Kaneohe Auto Repair

On average, a car battery should last approximately 3 to 5 years. Beyond this time window, batteries should be monitored more closely as they become more unreliable and prone to dying. In fewer cases, some vehicle owners may have to replace their vehicle’s battery sooner than 3 years. Considering your battery is where all of the electrical power is stored in your car, you should know how to spot the signs of a dead battery. 5 Ways to Tell If You Need a Car Battery Replacement Half-functioning Accessories - A good method to check your battery is to check how your accessories run right after your car starts up. For example, see if your headlights are dim. Rev your engine to see if the lights react differently. If so, it may mean that your battery is weak and cannot meet power demands. Battery Corrosion - When was the last time you inspected your car battery? If you open your hood only to see a blue or green substance covering your battery terminals, there is a good chance that y ... read more

Properly working air conditioning is a necessity for those in Kaneohe, HI. During the hotter months in Hawaii, drivers become more reliant on their A/C than ever. Now imagine getting into your car, SUV, or truck and blasting the A/C, only to find that it only blows hot air.    You might be wondering, “why is my car A/C still only blowing hot air?” Below are some of the most prevalent reasons why auto A/C may stop blowing cold air: Refrigerant Leak -  Low refrigerant levels are the most common culprit of warm A/C. If there is a lack of refrigerant circulating through the A/C system, then it can’t eliminate the heat successfully. At Willy’s Transmission & Air Conditioning, we can pinpoint leaks and patch them up with no problem. Failing Condenser - The condenser is an air conditioning component that is responsible for removing warmth from the refrigerant released from the compressor. This process cools down the refrigerant before it turns in ... read more

Transmission fluid is what helps to keep your car moving while in gear. The gears in your transmission are constantly meshing, which produces a lot of heat. Over time, the transmission fluid can break down and become less effective at doing its job. That's why it's essential to change your transmission fluid regularly. But how often should you do it? How Often Should You Change Your Transmission Fluid? The general rule of thumb is to change your transmission fluid every 30,000 miles or every two years, whichever comes first. However, this may vary depending on the make and model of your car as well as your driving habits. If you do a lot of stop-and-go driving or frequently tow heavy loads, you may need to change your transmission fluid more often. Some carmakers have started to extend the recommended interval for changing transmission fluid. For example, Honda now recommends that you change your transmission fluid every 100,000 miles under "normal" driving conditi ... read more

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