Berkeley Auto Repair

Your Subaru’s brakes are one of its most important safety systems. Whether you’re navigating Bay Area traffic or heading out for a weekend drive, healthy brake pads give you the stopping power you need when it matters most. Over time, those pads wear down with every stop, making regular inspection and timely replacement essential for your safety and your vehicle’s performance. At Oceanworks in Berkeley we help Subaru owners keep their vehicles braking smoothly and safely—with expert service, quality parts, and quality repairs. Brake pads don’t last forever, and catching early warning signs can prevent costly repairs later on. Here are a few clues that it’s time to schedule a replacement: Squealing or grinding noises when you press the brakes Vibration or pulsing when braking Spongy brake pedal sensation or longer stopping distances If you notice any of the above symptoms, call Oceanworks for an appointment. Driving with worn brake pads can damag ... read more

Your Cadillac is designed for refined comfort and effortless control — but even the best-engineered vehicles need regular care to stay that way. Over time, your suspension system endures thousands of bumps, potholes, and rough roads that can wear out its components. When that happens, your ride quality and handling can be negatively impacted. At Oceanworks in Berkeley, our ASE-certified technicians have extensive experience in Cadillac repair, including suspension repairs. Your vehicle’s suspension system isn’t just about comfort — it’s critical to your Cadillac’s overall safety and performance. Proper suspension maintenance ensures: Better control and stability: A healthy suspension keeps your tires firmly on the road, improving traction, steering precision, and braking performance. Even tire wear: Worn shocks and struts cause uneven tire pressure and tread wear, leading to premature tire replacement. Enhanced comfort: A well-maintained suspensi ... read more

Oceanworks is pleased to announce that we can now provide a variety of Tesla services. As Tesla service centers struggled to keep up with demand, Tesla had made repair information and parts available to independent auto repair shops.  As a result, we can now offer Tesla owners regular maintenance and repair services. While Tesla vehicles don’t need oil changes, they do require regular maintenance. Tesla recommends tire rotation every 6000 miles or so. Brake pads replacement, even though less frequent than on internal combustion engine vehicles, are still a necessity. Brake fluid replacement every 2 years is recommended. Tesla recommends yearly brake caliper cleaning and lubrication. And if your Tesla needs new control arms – our nationally ASE-certified technicians can complete control arms replacement in a single day. So bring your Tesla to Oceanworks Berkeley – whether it needs tire rotation (very important for EVs due to their weight), new rotors, or s new w ... read more

Seeing your Hyundai’s check engine light flicker on can turn a calm drive into a moment of stress. While it’s tempting to ignore the warning, that little amber light is your car’s way of asking for help. At Oceanworks, the premier Berkeley auto repair shop, we’ve helped countless Hyundai owners understand what’s behind that glow — and how to fix it before it becomes a bigger problem. The check engine light can point to a wide range of issues, from something as simple as a loose gas cap to something as serious (and expensive to fix) as a failing catalytic converter.  Many Hyundai drivers encounter OBD-II codes such as: P0171 – System Too Lean (often linked to a vacuum leak or faulty mass airflow sensor) P0300 – Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected P0420 – Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (commonly a catalytic converter or oxygen sensor issue) P0456 – Evaporative Emission System Small Leak (sometimes jus ... read more

Kia Sorento is a comfortable and versatile vehicle that will take you places – if you keep it well maintained. At Oceanworks Berkeley auto repair shop we provide high-quality service designed to keep you Kia Sorento in top shape for the lifetime of the vehicle. Whether it’s routine maintenance, brake inspections, suspension adjustments, transmission service, a/c refrigerant refill, or complex engine diagnostics and repairs, you can trust us to keep your Kia Sorento ready for both the everyday commute and road trip adventures. At Oceanworks, we follow factory-recommended schedule of services, as well as use advanced diagnostic tools to ensure every system in your Sorento is running at peak performance. Regular maintenance is essential to enhance safety, fuel efficiency, and the long-term value of your Kia. Here is just a small sample of the services your Kia can receive at our Berkeley auto care facility: oil and filter change, brake inspection and service, transmission fl ... read more

A few years ago catalytic converter theft became prevalent accross not just the Bay Area but the entire US. At the time we wrote about it and about the steps that could be taken to protect your vehicle from the thieves. Well, it turns out that those thefts were not just driven by local individual thieves commiting an "crime of opportunity" - it turns out there were big actors who created organizations that crossed state lines and  took the catalytic conveter theft income to a whole new level. On July 21st 2025  US Department of Justice issued a press released about a New Jersey resident who pleaded guilty in federal court in Oklahoma to being in charge of a multi-state criminal organization, which mascaraded as New Jersey-based  company called D.G. Auto Parts . The operation purchased and transported "large quantities" of catalytic converters stolen in ma ... read more

Keeping your Kia Soul running at its best requires specialized care and expertise. Choosing a service and repair facility with deep knowledge of Kia vehicles is key to your car running smoothly and reliably over time. At Oceanworks Berkeley we offer comprehensive Kia Soul service and repair solutions to address the mechanical and electrical needs of this Kia model. Whether your Kia Soul is due for an oil change, for scheduled maintenance, or has mechanical or electrical issues, our team of ASE-certified technicians applies industry-leading standards and latest diagnostic tools to every service or repair. All repairs performed by our technicians carry a 24,000 mile / 24 month warranty. Our Kia Soul service and repairs cover all major mechanical, electrical, engine and fluid issues, including not just oil changes and manufacturer recommended maintenance, but also suspension work, electrical system diagnostics and repairs, car battery replacement, starter replacement,  engine repai ... read more

Firestone did a study of over 9 million cars that were brought to their centers, and found that 42% suffered from underinflated tires – and that’s a national average. When broken out by states, California came in at the third worst position with 57% rate. Since underinflated tires increase rolling resistance, Firestone calculated that US drivers waste over $18 billion per year on additional fuel. Underinflated tires may seem like a minor issue, yet if you consider all the effects of underinflated tires, it can have consequences that go far beyond your wallet.  Here are the issues you may encounter when driving with underinflated tires: Increased fuel consumption Handling difficulty Increased braking distance Less stability when cornering or making emergency maneuvers Uneven tire wear which often results in premature need for tire replacement Increased risk of blowouts Steering feels unresponsive Suspension stress Driving in the rain: increased probability of ... read more

If one day you turn on your vehicle’s a/c (or heat) and there is no air coming in at all, or the fan shuts off without rhyme or reason, there is a good chance that the blower motor relay is malfunctioning. This tiny switch can wreak havoc with your vehicle’s ac or heating. The blower motor relay is an electronic switch – it controls power coming to the blower motor. When you turn on a/c or heat, or change fan speed setting, blower motor relay ensures that the blower motor gets just the right voltage to run as desired. When the relay starts to malfunction, a variety of symptoms may appear – no air at all, or intermittent fan failure, or just one fan speed – all of them implicate the blower motor relay. However, while the relay may be implicated, it takes a professional mechanic to verify and find the true cause of the problem – for example, if no air comes out of the vents, it could be the relay, but it could also be the blower motor itself that&rsq ... read more

Hundred years ago, in June 1925, Walter Chrysler founded the Chrysler Corporation. It was one of the more innovative automotive companies of the era when all automotive companies were highly innovative. Today, when we think of PT Cruiser, Chrysler 300 or the award winning Chrysler Pacifica minivan, we are seeing hundred years of automotive tradition embodied in modern Chrysler vehicles. At Oceanworks Auto Repair in Berkeley we are fans of Chrysler vehicles, and even though PT Cruiser and Chrysler 300 are no longer manufactured, we continue to service and repair these vehicles. Naturally, we also service and repair Chrysler minivans: the Pacifica and the Voyager. At our Berkeley auto repair shop we offer regular service for your vehicles, as well as diagnostics and repairs - if your Chrysler should need those. As your vehicle gets older, regular oil change becomes crucial. Oil change extends engine life, and every time we perform this service, we also get to inspect other systems of yo ... read more