Car questions, answered at the counter
The questions people ask us, answered once, properly.
Twenty answers we give at the counter every week, written down so you can read them at midnight. Each one starts with the short answer and ends with the price on our board.
Something feels wrong
A noise, a light, a pull, a gauge. What it usually means and whether to keep driving.
- My check engine light is on. Is it safe to drive?A steady check engine light usually means book a look soon. A flashing one means slow down and stop driving soon. Here is how to tell which you have.
- Why does my car shake at highway speed?A shake at highway speed is usually wheel balance, packed snow, a bent rim or a damaged tire. How to tell them apart, and when to pull over.
- Why do my brakes grind?Grinding brakes usually mean pads worn down to metal. Sometimes it is a stone or surface rust. How to tell, and when to stop driving.
- Why does my car pull to one side?A car that pulls to one side usually has a low tire, an alignment knocked out by a pothole, or a dragging brake. How to narrow it down.
- Why does my temperature gauge climb on mountain passes?A long climb works the engine hard, and a weak spot in the cooling system shows up there first. What to do when the gauge climbs, and why.
What it costs, and why
Shop rates, book time, estimates and parts, explained with real numbers.
- How much does a brake job cost in BC?What a brake job costs in BC, what moves the price, and how our from $389 per axle figure splits into parts, book time and tax.
- What is a shop rate, and why do shops charge book time?What a shop rate pays for, how book time sets the labour price before work starts, and the questions to ask when you compare quotes.
- Why does a diagnostic cost money when code readers are free?A free code read names the system that flagged a fault. A diagnostic proves which part failed. What our $89 hour covers and when it is credited.
- Can a mechanic charge more than the estimate in BC?What BC's consumer protection law says about bills that run past an estimate, what to get in writing, and what to do if you disagree.
- OEM or aftermarket parts: what is the difference?What OEM and aftermarket mean, where each one makes sense on a Kootenay car, and how we price either one at cost plus 20 percent.
Tires and winter
BC's winter tire rules, changeovers, rims and tread, for mountain roads.
- When do I need winter tires in BC?BC winter tire dates by route, what counts as a legal winter tire, the 3.5 mm rule, the fine, and when to book your changeover in the Kootenays.
- Mountain snowflake or M+S: which winter tires count in BC?Both marks are legal on BC winter routes. What the mountain snowflake and M+S actually mean, how they grip at minus twenty, and which we fit.
- How much does a tire changeover cost?Our tire changeover is $60 flat on rims or $95 flat for a full swap with balancing. What each includes, what can add a line, and when to book.
- Is a second set of rims worth it for winter tires?A second set of rims drops each changeover from $95 to $60. When it pays off, what tire pressure sensors add, and which rims fit for winter.
- How do I know when my tires need replacing?The three tread numbers that matter in BC, how to measure them, how to read a tire's age, and what damage and uneven wear are telling you.
Keeping it running
Oil, batteries, alignment, warranties and buying used.
- How often should I change my oil?How often to change your oil, why short winter trips and gravel roads count as hard use, and what the oil life reading on your dash means.
- Is a pre-purchase inspection worth it on a used car?What a pre-purchase inspection checks, what it costs at our shop, and what to look up yourself before you buy a used car in BC.
- Why does my car battery die in the cold?Why cold mornings kill car batteries, what the CCA number means, and how a free battery test before winter saves you a tow.
- Do I have to service at the dealer to keep my warranty in Canada?What Canadian new car warranty booklets ask for when another shop does your maintenance, what receipts should show, and where warranty repairs go.
- When do I need a wheel alignment?The signs your wheels are out of alignment, why Kootenay roads knock them out, and what our alignment from $129 includes.
Not on the list?
Phone the counter at (250) 555-0187 and ask. If three people ask the same thing, it becomes guide twenty-one.