Okotoks Auto Repair

Benefits Of Maintaining Your Car Longevity You’ve probably seen a car that is older than Dracula but surprisingly, it doesn’t look like it. In fact, a well-maintained old car can outlive a newer car that’s been neglected without proper care. Quite often, it’s the little things like regularly checking your tire pressure, brakes, fluid level, battery and lights that make the big difference in the long run. Boost Your Safety Did you know that some road accidents are indirectly caused by poor car maintenance? For instance, you can forget to service your brake system and when you need to slow down, it malfunctions causing an accident. Another scenario would be a worn out tire that was supposed to be changed that bursts when you’re driving at high speed – you get the picture? Anyway, maintaining your car can improve your safety and potentially save your life. Enhances Reliability And Performance If you drive a car for long enough without maintenance ... read more

When cars were first invented, there wasn’t a ton of thought given to emissions beyond “keep them out of the passenger compartment.” As you can imagine (or if you were around in the ’80s or before, maybe you remember) this wasn’t great for air quality. These days, exhaust systems work to keep emissions to a minimum, and play an integral role in keeping your engine running smoothly. Catalytic converters have come a long way, but they’re still a centerpiece of the system. So what are the signs of a bad catalytic converter? And what should you do if yours has an issue? One Cool (Scalding Hot) Cat Catalytic converters take the harmful chemicals that form as a result of the combustion process and render them harmless through chemical reactions at very high temperatures. Traditionally, they live in line with the muffler in the undercarriage, but as technology has advanced, they’re sometimes seen right up on the engine block in one ... read more

Rack-and-pinion is the most common steering system in late-model cars. It can be part of a hydraulic or electric power steering system. The steering rack, which is controlled by the steering wheel, directs the rod-operated linkage, which causes the wheels to turn. In a hydraulic power steering system, a pump provides the required pressure. The pipes and couplings should be inspected regularly to ensure they aren’t leaking hydraulic fluid. Your certified NAPA AUTOPRO technician can inspect these parts during routine maintenance and, if necessary, change the fluid to eliminate contaminants, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Hybrid and electric vehicles use electric power steering systems. This type of power steering is gaining ground because of reduced fuel consumption. The vehicle’s central computer controls the power steering according to specific parameters, such as vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. No matter the type of steering system in your v ... read more