Kelowna Auto Repair

Tires have an indispensable role when it comes to all vehicles. On average, most drivers don't pay as much attention to their tires as they should. A big topic of discussion that might've never crossed your mind is whether people should fill their tires with air or nitrogen. Commercial vehicles have been using nitrogen to inflate their tires for a while now. Recently, there's been talks that nitrogen is a better choice for your everyday car tires. You should consider some things when comparing nitrogen vs. air-filled tires. Cost: When looking at which will be more cost-efficient, air is an obvious winner. Most places won't even charge you for filling your tires with air. However, if you took your tires and asked for nitrogen, you can expect to pay extra.  Consistency: Consistency with your tire pressure is essential. Nitrogen takes the win in this aspect. It is easier for air to seep out of tires over time. In contrast, nitrogen tires will deflate slower than ti ... read more

Quality surveys report fewer problems with new Kelowna cars than ever before. So does that mean that modern vehicles have become maintenance free in BC?Back when cars spent more time in repair shops, Kelowna drivers were more mindful of routine auto service. Now, it’s much easier to put it off.Take tune-ups for example. In the days of mechanical ignition systems, an engine needed to be tuned-up every couple of years. If your vehicle engine was out of tune, you knew it. It ran poorly and got bad fuel economy.Now, the ignition system is electronic and controlled by the engine management computer. Spark plugs rarely get fouled and will last for as much as a 160,000 kilometers. So tune-ups used to force you in to your auto repair shop for service and while you were there you just took care of whatever else was on the list.So, what’s the benefit to Kelowna drivers of keeping up with factory scheduled maintenance? Well, your vehicle will perform better and ret ... read more

Not just messy, this can be downright unsafe for our techs! Let’s face it, vehicles are complex machines, and hats off to the technicians who can diagnose and repair them when things go wrong.  Here are four tips to follow when you take your vehicle in, according to service advisors and technicians. Describe the problem thoroughly and accurately.  When you tell friends how your day at work was, you probably go into a fair amount of detail: the boss yelled at you because you were late, the computer froze up and lost five reports you were working on, and you over-microwaved your lunch.  Details, details, details.  The same works when you’re telling your Service Advisor the issues you are having with your vehicle.  Give as many facts as you can.  Did you smell something burning?  Did your vehicle make a noise?  Where was the noise coming from and sounds does it make?  Your powers of observation can be very helpful.  Consider ... read more

Brrrr.  It’s cold outside (especially in the mornings!!) and only going to get colder.  And if your vehicle’s heater isn’t working, then it’s cold inside too.  No fun – and potentially dangerous: heat is needed to defrost your windshield.  Unlike your house that has one furnace, a vehicle’s heating system has several different components, so it takes a trained technician to figure out where the problem is. Freezing cold – inside and out! Here’s how the heater works in most vehicles.  Coolant circulates through the engine (it’s helping the engine disperse the heat it generates).  Some of that heated liquid passes through a smaller radiator called the heater core, which is under your dashboard.  A fan blows air through that heater core, and heated air is distributed into your vehicle’s passenger cabin.  As you can see, there are several different possibilities when your vehicle’s he ... read more

Of all the warning lights on your vehicle’s instrument panel, there’s one that demands your attention.  And that’s the brake warning light.Common sense will tell you that if you can’t stop, you are endangering yourself and others.  Brake warning lights are there to warn you that something is wrong with this vital safety system.There are several reasons a brake light will come on, but if yours does, get it to our Service Center and have it checked out right away.Here are some possibilities of what’s going on when you see that brake warning light.Low brake fluid—A sensor has detected that the brake fluid level is low.  The technician can determine if you need more fluid.  The technician can also determine if there’s a leak in your brake system.  Low brake fluid could also be a sign of worn brakes pads.  An inspection can reveal brake problems.  Just topping off the brake fluid can leave critical problems unaddre ... read more