Kelowna Auto Repair

Effective braking aside, please remember your vehicle’s limitations.Today’s post focuses on brakes. The mechanical aspects of the brakes themselves are just one issue. There’s also the power brake system and brake fluid. And then there are the tires, which are critical to the effectiveness of the brakes.Let’s step back. A car or truck rolls brand new off the showroom floor. It has brand new brakes with brand new brake pads. The brake lines and the power assist are filled with fresh fluid and are completely clean inside. And the tires are brand new, with full tread.Naturally, at this point, braking power is at its peak performance.Then the kilometres driven between destinations start to add up. At this point, Kelowna drivers tend to focus on the brake pads. In the automotive industry, the pads and shoes on drum brakes are called the friction material. That’s because ... read more

Your serpentine belt drives your alternator and air conditioning compressor. The power steering and power brake pumps are driven by the serpentine belt in many vehicles. In some vehicles, the water pump is driven by the serpentine belt (in others it’s driven by the timing belt). The radiator cooling fan on some vehicles are also driven by the serpentine belt. Some have separate electric motors.Serpentine belts do a lot of work for Kelowna drivers, but they’re tough and can last for thousands of kilometres, but just how long will they last? That’ll vary for each individual vehicle. Your car maker will have a recommendation for when it should be changed, but it could need it sooner. The good news is that a visual inspection at A Plus Automotive can reveal a belt that’s worn.It’s often recommended that the tensioner pulley that keeps the belt at the proper tension be replaced along with the serpentine belt. This pulley is mounted to the engine block with a sp ... read more

One might say the most challenging part of our job is diagnosing a problem before it can be fixed. Cars are made up of a bunch of complex systems. There usually could be a number of reasons for any given symptom. So it’s challenging to track down the actual cause of the problem. And it can be frustrating for the vehicle owner because it can take time and money to get to the bottom of a problem. If it’s not something obvious, it’s easy for the customer to focus on the fixing and not the diagnosing. Let us introduce you to something we’ll call Customer Detective Work – that is helping us find clues to what’s wrong. We start with the detective basics: What, Where and When. Play along with me. You come in and your car is making a funny sound. Where’s the sound? Around the right front wheel. What kind of sound?  Kind of a clunk, clunk sound. When do you hear the sound? When I turn and accelerate. Right and le ... read more

At A Plus Automotive  we have a list of 10 service items that are often overlooked. They’re all very important for Kelowna drivers and need appropriate attention. So here we go, in no particular order.1. Power Steering Service Be honest, have you ever thought of this on your own? Your power steering fluid gets dirty and builds-up moisture over time. Cleaning out your power steering system means that dirt and gum are removed and your power steering parts are protected from corrosion. Ask your A Plus Automotive service advisor if it’s time for a power steering check-up.2. Wheel Alignment When your wheels are out of alignment your vehicle pulls to one side. It’s pretty annoying, but it’s also dangerous. And it causes your tires to wear out really fast, which is expensive! Most owner’s manuals suggest that drivers get their alignment checked once or twice a year.3. Differential Service Okay ... read more

When asked, most people think they are good at multi-tasking. Scientific studies, however, reveal that only around 2% of the population can truly demonstrate the capacity to effectively multi-task. For the rest of us Kelowna drivers who are not so biologically wired, no amount of practice can increase our effectiveness at multi-tasking.Turns out, multi-tasking is almost a superpower. Think of fighter pilots: capable of maintaining their orientation in three dimensional space and performing specific and highly complicated functions while accessing life threatening situations and coming up with an appropriate response. Admit it – you can’t do that.There are three types of harmful driving distractions:Visual (eyes off the road)Manual (reaching for something or manipulating an object)Cognitive (mind off the task of driving)Of course, texting or using a cell phone involves all three. Eating, applying make-up, arguing and working ... read more