Maintaining that new vehicle warranty – Who can service your new car or truck?

It makes a person feel good the first time they drive away from the dealership in their new vehicle. That new car smell is in the air: at least for a few months, it makes you feel great!

Unfortunately it doesn’t stay new and you will need to look after it so it doesn’t depreciate too fast. Routine maintenance is part of the cost of transportation and looking after your vehicle properly is a sure way to help lower the cost of transportation because a properly operating vehicle uses less fuel is much more reliable to get you where you need to be and get you back home. Performing the recommended services on time allows you to keep your vehicle for many years, reducing your overall cost of transportation.

So what should you do about servicing your new vehicle or even one you’ve had for a while? What does the owner’s manual say? Does it say you have to go back to the dealership you bought it from or can you go to the repair shop of your choice?

What it will say, is that you need to perform a minimum amount of required maintenance and keep a record of it, in order to maintain the warranty coverage and use parts that meet or exceed the specifications in the owner’s manual. It will also recommend the services be performed by qualified people, this means it doesn’t have to be the dealership, only a reputable repair facility that uses the proper fluids and filters along with other maintenance items. Crestview Auto Service is your dealership alternative.

At Crestview Auto Service we look forward to helping you get the most out of your vehicle, your manufacturer warranty and extended warranties.

All our filters, fluids and maintenance items meet or exceed your warranty requirements. Our goal is to help you have a reliable vehicle; one you can trust to take you anywhere and get you back home. When you bring us your vehicle that is under warranty for servicing, part of our job is to make sure you are aware of any concerns that are covered through your vehicle warranty. This way when you bring a warrantable concern about your vehicle to the dealership, they will look after you. We will keep all records of maintenance or repairs done to the vehicle, and if a warranty concern comes up and the records are needed they will be readily available for you or if you would like, we could send them directly to the dealership on your behalf.

If you go to the dealership with a concern that is under warranty, the dealership will do all they can to rectify the problem and solve it under warranty, the catch is you need to tell them there is a problem. Logically, most people think when they take their vehicle to the dealership for routine service, that they are getting a warranty inspection at the same time. It makes sense this would happen, but most often they will only get what the maintenance service calls for. The dealership technicians are not allowed to “look for warranty work”. This mandate comes right from the manufacturers, as they are the ones that control your warranty, not the dealer.

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

Timing Belts and Timing Chains

Some vehicles use timing belts and others use timing chains to keep the engine synchronized. The timing belt is a reinforced rubber belt with evenly spaced notches, which rotate on matching pulleys. This makes the connection that keeps the upper rotating components synchronized with the lower rotating components. Over time the rubber and reinforcing fibers break down and the belt needs to be replaced.

Each vehicle's specific maintenance schedule will specify when the timing ...belt needs replacing. This interval is the maximum distance or time the belt should be used. The reason we replace it before it breaks is so that the internal engine components that need to move “in time” to each other do not make contact. Once the belt breaks or jumps a tooth, a lot of internal damaged can happen due to the destructive forces of parts hitting each other. When this happens the costs will skyrocket and may lead to complete engine replacement.

The cost to replace the timing belt varies greatly between vehicle manufactures and even the same manufactures different models of vehicles. When it is time for servicing, not only does the belt need replacement but any of the other components driven by the timing belt should be inspected to be sure they will be good until the next service interval.

At Crestview Auto Service our goal is for you to have a safe reliable vehicle, to save you time and money for as long as you own it. Proper maintenance does cost money but it costs a lot less than neglecting the maintenance and having to pay for preventable repairs. Maintenance can be planned for weeks or months in advance, unlike a break down, which usually tends to ruin the day. We look forward to helping you with your vehicle maintenance.

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

Maintenance: Part 2 of 2

How often is it that we get to choose when we buy our next vehicle? Or, are we being forced to buy one because of expensive repairs that are needed due to unintentional neglect? People that have well maintained vehicles get to choose when they get a different vehicle and can change vehicles just to have something different, not because they have to. These people enjoy shopping for a new or newer used vehicle, without the pressure of feeling “I have to buy a vehicle today because mine is broken”.

By definition, vehicle maintenance is flushing and changing fluids along with servicing components before they have a chance to negatively affect the life of the component they are protecting or they cause wear to other components on the vehicle. In other words: change or flush the oil, antifreeze, brake fluid etc. before it is worn out and causes component wear or failure; replacing struts and shocks before suspension components fatigue and fail due to excessive movement; and replace the accessory drive belt before it breaks and causes engine overheating and damage. Keep in mind that repeatedly stretching the maintenance intervals will have a compounding effect, as components wear they begin to wear faster and faster causing you to spend more on repairs than you would on maintenance. This “stretching the maintenance” includes using the “normal” schedule if you should be using the “severe” schedule.

Your owner’s manual has “normal” and “severe” maintenance schedules, but how do you know which one to use? When you read the “fine print” in the owner’s manual it will very likely lead you to the conclusion you are in the “severe service” category. This is almost never talked about when we go to buy a vehicle because it adds to the cost of ownership. As a general rule, stop and go driving such as city driving, short distances that do not fully warm up the engine and transmission etc. to burn off contaminants in the oils, trailer towing, hot or cold weather (think winter and middle of summer) all point to severe service driving.

At Crestview Auto Service our goal is for you to have a safe reliable vehicle; to save you time and money for as long as you own it. Proper maintenance does cost money but it costs a lot less than neglecting the maintenance and having to pay for preventable repairs. Maintenance can be planned for weeks or months in advance, unlike a break down, which usually tends to ruin the day. We look forward to helping you with your vehicle maintenance.

Book online at www.crestviewautoservice.ca or call us at (306) 244-6522.

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

Maintenance: Part 1 of 2

Why does one person’s vehicle operate better and more efficient than another person’s when they have exactly the same vehicle? Although our driving habits come into play, most importantly is how we maintain our vehicle. Did you know you would save thousands of dollars by having required maintenance performed by qualified technicians? Have you been proactive with maintenance or reactive, meaning; do you have regular inspections and servicing to avoid surprises or is servicing done past the time or mileage it should have been done because we think we are saving money by putting it off. It has been well documented by government agencies and private industry that being proactive with vehicle maintenance and servicing will save you a lot of money (over 43% in some studies) compared to putting it off. The old saying of pay me now or pay me later is very true.

Each vehicle comes with maintenance schedules designed to keep the vehicle operating properly over the life of the vehicle. But what does the life of the vehicle mean; properly maintained vehicles can be very reliable and provide virtually trouble free driving for 15, and even 20 or more years. Maintenance schedules are perpetual and repeat themselves at various mileage and time intervals, they do not end, and go on for the life of the vehicle. 

At Crestview Auto Service we will work with you to be sure that your maintenance schedule is up to date. When you have your vehicle serviced regularly at Crestview, our maintenance tracking system will assist us in informing you of your upcoming maintenance needs. This tracking program will help in determining future budget considerations for your vehicle. If you are new to us any past maintenance or repair history you can provide will help us in determining the future maintenance schedule of your vehicle. 

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

Book online at www.crestviewautoservice.ca

Find us online...

Check us out, we're now on Google Plus and Facebook, or visit our website and blog! We're a proud Trusted Saskatoon partner and the only NAPA AutoPro in Saskatoon! 

Website: www.crestviewautoservice.ca


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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrestviewAutoService



Blog: http://crestviewautoservice.blogspot.ca/



#GooglePlus #CrestviewAutoService #TrustedPartner #Saskatoon #CarReview #CarRepair 

Meet Dave: North American Technician of the Millennium

A little trivia about our head Technician, Dave Wiebe

Dave is one of Saskatoon’s premier automotive technicians; he has competed against the best and won. In spring of 2003, technicians from across Canada and the USA were invited to enter a contest to see who the best technicians are. This contest, “Technician of the Millennium III”, tested knowledge, speed, accuracy and cleanliness of the technicians. Technicians across all of North America could enter the contest. The firs...t part was a written exam; Dave had the highest mark in Canada. After this the top 10 in each of the 8 regions competed against each other in a “hands-on” contest. The vehicles they worked on were brand new with 5 “problems” simulated to reflect real life. Each contestant had an identical car and only 2 hours to repair it correctly. Dave excelled and won the title of “Western Canadian Champion”. Dave was the only one to repair all 5 issues correctly. In October of 2003 Dave competed in Las Vegas against the 7 other regional champions from across North America. It was a tough contest with diagnostics that required total concentration and if that wasn’t enough they had 5000 spectators watching every move. When it was over Dave was named North American Technician of the Millennium winner and once again Dave was the only one to diagnose and repair all 5 issues.

Dave has been a part of the Crestview team for over 30 years.

#CrestviewAutoService   #TechOfTheMillenium   #Diagnose  #Repair   #Dave   #BestTechnician   #TrustedSaskatoon  

Tire Care Tips Video

Proud to be a Trusted Saskatoon Tire Expert. 

Check out our latest video on tire care.

Questions about your tires? Contact us or book online at www.crestviewautoservice.ca

#CrestviewAutoService #TrustedSaskatoon #TireTips #Tread #TireCare #TirePressure #TechOfTheMillenium #JDPowerAssociates #NAPAautoPro

Preholiday Inspection: Know Before You Go

Each year motorists are left stranded after they have headed out on holidays. There are many reasons for this but the main reason is the vehicle is not prepared for the trip. A car that feels like it runs and drives well around town suddenly has issues 3 or 4 hours from home at the start of a 2-week vacation. All the heat and stress created from the trip makes the “weak links” show up at inopportune times. Now you need to find a repair shop, hoping they can get you in and out quickly so the holiday won’t be ruined. You can virtually eliminate this from happening with a preholiday inspection scheduled for at least a week before you leave. Keep in mind this is much more than a basic oil and filter change, as the inspection will identify what condition the vehicle is in and if it’s ready for the trip. The following is from Car Care Canada after a recent vehicle inspection campaign.
Did you know?
Results from Car Care Canada's vehicle inspection events found 85% of vehicles needed some form of maintenance work. Some of the most common problems were:
• 20% of vehicles had low or dirty engine oil
• 18% had low tire pressures
• 16% had inadequate cooling protection
• 13% had dirty air filters
• 10% had loose or corroded battery terminals
To help you get ready for summer holidays you can call in or book online for your appointments.
Give us a call at 306-244-6522 or book online at http://crestviewautoservice.ca/ and click appointments tab.

#CrestviewAutoService #TrustedSaskatoon #holiday #inspection #maintenance #AutoRepair

Book An Appointment Online

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 TrustedSaskatoon partner and the only NAPA AutoPro in Saskatoon.

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

(Post 1) Tidbits

(P1) Tidbits of information about Canada you may never need:

Did you know?

• 22 million, the # of vehicles registered in Canada
• 764,382 passenger cars & 978,730 light trucks, # Canadians bought...
• 1,102,787 vehicles went to the scrap yard

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

#vehiclesincanada #CrestviewAutoService #Saskatoon #Tidbits #CarRepair #AutoService #TrustedPartner #JDPowerAssociates #NAPAautoPro

Buying a used vehicle - Information on Inspections

Buying a used vehicle - Information on Inspections

Is it time for you to get a different vehicle? If it is, Crestview can help! Buying a vehicle doesn’t have to be a gamble. When you buy a used vehicle, having a pre-purchase inspection is ...one of the best investments you can make. Depending on the year of the vehicle and your comfort level with the vehicle we can assist you in choosing how thorough of an inspection to do.

When a vehicle has passed a safety inspection, it doesn’t mean that in a few months the vehicle won’t need thousands of dollars in maintenance or repairs. Safety inspections do not inspect the complete vehicle. The engine state of tune, cooling system, transmission condition etc. are not taken into account, and components such as brakes, tires or steering components only need to pass the minimum standard and could require replacement 2 months after you purchase the vehicle.

Some things to be aware of when searching for that new vehicle are (when you drive the vehicle): Does it feel tight or does it “rattle” as you drive? Does the previous owner have the maintenance history to show you? And will the owner allow you to have the vehicle inspected? Be aware of a vehicle advertised as “It’s a great car, I’ve never had to do anything.” This can mean the new owner will need to spend a lot of money to “do” what the previous owner neglected.

To book a pre-purchase inspection or to find out more, give us a call at (306) 244-6522, or visit our website at www.crestviewautoservice.ca. We are a proud Trusted Saskatoon partner and look forward to working with you.

(This picture is of a used car that was inspected before purchase).

#preowned #usedcar #inspection #savemoney #maintenance #CrestviewAutoService #TrustedSaskatoon #autorepair #investment

Getting your car road trip ready

Getting your car road trip ready

2 KASA This Morning recently featured William Jones of Honest-1 Auto Care in Albuquerque. The segment starts out saying asking William what is the most vulnerable portion of the car during the heat, and William says it is the cooling system and explains that it should not be confused with the A/C, the cooling system keeps the engine cool. They go on to ask if something happens with the A/C what should viewers do, William explains that there isn’t much they can on their own and they should take it into a repair shop.  William goes on to explain that heat is the killer to pretty much anything on the car and heat means friction and friction can be bad for the tires, viewers should constantly check their tire pressure.  William continues on to show how to check the oil level in a car and cooling system. William says that you should always check a car when it is cool for safety reason. The segment ends with William providing information where Honest-1 is located in Albuquerque.

You can view the full segment here. 

To change or not to change? (Your cabin air filter)

To change or not to change? (Your cabin air filter)

Cabin air filters are found on most late-model vehicles. The filter cleans the air that comes into the interior through the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC). It cat...ches dust, pollen and other airborne material to make your car’s interior cleaner and healthier even more important if you have allergies or other respiratory problems, which can make riding in a car unpleasant. Some have added activated charcoal to the filtering element. These do not just filter particulates, but also odors and some common exhaust gasses.

Some signs that you need a new cabin air filter are reduced airflow through your HVAC system, such as when you turn the fan onto high speed and you get more noise than increased airflow. If you drive in heavy traffic, an area that has poor air quality, or dusty conditions you could need to replace the filter annually or even more often. Recommendations on when it should be replaced vary by manufacturer and depend on your driving conditions.
Many cabin air filters are located behind the glove box and are easily accessible by freeing the glove box from its fasteners. Others are located under the dashboard and may not be easy to reach, or under the hood where fresh air enters the HVAC system.

At Crestview Auto Service, you can expect nothing but the best when it comes to auto repair, maintenance and service! We are a trustedsaskatoon.com partner, upholding all standards and guarantees. Appointments can be scheduled by phone or online at www.crestviewautoservice.com

#CrestviewAutoService #CabinAirFilter #CarRepair #TrustedSaskatoon #partner #allergies #Saskatoon #CleanAir

Performance brakes for Bentley Continental, Azure, and Turbo R

Back in 1996, a wealthy client (reportedly the Sultan of Brunei) approached Bentley with a request for a higher performance Continental-style coupe.  A number of cars were built as a result, though descriptions of them are rare and sketchy.   With the subsequent sale of the company and turnover of staff, we may never know all the details.

In any case the cars had custom bodies, hot-rodded engines, stiffer suspensions, and bigger brakes.  Rolls Royce motors was reportedly paid several million dollars per car for these one-off vehicles. Their brakes are the subject of today’s post.

Rolls Royce and Bentley brakes have always had a reputation for being adequate to the job. When Bentley came out with the Turbo R they beefed up the brakes to keep up with that car’s greater potential for speed.  With big vented rotors and double calipers in front there was always a lot of brake to haul these cars down from speed.

But that wasn’t enough for this client.  He wanted more. And Bentley delivered.  They went to racing brake supplier Alcon, who modified their large four-piston race calipers to work with hydraulic oil instead of brake fluid. That called for different seals.  They engraved the Bentley name in the caliper faces, and finished them in red, black, and silver.  There's no record of which cars got which colors.  

At this time, Bentley is down to odd calipers in their parts stock.  If you wanted to do this to your Turbo you'd probably have to get calipers in three colors to make a set, and refinish them.  But the cost would give anyone but a Sultan pause . . 

Front calipers - $3,400 each (4 used)

Rear calipers - $4,400 each (2 used)

Rotors - $2,500 each

Hub adapters - $2,000 each

Brake pad kit - 4 wheel - $3,500

The brake upgrade was said to be a $35,000 upgrade from the stock Continental T system, which was itself quite a step up from what we saw on the first Turbo cars.

Interestingly the Azure photos I have seen online all show the paint burnt off the calipers.  I’ve no idea what that means. Were are the cars run hard, was the paint defective, or do they get hotter than expected in normal use? Does the mineral oil transfer heat better than brake fluid?  Also, all the photos I've seen show red calipers.  Where did the black and silver ones end up?

Bentley bought enough of parts that at least fifty-some sets were left over, and these were used on the Final Series Azure.  One of those cars came into our shop and I’ve got some photos to share, for those of you who dream of racing brakes for your Rolls or Bentley.

One of our jobs is to refinish the calipers to their original look. Stand by for a report in a few years as to how this job holds up.  The brakes you see have just 9,000 miles running on them.

The front and rear rotors on this car are the same size - the largest I have ever seen on this series of car.  The rotors are 40% thicker than the stock Turbo R units, and the pads have 50% more surface area.

Most owners of Crewe-built Rolls Royce and Bentley cars will never see brakes like these on one of our vehicles.  Maybe on a Ferrari or a Porsche, but not a Crewe car.  This is a rare sight for sure.

John Elder Robison is the general manager of J E Robison Service, independent restoration and service for Bentley, Rolls Royce, Land Rover, and other fine motorcars in Springfield, MA  Find him online at www.robisonservice.com or on the phone at 413-785-1665

New Car Battery Denver

When buying a new battery for your car, you want good quality at a good price. At Mastermind Enterprises Auto Repair Shop in Denver, we provide quality and value to every one of our customers. Your car battery not only needs to be dependable, but a good value, too.

We've been providing  quality auto repair services to the Denver community, including quality new batteries in Denver since 2002. Since opening our shop, we have determined what batteries work best for both longevity and value for our customers' vehicles. Mastermind Enterprises Auto Repair Shop supplies a complete new battery selection at good prices. 

A battery has a "normal" lifespan of about 4-6 years under normal conditions. Normal conditions mean the battery isn't subjected to extreme temperatures, isn't supplying power for a ton of accessories, goes through full charge cycles, and is connected to a dependable and steady charging system. Typical vehicle conditions include temperature extremes, vibration, short trips down the street, short drives to work, and an ever-increasing array of cell phones, MP3 players, GPS receivers and other devices take a toll on the battery.

Your driving style affects the lifespan of your battery, too. If you take lots of short trips or have a short commute to work, the battery never gets fully charged. Even though the battery shows up as working on routine tests, these short trips result is a shorter battery life.

Whether it's because your battery is old, your lights were left on, the keys were left in your ignition, many car owners will be faced with a dead battery at some time. Hopefully there will be another working car nearby with a good car battery, or you have a manual transmission, so you can jump start your car and get going again soon.

Mastermind Enterprises hopes to encourage people to replace their batteries when needed for optimum health and performance of their vehicles, making tows and jump starts unnecessary.

When you come to Mastermind Enterprises for your new battery in Denver, you know that your installation is being handled by a Master ASE Certified technician. We hope that you will return for your other auto repair and maintenance needs once you see our dedication to quality and service.  

Call Mastermind Enterprises Today!

303-297-2886

Auto Repair Coupons in Denver

The only place you need to look is
Mastermind Enterprises Auto Repair Shop in Denver, CO
for great coupons for your auto repair and auto service.

Get more great deals on auto repair and service
at Mastermind Enterprises in Denver! 

Call Mastermind Today!
303-297-2886

Honest-1 Auto Care in the Las Vegas Sun/VegasINC

Honest-1 Auto Care in the Las Vegas Sun/VegasINC

Honest-1 Auto Care was recently featured in the Las Vegas Sun/VegasINC in an article titled, "Auto repair business turns over a new leaf." The article, which includes great photos, focused on how Rich Margo, Honest-1 Auto Care Franchisee and the Honest-1 team took over the Las Vegas shop and turned it around to be successful. The article included information about his background, why he chose Honest-1, and even included address information for the Las Vegas Honest-1 location.

Click here to view the full article.