Crestview Auto Service receives a negative customer review on Facebook and Google +

                Crestview Auto Service are your Trusted Saskatoon Auto Service and Repair experts!

Our Trusted Saskatoon auto repair team at Crestview Auto Service pride themselves on providing excellent customer service, however, like any company these days we sometime receive negative online reviews. We value all comments and feedback, whether it is positive or negative, we strive to listen, learn and improve! 

Mostly our reviews are stellar 5 star reviews, but recently we were reviewed on Facebook and our Google+ page by Steven, a recent new customer.  Although we strive for excellence in customer service,  unfortunately there are times when we cannot keep everyone happy.  Steven brought in his vehicle to us for an SGI vehicle safety inspection , that was required as he was bring the vehicle in from out of province. After the inspection he was unhappy with our inspection and quote, and he has accusing us of taking advantage of him and "trying to rip him off".  For a business owner this is the worst kind of accusation,  questioning  our integrity.  So we  wanted to take this time to answer and to explain.  Here is Stevens initial review.  

'Hello Steven,

Thank you Steven for taking the time to leave a review and taking our call this morning to discuss your concerns, it helps us to improve our service. As you know, by law, vehicles entering the province must have the SGI Vehicle Safety Inspection completed and any deficiencies repaired before a licence can be issued. On the day we inspected your car, your frustration from being forced by SGI to have the inspection done was very apparent and understandable.  In response to your comments:

As you were advised, the rear tires are the same size but that is all, one is a winter tire and one is all season; this creates a real safety concern because of the differences in the traction coefficient from left to right and this does not meet the minimum requirements of the inspection, we recommended you only purchase one tire to match the best tire on the rear of the car, not 2 tires.

The price you were quoted for needed repairs to meet the minimum standards, was based on the SGI inspection results after we had inspected the vehicle, this is the only time anyone can give you an accurate price. Our pricing includes allowing for the extremely rusty condition of your vehicle. The exhaust, suspension, steering and rust are the major cost factors on your vehicle. You were also advised that you can have the repairs performed anywhere you choose, they just need to be done in a manor that satisfies the inspection requirements. Your vehicle has substantial rust issues in structural components of the frame and body and has patches on the frame that do not appear to have been performed in a safe, structural manner. We recommended that you have a “body integrity” inspection performed by an SGI licensed auto body technician before any mechanical repairs be completed. These types of safety and structural items are for the occupant’s safety and to ensure the vehicle does not cause an accident with anyone you share the road with.  Kurt Blight'

continues....

Crestview Auto Service We take a lot of pride in the quality of the work we do as well as in our integrity. We performed the inspection on your vehicle and reported the results exactly how we have been trained by the SGI inspectors themselves. We take the Provincial inspection process very seriously and stand by our inspection. We wish you well

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We want to reiterate that Crestview Auto Service is SGI certified and we uphold their standards, we cannot and will not deviate from these standards as they are developed to ensure road safety.

In addition,  we are a TrustedSaskatoon.com partner, nominated by our customers  we then passed a strict process of due diligence and as such, we are also contracted to uphold the 5- Trusted Guarantees of service.

In this case, due to the issue concerning rust/ the structure/ framework of the vehicle, we highly recommended it be checked by an auto body expert before any additional work be performed.  The driver's, its occupants and the public's safety on our streets and our highways will always trump the risk of upsetting a potential customer and any potential business they may bring. 
We take a lot of pride in our work and in our integrity so having an unhappy customer is always upsetting.  However, we stand firm behind the work we performed for the SGI certification,  our analysis, our quote and our recommendation.  In addition, we will not always be the "cheapest", but we so believe that using our certified technicians to service your vehicle WILL lower your overall and long term cost of owning any vehicle.  

5 Trusted Guarantees

1. Provide the service and quality promised.
2. Complete the job on time.
3. Charge the price quoted with NO surprises.
4. Communicate honestly and be responsive to customer needs.
5. Resolve any issues with customer satisfaction in mind.

Crestview Auto Service Saskatoon Car Care Advice: Water Pump

Let's face it, most of us do not think about  our vehicles until we run into a problem....and that problem may be a major inconvenience at best; an accident at worst. Having your vehicle serviced by people that you trust is an absolute must.   Let our team of highly trained technicians at Crestview Auto Service work with you to make sure your vehicle is ready for the road. 

Crestview Auto Service are your Trusted Saskatoon Auto Repair and service Experts!

The cooling system in an engine has five components: the radiator, the radiator cap, the hoses, the thermostat and the water pump. The water is literally the heart of the system. Just as your own heart keeps your blood circulating through your body, the water pump keeps coolant circulating through your engine.

The water pump is driven by a belt, chain or gear and only operates while the engine is running. It has a limited life span and sooner or later will have to be replaced. You can check your owner’s manual to find out how long your water pump should last. Some can fail at only 60,000 kilometers, but almost all of them fail by 160,000 kilometers.

Water pumps don’t gradually wear out; they fail. In other words, they’re either working or they’re not. A failed water pump has to be replaced.

Water pumps can fail in two ways: they can spring a leak or their bearings fail. Leaks can come from a cracked pump, but usually develop at the gasket where the pump attaches to the engine.

If you hear a low-pitched grinding sound coming from the water pump, it’s time for a new one. If you see coolant leaking in the area near the pump, it needs to be replaced. Also, coolant on the driveway could indicate water pump failure. Many water pumps aren’t visible because they’re under a plastic cover, so you may have to take your pickup to your Saskatoon service center or Crestview Auto Service to know if the water pump has failed.

If your water pump is run by the timing belt, then it should be replaced when you replace the belt. Most timing belts need to be replaced at around 100,000 to 150,000 kilometers. The labor for replacing a timing belt is about 90% the same for replacing a water pump, so it’s cost-effective to take care of them both at the same time.

Also, if your water pump develops a leak (if it’s powered by the timing belt), you have to replace the timing belt as well since contamination by coolant fluid damages the belt. It just makes sense for Saskatoon motorists to replace both of these critical parts whenever either one needs it.

Replacing a water pump at Crestview Auto Service is a car care issue that almost all of us Saskatoon car owners face eventually. They don’t last forever. On the other hand, we can extend the life of most of the components of our vehicle through important preventive maintenance. Just as exercise and diet keep our heart healthy, regular check-ups and fluid 

Drop in or give us a call at 24 - 23rd St E
Saskatoon, SK, 306-244-6522

Crestview Auto Service

“We’ll Keep Your Car Young a Long Time”

Shocks & Struts (Part 1)

Are your shocks and struts in control of your ride? (*Part 1*)

First, a little trivia about the life of struts and shocks; research by manufacturers shows that on the average road (not Saskatoon’s pothole roads) each strut or shock on your... car cycles (stops and starts moving) 1100 times per kilometer. That works out to be 88 million times in 80,000 kilometers! That’s 88 with 6 zeros added, WOW! When they get worn out they cycle even more. Your vehicle feels the wear, a vehicle with as little as 80,000 kilometers can take an additional 3 meters or more to stop than a vehicle with new struts and shocks! That can be the difference between making a quick controlled stop, or panic and possibly an accident.

Struts and shocks are the components on your vehicle that control the up, down and rocking or sway movement of your vehicle. The struts and shocks don’t hold the vehicle up, that’s the job of the springs. When a vehicle is new, the struts and shocks allow us to have a safe controlled ride. Over time, the struts and shocks are slowly wearing and most drivers do not realize how worn they are until after they have been replaced. The difference in ride and vehicle control after replacement of worn struts and shocks can be dramatic.

In the past we used a visual inspection and a bounce test of the vehicle to determine if they were good or bad. If we saw oil on the outside, or if the vehicle cycled too much after a good bounce we recommended new ones. With the newer manufacturing technology, this only works on struts and shocks that are extremely worn. Over time, as the internal seals, oil and components of struts and shocks wear, they lose the ability to control the springs. This becomes more obvious after driving for a while, the vehicle is relatively stable when starting out but after driving for some time, it becomes less stable and has a mushy feel to the ride. This extra movement creates excessive heat causing the shocks and struts to lose the ability to control the springs.

Watch for part 2 coming soon.

At Crestview Auto Service “We’ll Keep Your Car Young a Long Time”

#Shocks #Struts #Tires #Alignment #TrustedSaskatoon

Springtime Promotion at Crestview

Spring has arrived which means time outdoors, nicer weather, BBQs and spring tune-ups. Bring your vehicle to Crestview for the Spring Maintenance Service and you will be entered to win the "Big Green Egg" mini cooking BBQ. Book your vehicle today as this promo ends on May 31st. 

#spring #vehiclemaintenance #promotion #BBQ #NAPA #TrustedSaskatoon

Don't let the pressure get you down...

Spring is in the air and that means summer is around the corner. Getting out on the open road is a great way to enjoy the warm weather. It’s a good idea to have a look at your tires before heading out. Have a look at this short video on setting proper tire pressure.

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#tires‬ ‪#tirepressure #spring #driving #tirewear
www.crestviewautoservice.ca
(306) 244-6522

Meet our newest Journeyperson, Brandon Klassen

Congratulations to Brandon Klassen on completion of his AST apprenticeship and graduation as a Red Seal, Automotive Service Technician. Brandon completed his 4^th and final session of training at Saskatchewan Polytechnic (formerly SIAST) this past February with an overall mark of 97% when combining theory and practical hands-on. No mark was below 93%, Wow!!

Brandon started as a service assistant/technician helper, and has been a valuable member of the Crestview team ever since. During this time, his attention to detail and customer focus has been appreciated by co-workers and our customers alike. He has demonstrated a keen desire for accurate on-time diagnosis and repair. Along with Brandon’s natural ability he has also benefited working with and alongside Dave Wiebe our head technician; one of the most talented technicians in North America and winner of the “Technician of the Millennium” contest, that tested skills and abilities of technicians across North America.

Whether you come to Crestview Auto Service for maintenance services, routine repairs or diagnosing of electrical malfunctions and drivability concerns, you can be sure you are getting the very best. The Crestview team is here to ensure you get the most from the money you spend on your vehicle.

We’ll Keep Your Car Young a Long Time

#apprentice #Journeyperson #technician #bestmechanic #carrepair

When Heat Fails Us

This is the time of year when we depend on heat in our cars.  For most of us, the heat delivers on its design promise.  For a few unfortunates, though, it doesn’t.  The mechanic checks the coolant level, and makes sure the thermostat is working as it should.  If the engine is up to temperature the next place to look is the heater control circuitry.  When all else fails we are left with the possibility that the heater core itself has failed.

Heater core replacement is the automotive equivalent of a root canal.  It's ugly, painful, and costly but sometimes it has to be done.

Heater cores are like small radiators that shed some of the engine’s heat into the passenger compartment.  There are two ways a heater core can fail – by leaking or by clogging.  Leaks are obvious because you’ve got coolant all over the floor.  Clogged cores are more subtle.

Take a look at this core from a 2006 Land Rover LR3.  There’s nothing obviously wrong from outside, but when we cut the core open we saw a different story.  The whole far side of the core is clogged.  Only the left side of the core remains open.

You might think that would cause weak heat, but it actually created a different problem. This Land Rover – like many other late model cars – has separate temperature controls for the driver and passenger.  The air that blows through the core is sent to the left and right sides respectively, so with one side clogged we had normal heat on the passenger side, and virtually no heat for the driver.

This seemed like a control problem but it wasn’t.  When heater cores clog the repair is often a big deal.  In this Land Rover the whole dash had to come out for repair, as you see.  Jobs like this can run into multiple days of labor, and cost thousands of dollars.  And this is no place to cut corners looking for a low bid – this is detailed work.  Every fastener left loose, and every broken bracket is a potential rattle.  There are a hundred electrical connections, and any that come loose are problems for tomorrow.  This is work for someone who knows Rovers and specializes in large interior repairs.

When a job like this is done there will be faults in the airbag system and many other dash electronic systems.  The person who does the work will need to have a factory-level test system to clear those faults and ensure everything is working as it should.

 At Robison Service we are proud to be known as experts in repairs like this.  Author John Robison is a long time Land Rover service manager, and a technical advisor to many Rover clubs.  He’s written many articles on Land Rover service – indexed here.

No Land Rovers were harmed in the writing of this story, and environmentally friendly repair methods were used throughout.  We are located in Springfield, Massachusetts, where we stand ready to provide top-quality service and repair to owners of BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Rolls-Royce and Bentley motorcars.

© J E Robison Service

“Why do wheels need to be re-torqued?”

Re-torquing wheels after vehicle servicing

When you bring your vehicle to our repair shop, if we have had your wheels off of the vehicle, we will ask you to return so we can re-torque the wheels. Your invoice will also have a statement on it advising that the wheels need to be re-torqued. You can do this yourself if you like, but if we were the ones to work on the car we do this at no charge to you. We always use a torque wrench to tighten your wheels when we re-install them. This is more of a safety concern now than it was 20 years ago. Vehicles are much more reliable today, but they are made with lighter materials and some of these are very fussy about how they are put together. Even a slight decrease or increase in the tightness of bolts and nuts can have adverse affects, in that they can loosen or they can break. 

Occasionally a customer will come into our auto repair shop with a concern of a noise; once in a while we find loose lug nuts that hold the tires and rims tight to the car. This usually happens shortly after they have had the vehicle in for servicing somewhere and the wheels were off or they have taken the wheel off themselves. Most automotive shops will use a torque wrench to tighten the wheel and this is the best way to make sure the nuts are tight but not so tight that the wheel studs break from too much pressure on them. Some vehicles are more prone to having the lug nuts loosen and will need multiple re-torquing to make sure they stay tight.

Loose wheels don’t happen often, but to be safe, have your wheels re-torqued within the first 100 KM after they have been put on. It is the responsibility of the vehicle owner/driver that this is done. Loose wheels can cause a lot of damage to your car and potential injury to you and others. It doesn't take long to re-torque wheels and could save you a repair bill and a big headache.

www.crestviewautoservice.ca
(306) 244-6522

(P2) More Tidbits

(P2) Tidbits of information about Canada you may never need:

Did you know?

·   36X - Married couples are 36 times more likely than the average person to spend money on vehicle maintenance and repairs.

Information gathered from Government of Canada and the automotive industry (2014).

#maintenance #married #repair #tidbits #canada

Be prepared for winter...

September is here and that means winter isn't too far away. Over the next several weeks we will be posting about winter maintenance and what you should know; things to have in your vehicle in case of emergency; and information on winter tires. You can get ahead of the rush by scheduling your appointment in advance. Our website offers you the convenience to book online (www.crestviewautoservice.ca) or phone one of our service advisors at (306) 244-6522.
"We'll Keep Your Car Young A Long Time"

#tires #beprepared #maintenance #dontwait4winter

Convenient Appointments

DID YOU KNOW?

Crestview Auto Service provides the convenient option to BOOK an appointment ONLINE! Go to the website at http://www.crestviewautoservice.ca/ - click on "appointments book on-line" and fill out the short form... It's that easy!

We are a proud Trusted Saskatoon partner and the only NAPA AutoPro in Saskatoon.

#CrestviewAutoService #TrustedSaskatoon #BookOnline #Appointments #AutoRepair #Maintenance

Choosing a service provider

What do you want from a maintenance program?

When people bring late model cars to Robison Service (or any independent service specialist) they are often seeking an alternative to dealer service.  Why? 

In my experience, dealership service personnel follow a game plan that is laid out by the carmaker and oriented toward maximum new car sales.  In other words, keep the new car buyers happy so they buy another car in 2 or 3 years.  The primary purpose of a new car dealer is to sell new cars.  Service may be an important tool to build client satisfaction but it’s not the reason dealers are there.

 Shops like ours – specialists who concentrate on one or two makes for service only – have a different orientation.  We are here to keep the cars under our care on the road and as reliable as possible for as long as our clients want to drive them.

With that different perspective it should not come as any surprise that the dealer and we would espouse different philosophies when it comes to preventative maintenance.

The manufacturer may call for a 15,000 mile oil change interval in a certain model car.  That may work fine for new cars.  But we cars that are 7-8 years old, with 70-80,000 miles on the odometers, and that 15k service interval hasn’t worked out too well.  Maybe the owner didn’t make it in a exactly 15k.  Maybe the dealer didn’t use the right oil.  Maybe the 15k recommendation was a little too aggressive.  Maybe . . . .

From our perspective, the maybes don’t matter.  Results matter.  We see the damaged high mile cars, and we see other cars whose oil was changed at 10,000 miles.  Those cars don’t show any wear or damage. 

The dealer represents the carmaker, and if they say “do oil at 15,000” that is what they do.  We are independent.  If the evidence of our service fleet causes us to believe 10,000 miles is a more prudent interval, we’ll say so. 

We also recognize that tests may facilitate even better fine tuning.  If you run 25 vehicles, and you sample oil from all of them at different intervals you will get a very accurate idea of how often to change oil for your fleet in the circumstances in which you operate.  You may be surprised at the number.

We may deviate from the manufacturer’s suggested service schedule based on our experience.  Does that mean the manufacturer was wrong?  No.  It means operating conditions differ in different areas, and service schedules may be optimized to reflect that.  In some cases, manufacturer service scheduled may be trimmed down to present a lower cost of upkeep in the early years.  If you only drive the car for those early years that’s good for you.  But if you plan to drive it for ten years, you’ll pay a price for that early economy.  We don’t have to follow that plan for long-term owners, while we can embrace it for short term lessees.

Flexibility has value.  We can apply that flexibility in a hundred different areas from filters to fluids; from software updates to system upgrades.

There’s room for more than one opinion when it comes to service.

Think about that as you consider what you want from a service provider.

John Elder Robison is the general manager of J E Robison Service Company, independent restoration and Bosch Authorized Car Service specialists in Springfield, Massachusetts.  John is a longtime technical consultant to the Land Rover, Porsche, and Rolls Royce Owner's Clubs, and he’s owned and restored many of these fine vehicles.  Find him online at www.robisonservice.com or in the real world at 413-785-1665

Month of Myths - #1

Myth 1: To maintain my warranty I can only have my car serviced at a dealership.

Service at a dealer is not mandatory to keep your warranties in effect. Maintenance may be done by any qualified service facility or by a person who is skilled in automotive service. Keep all receipts as proof of completion, and have the service provider fill out the Maintenance Record.

Crestview Auto Service is a quality service facility and can assist in all of your maintenance needs. Visit us at www.crestviewautoservice.ca for more information or to book online.

(Post 5) Tidbits

(P5) Tidbits of information about Canada you may never need:

• 150, the # of new vehicle models and major redesigns introduced by manufacturers from 2010 to 2012
• 260, the # of new vehicle models and major redesigns expected to be introduced between 2013 and 2015

(Information gathered from Government of Canada and the automotive industry, 2013)

#AutoService #Saskatoon #CarRepair #Service #CrestviewAutoService #Tidbits #TrustedPartner #JDPowerAssociates #NAPAautoPro #automotive #newdesign #redesign

Are your shocks and struts in control of your ride? (*Part 2*)

Vehicle ride, handling and braking are directly linked to the integrity of your suspension components. Like many of the systems on your vehicle, struts and shocks wear very slowly; many people only realize how worn they have become after they have had them replaced. After replacement the vehicle feels like new.

As the internal components of shocks and struts wear, additional internal heat is created resulting in deteriorating ride quality, braking and handling. With this wear, the oil inside the struts and shocks aerates becoming more like foam than the liquid oil it is meant to be. The farther you drive the worse this gets. The air acts like a squishy ball, allowing excessive movement of the vehicle. When we step on the brakes or make sudden steering moves the vehicle starts to rock or roll, this lifts up one end and drops the other end. Any time this happens the tires, brakes and suspension are over loaded on the low side and you don’t have enough traction on the high side. This is the reason it takes longer to stop and you have less control with worn struts and shocks.

Unfortunately we cannot change the oil in the struts and shocks when it gets old like we do engine oil. You may have seen advertising from manufacturers advising you to replace struts and shocks after 80,000 kilometers; this is the reason; the oil is worn out resulting in the struts and shocks not working as they were intended to.

There are other considerations with worn struts and shocks; all of the extra vehicle movement creates wear in suspension and steering components, requiring replacement sooner than needed. The braking system will be over loaded in the front from having too much weight transferred from the back of the vehicle to the front when slowing down. This overloads the front brakes and causes the rear brakes to be less effective creating longer stopping distances. Additionally your tires will wear out far sooner than a vehicle with good shocks and struts.

Regular maintenance inspections, performed by experienced technicians along with the needed services will help you save time and money keeping your vehicle safe and reliable for many years to come.

At Crestview Auto Service “We’ll Keep Your Car Young a Long Time”