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News and Information

Here you will find news and information on such topics as wheel alignment, brakes, battery care and car maintenance.
Are Timing Chains Still Causing Headaches?
Articles

Timing Chain Replacement:

Are Timing Chains Still Causing Headaches? What a loaded question. The answer varies greatly depending on whom you ask. It also varies, depending on what OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) the question might be referring to.

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Why Your Car Might Need An Oil Change - Les Dobos Auto Centre Calgary
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Why Your Car Might Need An Oil Change

An oil change is an important part of car maintenance that helps to ensure the long-term health of your vehicle. It is recommended that you change your oil every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, or every
six months, whichever comes first.

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Winter Tire Advantage - Les Dobos Auto Centre Calgary
Articles

Winter Tire Advantage

Winter Tire Advantage – Canadians have more winter tire choices than most drivers around the world. With vast Canadian landscape, winter driving means different things in the snowy Maritimes, cold urban roads of Quebec and Ontario, frigid and windy prairies, and BC’s warmer Lower Mainland and unpredictable mountain roads.

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When To Install Winter Tires - Les Dobos Auto Centre Calgary
Articles

When To Install Winter Tires

As soon as the temperature consistently dips below 7°C drivers should change over to winter tires to benefit from the increased traction, braking and handling in all winter conditions, including snowy, icy, and cold and dry pavement.

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Fall Driving Tips
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Fall Driving Tips

When fall arrives, the new season brings many factors that drivers need to be aware of. Commuters and drivers battle with increased sun glare with the sun lower on the horizon. And the changing sunrise and sunset times in the fall change the light conditions for drivers – particularly during rush hour.

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Summer Driving Tips
Articles

Summer Driving Tips

For many of us, summertime usually means vacations and summer road trips. Now is a good time to review these summer driving safety tips. A little planning and some safety checks might spare you from dealing with the consequences of a breakdown — or worse, a highway crash.

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Spring Driving
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Spring Driving

Spring Driving Did you know? Summer or all-season tires are made of a hard rubber compound, which is designed for heat on the roads

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Spring Car Care - Les Dobos Auto Centre Calgary
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Spring Car Care

Make sure that your car is ready for Spring and the slightly unpredictable weather that comes with it.

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Winter Driving Safety Kit
Articles

Emergency Winter Driving Safety Kit

It’s a good idea to keep a winter survival kit in your vehicle. Having essential supplies can provide comfort and safety for you and your passengers should you become stranded.

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Winter Driving Tips - Les Dobos Auto Centre NE Calgary
Articles

Winter Driving Safety Tips

Winter driving can be risky, so be prepared. Learn to adjust your driving for slippery roads and poor visibility. It’s better to prevent an accident than to recover from one.

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Wheel Alignment - Les Dobos Auto Centre
Articles

The Importance of Wheel Alignment

The Importance of Wheel Alignment – The purpose of these adjustments is to reduce tire wear and to ensure that vehicle travel is straight and true (without “pulling” to one side).

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CARS Magazine Letters

Top Shops Take The Time To Give Quality Service

I agree with people on the Kukui seminar that top shops can charge top dollar (News, December 2019). The quality of vehicle maintenance depends on where the vehicle is taken for service.
Fast-lube shop staff are not qualified or able to inspect safety related parts. Maintenance is more than just fluids. Typically, vehicles that are regularly serviced at fast-lube places require major repairs because they’re not well inspected. It is really easy to get these people to come to our shops because of the skill level of the technicians working on their vehicles. Fast-lube shops get you in and out in record time. We have to remind people that faster is not always better.

Bob Ward
The Auto Guys, St. Thomas, Ont.

They should do that these days more than you know.

When It Comes To Service, You Get What You Pay For

We sell auto parts, and we’re constantly telling people that going to a reputable repair shop comes with all sorts of benefits that cannot be achieved any other way. Yes, it will certainly cost more than “your guy” but you get knowledge, experience, and warranties that aren’t offered otherwise. Good service is the same as good parts. You get what you pay for.

Christian Rondeau
Morinville Bumper to Bumper, Morinville, Alta.

Did You Know?

The Worst Cars of 2021 (Consumer Report)

07=: Volvo XC60 Reliability score: 28
07=: Ford EcoSport Reliability score: 28
06: Jeep Wrangler Reliability score: 27
05=: Tesla Model S Reliability score: 26
05=: Chevrolet Colorado Reliability score: 26

05=: Volvo XC90 Reliability score: 26
04. Jeep Compass Reliability score: 21
03. Volkswagen Atlas Reliability score: 19
02. Subaru Ascent Reliability score: 18
01. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Reliability score: 13

Canada’s 10 Most Stolen Vehicles

Did you know that you can help your battery and electric generator (alternator) last longer by turning off accessories like the rear window defogger/defroster, heated seats etc when they are finished clearing and warming as these items consume a lot of energy (most often in winter).

1.  2007 Ford F350 SD 4WD
2.  2006 Ford F350 SD 4WD
3.  2005 Ford F350 SD 4WD
4.  2004 Ford F350 SD 4WD
5.  2006 Ford F250 SD 4WD

6.  2003 Ford F350 SD 4WD
7.  2018 Lexus RX350/RX350L/RX450h/RX450hL AWD
8.  2005 Ford F250 SD 4WD
9.  2002 Ford F350 SD 4WD
10.  1998 Honda Civic Si 2DR Coupe

Random Car Facts

Electric cars are not a new thing; they were already being manufactured in 1905. Rauch & Lang produced electric cars until 1920, when the gas-combustion engine became cheaper to run because of low gas prices.

In 1908, the Model T developed by Henry Ford became the first car available to the masses. This was a low-cost car. It cost around $850 in 1908 and $260 in 1925 (the reduction in the cost of the car was mainly because of the invention of the assembly line).

Almost 95% of a car’s lifetime is spent parked.

The first speeding ticket was issued in 1896. The speed? A whopping 8 MPH. Yeah, definitely nothing to write home about.

The average American commuter spends 42 hours a year stuck in traffic. 

The Toyota Corolla is the best-selling car in the world, with one being sold every 40 seconds. That means, by the time you’re done reading this, at least two Corollas would have just been sold.

The world’s first automobile was developed by Carl Benz in 1885. The top speed of the motor car was 16 km per hour. It had a one cylinder four-stroke engine installed horizontally on a specifically designed chassis. It was known as the Benz Patent Motorwagen.

The world’s first long-distance journey (from Mannheim in southern Germany to Pforzheim) in the history of the automobile was undertaken by Bertha Benz (wife of Carl Benz) and her two sons in August 1888.

Almost 65% of the world’s population drives on the right side of the road.

Modern cruise control was invented by Ralph Teetor in 1948. Teetor, who was blind, got the idea from his lawyer, who was apparently a terrible driver. 

In Russia, it’s illegal to drive around in a dirty car.

There are 247 car accidents in Canada each year that involve a moose.

The last car manufactured with cassette capabilities was the Ford Crown Vic in 2011. 

A special thanks to CARS Magazine for the use of their content.

News and Information - CARS Magazine