Posted on 1/31/2023
The alternator is one of the most important, yet overlooked, parts of your vehicle. It is the electrical component responsible for charging your battery and powering multiple electronics. Therefore, a bad or failing alternator can be a nightmare to deal with. If you want to learn more about the alternator and how to detect a bad one, keep reading. What Are the Signs of a Bad Alternator? Dimming or flickering headlights is a common symptom drivers experience when their alternator is on its last leg. Other people may notice unusual noises coming from under the hood, typically coming from the belt next to the alternator. Some other red flags include troubled starts, burning smells, and malfunctioning accessories. If you experience any of these symptoms, please bring your car to LexBrodies Honolulu for an inspection of the alternator. How We Diagnose an Alternator Problem at LexBrodies One of our mechanics will look around under the hood, locate the alternator, and perform a test usin ... read more
Posted on 12/23/2022
Airbags are a core safety feature in your vehicle to protect you from injuries in the event of an accident. Like many other vehicle components, the airbag has a warning light that turns on when a problem arises. However, since airbag repairs are not common, many drivers may ignore the warning light. What Causes the Airbag Light to Turn On? This light looks like a driver with an airbag deployed. When it's on the dashboard, it indicates a problem with your Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). Airbags are part of the SRS, including seatbelts and sensors. But why is your airbag on, and you haven't been in any accident? Here are the most common reasons. Battery Backup is Depleted The light turns on when your vehicle's battery has recently drained and depleted the backup powering the airbags. However, it usually corrects itself when fully recharged. Faulty Sensors Different sensors in your vehicle are directly linked to the computer system to detect any problems. Sometimes ... read more
Posted on 11/30/2022
A good rule of thumb is that you should never ignore unusual noises that your car makes. As your vehicle ages, your vehicle will work harder and emit odd sounds, and they sometimes spell trouble. Depending on the nature of the sound, such as when it occurs, can tell what the issue could be. Read on to learn what could be behind your noisy turns. When your ride is in good working order, you shouldn't hear any noises as you travel. If you are experiencing loud turns, read on to learn what could be the culprit. Reasons Why Your Car Is Noisy When Going Through Turns Suspension Joints: Creaking and clunking are typical sounds that worn suspension parts will make during turns at low speeds. Struts and Shocks: Often controlling your vehicle over bumps and patches in the road, your shocks and struts can make noises once they're no longer effective. Power Steering Pump: Another common problem behind loud turns is a failing power steering pump. It can often be described as a w ... read more
Posted on 10/31/2022
A car battery provides electrical energy to various systems in the vehicle. More importantly, it powers the starter, which then cranks the engine. Getting stranded in the middle of nowhere because of a dead car battery can be a harrowing experience. Not all car batteries will give you a sign before dying out, but luckily, most do. What Causes a Dead Battery? There are several reasons why your car battery is dying or not performing optimally, which include: Corroded terminals or loose battery connections Leaving your headlights on for an extended period Extreme temperatures in winter or summer The battery is too old The battery is not charging while you drive Parasitic draws on the battery due to faulty electrical systems Taking too many short drives that don't allow sufficient battery recharging Signs of a Dying Car Battery The following are the top 5 most common signs of a battery in need of a thorough check or replacement: Clicking Sound When You Turn ... read more
Posted on 9/27/2022
If you’ve been a good vehicle owner who is on top of their maintenance, then you are probably familiar with tire rotation services. Tire rotation service is the process of switching the position of your tires from front to rear or side to side. Tire rotation is one of the most important services you can get to maintain your tires. This service ensures even tire wear, improves gas mileage, promotes safe handling, and more. You should aim to rotate your tires every time you change your oil. Read on to learn about the pros of rotating your tires. #1: Improve Fuel Mileage One of the biggest benefits of tire rotations is improved efficiency. When your tires wear evenly, it requires less energy for your tires to roll on the road. Your engine won’t have to work hard to get wherever you need to go. #2: Longer Tire Life Another major advantage of tire rotations is that it extends the life of your tires. With even tire treads, your tires can last for years longer than tires that ... read more
Posted on 8/28/2022
Back-to-school season is right around the corner. While you may be busy shopping for school supplies, clothes, and shoes, for your kids, we’re here to remind you not to forget about your car. Most of you will be back in the routine of dropping your children off for school and practice soon, and the team at LexBrodies Honolulu is ready to help you with all your car care so that you and your family can be safe. Here are the top 3 auto services that we think you should get for the back-to-school season: General Inspection There’s no better time to get a multi-point inspection. Our professionals can check your vehicle bumper-to-bumper for any potential problems. If we detect minor problems, we can fix them early on so you can dodge extensive repairs. Plus, it’ll give you peace of mind knowing that your brakes, battery, wipers, etc. are safe. Tire Pressure Check Your tires should always be properly inflated. Fortunately, checking your tire pressure is an easy ... read more
Posted on 7/27/2022
Oil lubricates your engine and protects it against frictional damage. It contains anti-foaming agents, anti-oxidants, dispersants, and detergents that protect the engine. However, with continued use, it forms an oil sludge. With time, contaminants such as dirt, dust, water, and coolant, build up and oxidize due to the engine's intense heat. When these contaminants combine with oxidation in the engine, it forms a thick gel called engine or oil sludge. Preventing engine sludge formation is vital since it can damage your car. How Oil Sludge Hurts Your Car Oil protects the engine by cooling and absorbing contaminants. But, with time, it reaches its absorption capacity and deposits them on the engine instead. It hinders adequate engine lubrication and increases friction, causing overheating. The heat causes engine parts to rapidly wear out, lowering your car's efficiency. It also reduces your engine's lifespan by blocking the oil screen siphon, preventing proper circulation ... read more
Posted on 6/27/2022
Your car is a lifetime investment. It protects you from the cold and rain and saves you from public transportation. With a machine hosting such benefits, the last thing you may want is to maintain it. Unfortunately, many people think car maintenance is all about changing oil, tire, and wiper blades replacements. Do you know your car's cabin air filter? Well. It is a component that filters the air entering your car. So, how often do you neglect to check this item? For some, it is quite frequent. Others feel like they should drive their car forever without maintaining air filters. But this is not always the case with any vehicle. In fact, a poorly maintained cabin air filter can alter your overall driving experience. Sometimes, it is unhealthy and unpleasant to you and your passengers. Here are reasons why you should have your cabin air filter replaced. Improved comfort Pollution is one of the primary reasons you need to change your cabin air filter. In fact, the ... read more
Posted on 5/26/2022
Having a car that is in good condition is what every car owner wants. A car that can take you from point A to point B as fast as possible with minimal faults. When you need all these then a car with a slow acceleration is a nuisance. When a car is sluggish then it means it has slow acceleration which could be caused by a failure in some of the engine components or the car is too old. A car with slow acceleration even after you have floored the gas pedal is very risky especially if you are driving through a busy road or overtaking in a risky area. Here are some of the causes of a sluggish car; If the oxygen sensor is used for tracking oxygen release and scrutinize the air-fuel ratio that flows to engine fails, the engine fails to modulate the air-fuel balance which results to low engine power. when the engine lacks power then there is slow acceleration. Clogged Fuel filter The fuel system is very instrumental to the acceleration of every vehicle. This is because the fuel sy ... read more
Posted on 4/28/2022
Caring for your cars coolant system should be part of your regularly scheduled car maintenence routine. The coolant system in your car is the key to how well your vehicle operates in extreme heat, extreme cold and everything in between. Here are the top 7 signs your vehicle may be in need of a coolant flush sooner rather than later. Vehicle Running Hot And Overheating If your temperature gauge is running high or close to the danger zone while driving you might want to schedule that coolant flush before you have a bigger problem to deal with. Steaming Hood If you notice steam coming from under the hood or hear a hissing sound escaping from under the hood, you should schedule a coolant flush Coolant Leak or Discoloration If you start noticing a puddle of liquid under your car that has a greenish tint or a sweet smell it means you have a coolant leak and you should schedule a coolant flush as soon as possible. Also if you notice a discoloration in your coolant you want to get any ... read more