Aiea Auto Repair

Meaning of warning light indicators in your dash: Modern cars have sensors and warning systems that notify you that something is going wrong. Consumers that take great precautions to keep their vehicles as healthy as possible can’t cover all these areas of their vehicle, even with meticulous maintenance.  Luckily, nowaday vehicles come with super systems to help in these events. Check engine light – This indicates a problem in the many systems of your vehicle that have various sensors controlling different areas. There are more than 4,000 OBD-II codes that can light up the “Check Engine Light”. If this indicator light comes on, you want to contact a certified repair shop to have this diagnosed. Maintenance light – This indicator light that will usually tell you you’re of need of a scheduled maintenance service. It may come in various prints like “service”, “maint reqd&r ... read more

Be aware of the road conditions, so you don’t get into an accident or become the victim of a blown out tire or worse.   Clear Zone Issues – Examples include utility poles, fallen trees, uncovered water drains,  or debris. Irregular Intersections  – Examples include narrow roads, sharp turns that require mirrors, one way streets, or misguided turning lanes. Pothole Fillers – Temporary fix for roads that need to be resurfaced. This temporary fixes can have high or low points.   Lane Guidance – Poorly painted lines, broken, hidden, or missing signs can cause accidents on roads. Construction Signage – Roads marked with construction signs, when the construction isn’t being worked on may cause confusion to drivers. Wheel Ruts – When roads haven't been resurfaced in a while, grooves where wheels often go dig into the road and make it uneven and unsafe ... read more

Brakes are a normal wear item for any car and eventually they’re going to need to be replaced. A vehicle’s braking system should be checked at least once a year and a thorough inspection should include brake lining wear, brake fluid level, condition of hoses and brake lines, brake and dash warning lights, as well as taking the car for a test drive to detect other potential brake system problems.  Brake inspections are more crucial when your vehicle is driven in a lot of stop & go traffic.   If your car is pulling to the left or right, or if you hear odd noises when you apply the brakes, they should be inspected. Other warning signs include an illuminated brake warning light, brake dragging, low pedal, pulsation, hard pedal feel and squealing.   Pearl City Auto Works will inspect your car’s brake system and diagnose any problems right away. We will service any worn brake components on Toyota, Lexus, Nissan, Infiniti, Honda, Acura, Kia, Hyundai, M ... read more

The spark plug performs a huge job in delivering a vehicle’s power, performance, and fuel efficiency. Spark plugs may be one of the hardest working parts of a vehicle. A spark plug can fire 400 times per minute per cylinder.  Car owners make the mistake to delay spark plug repair on their vehicles, even after they have failed. This is a mistake since faulty spark plugs can lead to engine damage, reduced fuel efficiency and poor performance.  Faulty spark plugs can cause “check engine” lights, misfiring, & poor driving operation. Periodic maintenance may reduce the following issues to cause breakdown.  Rattling, pinging or knocking noises. When spark plugs begin to misfire, you may notice unusual noises from the force of the pistons and combustion not working properly. Pistons travel at high velocities; if the spark plug fires at the wrong time, this could lead to constant rattling, pinging or knocking sounds. Hard vehicle start. If your car is ha ... read more

How the timing belt works: The timing belt is part of most internal combustion engines.  It synchronizes the engine’s functions. The timing belt is made from rubber. It controls the rotation of the camshaft and crankshaft and the opening and closing of the engine’s many valves to allow air and gas in and out, which causes the fuel to ignite in the combustion chamber. During this explosion, the valves push the pistons down.  Sometimes when the timing belt breaks, the valves, will open at the wrong time and hit the larger pistons and cause damage. The timing belt maintenance is crucial in the operation of the vehicle.     When to replace the timing belt? Unfortunately, the timing belt isn’t visible without removal of parts so inspecting the belt isn’t done routinely.  Knowing if the timing belt is in good health is difficult so in many cases, it will just break. That’s why highly rated auto mechanics recommend replacing it e ... read more

Tire rotations are essential for your tires health. We recommend rotating them at 6,000 mile intervals. Tire rotations ensure tires are exposed to uniform conditions to assist with even tire wear. Properly rotated tires creates less resistance to obtain optimal gas mileage.  We here at Pearl City Auto Works will keep diligent records of your tire rotations so we can best advise you to keep your tires in premium shape. We look forward to serving you & your tires. Please give us a call at 808-486-4848 or visit us at pearlcityauto.com.  

Test Test

Pearl City Auto Works performs a courtesy digital inspection when your vehicle is in our repair facility. Our technicians use a tablet to record findings. We will share the findings whether they are "GOOD", "NEEDS FUTURE SERVICING" OR "NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION". We will delicately suggest repair options & cater to your needs. We take great pride in serving our community with knowledge & awareness to keep you safe on our roadways. Pearl City Auto Works is here to do our very best in serving our customers to best of our ability. Give us a call call at 808-486-4848 or visit us at pearlcityauto.com

A vehicles coolant is essential for preventing engine damage by regulating temperature. Coolant also lubricates the engines components. It contains corrosion inhibitors that protect the engines internals from rust & other types of corrosive conditions. When the coolant gets too low or contaminated, the vehicle may overheat causing damage &/or breakdown. The importance of replacing your coolant will extend the life of your vehicle & keep it moving with optimum performance. We here at Pearl City Auto Works will monitor your vehicles coolant health and advise if your vehicle needs coolant care.  Please don't hesitate to give us a call at 808-486-4848 or visit us at pearlcityauto.com. We are here for you & your vehicle

Alignment recommendations typically suggest getting an alignment check every 12 months or 12,000 miles. If your vehicle is pulling to one side, misaligned steering wheel, uneven tire wear or after hitting a curb or pothole, we recommend to get your alignment checked. Alignments are also recommended after tire or suspension/steering component replacement. Pearl City Auto Works is now equipped with an alignment rack & tire machinery to assist you. Please don't hesitate to give us a call at 808-486-4848 or visit us at pearlcityauto.com.