Berkeley Auto Repair

“Big Brother” Tesla’s is watching     Tesla is accused of violating privacy concerns linked with their car’s surveillance cameras.           In a lawsuit filed by vzbv (The Federation of German Consumer Organizations)  in Berlin last July accuses Tesla misled consumers by not informing them by advertising their cars owners may be violating privacy data protection laws if the “sentry” mode feature which activates surveillance cameras in their cars was used in public areas to capture images and video of passers-by without their knowledge.  Berlin’s data protection agency said the person driving the car would be responsible for turning off the cameras in public spaces or risk prosecution.  Furthermore responsibility would extend to the carmaker if those images were transmitted to and stored by Tesla.      Then earlier this year Tesla assured the public their pr ... read more

Volvo’s Polestar first to get YouTube     Google announced in early May, all cars with “Google built in” will have YouTube available on their screens beginning with Volvo’s electric division Polestar.   According to the company YouTube will only be available while parked and for passenger use.  The ability to access YouTube directly from the front dash display screen increases the convenience.  Cars will also be equipped with rear seat screens for backseat passenger entertainment and enjoyment.       However, YouTube in cars is not new.  Previously many newer vehicles could access YouTube through Android Auto, an app that runs through an android phone which then communicates wirelessly with the vehicle and allows the driver to access most of their phone apps through the car display.    “Google built in” will now provide access to Google apps without the use of a phone.  The ... read more

What’s A DVI (Digital Vehicle Inspection)?           Now that Berkeley Bob’s has added this beneficial service to all of our oil maintenance services, we’d like our clients to know more about them.  So what is a digital vehicle inspection aka DVI?  It is a 23 point vehicle inspection that digitally documents in a variety of ways any areas of concern.  Depending on what the technician notices, they will either mark the item green (tests good, no problem), yellow (monitor and recheck later) or red (needs attention and repair).  The technician can expand on any inspected item by creating detailed notes next to the line item.  These notes can include basic information such as: “timing belt sticker missing” or “spark plugs due by mileage” or more pressing issues like “brake pads are worn to metal backing plate” or “water pump shows signs of leakage”.  ... read more

Honda Electrical Systems Diagnostics and Repair One might be surprised by the electronic complexity of the average Honda. With plenty of modern-day luxuries found within your Honda, an issue with the electrical system can be disastrous for any owner.  With how intricate the average car’s electronic system is, diagnosing and repairing any issues will be difficult for anyone who isn’t a trained technician. Problems can range in severity, from simply dim headlights all the way up to preventing your car from starting. Parts Of A Honda Electrical System Your Honda’s electrical system is made up of the following components. Battery. Your battery stores electrical energy that is used for your starter motor, ignition system, and lights. If your battery doesn’t have enough stored energy you will have issues starting your Honda, or it may not start at all. Your battery is something that will have to be replaced ... read more

Your Honda’s suspension is responsible for ensuring that your ride is as smooth as it can be. A typical Honda suspension consists of both a strut and spring. These components allow the car to stay level even if the road itself is bumpy. The struts function to dampen the springs and prevent the vehicle from bouncing constantly after hitting a bump. The suspension is crucial to not only the ride comfort of your Honda but also its overall handling and control. A Honda suspension repair should be conducted if you have noticed that your ride quality has decreased and if you find that you don’t have as much control over the vehicle as you once did. Honda Suspension Repair ReasonsBumpy Ride. After driving your Honda, you will have undoubtedly are accustomed to its smooth ride. That’s why when road trips become bumpy, it’s easy to notice the difference in ride quality. If you are finding your daily drive to be filled with more bounc ... read more

While Honda makes reliable cars, it is inevitable that some owners will be unfortunate enough to face some issues with their Honda during their ownership. At Berkeley Bob’s we offer complete Honda care. While cars have become better adapted for their use on the road, easier for the driver to operate and increased reliability at the same time they have become highly complex machines with dozens of computerized controls.  When they fail, your Honda can run up against a myriad of potential problems. These issues can range from minor inconveniences to concerns that are completely immobilizing. Below are some of the most common Honda repairs that you may encounter. Common Honda Repairs Transmission Issues. Issues with the transmission will be hard to ignore and are very apparent. Typical issues with the transmission will result in jerky shifts between gears that will prevent the car from accelerating smoothly. Other erratic shifts might result in the car sudde ... read more

An A/C that no longer blows as cold as it once used to can be a nightmare for anyone driving in warmer climates. While there can be a whole host of issues that can result in your Honda’s air conditioning performing worse than it should be sometimes all you may need is a Honda A/C refill or recharge. Components of a Honda AC Before going into what an a/c refill or recharge entails, it’s good to have a basic understanding of how your Honda actually cools the air. The basic concept involves the manipulation of a refrigerant between its liquid and gas state. As it changes states, it can absorb heat and humidity. This manipulation of the refrigerant requires a slew of parts. The compressor is one of the major components of your a/c. This not only pushes the refrigerant through the system but also compresses it into a high-pressure/high-temperature gas that absorbs the surrounding heat.  The refrigerant then travels to a condenser which lowers the temperature and change ... read more

Few vehicles carry the instant recognition found with the classic VW Type 2. First introduced in 1950, the Type 2 followed up on Volkswagen’s even more iconic Type 1, the precursor to the globally recognized Beetle. The microbus was quickly adopted for its simplicity, utility, and good value. Soon after its release, it would become an icon of the 60s and 70s, particularly within the hippy subculture. The generations that followed that legendary first generation were never able to capture the same appeal. While the later minivans provided great utility, they gradually lost the quirkiness of the original. If you took a look at the current sixth-generation microbus, you might not even realize that it comes from the same lineage. The Revival Of An Icon In 2017 Volkswagen unveiled its futuristic ID.BUZZ concept, an electric minivan carrying inspiration from the original microbus. While not dead set on turning the concept into a production vehicle, strong consumer interest pushed VW ... read more

If you take a broad look through Toyota’s model lineup, it would be easy to quickly classify Toyota’s primary audience as families or those looking for a great value. At the end of the day, the mass-market sedans, crossovers, and minivans are Toyota’s bread and butter. But where’s the fun?   Near the turn of the century, the Japanese automaker pivoted away from its auto enthusiast-ready offerings. Sports cars such as the Supra, MR2, and Celica dissipated with time. After the demise of these vehicles, Toyota’s core identity took on a more subdued look.   Over the past few years, the automaker has grown out of its family-friendly shell and started offering vehicles like the FR-S (now GR86) and the exciting Supra revival. More recently, Toyota has made surprising announcements catering to the auto enthusiast crowd.   Saving The Manual While many Toyotas are known for their subdued nature, the upcoming GR Corolla is everything but. An ins ... read more

         On February 23, 2021 in the shadow of Mount Fuji Toyota Corporation broke ground on a city of tomorrow.  The 175 acre property once home to Toyota’s Higashi Fuji plant where the highly successful Toyota models AE86, Mark II and Century were designed and produced will become a “Living Laboratory”.            Named “The Woven City”, the prototype is a place where people, vehicles and buildings are connected by sensors and data.   This connectivity will allow Toyota to test their A1 (artificial intelligence) technology with minimal risk in the real world. The plan includes three types of streets; one for pedestrians, one for people with personal mobility vehicles and one for automation driven vehicles.   Delivery of goods throughout the city will be done using the Toyota e-pallet autonomous transport vehicles they designed for the Tokyo Olympics. This ... read more