Ask the Auto Repair Experts
May 2012 Article
Air Conditioning – Detect signs of trouble with your air conditioning system.
First:
• Inspect belts and hoses every three months/6,000 Km.
• Inspect A/C system every 12 months/24,000 Km.
• Check for leaks on an annual basis.
Next:
Is your A/C working? See your NAPA AUTOPRO service centre if you see any of the following signs of trouble with your air conditioning system:
• A fan or blower that’s louder than usual
• A compressor that frequently engages and disengages (seen as surge or drop in engine RPM)
• Rough idling or high engine temperatureswhenever you run A/C
• Dash controls that don’t work
• Musty odours
• Water on the floor
April 2012 Article
At NAPA AUTOPRO, we don’t just care about the vehicles we service, we care about the customers who drive them. Here are a few helpful habits that will keep you safe while driving.
• Before driving, walk around the vehicle to make sure nothing is behind or underneath, and that there is no obvious damage to the body, lights or tires
• Adjust all mirrors in the vehicle to optimize your vision
• Wear a seatbelt at all times, be sure passengers wear a seatbelt
• Keep both hands on the wheel
• Pay attention to the road, if you must use a cell phone, pull over
• Always drive with your head lights on to increase visibility
• Leave plenty of space between you and other vehicles
• Always drive within posted speed limits
• Try to drive with a full tank of gas, you might just need it
March 2012 Article
Understand how we inspect and choose your windshield wiper blades.
1. First, our experts recommend: Replace every six months or when displaying signs of cracks, cuts, tears, streaks or chattering.
2. Next: Do you need new wiper blades? You’ll need them if you see these trouble signs:
• Streaking – Tree sap, road tar or other grime can harden and crack the rubber, leading to streaks.
• Chattering – Wipers will form a permanent curve if they’re parked in one position for an extended period of time, causing them to skip across the windshield.
• Worn rubber – Wipers require a defined edge to do their job.
• Split rubber – Old wiper blades, or those exposed to excessive ultraviolet rays, can split along their length.
• Bent refill vertebra or wiper frames-the backbone of the blade applies pressure against the windshield.
February 2012 Article
Get into the habit of adapting your driving practices to stay safe on the road this winter.
- Make sure your line of vision is clear, defrost all windows before driving
- Keep your windshield washer reservoir filled with a non-freezing solution
- Remove all snow and ice from headlights, taillights, and running lights
- Decrease your speed while driving
- Increase the distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you
- Pay attention to the weather and road conditions
January 2012 Article
Why Winter Tires?
Winter tires have an aggressive tread design that provide a better grip while throwing off snow and slush, providing more stability when braking and better vehicle handling. The rubber compound of a winter tire is relatively soft. The rubber in an all-season tire starts to lose elasticity and harden at temperatures around -8°C to -10°C, greatly reducing grip. At -15°C, this type of tire will have lost all its elasticity, whereas a winter tire will only harden at around -40°C – it therefore retains its elasticity for much longer. When purchasing/installing winter tires, remember the following:
• Install four winter tires – To help maintain control and stability of your vehicle in icy conditions, always install winter tires in sets of four.
• Mixing tires with different tread patterns,internal construction, and size degrades the stability of the vehicle and should be avoided.
• As a tire wears, snow traction is reduced. Tires that are worn close to the tread-wear indicators have reduced traction and should not be used on snow-covered roads or in severe snow conditions.
• Proper air pressure extends tread life, improves safety, and reduces fuel consumption – all vital factors in saving energy and protecting the environment. Tire pressure decreases as temperatures drop, so be sure to check the pressures at least once a month when the tires are cold, preferably after the car has been out all night.
December 2011 Article
Get into the habit of adapting your driving practices to stay safe on the road this winter.
- Make sure your line of vision is clear, defrost all windows before driving
- Keep your windshield washer reservoir filled with a non-freezing solution
- Remove all snow and ice from headlights, taillights, and running lights
- Decrease your speed while driving
- Increase the distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you
- Pay attention to the weather and road conditions
November 2011 Article
Difficulty starting? A cold engine is a stiff engine – it is hard to get the pistons moving, to draw in the fuel, and get started. So it needs more battery power. In cold weather, your battery may produce only 40% of the power it produces in warm weather, so give it a break – use a block heater. A block heater, with a timer to turn it on a couple of hours before you need your car, will make starting much easier. Starting warm can save you money on gas, too!
Take a look at your battery terminals. Is there any white deposit on them? That corrosion can insulate the terminals and prevent the battery giving your car its first boost of power in the morning to get it going. If your battery is getting a little elderly, you may not get a second chance.
It can take up to 40,000 volts to zap a spark into your cylinders. If the ignition wires are worn or cracked, some of that power may not make it, and you could have starting troubles – especially in damp weather.
October 2011 Article
The nights are getting colder and by the time you read this… the first frost has probably arrived.
Car Care Canada reminds motorists to start thinking now about safe winter driving – and winter tires are a must. Don’t be caught off guard by the first snowstorm or a quick drop in temperature!
Why Winter Tires?
Winter tires have an aggressive tread design that provide a better grip while throwing off snow and slush, providing more stability when braking and better vehicle handling. The rubber compound of a winter tire is relatively soft. The rubber in an all-season tire starts to lose elasticity and harden at temperatures around -8°C to -10°C, greatly reducing grip. At -15°C, this type of tire will have lost all its elasticity, whereas a winter tire will only harden at around -40°C – it therefore retains its elasticity for much longer. When purchasing/installing winter tires, remember the following:
• Install four winter tires – To help maintain control and stability of your vehicle in icy conditions, always install winter tires in sets of four.
• Mixing tires with different tread patterns,internal construction, and size degrades the stability of the vehicle and should be avoided.
• As a tire wears, snow traction is reduced. Tires that are worn close to the tread-wear indicators have reduced traction and should not be used on snow-covered roads or in severe snow conditions.
• Proper air pressure extends tread life, improves safety, and reduces fuel consumption – all vital factors in saving energy and protecting the environment.
Tire pressure decreases as temperatures drop, so be sure to check the pressures at least once a month when the tires are cold, preferably after the car has been out all night.
For more information about vehicle maintenance and safety, visit the Be Car Care Aware website at www.carcarecanada.ca.
The Rubber Association of Canada also offers more information about tires through their “Be Tire Smart” program. Visit www.betiresmart.ca.
September 2011 Article
Our Experts® recommend:
Inspect brake system, including brake linings, brake fluid, parking brake, rotors and drums. every 12 months/24,000 Km.
Next
Do your brakes need servicing? Here are a few signs that you should service them right away:
Noises – Squealing can indicate brake pads that have worn down to the planners and a grinding sound can mean pads have worn down to their backings, which are coming in contact with rotors.
Warning lights – “BRAKE”, “ABS” or “ANTILOCK” warning lights will briefly turn on when you first start your vehicle. If they stay on or continue to flash, there may be a fault in the anti-lock braking system.
Pedal sensations – A pulsing pedal can indicate rotors that are out of round, while a low pedal can indicate the need to adjust rear brakes.
Performance – “Spongy” brakes can indicate air is entering the brake system or that the brake fluid is contaminated. A vehicle that pulls to the side may indicate brakes are not balanced or there is a caliper problem.
Low brake fluid – Dropping levels of brake fluid can indicate wearing brakes. The fluid fills the space left by the caliper pistons as they are required to move outward. Frequent top-ups can be a sign of a leak in the hydraulic system that should be addressed by a qualified technician.
Brake flush – Recommended when brake fluid is contaminated.
August 2011 Article
Maintenance Tips
Keep it Clean
Fuel filters are responsible for capturing dirt and rust from your fuel tank, and clean a pressurized supply of fuel whenever your fuel pump is running (on most fuel-injected engines). In fact, they will filter the contents of your fuel tank several times before all the gasoline is burned. But if the filter is contaminated, the fuel pump will need to work harder to deliver your gasoline.
If your vehicle is suffering symptoms such as hard starts, a complete fuel system cleaning should remedy the problem, provided the vehicle is in good mechanical condition.
Cars equipped with carburettors should have their fuel filters replaced every year. And while filters on fuel-injected vehicles could last as long as 170,000km under “normal” driving conditions, Canadians tend to face severe conditions such as stop-and-go traffic. In most cases, fuel filters on fuel-injected vehicles should be replaced every two years or 40,000km.
Did you know?
The fuel filter should also be replaced whenever a new fuel pump is installed or work is conducted on the fuel system, because dirt can be dislodged in the process.
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