What Edmonton Drivers Should Know about Car Maintenance and Repairs

Posted June 24th 2014

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Car maintenance and repairs are part and parcel of vehicle ownership. It happens. It’s to be expected. However, what many owners don’t expect is the wide range of auto repairs and maintenance needs that they encounter on a regular basis. Understanding the services and most common repairs needed during your ownership will help take some of the shock out of the situation. This is what you should know.

Basic Car Maintenance

There are numerous car maintenance items that go into ensuring that your vehicle stands the test of time and operates reliably for years to come. These are all basic things – they’re not that time consuming, but are nevertheless important. For instance, oil changes and tire rotations are the foundation of a reliable vehicle. Alignments are another example of basic car maintenance. There are others here too.

One that many people forget about is brake maintenance. Over time, your brake pads wear out and you’ll have to replace them. You should also have your rotors turned or cut when you replace the pads to help alleviate any warping of the rotor and ensure smooth braking. Brake fluid flushes should also be performed periodically.

Major Services

Major services are those that occur at specific intervals during a car’s lifespan (usually every 30,000 miles or so, but that varies with each automaker and even with specific makes and models). Major services include things like transmission services, timing belt replacements, scheduled tune-ups and the like.

Common Repairs

In addition to basic car maintenance and major services, you will face at least some car repairs during your ownership period. Ensuring that your maintenance and services are performed by qualified mechanics with a reputable Edmonton auto repair facility will help reduce the chance that you’re caught unaware by repairs, but there’s always the chance. One of the most common is car heating repair – Edmonton and the surrounding area can be hard on heaters. Air conditioner repair and traction control sensor replacement are also relatively common ones.

The very best advice for owners seeking to mitigate the cost of car maintenance, repairs and service is to work with a reputable Edmonton auto repair facility. With the right professional on your side, you’ll find that your ownership and maintenance costs are not as burdensome as you might have otherwise expected. Of course, you do have to do a little research – there are several different repair shops in the area, and not all of them are equal.