Okotoks Auto Repair

You’re in luck — car battery maintenance is one of the easier types of DIY work you’ll encounter with an automobile. While some modern battery designs are called maintenance-free, this really only means they don’t have to be filled with water like the maintenance accessible designs used in the past. You still have to keep up with the proper storage, cleanliness and inspection cycle on a maintenance-free design as you would with any other battery, so it helps to know what to watch out for. Check out these four quick and easy car battery maintenance tips: 1. Keep Terminals Clean Corrosion on battery terminals can be caused by many things, for example, exposure to salt in the air from the ocean or spray from winter roads, gases that are naturally vented by certain types of batteries and hard use or repeated jump-starting. If you see corrosion on your battery terminals, use a wire brush to clean it off completely, thus preserving a strong connec ... 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

What happens when your timing belt breaks? I can answer that one firsthand. I was taking one of those flyover connector ramps that goes from one freeway to another when all of a sudden, there’s a lot of noise and no power. Twenty seconds later, I’m at a dead stop, still on that ramp, blocking traffic and wondering what just happened. Here’s what I learned. What Is a Timing Belt, Anyway? It’s a continuous loop of rubber with ridges cut into it. It goes around the teeth of the camshaft, which controls the valves, and the crankshaft, which connects to the pistons, and keeps them in sync with each other. In other words, it regulates the timing of the opening and closing of valves with the up-and-down motion of the pistons. Why Does Timing Matter? Without a belt doing its job, the valves and pistons on most engines are on a literal collision course with each other. And with your engine turning at thousands of revolutions per min ... read more

This comprehensive seasonal service is specially designed to help your car face all the hardships of Canadian winters. Book an appointment with us in the fall to make sure your vehicle is winter-ready! Our Winter Service includes: LUBE, OIL, AND FILTER Replace filter with NAPA oil filter Drain oil and replace with up to 5L premium NAPA oil Lubricate chassis, suspension and steering components MULTI-POINT VISUAL INSPECTION All lights and signals Air filter / cabin filter Coolant reading Hoses Drive belt / Timing belt Wiper blades Battery case, cables and clamps Battery cranking test Exhaust Chassis Brake fluid Windshield washer fluid Power steering fluid Differential fluid (RWD) Transfer case fluid (4WD) Transmission fluid Tire pressure Tire rotation Tire wear and tread depth and visual shock/strut inspection VISUAL BRAKE INSPECTION Inspect calipers Inspect rotors and drums Inspect brake lines and hoses Inspect ... 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