Pre-winter Car Maintenance

This time of the year the days are getting shorter and the weather getting cooler. Most people start doing their pre-winter automobile maintenance, other than regular timely oil changes. If you drive in winter, you should have your winter tires ready for the oncoming season.

You should have your vehicle inspected before the snow starts to fall.

Don’t Hesitate – Prepare Your Car for Winter

Randomly we will find some surprises like a somewhat worn tire which looks just fine from the outside but it may hide a serious belt separation at the inside.

Like the BMW tire on the picture which was at the right front, unfortunately it was destroyed, because worn bushings and misalignment. The owner said he was driving it at 130 kph and felt OK. This could end up in a crash or cause a serious mishap while endangering others.

worn tiresTypes Of Services Offered by Techmax Auto

Tire safety and vehicle safety is your responsibility and is a serious matter, which should not be taken lightly. Always regularly check for excessive tire and suspension wear and correct it in a timely manner. It will save your tires, fuel and excessive wear and tear in the long term. There is no magic to having a safe vehicle, it should be second nature.

Whenever we do regular maintenance on any car, we do provide a visual comprehensive inspection on the car, with you as a car owner / driver safety in the forefront to get you to your destination.

Get Ready for Winter Driving Again

Don’t forget to clean your windshield drains from leafs this time of the year, or your electronics may go for a “swim” ! See pictures for partially clogged drains on a 3 series BMW.

Click on the thumbnail to view bigger photo.

Do you have any questions, how may we help? Give us a call to:
(1) 905.795.0419.

 

Related:

Time to think about winter driving again

Get Your BMW and Mercedes Benz Winter Ready

Mini Cooper pre winter check

More information on our  winter service.

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The Dangers of Worn Tires

Every year we go through the change of the seasons, none of them more dramatic than fall to winter. There are a number of things to do, perhaps nothing more urgent than replacing your worn tires, weak battery and last but not least your wiper blades with some quality components.

The Dangers of Worn Tires

Driving around on all season or worn winter tires at winter time has their consequences. In slippery snow or on an icy road the choices you make, might have more expensive, longer lasting and yes, sometimes fatal consequences.

I made the next pictures, after the recent snowstorm a few days ago where the driver tried to get around on worn tires, probably also going too fast as well.

Click on any of the next images to view in bigger.

worn all season tireDrive on worn all-season tire at winter time is suicide.

If you thought you can “fly” around town with worn out “all season ” tires here is the result of that. Pretty much a disaster so to say. The entire right front suspension is torn apart.

New Budget Winter Tires

The cost of a set, new budget winter tires are $800.00,  the cost of destroying this car, which was a perfectly functioning car about $8 thousand. This car is a total write off, meaning the repair would exceed the value of the vehicle.  I think it’s not hard to decide which one makes more sense.

Broken Suspension AssemblyBroken suspension assembly from the same car as above.

On the photo at left is a broken suspension assembly, due to going way too fast and running over the curb which broke the suspension assembly entirely.

Worn winter tires are dangerous, worn all-season tires are lethal, when your car become a nearly 2 ton unwilling projectile in foul weather. So make wise choices your decisions will have long-lasting effects in either direction. Here are some more pictures to show you the effects of a wrong decision.

Click on any of the next images to view in bigger

Related:

Battery Maintenance

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Get Your BMW and Mercedes Benz Winter Ready

Winter is a tad early this year, the common sense dictates that to have your car meticulously prepared for the harsh climate.

Number one is check your battery state of charge and age, anything older than 5 years is on borrowed time for a standard lead acid battery. For the best results we prefer genuine quality batteries from BMW and Mercedes Benz. Nothing is more annoying when your car won’t start due to cheap lousy quality battery.  Agreed? If your car won’t start when needed no other preparation would mean anything.

To prevent breakdown and keep you on the road safely, we use Midtronincs GR8-1200 Electrical System Tester – Analyzer to check, test your battery and your automobile electrical system. Read more about battery testing…

Tires would be the next item on the check list, preferably winter tires for the season. Just like you use the appropriate foot wear, same goes for your car. I assume you don’t wear flip-flops in the winter. Correct? Worn tires regardless of season are useless when the going gets tough.

The next item should be wiper blades, light bulbs for safety’s sake. Remember, you get out of your ride, what you put into it, just make sense.

Naturally any cooling system issues will have negative consequences as the interior heat is heavily dependent on proper system operations, same goes for the blower motor. If your blower motor makes funny noises chirping and so forth, now is the time to replace it, not when it failed completely and you can’t see out on your iced and fogged up windshield.

Do you have any questions, how may we help? Give us a call to: (1) 905.795.0419.

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More information on our  winter service.

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Our Winter Driving Tips

Winter might be taking a nap, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t going to come. It’s coming whether we like it or not! Winter is the toughest season you and your car can face. We can prepare your vehicle for the ice, snow and freezing temperatures.

Winter Tires

All four wheels need them regardless of whether it’s a front-wheel, rear-wheel, all-wheel, or four-wheel-drive. All-season tires are not winter tires. Winter tires reduce the number of collisions by almost 20 per cent. Enough said.

Winter or summer, your car tires are the only point of contact that your vehicle has with the road, they need to be in good condition at all times to ensure your safety. Inspect your tires regularly for wear and any damage to avoid any sudden problems. Check your tire pressure monthly and before every long trip.

Driving with incorrect tire pressure can affect your car’s handling and braking, particularly in wet conditions, and can seriously compromise your safety. Driving on severely under inflated tires can cause heat build up and eventually a premature tire failure. Read more about winter tires…

Brake

You car brake system should be in top working condition at all times. Have your brakes checked by a professional regularly? Your and others life depend on it.  At winter time is more important than ever, in the case of slippery conditions like icy snow covered roads, the effectiveness of your traction control and ABS system depends on the quality of your braking system. Have it inspected and tested by a professional for ultimate safety in any weather and or road conditions. Bring your car in  for ABS and brake system service.

Battery Test

If your car is five years old or older have your battery tested for strength and performance to prevent possible no start condition in foul weather. It might not necessarily need a new battery, but having it tested can save a lot of headache.  To prevent breakdown and keep you on the road safely, we use Midtronincs GR8-1200 Electrical System Tester – Analyzer to check, test your battery and your automobile electrical system. Read more about battery testing…

Fluids

While the use of long-life engine coolant has increased, it still should be checked for strength and condition every fall.

Washer fluid level is an easy check and a spare bottle should be in your trunk all year long and especially in the winter.

The engine oil in your car has to go thru temperature extremes. Therefore it’s very important to have your engines lifeline the engine oil up to the highest possible standards, by performing your oil service on time, especially on today’s modern high tech engines, during winter operation thanks to fuel contamination from cold starts and water contamination from condensation. If you getting close to oil change, start off the season right with a fresh oil and filter change. While we perform your oil change we also check your brakes, tires and most fluid levels for your added safety.

Our Cooling System Service

Oil – Lube – Filter – Service

Wiper Blades

Windshield wipers consumable items. Doesn’t matter what brand name they are, they due for replacement at around 18 months of use or sooner. Most wiper blades can freeze, even dedicated winter wiper blades can get stuck to the windshield in extreme conditions.

When we inspect your car’s wiper blade, we lubricate the hinges to prevent water and ice formation at the base.

Locks & Doors

Before the Canadian deep freeze hits, we lubricate door locks, latches, and hinges and treat the door and window seals. We use silicone lubricating compound (Made in Germany). By spraying the door and window weather seals, they will be less likely to freeze you out on a cold winter morning.

Floor Mats

Never stack floor mats on top of one another or use a mat that’s too thick. The risk of jamming your accelerator pedal to the floor is real and the results can be catastrophic. Winter floor mats are great for reducing salt stains on the carpeting.

You should remove mats from time to time throughout the winter to dry them out indoors. Moisture on floor mats is the cause of hard frost appearing on the inside of windshields and door glasses.

Full  Tank of Gas

Drive with full tank of gas at winter is a good idea. Never know when you stuck in the snow, so you can keep your car and yourself warm if you have enough gas in your gas tank.

Some people put something heavy, like a 50 kg concrete block in their car’s trunk to get better traction, but if you get in a collision, consider the damage a 50 kg piece of concrete will do. The best weight to carry to improve traction is fuel in the gas tank. This brings the mass lower to the ground for improved stability and reduces the effect of winter water contamination in the tank.

But if you still want to put something heavy in your car trunk put there a bag of Kitty litter? Yes, kitty litter!

It can help provide better traction for rear wheel drive vehicles, because of the weight, and if you get stuck in the snow a little bit of kitty litter sprinkled under the tires can help you get traction and out of the snow.

We wish you happy winter driving!

Don’t hesitate to contact us. Our phone number is:  905.795.0419

 

Related:

Winter Service

 

Winter Tire Facts

Are you like many Canadians, driving around at winter time? Do you have winter tires on your car?

Yokohama Winter Tire

Why should you invest in winter tire?

Winter tires cost money and rather annoying to bother to change them and so fort the saying goes.

Is it right?

The facts are they designed for the cold temperatures not just the snow but the freezing numbing cold road, to stay supple providing your car with traction.

Quebec has mandated winter tires due to the overwhelming statistics of the crash data collected involved people driving on all season tires caused 38 percent of the accidents in.

Related;

Advices & Tips from Mississauga BMW specialist

Winter Inspection

What you need to know to improve fuel efficiency in winter time

Prepare your BMW automobile for our Canadian winter

*****

The winter months. Do you walk around in flip flops in the winter, or do you use your winter boots? Just as an individual adjust to the seasonal changes, your car needs to be adjusted for the harsh unpredictable winter.

Compare the cost of winter tires to the time money and effort lost if you get involved in an accident, or worst, due to lack of control cause an accident inadvertently. Accident could happen to anyone but accidents are waiting to happen if you have no control over your vehicle. A ton and a half vehicle traveling at speed will need all the help it can get in foul weather.

Please think before you drive. Thank you for your attention.

Take care. Best regards
Attila Jaszai President of
Techmax Auto Repair Inc.

Yokohama Winter Tire

There are plenty of excellent winter tires available for very reasonable prices. Call us for more details at  905.795.0419

Cars & Winter | Driving in Winter | Winter Tires

Autumn and winter are unpopular seasons for drivers: Uncomfortable cold weather, icy  roads, poor visibility.  Are you ready for winter?  What about your car? Is it ready too?

It is time to  check your winter tires. Continue Reading….

Winter & Windshield Wipers

Wetness and dirty windshields will impair the driver’s view substantially. How can you drive safely if you can’t see? Your car’s windshield wiper must be fully functional under different and sometimes in extreme weather conditions.

The new original Bosch Icon all season windshield wiper blades will do a great job…  Continue Reading…

Winter Driving & Winter Tires

Yokohama Winter TiresNothing beats winter tires. Of course it is true only in winter drive condition…

Today’s European Import cars are equipped  with specially designed, high performance summer or all season tires.

Those all season tires and summer tires reduce rolling resistance, and maximize fuel economy. The all season tires perform well in light winter, but they not enough to drive in our Canadian winter.

When temperatures fall below 7 Celsius, traction is reduced, therefore winter tires are recommended during Canadian winter condition for better traction and safety.

Much to often winter tires are portrayed as snow tires. The truth is, winter tires are not only designed to perform in snowy condition, but they are intended to provide optional performance in cold weather temperatures as well. Therefore even the absence of snow on the road surface, the winter tires will continue to provide you with performance and safety.

However winter tires are very effective in the winter season, under difficult environmental, (mud, snow ice) and at low temperature.

Yokohama winter tiresThe Winter Tire Technology Which Is  Ahead of Its Time. The brand name is; Yokohama iceGUARD IG-20. Continue Reading...

Winter Driving

Please consider it, winter tires are made, and  engineered to stay soft to the touch in the cold and has deeper profiles for the snow and slush.

The regular tires get softer in the heat. When the tire is warmer it will give you more grip, more traction. If the temperature goes down to minus, your summer tire can’t heat up, your car will have less grip.

winter tiresWide Have Selection of Winter Tires

The all season tires are between the two. They  will work better than the high speed summer radials and they definitely will give some traction in winter road conditions, but  not enough to be safe in our winter.

Thoseall season tires weren’t designed for our Canadian winter.

May we say your life and your families life is worth more than a set of tires, don’t you think?

More Winter Driving Related Info

“Motorists are more likely to face car trouble in winter than any other time of year”.

The CAA reports that of the 21 million emergency road service calls they receive, most are in the late fall and winter. Of those calls, 40 percent involve vehicles that wouldn’t start, and 34 percent are for major mechanical failures requiring towing.

Our complete analysis assures that your car is running at maximum efficiency, and provides insight to potential problems.

At winter time every car owner should pay special attention to oils and oil changes,  anti freeze, battery hoses and belts, wiper blades, tires and wheels, filters, etc.

You should make sure your car is 100% healthy. Bring your car in for a winter check! Continue Reading…

Related Topics:
Save on gas during winter, by driving on a right set of winter tires. The Winter Tire Technology, that Ahead of Its Time
Winter Service