Posted on 9/4/2015
Simply by driving a smaller car, you are already reducing your carbon footprint. However, you might employ a few tips and tricks to keep your MINI and your driving habits as green as possible. By keeping your car in top running condition and taking it in for routine maintenance, you can do your part to help the environment. When you have access to a reputable, local mechanic at Collins Automotive in Abbotsford, you may ensure that you’re doing all that you can to “Go Green” this winter. Watch Your Cargo Weight Driving around in a vehicle that is always packed can affect your fuel economy – and this does nothing good for the environment. Instead of hauling your kids’ hockey and other sports equipment, several textbooks, two loads of laundry, or a heavy bag of kitty litter or dog food for two or three days, remember to take these things out of your car upon your arriva ... read more
Posted on 8/27/2015
Winter can be challenging in Abbotsford! However, there are various ways to stay warm in your vehicle. You might consider having a block heater or pre-heater installed in your Subaru. Such auxiliary parts can help to keep you and your vehicle as warm as possible when you’re driving. They provide a much more environmentally-friendly way to warm your vehicle than idling the engine for long stretches of time. Before you make a decision about purchasing one of these components for your car, you may want to explore the basics and benefits of both types of heaters. Once you have a better idea about what these heaters can do, you might then want to consult your local, knowledgeable mechanic at Collins Automotive in Abbotsford. What is a Block Heater? Cars hooked up with block heaters are not an uncommon sight in many parts of Canada. This car part warms the engine continuously when the car isn’t running. This may prevent the car from not starting at all when the outdoo ... read more
Posted on 8/20/2015
Staying warm in the wintertime is an essential aspect of living in Abbotsford. Although numerous individuals believe that idling an engine is a good way to warm it up, this simply isn’t true. Idling the engine is not an effective method for getting your vehicle warm and ready to drive. In fact, driving the car is the best way to get it warm. At the most, you might opt to idle your BMW for a couple of minutes to get it warm enough to drive. Unfortunately, many people choose to idle their engines for as long as 10 to 20 minutes in the winter. This practice wastes fuel, it’s bad for the environment, and the excessive fumes can even make people sick. Instead of engaging in this practice, you may want to install an auxiliary heater or a block heater. Before you do that, you might discuss the matter with a trustworthy mechanic from Collins Automotive ... read more
Posted on 8/12/2015
Taking a drive to see the fall scenery is exhilarating, and it’s certainly not too late to do this now. Before you leave for your journey though, make sure your BMW is ready for such a road trip. The challenges of driving will generally be somewhat different in the autumn than they would be in the spring or summer, so taking your vehicle in for a quick maintenance inspection is probably not a bad idea. Bringing your car to a local, knowledgeable mechanic in Abbotsford is also a wise plan, and the technicians at Collins Automotive are always happy to help you prepare your car for the road. Have the Tires Examined for Common Issues Your car’s tires are one of the most important parts to maintain. Tires with worn tread will not grip the road properly, and this could lead to an accident. Roads that are icy, wet, or slick with snow require you to keep your tires in excellent shape, especially if you’re going on a road trip. A mechanic should also examine the tires f ... read more
Posted on 8/6/2015
Your Audi has a variety of fluids and filters, and they are all important to the functionality of your vehicle. These fluids and filters should be checked on a regular basis, in case they need to be replenished or replaced. Doing this may be especially important before the cold, wet weather of winter arrives in full force. Every part of your vehicle should be in good condition when you are driving on the roads of Abbotsford in the fall and winter seasons. To get the best results possible from a maintenance visit, be sure to take your car to a reputable, local mechanic (such as one of the professionals at Collins Automotive). Which Filters Should Be Checked? Your car comprises several filters designed to keep dirt, dust, grime, and other various particles away from other parts. One of these filters is the air cabin filter. The air cabin filter helps to ensure that the air in your car is clean. This becomes even more crucial during the coldest seasons – your car ... read more
Posted on 7/30/2015
Driving on slick roads requires tires that are in optimal condition. This is why taking your Volkswagen in for fall and winter tire maintenance is so vital. If the tires are not in the best shape possible, they could cause your car to collide with another car. Such a collision may lead to expensive repair work, and it might even result in serious injuries for you or someone else. In fact, waiting until your tires have sustained noticeable damage could increase the risk of problems by up to 25 percent. To prevent unpleasant circumstances from happening, you may need to schedule an appointment with a mechanic. When you take your vehicle to a local, dependable repair shop in Abbotsford – such as Collins Automotive – you can be confident that your car’s tires will get the attention they need. Tread and Pressure Checking both the t ... read more
Posted on 7/23/2015
Believe it or not, the cooling system in your Volvo is as essential in fall and winter as it is in the spring and summer months. The function of the cooling system is designed to keep your car from overheating, which it can do in cold weather just as it can when the outdoor temperature is hot. In order to keep your cooling system and your vehicle in good shape, you might wish to schedule a maintenance visit for fall. Always take your vehicle to a trustworthy mechanic in Abbotsford, such as one of the technicians at Collins. If the cooling system or anything else needs to be repaired, a reliable mechanic will address the issue and help you keep your Volvo in excellent shape. The First Step One of the first actions that a technician may take is to check the coolant in your vehicle. This important fluid helps to keep your car’s cooling system working as it should – which means it is keeping your vehicle from overheating. A mechanic will add more coolant (which als ... read more
Posted on 7/16/2015
Cold and wet weather can be challenging to even the best of drivers – that’s why it’s so important to have the brakes in your MINI checked now. The last thing you need to deal with in cold weather is an avoidable accident on the road. In order to prevent such an occasion from occurring, you can take your vehicle in to your mechanic for an inspection of the brakes and brake system. Be sure to take your car to a great, local mechanic in Abbotsford – bringing it to a reputable repair shop nearby will spare you from the hassle of driving far for a brake system maintenance check. Know the Signs of Brakes That Need Maintenance If you haven’t had your car’s brakes checked in a while and are not sure whether they need maintenance, you may want to explore some of the more common signs of brake system issues. One indication of a potential problem is the sensation of ... read more
Posted on 7/9/2015
Fall is an ideal time to schedule a maintenance check for your MINI. If you drove your car a lot in the spring and summer, then having various aspects of your vehicle inspected now just makes sense. Before the weather becomes cold and wet on a regular basis, your mechanic might take a look at the fluids and filters in your vehicle. Be sure to take your MINI to a trustworthy Abbotsford mechanic at Collins Automotive. A reputable, knowledgeable technician will know what to inspect on your vehicle, as well as what parts need to be repaired or replaced. Transmission Filter and Fluid Your car’s transmission helps you to get the most from the engine, and it can also aid you in getting maximum fuel efficiency. In order to keep this invaluable auto part in top shape, a mechanic should inspect it periodically. Doing this during a seasonal ma ... read more
Posted on 7/2/2015
You may associate your car’s cooling system with summer maintenance. However, getting the cooling system in your Mercedes inspected is just as important in cold weather as it is in the summer. Doing a cooling system check can be time consuming if you do it on your own, but this task can be done properly and efficiently by a great local mechanic at Collins Automotive in Abbotsford. Why the Cooling System Should Be Inspected Now One of the main reasons to have your cooling system inspected is that this system helps to keep your car’s engine from overheating. An overheated engine can be costly, and the engine may become even hotter in cold weather than when the temperature outside is warm. Your car’s engine is the heart of the vehicle, and you may require more from your vehicle in fall and winter th ... read more