2014 | Parkside Motors

The Holidays at Parkside

As the holiday season approaches there is so much to do in so little time. Many of us will be travelling to see family and friends, and many of us take trips to ski and enjoy other winter pastimes. Over the years we have found the few weeks before Christmas to be a very busy time at the shop so we wanted to write this quick message to let you know the best way to get your car serviced before the winter break.

Front End Repair Round-Up

We were hard at work last month writing in-depth articles about all aspects of front end repair. We learned about what causes steering and suspension problems, the easy way to prevent driveshaft issues, and how often to change your power steering fluid to keep your car running smoothly. Take a look at this front-end article round-up and follow the links to get more information.

Need to Know: Power Steering Fluid

Power steering is provided on almost all cars via a hydraulic pump which assists the driver in turning the steering wheel with manageable effort. Like all fluids in your vehicle, power steering fluid wears out over time and must be replaced in order to ensure proper vehicle control and the longevity of steering components.

Need to Know: Drive Shafts

Today we are giving you a little insight on problems that arise with driveshafts, axle shafts, and CV joints. The most important takeaway, though, is that these problems can be caught and repair quickly and effectively. All you need to do is be sure to bring your car in for its regularly scheduled oil change and we inspect these parts to catch any issues before they become big problems.

Need to Know: Suspension & Steering

You know the old story of the frog in the boiling pot of water? It heats up so gradually he doesn't even notice until it is too late. That is a good analogy for steering and suspension problems. The symptoms are very gradual and they are easy to miss. That is why we take every car that comes in for an oil change out for a test drive. We notice these symptoms right away and do a front end inspection to make sure your steering and suspension systems are up to snuff.

Q&A: When should I switch to my winter tires?

As the weather starts to to turn you are right to be thinking about switching over to your winter tires. When is the right time to do it to stay safe? We give you all the details in this week's Q&A.

Need to Know: Belt Inspection

Your car's charging system is a veritable merry-go-round of energy transfer. Let's look at how belts keep your charged up and on the road, and what we can do to help keep your charging system in tip-top shape the next time you are in for an oil change.

Need to Know: Battery Load Tests

You know when you are waiting for the ferry and you see that one stranded car from the previous sailing? His car died after 20 minutes of listening to the radio without the car running. This is not typical, and a simple battery load test would have saved him the biggest hassle in island living. Learn more about how to prevent this issue right here.

Q&A: Why does my car squeal in reverse?

Is your car squealing at low speeds or only in reverse? There is a simple explanation. Andrew Kralt is on the case in this week's Q&A.

Q&A: Should I buy a new, high-mileage car?

If a car is the latest model but has very high kilometres, is it a good purchase? See what the guys in the shop have to say in this week's "Q & A".

DIY: Battery Clean-Up

Batteries become corroded over time, and this build up of material on the terminals of you car battery can stop the flow of electricity and give you a headache. Here is a quick and simple home remedy that can fix it in under 5 minutes for next to nothing. Check out the slideshow here.

Need to Know: Batteries

We like to say that knowledge is power, but in this case, knowledge about your car battery actually IS power. Let’s take a quick look at how batteries work, how to maintain them, and how to get out in front of a failing battery before you are left stranded.