Straight Shot Auto

🚗 Vehicle Maintenance Isn't What It Used To Be...

Ever wonder why your grandfather changed his oil every few thousand clicks, but your owner's manual says much longer?

It's because the technology has changed.

Today's vehicles use components and fluids that simply didn't exist decades ago.

🔧 Spark Plugs
Copper plugs often lasted around 50,000 km.
Modern iridium plugs commonly last between 140,000km and 160,000 km.

🛢️ Engine Oil
Older conventional oils broke down much faster so they were changed out more often.
Today's synthetic oils resist heat better, stay cleaner longer, and protect modern engines far more effectively.
This means the typical 5000km oil change can last sometimes up to 15,000km according to manufacturers. (We don't recommend this as WE aren't trying to sell you a new car every 6 years 😉)

⚙️ Transmissions
Traditional automatic transmissions have very different maintenance needs than today's CVTs or dual-clutch transmissions. Using the wrong fluid—or skipping maintenance altogether—can become a very expensive mistake. Automatic transmission fluid typically lasted around 90,000km. Modern CVT transmission owners will commonly find the service interval closer to 45,000km.

🧊 Coolant
Many older vehicles required coolant changes every couple of years.
Modern long-life coolants can last much longer (7-10 years) —but they still don't last forever.

The bottom line?

Maintenance schedules evolve because vehicles evolve.

Following advice that worked on a 1995 pickup may not be the best choice for your 2025 SUV.

Not sure what your vehicle actually needs?

We're happy to look up the manufacturer's maintenance schedule and help you make a plan that protects your investment—without recommending services you don't need.

📍 Straight Shot Auto Ltd.
Transparency • Precision • Integrity

We've all seen the trucks or SUVs with the enormous tires installed on fancy rims.
Here's something many people don't realize...

When you install tires that are much larger than factory, each rotation of the wheel covers more ground than it did before. Bigger circle, bigger circumference.

Now, your vehicle doesn't actually measure how fast you're travelling. It measures the amount of time it takes a certain sensor to mark a particular point in the wheel's travel. The bigger tires make it so that the distance travelled is greater per rotation than the factory setting

That means:
🚗 Your speedometer might say 100 km/h
🏁 But you could actually be travelling 105-110 km/h (depending on tire size).

It's not just your speed that's affected:
• Odometer readings can be inaccurate.
• Fuel economy calculations can be off.
• Shift timing and cruise control may not work exactly as intended.
• On some vehicles, ABS and stability control can also be affected.

If you've recently upsized your tires, it's worth checking whether your vehicle speed needs to be recalibrated...and until then, maybe slow it down 10 or 15.

A bigger tire can look great—but it shouldn't surprise you with a speeding ticket.

📍 Straight Shot Auto Ltd.
**Transparency • Precision • Integrity**

🔍 DIAGNOSIS BEFORE ASSUMPTION

Would you call your doctor and tell them you need knee surgery?

Would you call a contractor and say your friend figures it should only take a couple of days to build a house?

If I can buy a ribeye steak at Superstore for $20, why is it $50+ on the menu at The Keg?

The answer is pretty simple:

Because the end result isn't the only thing you're paying for.

You're paying for knowledge.
You're paying for experience.
You're paying for equipment.
You're paying for the time that your vehicle is in the shop.
You're paying for the process that gets you from “something is wrong” to “this is what is actually wrong.”

Automotive repair is no different.

“My friend says it's the alternator.”
“Google says it's probably a sensor.”
“A guy online had the same code and replaced his transmission.”
“I just need you to change this part.”

Sometimes the assumption is right. But being right by accident isn't the same thing as diagnosing a problem.

A trouble code isn't a diagnosis.
A symptom isn't a diagnosis.
And another vehicle with a similar problem isn't your vehicle.

Good diagnostics are about testing, measuring, inspecting, and proving the failure before we start spending your money on parts.

Because fixing the wrong thing quickly is still fixing the wrong thing.

And we'd rather charge you to find the problem than keep charging you to guess at it.

**Straight Shot Auto LTD.**
Transparency • Precision • Integrity

🛞🔍 **WHAT YOUR TIRES CAN TELL US ABOUT YOUR SUSPENSION**

Your tires don't just wear out.

Sometimes, they leave clues.

The way a tire wears can help point us toward problems elsewhere in the vehicle — including the steering, suspension, or wheel alignment.

🔧 **WEAR ON ONE EDGE**

Heavy wear on the inside or outside edge of a tire can be a clue that the wheel alignment is out.

But here's the important part:

**We still need to ask WHY the alignment changed.**

Worn suspension or steering components can affect alignment angles and tire wear.

🌊 **CUPPING OR SCALLOPED WEAR**

High and low spots around the tire can sometimes point toward a wheel that's bouncing or moving more than it should.

Shocks, struts, loose suspension components, tire balance, and even the tire itself may need to be investigated.

🪶 **FEATHERED TREAD**

Run your hand carefully across the tread.

Does it feel relatively smooth one direction and sharp in the other?

That feathered pattern can be a clue that the tires have been scrubbing across the road instead of rolling straight.

📐 **UNEVEN WEAR BETWEEN TIRES**

One tire wearing dramatically differently than the others?

That's information.

It may help us narrow our inspection toward one corner of the vehicle instead of treating the problem as general tire wear.

🕵️ **YOUR TIRES HAVE A HISTORY**

By the time a suspension problem starts clunking, rattling, or affecting how the vehicle drives, your tires may have been recording the problem for thousands of kilometres.

Tire wear doesn't always tell us exactly which part has failed.
But it can tell us where to start looking.

Sometimes the best diagnostic information on your vehicle isn't stored in a computer.

**It's written in the rubber.**

**Straight Shot Auto LTD.**
Transparency • Precision • Integrity

🚗💨 ROAD TRIP INSPECTION CHECKLIST — BEFORE YOU LEAVE BC

Heading out of province this summer?

Before you point the car north, south, or east, and start arguing over who controls the playlist, take a few minutes to make sure your vehicle is ready for the trip.

🔧 **TIRES**
✔️ Check tire pressures — including the spare
✔️ Look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage
✔️ Make sure you actually have a usable spare or tire repair kit

🛑 **BRAKES**
✔️ Any grinding, squealing, or vibration?
✔️ Does the brake pedal feel normal?
✔️ Is the parking brake working properly?

💧 **FLUIDS**
✔️ Engine oil
✔️ Coolant
✔️ Brake fluid
✔️ Washer fluid
✔️ Transmission and power steering fluids, where applicable

🌡️ **COOLING SYSTEM**
✔️ Check for coolant leaks under the hood and under the vehicle
✔️ Inspect hoses and belts for cracking or gouges
✔️ Make sure the engine isn't showing signs of overheating

🔋 **BATTERY & CHARGING SYSTEM**
✔️ Battery condition
✔️ Charging system output
✔️ Corrosion or loose battery connections

💡 **LIGHTS & WIPERS**
✔️ Headlights and high beams
✔️ Brake lights and signal lights
✔️ Wiper blades
✔️ Windshield washer operation

❄️ **A/C**
Is it a safety item? Usually not.

Will you regret ignoring it somewhere between Kamloops and Calgary when it's 35°C outside?

**Absolutely.**

🧰 **AND DON'T FORGET...**
✔️ Wheel lock key
✔️ Basic emergency supplies
✔️ Phone charger
✔️ Any medications you need
✔️ Roadside assistance information

A road trip inspection can't guarantee nothing will go wrong.

But finding a worn tire, weak battery, coolant leak, or brake problem **before you leave Chilliwack** is usually a whole lot easier than dealing with it on the side of the highway three provinces away.

Planning a summer road trip? Give us a little notice and we'll help make sure your vehicle is ready for the adventure.

Straight Shot Auto LTD.
Transparency • Precision • Integrity

"Why do we road test your vehicle before AND after a wheel alignment?"

It might seem like a wheel alignment is as simple as putting your vehicle on the alignment rack and adjusting a few angles.

In reality, one of the most important tools we use isn't the alignment machine—it's the road.

Before the alignment, we road test to:

🚗 Feel if the vehicle pulls left or right.
🎯 Check whether the steering wheel is centered.
🛞 Listen for suspension or wheel bearing noises that could affect the alignment.
⚠️ Identify issues that an alignment alone won't fix, such as worn steering or suspension components.

After the alignment, we road test again to:

✅ Verify the vehicle now drives straight.
✅ Confirm the steering wheel is centered.
✅ Make sure it returns smoothly after a turn.
✅ Ensure there aren't any vibrations or handling concerns that still need attention.

An alignment printout tells us what the machine measured.

A road test tells us how the vehicle actually behaves.

At Straight Shot Auto, we believe both are equally important.

Because a vehicle can have perfect numbers on the alignment rack and still not drive the way it should.

Transparency. Precision. Integrity.

Can a weak battery make your vehicle think something else is broken?

Absolutely.

Modern vehicles don't just have one computer—they often have 20, 30, or even 50 different control modules that all communicate with each other.

Those modules expect to receive a stable supply of voltage. When battery voltage drops too low—even if the engine still starts—they can begin behaving unpredictably.

That can lead to warning lights and diagnostic trouble codes for systems that aren't actually faulty.

You might see codes for things like:
🔋 ABS
⚡ Electric Power Steering
🚗 Transmission
🛞 Stability Control
📷 Backup Camera
🚙 AWD System
📡 Parking Sensors
💡 Body Control Module

Does that mean every one of those systems has failed?

Usually not.

Sometimes they're simply reporting that they couldn't communicate properly because the electrical system wasn't healthy.

That's one reason why replacing parts based solely on a fault code can become an expensive guessing game.

Before replacing components, we always want to verify the health of the battery and charging system. A solid diagnosis starts with making sure every module has the power it needs to do its job.

Sometimes the fix really is a failed module.

Sometimes it's just a tired battery causing electronic chaos.

Transparency. Precision. Integrity.

**"Why do you need to keep my vehicle overnight?"**

It's a fair question and it's a good one.

The truth is, some vehicle problems only show up after the vehicle has been sitting for several hours.

For example:

🔹 An engine may sound just fine in the afternoon, but make a heck of a racket and even run poorly after sitting all night.

🔹 Some engine sensors only fail when they're cold—or only after they've heated up and cooled back down.

🔹 Certain oil leaks don't appear until the engine has completely cooled.

🔹 Intermittent electrical problems can disappear once the vehicle has been running for a few minutes.

🔹 Some check engine lights only return after a complete drive cycle and an extended period of sitting.

If we simply clear a code or perform a quick test while everything is warm, there's a good chance we'll miss the actual problem.

Keeping a vehicle overnight isn't about keeping your vehicle from you for longer—it's about recreating the conditions that caused the concern in the first place.

We know being without your vehicle can be inconvenient. That's why, if we recommend keeping it overnight, it's because we believe it gives us the best chance of finding the correct problem the first time.

Because fixing the right thing once is always better than replacing the wrong thing twice.

**Transparency. Precision. Integrity.**

Wiper Linkages — How One Motor Moves Two Wiper Arms

Ever notice there's only one wiper motor, yet both wiper arms move perfectly together?

That's thanks to the wiper linkage (or wiper transmission, as it transmits the rotational motion of the motor to the wiper arms).

The spindle of the electric motor spins in a complete circle. But windshield wipers don't move in circles—they sweep back and forth.

The linkage converts that spinning motion by using pivot points built into rods that turns into the side-to-side motion that clears your windshield.

It's surprisingly similar to the pedals on a bicycle turning into the up-and-down movement of your legs—different motion, same mechanical principle.

Over time, linkage bushings can wear out, joints can loosen, and corrosion can cause parts to seize.

Common symptoms include:
• One wiper not moving
• Wipers moving out of sync
• Wipers stopping halfway
• Clicking or knocking noises under the cowl

Sometimes replacing the motor won't solve the problem because the real issue is the linkage connecting everything together. Sometimes the linkage has been deteriorating for so long that it actually burns out the motor. That's why, whenever possible, it can be a good idea to replace both the wiper motor and linkage when one of them fails.

If your wipers aren't moving correctly, don't wait until the next heavy rainstorm to find out how bad the problem is. Give us a call and we can help you see things more clearly. 🚘🌧️🔧

Straight Shot Auto Ltd.
Transparency • Precision • Integrity

Wheel Cylinders & Brake Shoes — How Drum Brakes Actually Stop Your Car

Many vehicles still use drum brakes on the rear wheels.

Instead of squeezing a rotor like disc brakes do, drum brakes work a little differently.

Inside the brake drum are two curved brake shoes.

When you press the brake pedal, hydraulic pressure pushes two small pistons outward inside the wheel cylinder.

Those pistons force the brake shoes against the inside of the spinning drum.

The friction between the shoes and drum slows the wheel.

When you release the brake pedal, return springs pull everything back into place, ready for the next stop.

Common drum brake problems include:
• Leaking wheel cylinders
• Worn brake shoes
• Weak or broken return springs
• Brake hardware that has rusted or seized

Many people assume drum brakes are "old technology," but when they're properly maintained they're reliable, durable, and very effective—especially for rear braking.