A&D Automotive
4840 King Street East, Beamsville, Ontario, L0R 1B6 | tel: 905-563-5095 | fax: 905-563-9636 | email A&D
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Get to know your car...
- Air Conditioning and Heating
- Your car's heating, ventilating and air conditioning system (HVAC) provides the right temperature and humidity levels to keep your car interior comfortable in any season. Proper heating and cooling performance is critical for interior comfort and for safety reasons such as defrosting. Having you car's HVAC system serviced regularly can help save you money on more expensive repairs.
- Belts and Hoses
- Your car's belts and hoses are essential to the cooling, air conditioning and charging systems, and the engine. Many experts urge replacing belts, radiator and heater hoses at specific recommended intervals to prevent your car from breaking down. Losing a belt today can mean big trouble for the engine because they turn the water pump, alternator, power steering and air-conditioning compressor. A blown hose could result in an overheated engine and can cause additional engine damage. It is not easy to know the true condition of a belt or hose by its outward appearance because most belts and hoses fail from the inside out. Belts break down and become hard and brittle with heat, mileage and age. Have your belts and hoses checked every three to four years.
- Brakes
- The brake system is your car's most important safety system. Regular brake inspections are the best way to ensure safe and reliable braking
and to minimize the cost of repairs when brake service is needed.
Come in for a brake inspection. A&D Automotive staff will check:
- Pads and shoes for wear
- Drums and rotors for wear
- Wheel cylinders and calipers for leak
- Hydraulic lines and hoses for leaks, kinks and blockages
- Fluid in the master cylinder for level and condition
Any sign of poor braking performance should be addressed immediately. A common sign of early braking problems is a vibration in steering when brakes are applied on the highway. Also, if your ABS light is on the system is not operating correctly!
- The 'Check Engine' Light
- In 1996, an orange light on your car's dashboard labelled "Check Engine" or "Service Engine Soon" became standard on all car makes and models. The light tells you there's a problem with your car's engine and power train control system. A&D Automotive's trained technicians connect a "scan tool" to your car's onboard diagnostic system to determine the problem. Once the problem is pinpointed, the repairs are made and the light is reset.
- Emission System
- Your car's emission system keeps the engine running cleanly and efficiently in all sorts of operating conditions. The emission system controls
and substantially reduces the emissions, exhaust and pollutants using an array of sensors, computerized engine controls and the exhaust components.
A&D Automotive offers Drive Clean repairs as part of Ontario's mandatory vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program. A maintained emission system helps save on fuel consumption, prolongs your vehicle's life and helps to protect the air we breathe.
- Engine Cooling System
- The cooling system affects your car's overall dependability and engine longevity. Cooling systems have advanced over the years with new coolant formulations and new radiator designs and materials. The key parts of the cooling system remove heat from the engine and the automatic transmission and dissipate the heat to the air outside. A&D checks your cooling system as part of your vehicles regular maintenance program. Problems with your cooling system can lead to premature engine wear, gasket failure and acid build up.
- Exhaust System
- The exhaust system routes dangerous exhaust gases from the engine out and away from the car and reduces exhaust noise from the engine. At A&D Automotive, every time your car is brought in for an oil change, our technicians check the clamps on the pipes and muffler of the exhaust system. Because the main cause of a failing muffler is simply a broken clamp, preventive maintenance checks like this help to minimize repair costs. If you need a new exhaust system, our mufflers come with a Lifetime Warranty.
- Lights and Wipers
- Lights and wipers play a major role in safe driving - the chances for accident increase if you can't see or be seen. The wiper system keeps excessive water, snow or dirt from building up on the windshield and removes them to maintain clear visibility through the windshield. Don't wait for a rainy day to discover that your windshield wipers are worn out. The lighting system provides night-time visibility and signals to other drivers, and supplies light for viewing instruments and the for vehicle's interior. If you detect any problems with your car's lights or wipers, have them checked out at once.
- Oils, Filters and Fluids
- Regular oil changes are your best investment toward the longevity of your engine! For maximum engine life, change the oil and filter every
three months or 5,000 km whichever comes first - the critical parts of your engine are lubricated, cleaned and cooled by your car's oil and filter.
A dirty air filter also prevents the engine from breathing properly, which can decrease fuel mileage and performance and makes the engine work harder than it needs to. Change the air filter once a year or when recommended in your owner's manual.
If your vehicle is equipped with a cabin filter, it too, should be replaced on a regular basis. It helps trap pollen, bacteria, dust and exhaust gases that may find their way into a car's ventilation system.
Other specifically formulated fluids are used for the operation and protection of systems and components such as brakes, cooling, power steering, automatic and manual transmissions, and transfer cases. Your car may also be equipped with a variety of filters including those for the transmission, fuel system and interior ventilation. For most vehicles, the automatic transmission fluid, power steering fluid, coolant (antifreeze) and fuel filter should be changed every two years or 40,000 km. - Starting, Charging and Batteries
- Extreme heat and cold are hard on automotive batteries. If your vehicle is a few years old, have the battery and charging system tested
annually to be sure that your battery has the power to start your vehicle and that your alternator is recharging the battery as it should.
The battery stores electrical energy and the starter converts that energy into mechanical force to turn the engine for starting. The alternator produces electric current to replace what the starter used from the battery during start-up and to support electrical loads when the engine is running.
- Steering and Suspension
- Like your car's brake system, the steering and suspension systems are key safety-related systems. Together, they largely determine your
car's ride and handling. Your suspension system not only absorbs bumps, but also ensures proper tire-to-road contact. Worn suspension
components compromise steering control and may lead to premature tire wear. When working properly, the suspension system helps absorb
the energy from road irregularities such as potholes and helps to maintain vehicle stability.
If your vehicle rolls or sways on turns, front end 'dives' when braking, rear end 'squats' when accelerating, or bounces or 'bottoms out' on rough roads, your suspension needs to be serviced.
- Tires
- Your car's tires affect its ride, handling, traction and safety. Tires are the critical connection between your car and the road in all
sorts of driving conditions. To maximize tire life and safety, check their condition and inflation pressure monthly, have the tires rotated
every 10,000 km, and balanced and aligned annually.
Tire replacement may be necessary if the tread depth is below the minimum legal requirement, or the sidewalls are severely cracked or punctured.
- Transmission
- The transmission works with the engine to provide power to your car's wheels, it propels your car to move forward or backward. Whether automatic
or manual, the transmission plays a major role in the overall dependability of your car. Automatic transmissions have become very sophisticated
and now include more gears and computerized electronic controls which are designed to work with the engine controls for best operation. Have your
transmission inspected for bands, filters and fluids and serviced as recommended in your owner's manual.
A good driving tip that will help to extend your transmission's life is to always bring your vehicle to a stop before shifting from Drive or Reverse to Park.
- Tune-ups
- Today's engines operate better, last longer and are more fuel-efficient than engines of 10 or 20 years ago, and in order to keep them working at their peak performance, they continue to need a regular tune-up. Today's tune-up is very different than one from 20 years ago. Yes, we still check the plugs, filters and fluid levels, but we also run diagnostic tests from the computer-controlled electronics in your engine compartment. A&D Automotive technicians are trained to interpret the readings and spotting small difficulties before they become expensive problems. Their technical expertise will ensure that your fuel efficiency is optimized, that your car is running reliably and that no problems are looming. A routine tune-up will restore your car to its normal operating state, and contribute to the overall efficiency of the engine and emissions system.
- Warranties (new and used vehicle) and Maintenance
- A&D Automotive is a Warranty Approved New Vehicle Maintenance Center. A&D can perform all the Manufacturers recommended services and
advise when a warranty repair is required. Owner's manuals are stamped and dated to prove your vehicle manufacturer has the information they
require to honour their obligation to you. A&D Automotive also maintains Used Car Warranties and works directly with your warranty company
to ensure professional repair with no surprises.
Routine maintenance is an ongoing process that should begin when the vehicle is new. Proactively tending to your vehicle's maintenance helps to maximize the performance, reliability and service life of your vehicle. Periodic inspections of the vehicle's systems are the easiest way to monitor your vehicles condition. A full history maintenance record which may allow for a higher resale value when selling your vehicle.
- Wheel Alignment
- Maintaining your car's wheel alignment reduces tire wear, improves fuel economy and handling, and increases driving enjoyment and safety. Normal wear and road conditions can take their toll on your car's steering and suspension system, possible throwing the alignment settings out of specifications. Regular alignment checks are your best way to maximize tire life and ensure your car's performance on the road. Have your car's alignment checked at least once a year.