2024-2025 Student Resource Handbook

65 AUTO CARE The question often arises as to how frequently you should have your car serviced, what services you should have done regularly and what a good overall maintenance program consists of. It is a fact that the most important maintenance you’ll give your car is changing the oil and filters on a regular basis. This is the simplest and yet most inexpensive form of care for your vehicle. Your cars oil is often compared to your body’s blood, essential for proper operation. Changing your oil on average every 3 months or 5,000 kms allows your engine to run more smoothly by reducing contaminants and the friction causing elements that accumulate during normal operation. It also helps to decrease the risk of breakdown, having fewer costly repairs, reduces fuel consumption, and extends the life of your vehicle. Each time you start your car, and while running the engine, a small amount of fuel and oil mix in the engine cylinders and are introduced into the oil circulation system. A lot of short trips and/or heavy traffic driving or trailering of heavier loads will also decrease the effective life of your oil. Since the idea of a good engine oil is to reduce friction and so prolong its life, changing the oil to be free of any swarf and dirt contaminants makes good common sense. Become informed and be kept up to date on any specials, receive regular mail reminders of when your next service appointment is due and enjoy the ownership experience throughout the life of your car. Ask for references of the repair shop, preferably any other consumers feedback, and check online for any published reviews. Get a written quote and authorize all work before any repairs begin. When your car gets repaired, the labour rates and parts cost should be listed on your invoice. Demand the mandatory warranty in writing. TIPS FOR BUYING A VEHICLE A void A ny S eller W ho • • • AUTO INSURANCE Good rates do exist but, it’s market availability that is the big issue. Insurance companies with good rates have heavily restricted the quantity of business by cancelling thousands of brokers’ contracts, forcing most brokers to shuffle drivers to non-standardized markets. As a result of their action consumers have paid hundreds and even thousands of dollars more than what’s actually available in the marketplace. Consumers finally are rebelling and complaining to the media and to their Members of Parliament. Thousands of drivers across the country have been forced into taking the illegal risk of driving without insurance as they are unable to acquire affordable insurance rates. It is estimated that in Ontario hundreds of thousands of drivers are driving without insurance. Insurance companies are slowly opening doors to offer consumers a relief with better rates but the situation is not about to dramatically change. Brokers are often reluctant to return their clients to better markets for a number of reasons. The Ontario Government’s Rate Guide shows you the vast difference between insurance companies’ rates. Here is the government’s rate comparison showing the lowest to highest rates for 4 driver profiles, with rate differences of over $15,000. Pressures you to make a hurried decision. Discourages you from checking facts. Avoids having you inspect the vehicle at their home or, if they are a dealer, have no office, lot, sign or vendors permit. Suggests that you can avoid paying tax and asks you to ensure them that you will not go to the authorities if there is a problem. T oronto D river P rofiles 19 Years Old, Clean Record Driver, 1 Ticket & Accident 2 Drivers, Clean Record 1 Driver, Clean Record Lowest $5,750 $2,051 $1,763 $970 Highest $15,551 $17,468 $6,992 $2,576 KIYO’S JAPANESE CAR SERVICE 21 Mill Street Georgetown, ON L7G 2H6 Tel: 905-873-0550 E-mail: kiyos@cogeco.net 2014 - In the Heart of Leaside 127 Laird Drive, Toronto, ON M4G 3V4 134 Laird Drive Toronto, ON M4G 3V7 1110 Finch Ave. W., Suite 222, Toronto, Ontario Canada, M3J2T2 Tel: (416) 667-9500 Toll Free: (877) 667-9505 Fax: (416) 667-9555 www.casc.on.ca