It can be easy to see when your car needs certain things. You know you need to air up your tires when they look flat. You know you need to get an oil change when your oil change indicator light comes on. You know you need to replace your brake pads when you first begin to the hear the squeal indicator as you engage your braking system. Other, less visible parts of your vehicle can be less easy to diagnose. For example, your vehicles suspension system is beneath the car and not readily visible. This being the case, how do you know when your shock absorbers need to be replaced?
These are critical components of the suspension system of you vehicle. The purpose of car shock absorbers is to literally absorb shock, or keep your vehicle from bouncing violently when it travels across uneven or bumpy terrain. The struts are structural supports which are connected directly to the chassis of your vehicle. These parts work together to help your vehicle maintain its strength and provide you with a comfortable ride. The shocks and struts also prevent damage from occurring when you hit a bump too fast or when you simply cannot avoid that pesky pothole. When your shock absorbers and your struts need to be replaced, they have certain ways of letting you know.
The easiest way to ensure that your car shock absorbers are in good shape is to have them regularly inspected. Most automotive service and repair centers can conduct a comprehensive vehicle inspection which will include a detailed look through your suspension. A good rule of thumb for this is to ask for an inspection at the time of every oil change. Since your vehicle is being serviced at this time anyhow, it is a good idea to have a professional give everything an expert look so they can let you know if any parts are currently in need of attention.
If your shocks are in need of attention in between inspections, there will be some indication of their impending failure. The first noticeable sign is a bumpy ride on a vehicle that used to handle smoothly. A bumpy ride indicates that your shocks are not performing properly and no longer absorbing the shock of the road as they once did. If you experience new bumpiness or shakiness then it is likely your shocks and struts are the source of the issue.
Another sign that your shocks are in need of replacing is problems with steering. If you begin to notice increasingly poor steering response, this could be caused by a failing suspension system. The wheel may become stiff and difficult to turn. There may also be new noises coming from your car as you steer such as grinding. Additionally, you might also find that your car no longer tracks straight and tends to drift to one side or the other, requiring constant correcting in order to maintain a forward direction.
Braking issues are often blamed directly on the brake pads themselves. If your brake pads have been regularly serviced and you do not hear a squeal indicator, it is likely that issues in the suspension are to blame. When your shocks or struts are damaged or very worn, the vehicle must compensate in other ways, and this can translate to poor braking as well as a sort of “nose dive” wherein the front end of the car will dip sharply downward when the brakes are engaged. These signs all point to a failure of critical suspension parts rather than the brake pads.
Your tires can also indicate issues with suspension. If you begin to notice uneven wear on the surface of your tires, your suspension could be to blame. This is called cupping and it occurs when cup-shaped dips and divots develop in the tread of the tires. It is important to note that tires which have undergone cupping can be extremely dangerous and cause accidents due to uneven loss of traction during a maneuver. Even if cupping cannot be visibly seen, it is a good idea to have your tires rotated at the same time that you have your shocks or struts replaced.
Paying attention to your vehicle’s mileage can also help you notice issues with your suspension. As a general rule, shocks and struts need to be either serviced or replaced every fifty thousand miles. If you vehicle has over fifty thousand miles on it and has never had the suspension system serviced, it is a good idea to make an appointment with your trusted mechanic to inspect this critical system.
Everything on a vehicle is connected, and so a damaged part in one system of your car can lead to damage on other parts which you may not expect. Ensuring that your shock,struts and other suspension components are properly maintained will not only help you stay safe, but it will also help you extend the life of your vehicle.
At AutoBarn.ca, we offer a larger selection of auto parts, truck parts, import parts, performance parts and automotive supplies, so you can find the quality parts you need fast online at the lowest price possible. Search our wide inventory online to find both OEM car parts and aftermarket car parts for your ride. We are one of the largest supplier of auto parts in Canada. At CARQUEST our customers have come to know us as the best place to buy auto parts online.
CARQUEST Auto Parts has everything you need to get your car back on the road and running smoothly! We have the essentials from brake pads to batteries along with all of the final touches like hoses and filters. When you do it yourself, you want the best parts at the best prices. Whether it is for the body or under the hood, we’ll get you the right part so you can pick it up at your local store or delivered to your commercial garage.
When you buy auto parts online at Autobarn.ca, you can be confident that you will receive the highest quality auto parts at wholesale prices, and all the parts we sell come with a full auto parts warranty. If there are ever any issues, we will cover the replacement, less labour for any parts at any Carquest store in North America. Now that is a Warranty.
All of our auto parts undergo strict quality control tests to meet the highest industry standards; so you can feel confident that the truck and car parts you’re ordering from us will perform as expected and exceed in value.
Carquest Auto Parts is owned and operated by Advance Auto Parts, Inc., the largest automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America, servicing both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets. As of October 4, 2014 Advance operated 5,305 stores, 109 Worldpac branches, and served approximately 1,350 independently-owned Carquest branded stores in 49 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Canada. Advance employs approximately 75,000 Team Members.
We never sell any automobile parts that don’t meet our strict requirements to our valued customers, so you will never need to worry about the quality and performance of our parts and accessories. We encourage you to explore our huge selection of truck and car parts online, though if you cannot find what you need, please don’t hesitate to call us today to speak to one of our Local auto part specialists, in Essex ON and we’ll help you find the parts you need 519 776 9885 Call Us for Parts.
Why Order Auto Parts Online?
Apart from being the largest supplier of autoparts in North America and having a solid warranty for every part you buy, we have made our online ordering system easy for any customer from novice to pro to quickly find the make, model and part for any vehicle in need of service.
Why Trust Our Online Ordering System:
Largest Selection of Auto Parts
Best Pricing Online in North America
Pick Up Parts at Your Local Store
CARQUEST Parts Warranty
Remembers Your Order History & Vehicles
Quick, Easy Online Ordering
Just how easy is it to find parts with your online catalog? We made sure you know exactly what you are doing every step of the way by making this quick video walk-through of the online ordering system. Have a look at how easy it is to find and order auto parts online.
How about an online auto parts coupon to get you started? If you feel like you are going to be doing a lot of volume online with your parts orders We can CUSTOMIZEthis dashboard for your company if you create a COMMERCIAL ACCOUNT with us. Just call the store or e-mail us. With you own personal login you will see SPECIAL PRICING and we really encourage you to set one up for your garage or company today!
5 Ways How Technology Changed Automotive Repair Shops
How Automotive Technology Changed Repair Shops,
Today and Forever…
It is very obvious today, that we are working in a technical world, with new advancements in innovation for Auto Shops with a focus on new technology. When talking about changes in transportation and Auto Repair Shops there is no need to go all the way back to horse-drawn carriages or even the steam engine cars to see how much technology has evolved the Auto Repair Industry.
Once manufacturers like Ford had developed a way to standardize vehicle parts, mechanics, dealerships and mechanic shops became a valuable asset to the auto industry. Most mechanics started out as young children, equipped with a small toolset that consisted of wrenches, a flat-head and a Phillips head screwdriver.
After years of elbow grease, pit time and growing love for these motorized machines, these young apprentices were well trained for the real world of mechanics.
When you take a look at the world of Auto Repair Shops and mechanics, quite a few things have changed over the last few decades.
Stronger Focus Towards Mobile & Online Scheduled Maintenance
With Technology Giants like Google moving more of its Search Engine to include and focus on Mobile Searches for Repair Shops in the local area. Garages are capitalizing on business, by staying ahead of the curve. The first step is making sure that your Auto Repair Website is smartphone ready, in technology terms, this is called “a responsive website” which means that it will display on all devices, including Desktop, Mobile and Tablets. This ensures no matter what customers are using to find you, if they search, “find auto mechanic” your site is able to come up in a search.
OtherFeatures to Consider for Online Scheduling:
The ability to input Customer Car Information (year, make, model) This will give the Auto Garage a heads up, so you will know what you need to fix. You may even be able to get parts ahead of time if you know what the problem is.
Booking the Date and Time for a Service Repair Having a centralized system where all of your bookings can be reviewed and edited from any location where you have the internet is a brilliant way to stay organized and on top of all repairs, before double bookings or lost notes happen.
Receive an Instant Quote Some more advanced booking systems will allow the Auto Shop Owner to input pricing for simple jobs like oil changes. Customers might be more willing to do business with a Garage that displays all car maintenance costs online.
Email Booking Confirmations and Reminders Ever wonder how many clients lose track of time and forget to bring their car or truck into the shop. How about an automated system that sends emails to the customer to confirm the booking, and sends out periodic reminders closer to the date of repair.
We find more and more mechanics and auto repair shops are presenting their customers with maintenance plans or scheduled emails to stay on top of routine maintenance, new sales and promotions and customer service surveys. A good example of Website that is accomplishing all of this is this Automotive Repair Shop in Leamington.
Better Customer Service
Cars don’t need to go to the shop as often as they used to which means customer loyalty isn’t an easy task. It is a known fact that it is much cheaper to keep a current customer than to bring in a new one. Investing a small amount of money to give your current customers a positive experience and in order to become repeat customers will usually be less than you would have spent on advertising or marketing to attain brand new customers.
On way to increase customer service would be to include a program like becoming a Tech-Net Professional Garage which can help services your customer in all sorts of areas, including National Warranty Coverage for any parts that are installed by a certified Tech-Net Garage.
Here is what the Tech-Net Warranty Has to Offer your Clients.
When you have service and repairs performed at a TECH-NET PROFESSIONAL AUTO SERVICE® center, you’re covered by a Worry-free Driving Nationwide Warranty. The Worry-free Driving Nationwide Warranty reaches across North America when you need it most providing vehicle protection on qualifying service and repairs. TECH-NET PROFESSIONAL AUTO SERVICE® centers will protect your new car warranty and are committed to providing a successful and pleasant automotive service experience.
Virtual Vehicle MD – Animated Repair Videos
Today’s vehicle service customers are sophisticated consumers who demand clear and concise information when spending money on their vehicle servicing and repairs. They will not approve repair recommendations they do not fully understand or that they don’t believe to be genuine.
What to do if you are a garage owner? Surely no one has time to explain the inner workings of a complete brake line job. Right?
Service advisors can find the task of explaining technically complex vehicle repairs very difficult, especially when the customer has left the service location and has to be contacted by telephone. With Virtual Vehicle a repair shop can send videos via email, explaining the exact repair to the customers, presented to them electronically in the way of an animated video.
These animated car repair videos are fast and to the point and can explain complex repairs to customers setting their minds at ease and really increasing the TRUST factor in an Auto Repair Garage, that took the time to send over a video explaining exactly what is happening to vehicle and why they needed to invest the type of money that they needed to keep their family safe on a vehicle repair.
Better Auto Diagnostic Tools & Mobile Phone Apps
In the old days one of the best sensors a person could have to find the problem with one’s car was one’s nose. Usually, with a few turns of the wrench or a quick part swap, all was back to normal.
When you look under the hood of any car now, there is hardly any room to move around. There are wires, pipes and plastic containers all over the place. Even something as simple as changing a damaged headlight becomes a full-day chore.
Naturally all of these parts are connected to the vehicle’s master computer, which is now the first place to check. There’s no need to go into a panic when the Check Engine Light comes on! For ease of diagnostics and troubleshooting, automotive scanners have been a real godsend for mechanics and technicians. Most Auto Garage Owners have the best handheld scanners around for today’s professional technicians.
It is possible that cars don’t need to be tinkered with so often, but when they do, the professionals need to be ready. Professional tools help things get done faster and with little guess work, if you are looking for the best in Auto Equipment and Diagnostic Tools you can shop directly from our Tools & Auto Equipment Flyer.
Auto Repair / Auto Parts Mobile Phone Apps:
Also joining the auto tech revolution here is the influx of new smartphone apps that allow auto technicians a quick reference guide to look up VIN numbers or any parts you may be searching for in a pinch.
These little apps pack real punch with a complete online catalog of auto parts, from most auto parts manufacturers so you can find Monroe shocks or an Interstate Deep Cycle Battery with a few clicks or an SKU scan. We love these Mobile App Helpers so much, that we put together the 5 Mobile Apps For Garage Owners you shouldn’t live without.
Order Online / Auto Repair Delivery Service
Just Think about the future of Auto Repair: A customer books a repair online with your shop, They scan the Vehicle’s Vin Number and send it over to you. You also know what type of vehicle service the customer needs ahead of time and the complete vehicle type. Emails get sent out automatically reminding the customer of when the appointment is and animated repair videos on how the repair will be done.
Parts are ordered ahead of time or on the day of the repair via CARQUEST’s portal, Order Auto Parts Online and all parts delivered directly to your location. With all the advancement in shop diagnostic tools, you check and repair all the vehicles’ woes and quickly get set up for the next booking. The customer receives follow-up emails for specials, requests to leave reviews on your Social Media Accounts and YellowPages type Directories, all of these tools meant to grow your business reputation and online exposure.
Don’t get us wrong, we believe word of mouth, customer service, and honest repairs will always be the cornerstone of a great business, but we see few Automotive Repair Shops capitalizing on HUGE opportunities and utilizing technology that can only help your business grow.
Car Battery Test Near Me | Free Battery Check
Get A Free Battery Testing to Ensure Safety
Battery failures can happen without almost no warning what so ever. If you would like peace of mind that both your car or truck’s battery is in good working order before you are left stranded somewhere. Come in anytime for a free battery test at AutoBarn in Essex and our expert technicians will check your battery’s key health indicators in under 2 minutes time. You will even get a printed out receipt of all of your batteries stats including its charging and ‘cranking’ capabilities (CCA). If we find you need a replacement, we have hundreds of batteries in stock to match all vehicle makes and models – with no obligation to buy.
Common Customer Questions about our Free Battery Testing
How Will I know If I need a New Battery for My Vehicle?
The 2 Minute Report is generated quickly after the leads are attached to the Battery in your vehicle and will tell us immediately if your battery will be in need of replacement.
How Will I know What Size Car Battery I will Need?
The expert technicians at Autobarn in Essex Ont. will happily advise you on getting the correct battery for your car. We have hundreds of batteries in stock and you would even be able to select our good, better or best options.
Will You Have My Particular Battery in Stock?
We hold the majority of all major car batteries in stock, however if in the off chance that it is a rare battery, we will still be able to source it from the CARQUEST network from other stores in our area or next day shipping from our main warehouses.
How long will my Vehicle Battery Last?
It is interesting to note that most of the damage done to a car battery is happens in the summer time, not in the winter. However, after a long blistering summer the battery carries on and usually quits in the winter time. No fun, huh? On average must trusted brands of batteries will eventually need replacing around the 4-5 year mark, so if your battery is getting close, please stop by and we will test it for you.
How Much Does a New Car or Truck Battery Cost?
Battery costs are dependent on your car. If you come in to the store for a Free Battery Test we can always provide you with a quote upfront. If you wish, you can look up your vehicles car battery directly from our Order Parts Online Catalog for In-Store Pickup.
Book A Free Battery Test Today
As stated above no appointment is necessary for you to stop by and get your battery checked, but if you had any questions about your current batteries health or where looking for a certain brand, please don’t hesitate to call us at 519 776 9885 or stop by directly at 377 Talbot St North Essex Ontario and we will be sure to provide you with a Free Battery Test right there on the spot.
GearWrench School Program 2016
GearWrench School Program 2016
All quotes for educational institutes in the automotive or heavy-duty domain will be eligible for a 20% discount on all Gear Wrench tool orders.
Also Students graduating from school can benefit from this discount as well on a one time purchase, all we need is a proof of Graduation (receipt) give it to purchasing so that they can attach it to the order.
Top 7 Things to Look For Before Taking a Road Trip
You’ve got your suntan lotion, a giant cooler, a frezbie and a blanket — you’re ready for a summer road trip. You may be prepared, but is your car or truck ready to go the extra mile? Sure, auto maintenance is the last thing on your mind, but it’ll jump to the front of your priority list if you’re on the side of the road. Spend an afternoon on some simple auto maintenance procedures and your whole family will thank-you.
Radiator Flush: The coolant in your radiator doesn’t last forever, please change it it necessary. Over time it can break down and start to corrode the inside of your radiator. This can lead to cooling problems and radiator repair. A radiator flush once a year is cheap insurance against radiator repairs.
Replace Your Air Filter: You should replace your air filter twice a year, so now’s a good time to get that 5-minute job out of the way. Its a cheap simple fix that will get you a little more gas mileage.
Tire Checks: Summer traveling could mean driving in the rain. The tread on your tires must be adequate for rainy weather or you could end up in a ditch, or worse. Checking the tread depth on your tires take one minute. While you’re at it, you should check your tire pressure, too.
Replace Your Windshield Wipers: Winter weather can be brutal to your windshield wipers, making them almost useless if you get caught in a summer rain shower. Replace them at the beginning of the summer and you won’t have to worry.
Inspect Your Brakes: It’s a good idea to inspect your brakes twice a year just to be sure everything is up t snuff. Car safety should always be a top priority.
Check Your Battery: Corrosion is very likely to build up during winter weather driving. Check your battery posts and cables to ensure you’ll have no starting problems.
Check Your Headlights: Sometimes you don’t notice that you have a bulb out. Now’s a good time to take a look to see if you need to replace a headlight bulb. Not only is it unsafe to drive with one headlight, you can get a ticket!
Remember that car safety begins with you. It also ends with you, since you’re the one driving the car. That means not doing anything stupid like speeding or driving drunk. Do all of us a favor and skip those dangerous activities.
Also keep in mind that keeping your car safe is important and one way to avoid buying a new car.
AutoBarn Essex Ont.
Customer satisfaction is AutoBarn’s #1 priority. We are always striving to maintain the most comprehensive supply of auto parts stock for your replacement parts need in Essex Ontario Canada. By providing one stop shopping in store and online ordering through our extensive company’s catalouge, we eliminate the need for you to look elsewhere for affordable auto parts in Essex County. All of our friendly employees have backgrounds in the automotive industry, which has provided them with unsurpassed levels of expertise. Our business is sustained by the repeat business of hundreds of satisfied customers.
It does not matter if you are looking for repair, replacement, or aftermarket auto parts for your vehicle. We understand how important your car is to you, and we also focus on Farm Parts, Marine Parts and Fork Lift Replacement Parts. You can also place your order online, then your order will be processed and ready for your pick up at our store location.
We have built our reputation one happy customer at a time and we are pleased to see more referrers than any other auto parts company in our area. If you are looking to restore an older vehicle to its original beauty, we have one of the largest stocks of OEM auto parts in Canada. This comprehensive list includes over seventy different brands of cars, from high end vehicles, like BMW, to mid sized economy cars, like Volkswagen. Stop in and see what AutoBarn can do for you!
