Tag Archives: car repairs

Wheel Bearings

Wheel bearings enable your wheels to spin freely. And while some wheel bearings can be serviced, others require hub replacement. For those that can be replaced, preventive maintenance can be done. This procedure involves removing the bearings, carefully cleaning them and inspecting for any imperfection. If the bearing can be reused, we reinstall them, and pack them with grease. If not, we put on new bearings.

Taking care of old bearings is extremely important. When bearings go bad, they produce enough heat to cause the wheel to lock up. In extreme cases, the wheel can even come off! So make sure you get them inspected regularly to stay safe and prevent costly (and avoidable) damage to your wheels.

Water Pump

Cooling system problems are the #1 mechanical failure, and the water pump plays an important role.
Water pumps aren’t something you think about, but they are an important part of your car’s cooling system. Your water pump circulates the coolant that cools the engine, and after years of pumping coolant they inevitably wear out. So if you notice a grinding sound coming from the pump, or see coolant leaking from the pump itself, bring it in for inspection.

The best way to prolong the life of your water pump and cooling system is by regularly replacing the coolant, which will help you avoid a failure in your cooling system that can leave you on the side of the road.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Modern vehicles are now equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system, which can detect when tires are under-inflated. Under-inflated tires are a safety concern, because they don’t handle properly and can even overheat to the point where they cause the tire to fall apart, both of which can cause a serious accident.

Under-inflated tires also waste fuel – in fact, you lose 1% of your fuel economy for every 3 pounds of pressure under your manufacturer’s recommended pressure! And lastly, properly inflated tires help increase the life of your tires. It’s for all these reasons that your tire pressure monitoring system is so important to your safety. When you bring your car in for an inspection, your technician can interpret your TPMS system, and reset it when you change your tires to maintain ideal pressurization and handling.

Suspension

 

Your car’s suspension system is what connects your wheels to the vehicle. Not only does it help deliver a smooth ride, it is also essential to your vehicle’s steering, stopping and stability. Car’s suspension systems contain a lot of joints and pivot points that connect to one another, and these wear out over time. When certain components of your automobile’s suspension are worn, it stresses the other suspension components, so they wear out faster than they should. Even tires that should last years can wear out in a couple of months because of a poor suspension component.When we look at your vehicle, we look at signs of a possible suspension problem, replace the damaged components (for example, your springs) and restore your handling.

Shocks and Struts

Your car’s shocks and struts’ main job is to keep your tires firmly on the ground. When well maintained, the suspension allows you to maintain proper road handling during acceleration and on turns, ensuring safe braking distances. When shocks are worn, your vehicle won’t handle as well – you’ll bounce over bumps, wallow around corner, your rear will dive when you accelerate and could even become unsafe. Replacing worn shocks and struts will extend the life of your tires, prevent premature tire wear as well as costly suspension damage

The normal lifespan for shocks is roughly 80,000 km. An annual inspection ensures your safety and lets you enjoy a pleasant (and safe) driving experience.

Headlamps

Your exterior lights, headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, backup lights and marker lights are essential parts of your vehicle’s safety equipment. They are the main ways that you see the road, and are seen by other drivers.

Headlamps (or bulbs) go dim over time, and just need to be replaced. Most cars come with standard bulbs, but you can also upgrade to something better, like halogen bulbs – they cost more but they are also much brighter. Whatever the bulb you use, we recommend you have them replaced once a year so they don’t dim to the point that they become a safety issue. As for the lenses, most of them are made of plastic that can become cloudy or yellow, blocking a lot of light. They cost a lot to replace, but by having them restored regularly with special cleaners and polishes and installing new bulbs when needed, your vehicle will light up the road like a new car and keep you safe.

Exhaust

There’s more to your car exhaust system than just your muffler. Your exhaust system safely moves hot exhaust from your engine to your tail pipe, treats it to remove harmful pollutants and muffles the engine noise. Exhaust gas is poisonous, so if it leaks into the passenger cabin it can make you sick or even kill you. Exhaust gas also contains pollutants, but the catalytic converter in your exhaust system scrubs some of those harmful substances. However, catalytic converters wear out and need to be replaced, but they’re expensive, so you want to help them last by keeping the fuel system clean.

So if you see, smell or hear exhaust anywhere but near the tailpipe, bring your vehicle in to your local NAPA AUTOPRO service centre and have one of our trained technicians take a look at it – one simple inspection could save you a world of trouble!

Check Engine Light

Modern vehicles have an onboard computer system that monitors the emissions control systems and control things like the fuel injectors, spark plugs and the idle speed to get the best performance possible from the engine. When your vehicle’s Check Engine Light lights up, it means that the computer has detected a problem and that the driver should bring their vehicle in for inspection as soon as possible.

That’s because when your Check Engine Light comes on, a trouble code is stored in your vehicle’s computer. Your NAPA AUTOPRO service centre has state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and software to help them retrieve trouble codes, identify the cause and perform the necessary maintenance or repairs before they become worse.

Axles

Your axles’ main job is to transfer power from your engine to your wheels. They are strong parts that can last a long time if properly maintained. Eventually, your axle will wear out over time and need to be replaced. Sometimes, an axle seal can leak and let water into your wheels, which can cause you axle to fail. A failing axle can cause your wheels to lock up, which can result in costly damage to your car’s transmission, and can even cause an accident.

So if you hear a strange noise coming from your axles, it’s important to get it looked at as soon as you notice the problem – waiting will only make the damage worse.