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Timing Belt

October 21, 2024

Hey, know what’s scary? Most vehicles’ timing belts fail without a lot of warning. And that can leave you stranded somewhere you don’t want to be. So check your vehicle owner’s manual’s suggested mileage for timing belt replacement and talk with the experts at Heritage Service Centre.

The failure of a timing belt is one of the most common reasons why cars break down. If you are familiar with a timing belt functions and how to tell when something is wrong with it, then you can prevent more serious damage. Knowledge about timing belt symptoms will save you from being stranded by the side of a road because of a broken timing belt.

Simply put, a timing belt is a chain or belt that control the opening and closing of a car’s valves. Without a properly functioning timing belt, an engine’s pistons would cease to function and your car would be unable to run. Worn / old timing belts can no longer perform their job properly and why they can lead to performance problems with your car.

There are a number of timing belt symptoms that you can watch for:

  • if your car starts belching more exhaust than usual,
  • if the car’s engine vibrates so much that it causes the entire car to shake,
  • if you experience difficulty in starting the car or
  • if you hear strange noises coming from the car’s engine.

These are just some of the common timing belt symptoms. If you experience one or more of these it would be an ideal time to consult with a Heritage mechanic as soon as possible. Again, its important to repeat that a timing belt may fail WITHOUT displaying any of these symptoms.

If you’ve ignored the symptoms and your car stops running it will probably be too late. By this point the belt has likely broken. The amount of collateral damage to the other parts of the engine could be severe and include valve damage which is decidedly more expensive than the belt replacement alone would have been.

Either way, Heritage will be happy to work on it.


Brake Pads and Rotors

October 21, 2024
No matter how cool, how expensive, how big, how much it can haul, or how fast your vehicle is, there’s nothing more important than its ability to stop! It is, without a doubt, that your brakes are the most important part of being able to drive your vehicle. Have your vehicle’s brakes lost some of their stopping power? Do they even squeak or squeal or scrape metal on metal? The squeak is an early warning that it might be time to replace, at a minimum, the pads. If you’re hearing metal on metal grinding, then its definitely time to do so (quickly) and you could be into some rotor work as well. No vehicle will stop effectively with worn brake pads. Nobody wants to go through a wall or have an accident because it won’t stop. So it makes a lot more sense (and is way less scary) ... read more

Your Battery

October 21, 2024
Determining when you need to replace your battery can be really simple. One of the easiest (and most frustrating) ways is if your car won’t start and when you attempt to re-charge it, the battery won’t hold a charge. This makes it pretty obvious that you need a new battery. The next most reliable way is if you find that you are having difficulty starting your vehicle in the morning. This usually happens more frequently in the winter, but hot climates can also shorten battery life. If your vehicle starter is sounding more sluggish, it might just be time for a new battery. Although these symptoms suggest a failing battery, they are not conclusive. It is possible that the connections have become corroded over time and just need to be cleaned or it might be that one of the two ... read more

Shocks and Struts

October 21, 2024
When most of us think about vehicle safety we usually think about brakes first and tires second. However, there is a third and just as important safety item on your vehicle that is often overlooked… shocks and struts. While some people think that a vehicles shocks and struts are not safety items, we beg to differ. In order for your brakes, tires, anti-lock braking system, vehicle stabilization system and any other electronic assist or computer safety system to work as intended, the tires must be in CONSTANT CONTACT with the ROAD! When the tire is bouncing or distribution of the weight of the vehicle is “off” these systems do not work properly and can lead to a safety or handling issue. Stopping distances are increased with these worn components and occasionally the driver m ... read more

Oil, Air & Cabin Filters

October 21, 2024
So what’s all this about filters? A new oil filter keeps contaminants out of your expensive engine. A new air filter can help improve your vehicle’s performance. And a new cabin air filter protects you and your passengers from mildew, allergens and more. Let’s look at each type of filter and when it makes sense to change them. OIL:Most vehicle manufacturers recommend changing the oil once a year or every 7,500 miles in passenger car and light truck gasoline engines. For diesel engines and turbocharged gasoline engines, the usual recommendation is every 3,000 miles or six months. However, when you read the fine print, you’ll find those recommendations are for vehicles that are driven under ‘ideal’ circumstances. Unfortunately, what most of us think of as ‘normal’ drivin ... read more

Wipers

October 21, 2024
What a great time of year this is for holiday gatherings, great food … and, ick, inclement weather. Nearly ninety percent of all driving decisions are based on a clear view of the road, which means good visibility is absolutely essential — especially during wet weather when vision may be obscured by water, road splash, sleet or snow on the windshield. Yet, wiper blades are one of the most neglected components on vehicles today. Many blades are cracked, split, torn, brittle, worn or otherwise in obvious need of replacement. Others may look okay, but do a lousy job of wiping when put to the test. Any blade that’s chattering, streaking or doing a lousy job of wiping is a blade that’s overdue for replacement. Most experts say wiper blades should be replaced every six to tw ... read more

Brakes

October 21, 2024
If your vehicle’s radio or air-conditioner aren’t working properly, that’s an inconvenience. But if your brakes aren’t as reliable as they used to be, that’s serious business. With school back in session and fall and winter driving right around the corner. Now more than ever, your vehicle needs great brakes you can rely on for every stop. One of the most interesting things about vehicle brake system is that a small peddle can stop a huge vehicle with a slight push of brake pad. How it all happens is still a mystery (friction not fiction) for many people. Being “out of sight, out of mind,” the braking system on most vehicles go unnoticed… until a problem crops up. There are drum brakes, disc brakes, anti-lock brake systems (ABS) and hand or parking brakes, depending on the a ... read more

Battery Tip

October 21, 2024
Did you know the average life of a car batter in Michigan is about 3 to 5 years? Do you see greenish, fuzzy stuff forming on your battery terminals? Do you lose radio stations overnight? Does it seem like the headlights aren’t quite as bright as they were? Does the car sound sluggish when started? Are the wipers moving slower? Does the dash battery light come on after the car is running? These are all symptoms of electrical system issues that should be looked at BEFORE something fails and leaves you stranded. At Heritage Service Centre, we have the expertise to evaluate, diagnose, and repair your car’s electrical system to keep it in peak operating condition. Whether its your battery, alternator, or starter, we can provide you with the co ... read more

Service Advisor

October 21, 2024
We understand the discomfort and uncertainty that is often associated with having your vehicle serviced. Our goal is to keep our customers safe, save you money on vehicle ownership and fuel consumption, and empower you with a better knowledge of basic automotive issues. That’s why we’re offering this Service Advisor feature on our website. This special section is loaded w/ descriptive images and diagrams, animations and videos to assist you to understand what we’re doing, why we’re doing it and what’s involved

Engine Light

October 21, 2024
There are many more things that can go wrong with your vehicle than you have gauges for, so the car makers gave us the ever popular and informative ‘service engine’ dash warning light. It could be as simple as a burned out tail light, a failing sensor or something more serious. The good news is that Heritage Service Centre has the diagnostic tools to talk to your vehicles’ computer to determine the actual issue or problem
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