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Category Archives for "vehicle maintenance and repair"

Winter Prep Service at The Garage

Every year, your vehicle needs to be ready for winter in British Columbia. The last thing motorists want is to get stranded out in the cold. We need our vehicles to be safe and reliable. It’s always best to get caught up on any neglected maintenance items – but the stakes are higher during the BC […]

Why you need to get your vehicle’s injectors tested every 50,000 kilometers

Or: even the best engines are subject to the whims of a little squirt!You’re doing your daily commute in the car. You have it serviced at all the regular intervals that you have been told are necessary to keep it in tip top running order, yet somehow it doesn’t run like it did on the […]

Disappearing independent vehicle service shops and the impact on ownership

There’s a big change happening in the auto industry that’s catching people unawares. Essentially, we are moving from a mindset of ‘fix it when it breaks’ or ‘fix it when the light comes on’—that has been there since motor vehicles first arrived on the scene and is still very much entrenched in our thinking—to a culture of long-term preventative maintenance.

What you need to know about new car warranties and proper maintenance

When you buy a new car you, are sold a fantasy. The fantasy is that the manufacturer’s warranty will save you lots of unpleasant expenditure and keep the car in good shape. To an extent, the warranty keeps its promise as you enjoy a trouble-free driving experience for three, four or five years. The trouble is that when the warranty expires, you may have a problem, and you may be surprised at the true condition of your car.

What’s with your car? Get a high tech, clear picture

At The Garage, we have invested in technology and training specifically designed to make sure that our customers get the fastest and best quality service, with absolute clarity on the customer’s part, in a way that puts them in control of their choices. Those who’ve tried it, love it!

Why are some seemingly simple repairs so expensive?

As vehicles become ever more computerized and complex, even the most basic repair can cost a lot more than you may reasonably expect. In this video, Kevin Tremblay, General Manager at The Garage in Vancouver, BC, explains why, for example, you can no longer simply replace a door lock cylinder when it breaks.

What can The Garage offer that dealerships cannot?

If you plan to keep your car for more than five years—and these days, cars are build to last for 20 or more years in good running order—you may not be getting the best maintenance advice from your dealership. In this video, Kevin Tremblay explains what you could be missing out on.

Is your car about to divorce you?

We tend to think that we have a one-way relationship with our car. But our car is always communicating with us, if we care to listen—and it does pay, long term, to listen. Divorce can be messy, and very expensive.

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H G

16:44 16 Jan 20

Very honest staff here. I asked them to inspect a vehicle that I will be using for business and they were more than... helpful in providing a full report. Jeff also gave tips on how to maintain this type of vehicle so I can avoid expensive repairs in the future. Could not be happier with the service, thanks guys!read more

Nick Snutch

23:33 18 Dec 19

These guys are awesome! Honest, reliable, and high quality service, I can't think of anybody else I would rather be... taking care of my car. They are simply the best!read more

Ian Cooper

20:32 25 Nov 19

I would recommend the garage to everyone. They did excellent work on my 89 vanagon which is very hard to find a... qualified mechanic for. Friendly honest staff that love cars and have a legit passion for them. All of the immediate problems were addressed and they even compiled a list of things that will need to be done in the future or that I can do myself. If there was a sixth star they would’ve gotten that from me in this rating.read more

Cora Hall

00:02 13 Nov 19

Amazing customer service. Jeffrey really took the time to help me understand all the intricacies of my car concerns,... and went above and beyond in making sure I was on board with every step of the process to repair the issues. All the work done on my vehicle was very thorough, and communication was great. Thanks so much The Garage!read more

B Perey

15:59 06 Nov 19

Despite knowing it was overpriced, I gladly sprung for the more extensive option, an "in-depth" pre-purchase inspection... at over $300 because I wanted the peace of mind. Soon after, I bought the car. On the first drive owning it, I used the climate controls to switch off the air recirculation function. The cabin of the vehicle filled with exhaust fumes and I had to roll down the window. I ended up finding the exhaust leak soon after when I looked under the vehicle and could see a large leak of fumes coming from a pipe connection near the front of the vehicle. I contacted The Garage to report this and knowing that I live on Vancouver Island, the best they would offer is a free diagnosis, not a repair. It didn't need a diagnosis, that was an empty offer. It would be unreasonable for me to pay ~200 in ferries to get there when the alternative that I offered was to send photographs which clearly showed the long term carbon build up and the missing nut (how did that get missed). The solution I was requesting was a refund/ partial refund. I was told by Jonathan Woo that Jeffery Tremblay would call me. After two months of not having my calls returned from Jeffrey Tremblay, he eventually responded by email to say I was out of luck, they wouldn’t do anything. The following issue was not addressed with the shop because it took longer to be investigated. That said, it clearly demonstrates their level of competence and unfortunately, it's a more significant example. TWO weeks from the purchase date, the check engine light came on. I had the code read and it was a misfire. Due to a student budget, I took some time to get to the bottom of it. I did the more affordable and simple possibilities myself (spark plugs and coil packs) but still spent a lot of time and money doing that. The misfire persisted and I brought it to a mechanic. The culprit: BURNT EXHAUST VALVES! The engine was shot and needed a rebuild. I was standing next to him when he measured the valve clearances, there was no doubt about it. To top it off, during the rebuild the mechanic found numerous additional leaks coming from a flex joint in the exhaust from a section in the engine bay. As they say, best for last? Prior to buying the car, I was discussing with Jonathan Woo what the "in-depth" $300+ dollar pre-purchase inspection would include. I asked if they could do a Leak-Down Test on the engine. To my surprise, he responded in an agitated manner and questioned why I wanted that test done. His reaction was very bewildering to me. I mention something about compression etc.. He replied that the mechanics will be able to determine that when they test drive. I didn't know better. Well as luck would have it, a Leak-Down Test would have identified the burnt valves and I wouldn't have had to spend $4000 on an engine rebuild. All that said, this experience left me with this impression of The Garage: They're negligent (possibly incompetent?), and they lack accountability. They cost me a lot of money and headache. Take your business to someone that deserves it. ***Reply to owners response*** Hi Jeffrey, I did write this review a long time after the fact. Life is busy and I had moved on, but part of me felt a responsibility to share my experience so that the next consumer might avoid a similar thing. The vehicle was hardly modified. It had a section of aftermarket exhaust (not the leaking part). As we've discussed before, there is little good in a $150 credit when I would need to spend almost $200 and a day of travel to use the credit. I requested a more appropriate option, a refund, and you declined. This is much less about the lack of accountability, and more about the lack in service. I sure hope your technicians don't need a crystal ball to at least find the obvious exhaust leaks that I described. Since you bring it up, though, maybe they would have more success trying a "magic wand or crystal ball" in the future.read more

mark Nicholson

22:42 01 Oct 19

Always a great place to take your vehicle. With friendly staff and knowledgeable techs, you can expect the highest... quality careread more

Daryl Leopold

23:11 21 Sep 19

Jeff and his illustrious crew go beyond what is required of them. Always courteous and friendly, The Garage also has... top notch experienced mechanics who can handle any vehicle and any situation. Absolutely A1 company.read more

Soma Feldmar

18:13 03 Apr 19

This family run repair shop is top of the line. Not only have they been taking care of my parents' cars for over 10... years, they are now taking care of my first car, and me, to be honest. Their customer service is impeccable. They will drive you almost anywhere after you drop your car off, and they'll come pick you up and bring you to the shop when your car is ready. It has been run by the same family for four generations, and Jeffrey, the current manager, helps his crew work like a well maintained engine. They will never do work on your car you have not approved. They will send you an estimate of everything before they do anything. And they will explain all of your options for all of the work. Also, whenever possible, they will offer you pricing and parts options, which is excellent. I can not recommend them highly enough. Please take your car there!!read more

Category Archives for "vehicle maintenance and repair"

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