Kaneohe Auto Repair

You may not see them or know much about them, but engine belts are always working to keep your vehicle moving. Losing a belt can mean immediate trouble for the engine and a breakdown for you. Review your owner's manual to ensure that belts are inspected and replaced at the proper intervals.  A vehicle's belts are essential to the cooling, air conditioning and charging systems of the engine. Serpentine belts are used to turn the water pump, alternator, power steering, and air conditioning compressor. Older cars use V-belts for various accessories and failure of this belt could strand a driver.  Always check serpentine and V-belts for looseness and their overall condition. Replace V-belts when cracked, frayed, glazed or showing signs of excessive water. Noise in the belt system is a sign of wear and the smell of burnt rubber can indicate a slipping belt. When changing a serpentine belt, it is important to check all the components in the serpentine system as tensi ... read more

Here's some surprising news that may come as a shock: it's not so much the cold that gets it down as it is high heat. Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, thus damaging the internal structure of the battery. That is why it's important to check your battery as the season changes from hotter to cooler.  Battery Batterers Another reason for shortened battery life is overcharging. That is, a malfunctioning component in the charging system, usually the voltage regulator, can allow too high a charging rate, leading to a slow death of a battery. Colder temperatures can increase the thickness of the engine oil, making the engine harder to turn over, causing the battery to have to work more. These factors lead to harder starting.  What You Can Do: To get the most out of your battery life follow these simple steps: - Be sure the electrical system is charging at the correct rate, overcharging can damage a battery as quickly as underc ... read more

Fluids and lubricants rank among the most neglected items when it comes to basic auto care. Community car care events held throughout the country found that the top three fluids most likely to be low or contaminated are windshield washer fluid in 26% of inspected vehicles, followed by engine oil at 23% and coolant at 19%.  Windshield washer fluid keeps dirt and debris from collecting on a vehicle's windshield, allowing the driver full visibility and making it an essential safety item. Washer fluid should be checked monthly and drivers should use a fluid that is specifically formulated for their climate.  Engine oil lubricates the moving parts of a vehicle's engine, helping keep the engine clean and preventing wear and overheating. Neglecting to change a vehicle's oil can lead to costly repairs, including replacement. Engine oil levels should be checked frequently and changed per the owner's manual.  Coolant absorbs heat from the engine and di ... read more

You need a clean air to breath and so does your car, and a vehicle's air filters make that possible. Always be sure to have your engine and cabin air filters inspected and changed regularly to ensure vehicle longevity and interior comfort. The vehicle's engine air filter traps dirt particles that can cause damage to engine cylinders, cylinder walls, pistons, piston rings and bearings, leading to the engine losing power. The air filter also plays a critical role in keeping pollutants from contaminating the airflow sensor on fuel-injected cars. A normal wear item that requires regular checks and replacements, air filters should be inspected at each oil change and replaced annually or when showing other signs of contamination. The cabin air filter is responsible for cleaning the air entering the passenger compartment. Under normal circumstances, it helps trap pollen, bacteria, dust and exhaust gases that may find their way into a vehicle's heating, ventilation and air conditi ... read more

The tires are the only thing between the vehicle and the road. When they are properly inflated and in good condition, the handling, stability, and safety of the vehicle will be maximized. When tires are under inflated, worn out or damaged, all of the safety systems on the vehicle cannot overcome the loss of control that comes with a blow-out or hydroplaning situation. Air pressure in a tire is like oil in an engine; when it is low, the resulting internal damage is unseen until it is too late. Tires naturally lose 1-2 psi per month, so ongoing neglect will eventually result in a tire that cannot support the weight of the vehicle of occupants. When this happens, the resulting blow-out can result in the loss of control and an accident.  It is also important to rotate the tires on the vehicle every 5-7,000 miles. Today's front-wheel-drive vehicles cause the steer tires to wear at a much faster rate than the tires on the rear axle. By periodically rotating the front tires to the b ... read more