Oakville Auto Repair

Keep a watchful eye with arrival of pothole season As the ravages of winter subside and temperatures rise, there is probably a pothole out there with your name on it, cautions Car Care Canada. Cold temperatures, snow and rainfall create the perfect storm for the motorists' dreaded "perils of potholes period." Drivers know immediately when they hit a pothole. The heart-stopping, teeth-jarring noise is hard to mistake. However, it's not always immediately clear if hitting the pothole caused damage to the vehicle, and to what extent. Hitting a pothole can damage tires, wheels, steering and suspension, wheel alignment and more. Car Care Canada recommends that motorists who experience any of the following warning signs after hitting a pothole should have a professional technician at their local repair shop inspect the vehicle: Loss of control, swaying when making routine turns, bottoming-out on city streets or bouncing excessively on rough road ... read more

Although you may want to get rid of your present vehicle in favour of a new car, taking better care of your current set of wheels may make much more sense in the long run-helping you achieve a goal of financial freedom. "We advise our clients that if they want a 10 percent increase on their investments every year, they need to cut down on their expenses," said Terry Mulcahy, vice president of investments for R.W. Baird. "A new automobile is, for most people, their second biggest investment next to a home, so a great way to save money and increase financial assets is to hang onto their current vehicle rather than buy a new one every few years. Budgeting for and doing preventative maintenance on your car is one of the best ways to cut your costs and keep your car." Car Care Canada estimates that more than $2 billion in vehicle maintenance and repair is not performed every year, evidence that there is considerably more that consumers should be doing to protect their au ... read more

Some insurance companies are offering discounts for using Winter Tires - Ask Yours!Mark's Auto Service offers these great services:The facts about winter tires and why all-season tires just won't do. Ever since the introduction of the all-season tire, Canadian drivers have slid and spun their tires through the coldest months of the year. Here's the kicker: it doesn't seem to matter whether there's snow on the ground or not. Unlike all-season tires, winter tires (identified by mountain and snowflake symbols on their sides) have tread patterns and softer rubber compounds that are tailored for colder conditions. And that helps them perform better once temperatures plummet, whether or not they have to dig through the white stuff. All-season tires can turn into four round black rocks when the cold hits. Even on dry pavement, this starts at about 7c. So have them installed at Mark's anytime after Labour Day. Don't wait until November ... read more

$50 Off Any Service Over $300! OR SAVE 10% off any deferred work! When you were last in for service we recommended some maintenance and repair items coming due. NOW is the time to take care of them and save an extra 10% plus still get your rewards dollars! EXPIRES ON JANUARY 31, 2011. Book now, don't be disappointed!

In as little as two years on the road, headlight lenses can become so cloudy that they reduce visibility during nighttime driving. Problem The need for headlight restoration is growing exponentially as most vehicles built after the early '90s were equipped with acrylic rather than glass headlight lenses. Unlike glass lenses, acrylic lenses are susceptible to clouding, yellowing and fading without proper care and maintenance. In as little as two or three years on the road, headlight lenses may become so cloudy that they reduce visibility during nighttime driving. It is a problem that affects nearly every vehicle make and model, foreign or domestic. Solution BG LenzSaver™ Headlight Restoration removes scratches and discoloration, restores the lens to like-new optical clarity with a new UV protectant in under an hour! Watch a headlight transformation in five easy steps in ... read more

Shocks and struts are important to maintain as they affect your vehicle's stopping distance, tire wear, and steering control. The main purpose of shocks, struts, and even coil springs is to absorb the pressure when driving so you encounter a comfortable ride. Shocks dampen or eliminate spring oscillation (up and down movement) by using a plunger, a cylinder, and non-compressible liquid. When you drive over rough roadways or encounter a pot hole, shocks and struts go to work to help maintain an even ride so your vehicle's steering system is more in control and tires remain on the road surface. Longterm spring oscillation or bouncing can cause shock and strut components to wear allowing for added bouncing and poor tire wear. It also takes longer to stop your car or truck when these parts are worn. If you are encountering a bumpy ride, nose dives when stopping, or unusual tire wear, make sure to have your shocks or struts checked for worn parts. It re ... read more

What’s the Condition of Your Air Conditioner? Summer weather is fast approaching and soon you will be switching on the air conditioning. Make sure that your A/C system is ready to go when you need it most. There is nothing worse than a hot car and no A/C to cool it down. When is the last time you had your air conditioner tested? If it’s been more than a year, your air conditioning system may not be performing at its peak or, even worse, it may not be functioning at all. Don’t risk it! Let us examine your air conditioner before you find yourself stuck in a hot car in a traffic jam. Preventative maintenance is as important for your car’s air conditioner as it is for your home’s air conditioner. They both require regular service to avoid problems and consistently work properly. Your home’s air conditioner filter needs to be replaced every three months. Your car’s air conditioner needs to be tested on an annual basis to detect and repai ... read more

Spring Into Vehicle Maintenance Spring is the perfect time of year to make sure your vehicle is ready for the upcoming travel season. Click here to view the Spring Into Vehicle Maintenance Video! Scroll down to Car Care Minute #7 and select Video to view live on the web

Record Gas Prices Make it Perfect Time to "Be Car Care Aware" With gas prices reaching close to a dollar a litre in some pats of the country, Car Care Canada is offering gas saving maintenance and driving tips that really work. "Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gasoline is wasted every day by motorists, because simple and inexpensive vehicle maintenance is neglected," says Car Care Canada’s Marc Brazeau. "Loose or missing gas caps, under-inflated tires, worn spark plugs and dirty air filters all contribute to poor fuel economy." Car Care Canada offers these fuel-saving tips: Vehicle gas caps – In Canada, the provinces with emissions testing programs suggest that this is a common cause for failing an emissions test – yet it is simple and inexpensive to fix. According to US studies, about 17 percent of the vehicles on the roads have gas caps that are either damaged, loose or are missing altogether. Under inflated tires ... read more

Save up to $25,000 or more by maintaining your current vehicle! So how can you save up to $25,000 or more by maintaining your current vehicle rather than purchasing a new car or truck? Here's some points to ponder! If you have a reliable vehicle that is paid for, as an example, you may be spending $1000 per year on preventive maintenance service (regular oil changes and inspections) and general repair. A new car or truck priced at a modest cost of $30,000 will not only have a monthly payment and interest structure if financed, but insurance costs are also higher. So, let's say as an example, you spend $1000 for service, repair, and accessories on your current vehicle this year as opposed to payments of $450-$800 per month (based on interest rate, down payment, and total length of payment plan). At $600 per month, you would spend $7,200 this year on car payments, plus pay higher ve ... read more