the fluid is much lower than it should be, bring your vehicle to one of our technicians immediately. The lower the brake fluid, the more dangerous the drive, and merely topp ... read more

In case you missed the news, there have been widespread thefts of catalytic converters around the Bay Area for the last two years or so. This is tied directly to the high prices for the metals used in building catalytic converters – it really pays to steal them, and thieves do. Berkeley, with its huge number of Prius vehicles is especially hard hit – Prius Gen 2 and Honda Element are the most likely targets. Sadly, it takes only a few minutes to cut out a catalytic converter, and leave your vehicle with a very expensive repair. If you own a Prius or Honda Element, we recommend keeping it in a garage at night. At Oceanworks we offer installation of a protective stainless steel cage to discourage thieves from attempting to steal the catalytic converter. It is light, durable, and can be removed to service exhaust components located in that area. Naturally, we also offer catalytic converter replacement – whether it was stolen, or simply failed. You can read more on ou ... read more

If you own a Subaru, you may already be familiar with the dreaded head gasket failure that seems to be common with certain Subaru models. It’s true - there is a large amount of Subaru owners that will deal with head gasket failure in their vehicle’s lifetime, more often than other vehicles. The head gasket problems are an issue that affects the EJ25 engines in Subaru models. Some of the affected models include: Forester - 1999 through 2010 Impreza - 1999 through 2011 Outback - 2000 through 2009 Legacy - 2000 through 2009 Baja - 2003 through 2005 What exactly is a head gasket? The head gasket is a component that is placed between the block and cylinder heads in the engine. Its job is to ensure that engine oil and coolant don’t cross paths, and that combustion pressures are properly sealed to not affect the cooling system. Due to the way that engine’s are designed in these models, often referred to as boxer-style engines, they sit lower in the vehicle which ... read more

Honda vehicles are known for their excellent reliability and quality performance without breaking the bank. They are great vehicles for commuters, families, college students, and anyone looking for a long-lasting vehicle. If you expect your vehicle to last you throughout the years, your top priority should be your Honda’s maintenance. Regular vehicle maintenance is the key to ensuring that your vehicle’s integrity is protected and that it remains dependable on the road. When you don’t take care of your vehicle, you risk major issues occurring that can sabotage your vehicle’s performance and cost you thousands in repairs. That is why Honda (and all other vehicle manufacturers) provide a factory recommended maintenance schedule for car owners to follow. Following manufacturer service recommendations is beneficial for a number of different reasons, including: Higher resale value in the future Less money spent on major repairs Increased performance and longevit ... read more

Shocks and struts are important parts of your Honda’s suspension system. As you drive, the shocks and struts absorb movement from the road which helps your ride to be smooth. When the shocks and struts aren’t working properly, you’ll notice that you feel every bump in the road and your vehicle bounces excessively after driving over speed bumps or potholes. The shock absorber is a hydraulic component that dampens shock impulses. This is done by converting the kinetic energy of the shock into another energy, which is then dissipated. The struts are actually a structural part of your vehicle’s suspension system and are mounted to the chassis of your car. This is where the coil spring is mounted, which you may have noticed when looking at your car’s suspension system. Shocks and struts work under a large amount of heat and pressure, which is why they tend to start wearing down after a certain amount of time. The typical lifespan for shocks and struts is arou ... read more

If you own a Subaru, chances are you enjoy taking your vehicle for a drive or going on an outdoor adventure. Subarus are known for their versatility when it comes to road trips, camping, and family outings, and the best way to ensure that your vehicle remains reliable throughout the years is with proper maintenance and service. Every vehicle manufacturer has a recommended service plan that is in place to guide you on what services your vehicle needs at certain intervals. When you follow your vehicle’s factory recommendations, you’ll have a well-maintained vehicle and you’ll spare yourself from having to deal with major repairs over time. While your individual vehicle’s maintenance schedule may be different in comparison to other Subaru models, the basics for maintenance intervals are similar. The best source to truly understand what your vehicle needs is to refer to your car’s owner’s manual or look online for the proper maintenance schedule. We&rs ... read more

General Motors is bringing back the Hummer! Almost ten years after it was discontinued, Hummer is coming back… with a twist. It will be an all-electric pickup truck. Details are pretty sketchy so far, and we don’t know the crucial information – all electric range. But “reliable sources” claim that it will be unveiled during the 2020 Super Bowl. Apparently GM has bought a whole bunch of advertising time during the super bowl, and it will be the electric Hummer ads that it will run. While we wait for more details, you can bring your current Hummer to the Oceanworks Berkeley. We are well equipped to provide both maintenance and repairs for H2 or H3 you may be driving.  We will continue to provide Berkeley Hummer owners with superior Hummer services and repairs. Major repairs, brake repair, or simple oil change – our full service Berkeley auto repair shop will get your vehicle repaired, usually the same day. Naturally, when the Electric Hummer a ... read more

Electric Vehicles Will Be Noisier at Low Speeds Sept. 2019 We all know that at low speeds hybrids and electric vehicles are very quiet. As a result, they are involved in disproportionately large number of accidents involving pedestrians. To fix the problem, European Union mandated that starting in 2021 new electric vehicles will have to have to be equipped with a “noise maker”, which is supposed to turn on any time the vehicle travels at less than 12mph. In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed a rule that could allow for different sound options for EVs. Nissan apparently hired a sound studio to design the sound for the Nissan electric vehicles. We will not include a link and thus save you a few seconds of your life – the EV sound created by the sound studio sounds... like a car engine. Still, it’s nice to know that soon we will have audible warning that a hybrid or EV is behind

Ford Recalls 483,325 Trucks and SUVs in the US Sept 2019 Ford just announced that it is recalling around half a million trucks and SUVs. Apparently the third pawl required for seat-back strength may be missing in some vehicles. In case of a crash, the recliner mechanism might be unable to restrain passenger adequately, so it increases the risk of injury. Ford spokesman said that Ford is not aware of any injuries at this point. The affected vehicles include not only 2018-2020 F-150, 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, but also 2018-2019 Ford Explorer and 2019-2020 Expedition vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. It also includes some of the latest 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator models vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. If you own one of these vehicles, you should be receiving a notification from Ford in the mail. If you do not, call you ... read more

What a Winter season it's been! Looks like this rainy season might go on record as one of the wettest ever! What a great reminder to keep our cars in peak shape, so we are able to handle any emergency or event. Right now, I'd say your car is low on washer fluid, might need new wiper blades (yes, there's still more rain in the forecast!), and could likely need an alignment due to the poor condition of our roads. Tires should also be inspected for wear, and any potential damage. Call us for an appointment today