CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON?

If it is, don't hit the panic button just yet, but don't ignore it either.
This yellow light is among the gauges and warning lights clustered around the instrument panel in front of the driver. It comes on briefly when you turn the ignition on to start the car, the same as other warning lights do. When these systems start up as you turn the key to start the car, they perform a “system check” to let you know the system is ready to do its prescribed job.

If all is well the lights stay off after this initial check, until one day inexplicably, it stays on or comes back on and glows a yellow warning “Check Engine”, “Service Engine Soon” or as some vehicles use, a yellow engine symbol.

The question is what do you check and why? The engine often shows no obvious signs of anything except running down the road in quiet contentment.

When the onboard diagnostic system determines that a problem exists, the computer turns on the yellow dashboard indicator.  This yellow light serves to inform the driver that a problem has been detected and vehicle service is needed to correct the issue.

As you drive, the on-board diagnostic system is continuously checking information from the engine, transmission and safety equipment on your vehicle against data stored in its memory. If one of the hundreds of possible faults is found to occur, the yellow indicator comes on. Occasionally the light will come on and go off as you drive if the condition causing the light to illuminate, comes in and out of acceptable tolerance.  

When this light comes on as you drive it is telling the driver that something is wrong, and to bring the vehicle in for service. Normally this is not an emergency situation, however, it is recommended that you do not drive for more than a few days with the light on as you may incur additional expenses if there are subsequent failures caused by the initial fault that turned the light on.

The glitches that activate the “Check Engine” light are often nothing a driver can readily detect, but that doesn’t mean everything is working properly. Many of these conditions can waste fuel, as the engine management system is put into overtime trying to correct the condition and is unable to. At times the engine may be harder to start than normal or you may notice a drivability concern.

A flashing light can shorten engine or transmission life and lead to expensive repairs if left unaddressed. And, since the condition is usually emission related, the level of pollutants coming from the tailpipe can soar. Your vehicles onboard diagnostic system will assess engine running and misfire situations, the most severe of which indicates the possibility of the exhaust catalytic converter being damaged.  When this occurs, the yellow light will blink on and off repeatedly. When this light is flashing it indicates a more serious malfunction. Vehicle speed should be reduced and the vehicle taken for servicing as soon as possible to prevent any consequential damage from occurring. 

So if the “Check Engine” light comes on, don’t hit the panic button, but don’t ignore it either. Call your friends at Crestview Auto Service (306) 244-6522.

#CheckEngine #TuneUp #DashLights #InstrumentLights

Winter Driving in Saskatchewan

How well did you prepare your vehicle for winter? Here are some things to remember and some tips to help ready yourself for a winter trip. Plan to be safe this winter when you are out on the road, reducing the stress of winter driving.

Have your vehicle inspected and serviced to be sure you won’t break down in the cold. Winter conditions with snow, cold and icy roads demand that a vehicle be in top condition. For this reason, a winter readiness inspection is a necessity, and in the end is less annoying and less costly than battery boosts, calling a tow truck, being late and those unplanned hotel stays half way to your destination.

Before it’s too late and you’re on the side of the road or worse, stopped in the middle of the road, give us a call, e-mail or book online to set up an appointment for your vehicle. You will know the condition of your vehicle and what needs to be done for safe winter driving.

Having a block heater on your car and using it when temperatures are colder than -15⁰c is the least expensive way to prevent engine damage from cold winter starts; just make sure you unplug before driving away.

Remember; daytime running lights on your vehicle usually only have the headlights on, not the park lights. They provide less light than when you turn the lights on yourself. At dusk or inclement weather you need to turn the lights on manually so others can see you from the front and the back; swirling snow, fog and cloudy days make it difficult to see and to be seen.

Tips before you head out on the road each day:

·        Unplug the car

·        Brush the snow off your car.

·        Scrape the windshield, rear and side windows.

·        Clear your heater air intake (this is usually between the windshield and the hood).

·        Clean your headlights, tail lights and signal lights.

·        Be sure to clear your tissue boxes, sunglasses, papers, etc., away from defroster                  outlets or your windows won’t clear properly.

For out of town or even for short trips, follow this link for information on what survival equipment to take with you in your vehicle: http://crestviewautoservice.blogspot.ca/2014/10/prepared-for-winter.html

Fuel Economy Tips you can take to the bank

The following maintenance and driving tips can translate into fuel cost savings and cash in the bank; read along to find ways you can save some cash. It’s like paying less for fuel each time you fill up. Information gathered from Car Care Canada.

1)     Tires inflated properly, even one tire that is 8 PSI low can have the same affect as saving up to $0.04/litre. For the average driver that’s the same as saving $69 a year in fuel cost. If you drive a truck it can be over $100 per year.

2)     Avoid aggressive driving, this can mean up to a 40% change in fuel cost. For a car that could be a savings of almost $700 a year and over $1000 with a truck.

3)     Remove excessive weight, for every 45 kgs (100 lbs.) extra weight in the vehicle, fuel economy drops between 1 and 2% that’s between $30 and $50 a year for every 45 kgs. So the question is - What’s in your trunk?

4)     Use a block heater; because a cold engine does not burn fuel efficiently you will use more fuel starting your car/truck in winter when it is not plugged in. Depending on how cold it gets, this can make a difference of up to 10% on economy during the cold winter months.

5)     Properly tuned engine, from maintenance tune-ups to major running issues the benefits add up. Annual savings from $100 to over $1000 a year in extreme cases.

6)     Observe the speed limit. Reducing speed from 120 km/h to 110 km/h typically saves at least 10%, the bigger the vehicle the more you save. Annual savings of $175 to over $500.

      Crestview Auto Service is a proud partner of Trusted Saskatoon and will work with you as "We'll Help Keep Your Vehicle Young A Long Time" - visit us online at www.crestviewautoservice.ca or call at (306) 244-6522. 

Month of Myths - #10

Myth 10: If it's not broke, don't fix it (or) No news is good news.

Vehicles need to be serviced even when the "Check Engine Light" isn't on. You should be following the Maintenance Schedule as outlined in your vehicle owner's manual. 

Contact Crestview Auto Service about their complimentary inspections and roadside assistance with repair and maintenance service. Conveniently book online at www.crestviewautoservice.ca 

Month of Myths - #9

Myth 9: I do not drive under "severe" conditions.

Most Canadians drive under "severe" conditions, but believe they drive under "normal" conditions. Severe conditions include:

• Cold weather.
• Extensive idling or stop-and-go driving.
• Driving less than 8 kilometers per trip, or in freezing temperatures driving less than 16 km per trip.
• Driving in extremely hot (over 32⁰ C) conditions. 
• Trailer towing, driving with a roof rack, or driving in mountainous conditions.
• Driving on muddy, dusty, or de-iced roads.

The Service Advisors at Crestview Auto Service are available to discuss the needs and maintenance schedule of your vehicle. Complimentary Roadside Assistance with repair and maintenance service. Call (306) 244-6522 to find out more. 

Month of Myths - #8

Myth 8: The service schedule is just a way for service people to make money.

Your vehicle's service schedule was designed by automotive engineers not service technicians and is the minimum required service interval. Maintaining your car helps keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves your investment. 

Crestview Auto Service is a proud partner of Trusted Saskatoon and the only NAPA AutoPro in Saskatoon. Click here to find out about the Trusted Business Guarantee. 

Summer And Vacations Go Hand In Hand

Start your summer vacation off on the right foot; have your vehicle properly serviced and ready for the trip ahead. Hot weather and cold weather have one thing in common, your vehicle doesn't like either one. Ever notice the vehicles sitting on the side of the highway are usually a long way from home? That’s because the shorter trips we normally take don’t get all the moving components up to temperature like a longer trip does. Even a 1 or 2 hour trip to the lake can be enough for some vehicles to succumb to the heat and pressure created from an extended drive. Belts, hoses and cooling systems take a real beating with the added heat generated which can leave you stranded for a few hours or days if you haven’t been fortunate to stop in time, ending up with a serious mechanical failure and your car undriveable. Cooling system failure can happen very fast with devastating results, this is also a major cause of engine damage; and that’s never cheap to repair. While you are driving be sure to keep an eye on the temperature gauge, if you see it rising beyond its normal position to the “hot” zone you can try turning off the air conditioning. If that doesn't help and the gauge is at or in the hot zone, pull over as soon as possible to avoid creating any additional problems from the heat.

Start your trip out the safe reliable way; have a comprehensive inspection performed to make sure you don’t have any surprises when you least expect them. Routine service inspections are intended to identify potential trouble areas that should be addressed before they become problems. This helps have a stress free holiday or even a weekend away.  

Let the Crestview team get your vehicle ready for travel. To book an appointment and read more about us visit us on line at crestviewautoservice.ca 

Month of Myths - #4

Myth 4: Vehicle technology today is so advanced I don't need to worry about emissions. 

To help reduce emissions, keep your vehicle well maintained. A poorly maintained engine can use up to 50% more fuel and produce 50% more CO2 than one that runs properly. 

At Crestview Auto Service, the Service Advisors will help you find the right maintenance schedule for your vehicle. The technicians can provide maintenance services (such as an oil change) to vehicles still under warranty (see Myth #1). Cars, Trucks, Motor homes and Fleet vehicles are all welcome. 

Contact: (306) 244-6522 or www.crestviewautoservice.ca 

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”