ABS stands for "antilock brake system". There are 4 wheel and 2 wheel systems depending on the make and model of your vehicle. The purpose of this system is to prevent your wheel or wheels from locking up under any braking condition; this will keep the steering control in your hands. It also gives you optimum stopping distance so you can avoid accidents, especially in slippery conditions.

In an ABS stop, the wheels only stop momentarily and are then released over and over again by the braking computer. Because they never actually lockup or skid, you can steer even on ice when you have the brakes applied heavily. To accomplish this feat, the manufacturers have developed complex mechanisms controlled by computers.

When you see an (ABS) light on, it means you no longer have this electronic antilock function and your brakes have reverted back to a standard brake system like in the older cars.

We have the electronic tools to read the computer messages which help us diagnose the reason for the ABS malfunction. Call us today for an appointment.

Look after your car and it will look after you!

Clutches:

Manual transmissions vehicles use a clutch to connect the engine to the transmission. You, the driver, control that connection. A clutch has a wearing plate in it, that depending on individual driving habits, may last many years or just a short time.

Smooth shifting and not “riding” or slipping the clutch is what will make the difference between the clutch living for years or for months. Never rest your foot on the clutch pedal while driving as that will allow even minor slippage to burn up the disc.
Some clutches are adjustable while others are not. If you think your vehicle does not shift smoothly or shakes while letting out the clutch, call us and make an appointment to have it inspected.

Look after your vehicle and it will look after you!

Complete Brakes:

When your brake pads or brake shoes are worn out, it means the friction portion is now gone. Sometimes you hear an annoying squeal and that is part of the warning system that tells you it is time to replace them. They can sound like a fingernail on a blackboard (gives me the willies just thinking about it).

Simply replacing the friction material is not considered a complete brake job. Other parts such as calipers or wheel cylinders should also be replaced. These parts do not always function properly after having been exposed to the elements. While in use, they keep extending themselves to use up all the friction material on the pad or shoe. While doing so, their key parts are exposed to the elements and are subject to corrosion and dirt collection.

Compressing them back in to make room for new friction material only sends dirty fluid into sensitive parts such as antilock brake controllers and they often don't work correctly again. This is also the time to either replace or machine brake rotors and drums. Installing new springs, clips, and other hardware while repacking the wheel bearings is part of a complete repair. Flushing brake fluid will also provide optimum braking power. Here are some before and after photos of complete brake replacements.

Look after your car and it will look after you!

CV Joints and Boots:

Front wheel drive cars all have a constant velocity connection at each front wheel. These joints allow power or braking to be applied while turning a corner. These CV joints are lubricated by a special grease that is held in by a rubber boot.

The boot is an accordion looking device made of a rubber compound so it can rotate with the wheel and axle, while compressing and expanding while the vehicle turns corners.

These CV boots are replaceable without having to buy an expensive CV joint or axle assembly. Regular inspection with routine maintenance will save you big $$ here alone. This is part of a regular oil change inspection.

Look after your vehicle and it will look after you!

Differentials:

Differentials are driven by the transmission and then drive the wheels of any vehicle. Front wheel drive, rear wheel drive and four wheel drive all have different types of differentials. Some are limited slip, or posi traction and some are just open type.
Each type has to be identified carefully to ensure the correct fluids are used and the levels are maintained.

Regular oil changes and service determine how long these very expensive components will last. Replacing the fluids and monitoring for leaks is essential for their long life.

These services are always recommended at the factory recommended intervals.

Look after your vehicle and it will look after you!

Exhaust:

Your vehicle's exhaust system must be kept in optimum condition as it will have a noticeable effect in both the way your vehicle runs and for keeping you safe from the toxic fumes. Carbon monoxide leaks are odorless and deadly.

Front-end:

A vehicle's "front end" is the suspension and steering components. All these parts must be regularly inspected. This inspection is done each time your car is serviced or at 3000 mile intervals. Some telltale signs of front end problems would be: abnormal tire wear, steering problems, steering wheel vibrations or shaking. If you have any of these symptoms, feel free to call us for an appointment to diagnose and solve the problem.

Look after your vehicle and it will look after you!

Suspension:

A watchful eye on symptoms like excessive tire wear, a steering wheel that pulls to one side or the other, squeaks or rattles under the car, etc. should alert you to have your vehicle inspected specifically for a suspension problem. These are the types of problems that can be easily spotted while doing a simple oil change service. 

Look after your car and it will look after you!

Tire Sales and Service:

Tires are the only thing between you and the road. Their condition and inflation must be monitored regularly. During any routine maintenance, we will inspect and keep you advised of their condition. If you are in need of tires, we also provide competitive pricing on all makes and lines of tire. We are a one-stop maintenance and repair center.

Transfer Cases:

Transfer cases are in all four wheel drive vehicles and connect the front and rear wheels for maximum traction. Fluid condition and levels are critical to avoid expensive breakdowns.

This is part of our regular maintenance.

Look after your vehicle and it will look after you!

Transmissions:

Just like the oil in your car's engine, automatic transmission fluid (ATF) suffers from heat, friction and electrochemical degradation. In fact, nearly nine out of ten transmission failures are due to overheated, contaminated fluid.

However, unlike oil, which can be completely drained from your car's engine, most of the transmission fluid cannot be drained. Instead it stays in the torque converter, valve body and transmission cooler lines, making a complete fluid drain impossible.

Typical transmission service removes and replaces only 25% of your car's contaminated automatic transmission fluid. Adding a few litres of new fluid to the remaining contaminated fluid will not effectively replace transmission oil, as over 70% of the degraded oil will remain, causing serious malfunction or even complete failure of your automatic transmission.

Now you have an option. Our Transmission Fluid Exchange safely removes most, if not all, of the old contaminated fluid, as well as varnish deposits. It also cleans the transmission cooler, valve body and torque converter to remove wear metals that slowly grind away your transmission's internal components. Our Transmission Fluid Exchange thoroughly cleans your car's transmission and protects it with fresh ATF and conditioners that revitalize the seals and O-rings.

If your vehicle's transmission is showing any of the typical signs of contaminated transmission fluid -- slippage or rough or hard shifting -- try this service. It may help you avoid the cost of major repair work or even prevent the need for a new transmission.

Look after your vehicle and it will look after you!

U-joints:

Universal joints are located at either end of a drive shaft and designed to allow up and down or side to side movement while turning. They are most commonly used in four wheel drive or rear wheel drive applications.

Symptoms of a u-joint problem can be a vibration increasing with speed, or clunking while changing from drive to reverse.
On a four wheel drive, the steering wheel will rock back and forth when turning, while in four wheel drive. U-joints require constant inspection and lubrication if possible.

Look after your vehicle and it will look after you!