As with all our work, Precision Auto Body & Mechanical Services strives to offer the best possible solutions when tackling any general repair, be it repairing a leaking exhaust system, repairing a punctured tire or replacing a leaking cylinder head gasket. We tackle - and guarantee - pretty much any job, from replacing a light bulb to replacing a motor, clutch or transmission. About all we don't do, aside from machining drums and rotors and overhauling carburetors, are machine operations and rebuilding of components. Instead, we take great care in choosing our "partners" in automotive repair. We endeavour to ensure that the work they perform on our behalf will be up to the same standards as we ourselves would produce. We feel confident enough in the people we have chosen to perform tasks on our behalf, that we offer the same warranty as if we had done the work ourselves: 1 year, 20,000 kilometers, whichever occurs first.
Nothing can absolutely guarantee to maintain the value and durability of any automobile. But nothing can offer the same potential for doing so as can a diligent maintenance program. Every vehicle has different requirements, based upon driving habits, frequency of use, gasoline used and a variety of other factors.
By considering all of these factors and your personal budget, Precision Auto Body can help to determine the optimum maintenance schedule that best suits your needs. Typically, we recommend oil changes every 5,000 kilometers or 4 months, whichever occurs first. Other fluid changes – or flushes – we recommend at 50,000 kilometer or 2 year intervals. This includes anti-freeze, brake fluid, transmission fluid (whether automatic or standard), power steering fluid and differential fluid if equipped. For tune-up, or spark plug exchange, we suggest following the recommendations of the manufacturer, or as needed. Tires should be rotated every 15,000 kilometres or once a year, to keep the wear patterns even between the front and rear tires; if left too long without rotating, the tires on the rear of a front-wheel drive vehicle may become so distorted as to need replacing.
Fuel system service, as mentioned elsewhere, has become a very important maintenance operation – but make sure you’re getting optimum value for your money: there are some cleaning systems out there that do not do an adequate job.
Please contact us for specific pricing information. For the most accurate estimate, take your vehicle to Precision Auto Body for a free inspection. Our trained technicians can then assess your vehicle's needs, answer any questions and review your options.
What are all these maintenance services for?
It is very important to maintain your vehicle in order to ensure proper running condition and to maximize the life of your vehicle. Below is a list of auto maintenance services and explanations of what each service entails and why it is necessary for your vehicle. For more information about the auto maintenance services required for your specific vehicle, consult your owner's manual.
Oil and Lube Service / Filter Changes
Your vehicle's engine has hundreds of moving parts in it. These parts cause friction when they rub against each other and the friction, in turn, causes massive amounts of heat in your engine. To protect against all of this friction and heat, we introduce lubricating oil into the engine. The oil has two jobs in the engine. One is to reduce the amount of friction by putting a layer of oil between the moving parts and the other is to help vehiclery heat away from the hottest parts of the engine as it circulates through.
If there were no oil in your engine, the moving parts would create so much heat that they would eventually melt together causing the engine to lock up. Once those engine parts melt together, there is no getting them apart. So we can all agree that the oil in your engine is pretty important.
But why change the oil? Isn't the oil that came with the vehicle good enough? The answer is no, and here is why...
Over time, all oil breaks down. There are many factors that contribute to the breakdown of the oil in your engine, but heat is the biggest contributing factor. In addition to the breakdown of the oil itself, there are also additives that are put in engine oil. These begin to break down and lose their effectiveness over time. There is also the issue of contamination. Small bits of dust, dirt and debris get into your engine and make the or way into the oil. All these little bits of "stuff" make the oil much less slippery and much less effective at cushioning the moving parts of the engine.
So, how often should you change the oil? Most technicians recommend that you get an oil change every 3000 miles for maximum engine protection. Check your vehicle's owner's manual for the recommendations for your specific vehicle, but be vehicleeful. Some manuals recommend an oil change every 7500 miles under certain driving conditions. Make sure your driving meets those conditions before you decide to risk waiting that long for an oil change.
Wheel alignment is making sure the wheels are running parallel to one another, and that the tires meet the road at the proper angle. It is done by adjusting the angles between the suspension and steering parts, the wheels, and the vehicle frame.
Everyday driving with the shocks and bumps associated with it can cause the tire angles to get knocked out of line. When this happens, it can cause the vehicle to handle badly or the tires to wear unevenly.
What are some signs that my vehicle needs a wheel alignment?
Most alignment warning signs are easy to spot...
Unusual tire wear - tires are worn in a cupped, scalloped or diagonal stripe pattern at edges or across the tread, or wear is uneven with "feathered" edges on the treads.
Unusual steering feel - the steering feels stiffer than it should, or the wheel does not return to the center position when released.
The steering wheel is cocked to one side when the front wheels are pointing straight ahead.
The vehicle tends to pull to one side while driving, or tends to wander or weave, or is subject to front end "shimmy".
The process of tire balancing is when the weight of the tire, when mounted on its wheel and the vehicle's axle, is uniformly distributed around the axle. Or, in simple terms, there are no heavy spots on the tire.
An out of balance tire can affect ride quality, shorten the life of tires, bearings, shocks and other suspension components. If your vehicle has a vibration that is dependent on speed, and usually becomes noticeable around 40-45 mph and increases as your speed increases, it's probably balance related.
Tire balancing is achieved by adding weight across the tire from the heavy spot to "balance" things out.
As you drive along the road, your tire tread is rubbing off on the road surface. That is what is known as tire wear. Tire rotation ensures that all of the tires wear evenly in order to extend the length of the tire's life on your vehicle. You see, front tires wear on the outside because the tire leans over when you turn the vehicle. Rear tires wear much less because they follow the front tires. So, in order to make sure the tire wear evenly, you want to change which tires are in the front to keep one pair of tires from wearing out too quickly.
When should I rotate my tires?
Most technicians recommend tire rotation every 6,000 to 7,500 miles. Check your vehicle's owner's manual for your manufacturer's recommendation.
A tune-up is the process of checking and adjusting all of the systems in your vehicle that contribute to the efficient combustion of fuel.
How do I know when I need a tune-up?
Keep a log of your gas mileage. When the average falls by 10% - 15%, your vehicle needs a tune up. As always, check your vehicle's owner's manual for manufacturer recommendations.
Some facts about tune-ups...
Tune up can improve your fuel economy by 4 to 12%.
A too rich fuel to air mixture will lower fuel efficiency.
A too lean fuel to air mixture can cause misfiring or engine damage
Spark plug timing must be set to specifications.
Clean and properly adjusted points will produce fuel efficient firing.
One spark plug misfiring half of the time reduces fuel economy by 7% and two can reduce it by 20%.
Too high an idle speed wastes gas.
In a fuel injection system , the fuel is sprayed through the fuel injection nozzle into the combustion chamber. For good combustion, the injectors must produce a fine cone-shaped mist of fuel vapor. Wear or deposits in the nozzle can create "streamers" of liquid fuel that vaporize and burn poorly. This, in turn, can cause hesitation, emissions and performance problems.
Fuel injection cleaning removes deposits from the fuel injection nozzle and clears the way for that fine mist of fuel to come through.
Fuel injection cleaning will help increase performance, eliminate hesitation, improve gas mileage and lower exhaust emissions.
Like the oil in your vehicle, the transmission fluid in your transmission can become contaminated with dirt, dust and debris. As the transmission fluid ages, viscosity breaks down and contaminants build up, leaving your vehicle's transmission vulnerable to breakdowns. A complete Transmission flush replaces all the fluid in the transmission and gives long term protection and reliability.
After a transmission flush, you will notice the difference in smoother shifting, improved performance, reduced component failure, and increased vehicle longevity
Do you need new windshield wiper blades? Look for these signs.
Good Windshield Wiper function is vital to maintaining your driving safety. Worn windshield wipers can seriously compromise driver vision whenever road conditions become wet or icy which is exactly when you need to see your best. with the winter driving season just around the corner, now is the time to make sure your windshield wiper blades are in top condition.
A good rule of thumb is to replace your windshield wiper blades every six months, especially in climates where there are temperature extremes. In between wiper blade changes, it is also good maintenance to clean the rubber part of the windshield wipers at least once a month to keep the blades in good condition. While you are cleaning the blades, it is a good idea to inspect your windshield wipers and look for trouble in any of the three main components: the arm, the blade, or the wiping element.
Is the rubber element warped, hardened, split or contaminated with foreign substances? Are there bends or twists in the wiper element's backing strip, frame or wiper arm? A bent arm, no spring tension in the arm, or other damage to the wiper assembly also requires replacement. Such damage isn't rare. Windshield wiper superstructure can be damaged by automatic vehicle washes, by scraping ice off the windshield during the wintertime, or by vandalism.
vehicle's engine has hundreds of moving parts in it. These parts cause friction when they rub against each other and the friction, in turn, causes massive amounts of heat in your engine. To protect against all of this friction and heat, we introduce lubricating oil into the engine. The oil has two jobs in the engine. One is to reduce the amount of friction by putting a layer of oil between the moving parts and the other is to help vehiclery heat away from the hottest parts of the engine as it circulates through.
another, and that the tires meet the road at the proper angle. It is done by adjusting the angles between the suspension and steering parts, the wheels, and the vehicle frame.
