Having a mom (or dad) with an auto repair shop has its benefits. My two boys (ages 4 & 6) love playing with cars and we've had many pieces broken off their toy cars. They'd come running to me because they knew I fix cars at work, wanting me to repair their toys. Try explaining that it's difficult repairing plastic! Poor Guido got the vice treatment when one of his forks broke:
As a not-for-profit organization, Skills Canada-Ontario is dedicated to promoting the skilled trades and technologies as viable, first-choice career options for Ontario youth. One of their programs is geared towards young women: 'Skills Work! For Women' Networking Dinners.
From our side of the counter, there are a few things that go a long way in helping us reduce wasted time when it comes to working on your car. Below is a list of some suggestions and things to keep in mind the next time you bring your car in for service. Granted, there are ways around some of the items (e.g. if the owner’s manual isn’t available, we have access to most information on fluid specifications through our service manuals) so it’s not that we can’t service your car without your full participation of this list.
For many of us, jumper cables and a snow scraper is the extent of our car safety kit. When was the last time you peered in your trunk and evaluated your kit?
Since 2006, the Government of Canada (in collaboration with the Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance and the Salvation Army) began its 72 Hours campaign. The campaign helps Canadians '...cope on their own for at least the first 72 hours of an emergency, enabling first responders to focus on those in urgent need.'
Our clients often ask how much they should expect to pay in auto maintenance and repair (on top of other auto-related costs such as finance/lease charges, insurance and fuel). A good rule of thumb that we suggest to set aside is approximately $100 per month. Some years you will only need to do preventative maintenance (such as oil changes or fluid services), other years you may need costly repairs such as brakes, tires, tune-ups or timing belt replacements.
On some days it feels like I spend more time in the car than I do outside. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t have proper posture (I couldn’t make it as an English guardsman) and sitting for long periods in the car doesn’t help. After a day of contorting my body under dashboards, lifting tires and reaching over engines to get at spark plugs, my body needs to keep up with my energetic kids. Here are some exercises my chiropractor, Dr.
I sat in my auto technician apprenticeship class, waiting for it to start. Everyone was chit-chatting away… three guys in front of me were talking about how they went off-roading and one got his truck stuck. The other’s truck couldn’t pull it out so they had to call in the third guy to rescue them in his bigger truck. It was a great story, the guys (in their 20s) definitely got a kick out of the adventure…and I was thinking ‘you did what? In the middle of where? And it was a school night?’ (Note to self, turn off mothering instincts in class).
Have you ever had a hard time explaining a car noise or feel silly that your sound effects just can’t duplicate it for your technician? We’ve had clients report noises that sound like a sewing machine, laundry machine, etc. I have to admit, I can’t make realistic noises if my life depended on it. In general, I’ve noticed that guys tend to make pretty good sound effects.
When you’re on the road, you may love to turn up the radio and listen to the music, but it’s important to turn down the volume regularly and listen to your car. If there’s a problem, you’ll often hear it first.
I’m just like you… a busy mom of two young boys, busy with work and trying to balance my relationships (with my husband, family and friends). There never seem to be enough hours in the day, I have a to-do list for my other to-do lists. My thoughts jump between what to get for groceries, what time I have to leave to pick up the kids and did I complete the school forms that were due that day
