Kaneohe Auto Repair

If you’ve ever caught a foul odor coming from your vehicle’s air vents, you know that it can be difficult to ignore. With stinky vents and temperatures rising, you’re going to need to freshen up your car’s air conditioning system. In order to combat the bad smell, you’ll need to know how it is formed and how to avoid it.    The two most common explanations for bad car A/C odors are a dirty air filter and moisture or mildew buildup in the air conditioning system. Odors can simply develop from a clogged air filter. However, the most common culprit is when drivers neglect their A/C system so poorly that mold builds up. Negative Effects of Mildew Foul Odors - Not only can it be annoying to smell, but it can make your passengers suffer too. The longer you let the smell stick around, the smell will worsen. Rapid Growth - If mold exists in your car air conditioning system, it will grow and spread. Soon enough, it can get into your car carpets and u ... read more

Transmission speed sensors are used to calculate the actual gear ratio of the transmission while in use. There are generally two speed sensors that work in conjunction to provide accurate transmission data to the vehicle's powertrain control module. The first is known as the input shaft speed (ISS) sensor. As described, this sensor is used to monitor the speed of the transmission's input shaft. The other sensor is the output shaft speed (OSS) sensor. If either of these two sensors falls out of alignment or experience electrical issues, it impacts the operation of the entire transmission. After registering data, the two transmission speed sensors, also commonly referred to as vehicle speed sensors (VSS), send data to the powertrain control module (PCM), which compares these two inputs and calculates which gear the transmission should engage for efficient driving. The actual gear ratio is then compared to the desired gear ratio. If the desired gear and the actual gear do not mat ... read more

Never Overfill the Tires to 'Get Better Gas Mileage' The Internet is filled with testimonials from people who claim they upped their mileage simply by inflating their tires to the maximum pressure listed on the sidewall. What they don't tell you about is the rougher ride, premature tire wear, longer stopping distances and increased repair costs due to worn-out suspension components. The recommended tire pressure for your car is listed on a placard inside the driver's door frame and it's based on vehicle weight along with the best possible handling. Inflating your tires to the maximum pressure listed on the tire is okay if you're hauling a very heavy load. But you must reduce the tire pressure to the recommended pressure once you remove the load. Driving a normal load on over-inflated tires reduces rolling resistance and that can increase your mileage slightly. That means you have less rubber in contact with the road, which reduces traction. Ove ... read more

1. Speeding- No matter how long you have been driving, there's a good chance you tend to speed every once in a while. If you are 5-miles-per-hour over the speed limit, you are breaking the law.  2. Not Stopping- Stop means stop- as in a full complete stop. It is tempting to slow down at a stop sign or red light when there is no other traffic around, but police can still pull you over and issue a ticket for not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign or red light.  3. Four-Way Stops- How many times have you pulled up at a four-way stop with three other cars, all at the same time, and nobody knows who should go first? The general rule is that the first vehicle to arrive at the stop sign has the right of way. However if two or more cars arrive at the same exact time, the car to the right has owns the tie breaker and goes first.  4. Wearing Seat Belts- When your destination is just around the corner ... read more

Motorists will only replace a headlight bulb that has burned out or is failing. However, replacing just one failed bulb can result in an unbalanced or unpredictable headlight beam, which presents a potential safety risk. From the driver’s perspective, the road ahead will not be properly lit, and the driver will not get the full benefit of the vehicle’s headlights as the car maker originally intended. From the oncoming driver’s perspective, an uneven headlamp beam can create an equally risky safety issue. The oncoming car will be harder to see and difficult to position on the road. It could also be confused with a single headlight vehicle such as a motorcycle. Replacing important auto parts in pairs is a common sense idea. Professional automotive technicians and driving safety advocates alike consistently recommend that tires, brakes, shocks, and wiper blades should be replaced in pairs to make sure the vehicle is properly balanced and functioning safely. Lighting is ... read more

If your brakes are trying to tell you something, you should pay attention. A properly operating brake system helps ensure safe vehicle control and operation and it should be checked immediately if you suspect any problems. “While an annual brake inspection is a good way to ensure brake safety, motorists should not ignore signs that their brakes need attention,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Knowing the key warning signs that your brakes may need maintenance will go a long way toward keeping you and others safe on the road.” It is important for motorists to look for these following warning signs that their brakes need to be inspected: Noise: screeching, grinding or clicking noises when applying the brakes. Pulling: vehicle pulls to one side while braking. Low Pedal: brake pedal nearly touches the floor before engaging. Hard Pedal: must appl ... read more

With the cost of a new vehicle on the rise, maintaining your current vehicle makes more economic sense than purchasing a new one. The average price of a new passenger vehicle is nearly $34,000, according to Kelley Blue Book, while IHS Markit reports that average vehicle age has risen to 11.5 years. “In the early 1970s, the average new vehicle cost only about $3,900,” said Rich White, executive director,  of Car Care Council. “While the price of a new vehicle has skyrocketed over the years, the good news is that today’s cars are lasting longer than ever before. Keeping your current vehicle, and maintaining it at recommended intervals, protects its trade-in value and postpones the sting of new-car prices.” Regular Maintenance is Key. The best way to ensure a vehicle’s longevity is to observe a regular service schedule. Keep up with fluid and filter changes, tire checks and other routine maintenance. Over time, so ... read more

Performing simple preventative maintenance on your vehicle will go a long way toward protecting your vehicle investment. National car care month in April is the perfect time of year to give your car some extra attention. Follow a vehicle service schedule and perform the most common routine maintenance procedures to keep your car performing at it's best.  - Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission as well as windshield washer solvent and anitfreeze/coolant.  - Check the brake system annually and have the brake linings, rotors and drums inspected at each oil change. - Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots. - Check the hoses and belts to make sure they are not cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or showing signs of excessive wear. - Check the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system as proper heatin ... read more

While countless problems can arise with your car, some issues are more likely to occur than others. Understanding these problems can help you more quickly diagnose an issue when it happens and take measures to prevent a disaster in the first place. Changing the oil and oil filter, replacing wiper blades and air filters, and scheduled maintenance top the list of the 10 most common vehicle repairs. According to research conducted by IMR Inc., an industry leader in automotive research, the top 10 most common vehicle repairs performed by vehicle owners and their trusted repair shops are: Oil/oil filter changed- change the vehicle's engine oil every 3,000-5,000 miles depending on th year make and model of the vehicle, how the vehicle owner drives and the condition in which they drive. Filters are normal wear items that require checks and replacement.  Wiper blades replacement- replace every ... read more

Purchasing a new car is a major financial investment. Keeping it clean is an easy and inexpensive way to protect its resale and trade-in value, says the non-profit Car Care Council. “Many motorists procrastinate when it comes to cleaning their vehicles,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Whether you do it yourself or have it cleaned professionally, proactively keeping your car clean on the outside, and tidy on the inside, will pay big dividends when it comes to maintaining your vehicle’s value over time.” Here are five simple steps to keep a vehicle clean, helping protect it from the elements and preserve its value. Declutter – Start the cleaning process by removing excess clutter from inside the car as it can be distracting and hazardous, especially when debris finds its way near the gas and brake pedals. Don’t forget to clear out items that have accumulated in the trunk as they can add extra weig ... read more