At Glenwood they believe that staying on top of regular maintenance keeps your vehicle running better for longer. Glenwood Auto are Trusted Saskatoon Auto Repair Experts, and they are ready to help you with all your maintenance needs. In their latest auto blog, they discussed the role of belts and hoses in your vehicle.

Here is some advice and facts from the experts at Glenwood themselves:

Vehicle Systems Overview - Belts and Hoses

What are the belt and hoses?

A vehicle’s belts and hoses are essential elements of the cooling, air conditioning and charging systems of the engine.  When a belt or hose breaks down it can leave you stranded, so it is important to meet the set replacement intervals recommended in your owner’s manual.

What do belts and hoses do?

Timing Belt 

The timing belt is a notched rubber belt that allows the crankshaft to turn the camshaft. A timing belt is sometimes called a Gilmer belt or a camshaft drive belt. The camshaft opens and closes the valves in synchronized movement with the engine’s pistons.

Serpentine Belt

Serpentine belts, also known as drive belts, provide power to the air conditioning compressor, power steering pump, cooling fan, air injection pump, and more.

Coolant Hoses

Coolant hoses include the upper and lower radiator hoses plus heater hoses. Some cars include a bypass hose. Hoses provide a flexible connection for coolant flow between the engine, radiator, engine and heating block.

TYPICAL WEAR AND TEAR ON BELTS AND HOSES

Key items that affect the replacement interval for belts and hoses:

• Vehicle age;
• Electrolytic corrosion;
• Mileage;
• Oil contamination;
• Belt tension; and/or
• Failed hose clamps.

SYMPTOMS

• Squeaking noise from under the hood during start-up or operation;
• Coolant leaks;
• Dashboard light illumination;
• A/C system failure;
• Engine overheating; and/or
• Smell of burnt rubber.

Kelley Blue Book announced the winners of its seventh annual 5-Year Cost to Own Awards where Hyundai took the win on the lowest maintenance costs and repair side of things, followed by Acura.

The 2018 Hyundai Accent came out on top for maintenance and repair costs. Over the course of 5 years, customers would pay $3,002 to take care of their vehicle, or about $600 per year. Kelley Blue Book pegged repair costs at $553, with the costs of maintenance being $2,449 (all prices in U.S. dollars).

 Hyundai was named this year’s top brand for lowest total ownership costs, the second time it has finished on top since the program was created. Hyundai models won thanks to top marks in almost all categories, such as low repair costs and superior warranty program. Its Sonata model won in the mid-size car category, with the Elantra and the Accent coming in second place in the compact and subcompact car categories.

Acura took the win for the best luxury brand for the third year in a row, backed by its ILX and MDX models.

In particular, the 2018 ILX saw repair and maintenance costs come in at $3,521 over the first five years or $704 annually. Kelley Blue Book listed repairs at $1,154 and maintenance at $2,367.

Third place belonged to the 2018 Chevrolet Spark, which won for the best subcompact car. The maintenance and repair costs are estimated at $3,950 which would equal out to paying $790 a year. The repair costs amount to $1,869 with maintenance costs sitting at $2,081, according to Kelly Blue Book.

On average, in all 23 categories of the vehicle winners, the costs of repairs over the course of 5 years is around $1,550 with maintenance at $2,718 – or $4,268 combined.

The 5-year Cost to Own information takes into consideration the areas of the vehicle that people’s money goes into like depreciation, expected fuel costs, finance and insurance fees, maintenance and repair costs, and state fees. These categories are all areas that come into play when making a vehicle purchase.

Glenwood Auto is a Trusted Saskatoon Auto Repair and Service Shop

Find Glenwood in both the Saskatoon Tires and Saskatoon Auto Repair & Service Categories 

$65 Loyalty Rewards & Free Extended Warranty Program

At Crestview Auto Service Saskatoon they believe your car can remain safe and reliable for at least 10 to 15 years while keeping you out of loan payments and leaving more money in your pocket. Through regular maintenance and inspections, they will help you budget for maintenance and repairs on your vehicle while leaving you in control every step of the way. With this in mind they are introducing the:

Crestview Auto Service Saskatoon- Customer Loyalty Rewards & Extended Warranty Program

This includes double reward benefits for you. When your vehicle is regularly inspected, serviced and maintained at Crestview Auto Service Saskatoon, you will receive a $65 in store credit after having 4 consecutive oil change or seasonal maintenance services, this will also qualify you to receive at no additional cost, an addition 1 year/20,000 km parts and labour extended warranty (2 year/40,000km total) on all qualifying repairs. Select parts have even longer warranty periods.

Dave Wiebe has been recognized in many ways over his career but being named ACDelco 2003 Technician of the Millennium was definitely a highlight!

“The Technician of the Millennium III finals were a much bigger deal than I envisioned they would be when I entered the competition last fall, and the title is also a big deal,” Wiebe said. “I had a feeling of satisfaction I never dreamed of because I have wanted to be a technician since I was a kid, and feel I have become so much more.” 

Scott Mackie, ACDelco general director, said the purpose of the Technician of the Millennium competition is to recognize and support the professionalism and expertise of ACDelco technicians. “The competition is a testimonial to the high calibre of technicians employed by Independent Service Centers that are enrolled in our Total Service Support Program,” Mackie said. “David Wiebe did a great job on Friday, and all eight contestants should be congratulated for making it this far. Each technician demonstrated an amazing ability to stay focused on the tasks at hand.”

All technicians were provided with identical tools, parts, computers and diagnostic equipment, which they used to diagnose and repair actual vehicles in a timed, hands-on skills demonstration.

The Millennium competition winner, Dave Wiebe, Crestview Auto Service was presented with a new Chevrolet Silverado SS truck. Wiebe beat out five United States finalists and two other Canadian finalists in what each contestant referred to as an incredibly challenging final competition. Dave is actually not a truck lover so soon after he was back in Saskatoon he sold his truck and purchased a car. 

Dave loves his career and working on Crestview Auto Service's client's vehicles! Stop by our shop and say hi to Dave! 

Find Crestview at 24, 23rd Street East  or online at www.crestviewautoservice.ca - they are a fullservice Saskatoon Tire and Auto Repair & Service business and they can be found on the Saskatoon Directory under TIRES SASKATOON    and Auto Repair & Service Saskatoon they are your TRUSTED SASKATOON TIRE and AUTO REPAIR EXPERTS