No, you have the legal right to take your car or truck to any shop for car repair and maintenance. A dealership or vehicle manufacturer cannot deny your warranty coverage if service was performed outside of the dealership. At Gaynor’s Automotive, you’ll receive top-quality service that meets or exceeds what you’ll find at any dealership. Our ASE-certified mechanics can provide any of the automotive repair and maintenance services you may need.

Following the recommended preventative maintenance routine is the best way to extend the life of your vehicle. This type of maintenance is more than just regular oil changes. Preventative maintenance involves regular vehicle inspections, fluid changes, tire rotations, filter changes, and more. All of these things help ensure that your vehicle stays in optimal running condition and that any small issues are caught early before they turn into more serious, much more costly problems.

In general, your vehicle should be serviced at the 30,000-mile, 60,000-mile, and 90,000-mile marks. But, the best thing to do is follow the manufacturer’s recommended preventative maintenance schedule for your specific vehicle (in your owner’s manual). If you frequently drive in stop-and-go traffic, drive short commutes often, or tow heavy loads, your vehicle may need preventative maintenance more frequently. If you’re unsure about the schedule that’s best for your car or truck, our expert technicians will be glad to make a recommendation.

Here at Gaynor’s Automotive, our ASE-certified technicians perform a variety of maintenance services, including:

• Oil change and oil filter replacement
• Checking and/or flushing any system fluids (brake, power steering, etc.)
• Checking and/or replacing air filters and fuel filters
• Checking tire air pressure and inspecting for wear/damage
• Tire rotation and balancing
• Wheel/tire alignment
• Inspecting and/or replacing brake pads
• Checking all lights and signals

When you need an experienced car mechanic in Vancouver, trust the team at Gaynor’s Automotive. We can help extend the life of your engine and keep your vehicle running its best. Schedule your appointment today at the location nearest you.

Make sure to also check out our latest specials to help save you even more money on your visit!

Your brakes are, of course, a critical safety component on your vehicle and you rely on them to operate properly every time you drive. So, if you start to notice changes in how your brakes are performing, bring your vehicle in for a brake system inspection as soon as possible.

Over time, during normal use, heat and friction will start to wear down the brake system components of your vehicle. This is why we recommend having your brakes inspected at least once per year. This helps ensure the best performance of the system.

There are several indicators that it’s time for brake service:

• • High-pitched squealing, squeaking, or thumping sounds when braking
  • Scraping or grinding sounds, which can also occur when not braking
  • Vibration or shaking when braking
  • The vehicle pulls to one side when braking
  • Yellow puddles of brake fluid under the vehicle
  • Less brake pedal resistance when braking
  • More distance is needed to stop completely

If any of the above is happening, bring your vehicle to us here at Gaynor’s Automotive as soon as possible.

While you should certainly follow your vehicle’s manual from the manufacturer to learn about bringing in your vehicle for preventative maintenance, your vehicle will start to show certain signs that it is time to visit the car mechanic. If you are experiencing anything that feels off, it is best to take your vehicle to an auto repair shop to be on the safe side. Here are some of the signals your vehicle will give you if there is something that needs to be checked or repaired:

• Signal or error lights on the dashboard
• Loud noises such as clanking, sputtering, or thumping
• Rough transitions between gears
• Jerking when accelerating
• Shaking, rattling or wobbling when driving or idling

To help keep your brakes in top condition and operating safely, we recommend having your brakes inspected every six months or 6,000 miles.

When your brake system is no longer working as optimally as it should, our ASE-certified technicians can provide top-quality brake service that includes:

• • Visual inspection of the hydraulic braking system and brake friction.
  • Resurfacing rotors and/or drums, where applicable
  • Installing new premium-grade brake pads and/or brake shoes
  • Checking and repacking wheel bearings, if applicable

Schedule your appointment today for a brake inspection and service.

Gaynor’s Automotive offers a wide variety of auto repairs and services including car AC repairs. Since the air conditioning systems in modern cars and trucks are highly complex, it’s important to have your AC serviced by experienced technicians. At Gaynor’s, our factory-trained AC pros can handle all aspects of AC repair, including computerized components.

In addition to air conditioner repairs, we also offer services for everything from transmission repairs, engine diagnostics and repairs, and radiators, to brakes, tires and wheels. Take a look at all the car repair services we offer and trust that we can handle any auto repair or maintenance that you need done to your motor vehicle.

Most modern cars and trucks are equipped with computerized internal monitoring and control systems. Part of a vehicle’s monitoring system is a variety of different dashboard warning lights. These lights are indicators that a fluid level might be low or that something is not operating as it should be.

Do not ignore a dashboard warning light that comes on. Doing so can lead to even bigger and more expensive problems. So, if you see a dashboard light on, bring your vehicle into one of our Vancouver area car repair shops as soon as you can.

Our ASE-certified technicians will use a diagnostics/scanning tool to connect to your vehicle’s computer system, determine what the light is indicating, and perform the necessary service. We can inspect and service a variety of components and engine systems, including your ignition system, emission system, electrical system, and more.

Yes. We recommend that the oil filter be replaced every time the engine oil is changed, which should be approximately every 3,000 to 5,000 miles (or sometimes more with full synthetic oil).

Some vehicle manufacturers say that the oil filter only needs to be replaced at every other oil change. But, this does not take into account the fact that most oil filters in today’s vehicles have been downsized to pint-sized versus the previous “standard” quart-sized filter. At that smaller size, the oil filter won’t be able to properly perform if you wait until the second oil change.

Here at Gaynor’s Automotive, every oil change service includes an oil filter replacement to help keep your engine properly protected.

Good quality tires are an investment that you should protect and ensure you get the full life out of. One of the easiest ways to do this is to include tire rotations in your preventative maintenance routine. Doing so will ensure that your tires are wearing evenly and improve their longevity.

When your tires wear unevenly it can quickly reduce the lifespan of the tire, reduce your vehicle’s fuel economy, and cause other tire repair needs. So, we always recommend that a tire rotation be done with every oil change. During a tire rotation service here at Gaynor’s Automotive, your tires will be rotated in alternating patterns (depending on the type of vehicle, type of tires, and what was previously done). This will help ensure even tread wear and optimal performance.

We will also examine your tires’ air pressure and tread, and make sure all of the lug nuts are tightened properly. Schedule a tire rotation at our location nearest you today and help maintain the performance and life of your tires.

Through everyday driving, even the best tires that are maintained and rotated regularly will wear in time. As your tires become more worn and the tread becomes thinner, the less traction they will have on the road. In general, tires usually need to be replaced every couple of years. The life of your tires will be impacted by your driving habits, local weather conditions, and road conditions.

It is very important to regularly visually inspect your tires and do not ignore the need for new tires when that time comes.

Indicators that it is time for new tires include:

• When the tire tread reaches less than 4/32” deep
• Cracks in the sidewalls
• Uneven tread wear
• Objects stuck in the tire
• Bulges, weak spots, or blisters

If you notice any of the above or your vehicle is having trouble gripping in wet or snowy conditions, it is time to start shopping for new tires.

Our transmission experts recommend that you have your transmission checked out and serviced once a year. This can help extend the life of your vehicle and can save you money—the sooner our technicians discover the first signs of transmission trouble, the greater the chances you can avoid extensive damage that can lead to costly transmission repair. We can take care of everything from a simple transmission fluid change or transmission fluid flush, to the most complex transmission repairs.

The signs that may indicate it’s time for transmission service include leaking fluid, shaking or vibrating of your vehicle, a burning smell, or a whining sound while you’re on the road. If you notice any of these signs or your Check Engine light is on, make an appointment as soon as possible with our transmission shop.