Tires and storage
Winter tires in Quebec: the dates, the law, and the right time to book
In Quebec, winter tires are required from December 1 to March 15. The exact dates, what the law demands of the tire, and why October is the month to book.
The questions we get asked, answered
Real situations from Repentigny, explained the way we would at the counter.
Brakes
Your brakes squeal, grind or shudder? Here's what each noise means
A squeal, a metallic grind and a shudder in the pedal are three different problems with three different bills. How to tell them apart and how long you can wait.
Diagnostics
Check engine light on: what to do, and when you really must stop
A steady check engine light and a flashing one don't mean the same thing. What the light is really telling you, and why reading the code isn't enough.
Pre-purchase inspection
Pre-purchase inspection: the checklist before you buy a used car
What a pre-purchase inspection actually covers, what it costs next to what it saves, and the points that decide whether a used car is worth the asking price.
Battery and starting
Car battery in winter: why it gives up at minus twenty, and how to avoid it
Cold doesn't kill a good battery, it exposes a tired one. What happens at minus twenty, the test that takes five minutes, and when to replace.
Maintenance and oil
Oil change: how many kilometres, really?
The 5,000 km rule is a leftover. What the manufacturer specifies, why severe service applies to most Quebec drivers, and what the grade on the cap means.
Suspension and steering
Worn shocks: the signs you shouldn't ignore
Shocks wear slowly enough that you adapt without noticing. The signs that matter, the parking lot test, and what worn shocks cost in tires and stopping distance.
Suspension and steering
Wheel alignment: when to do it, and why it eats your tires
An alignment out by a fraction of a degree can wear a tire out in a season. When to have it checked, and why a straight steering wheel proves nothing.
Air conditioning
Air conditioning blowing warm: why, and why recharging it isn't enough
An air conditioning circuit is sealed, so if it's low there's a leak. Why a recharge on its own means paying twice, and what else makes the air go lukewarm.
Exhaust
Loud or holed exhaust: what it means, and what it costs
An exhaust that got loud has a hole in it. Where they appear, why the noise is the least of the problem, and what decides between one section and the whole run.
Maintenance and oil
Getting your car ready for winter in Quebec: the 8-point checklist
Eight things to check before the first cold snap, in the order that matters. What you can do in the driveway and what needs a shop.
Battery and starting
Jump-starting: how to boost a car without breaking anything
The order the clamps go on, why the last one doesn't go on the battery, and the mistakes that cost an alternator or a control module.
A noise, a warning light, a deadline coming up?
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