Maintenance Tips

A lot of car parts manufacturers are making copies of GM parts. The thing is, you don’t know whether these copies are safe, what they’re made of and whether they’re resistant to corrosion.

GM vehicles and GM parts: the perfect fit

If you’re driving a GM vehicle, you should be aware that imitation parts are not covered by the GM New Vehicle Limited Warranty. No warranty available from General Motors will cover problems caused by imitation parts, nor failures of related GM parts or systems resulting from the use of imitation parts. If you’re looking for optimal safety and warranty coverage, look no further: use original GM parts and parts approved or recommended by GM.

If you think original parts are always more expensive, think again.

So it’s always best to choose original or GM-recommended parts. You might think that these parts are bound to be more expensive—but they’re not. Before repairing your vehicle, our GM Goodwrench Service dealers will make you choose from three types of parts: “good,” “better” and “best.” These parts are priced according to quality, so you can find the right fit for your budget.

When you brake, how does your vehicle transmit the force from your foot to the wheels? When you step on the brake pedal, you are actually pushing against a plunger in the master cylinder, which forces the hydraulic brake fluid through a series of tubes and hoses to the braking unit at each wheel. Read on to learn more about brakes, which are essential to the proper operation of your vehicle.

Drum brakes vs. disc brakes: what’s the difference?

Drum brakes

The hydraulic brake fluid is forced into the wheel cylinder, which then pushes a set of brake shoes against the inner surface of a rotating brake drum. The rotating drum is connected to the wheel, and friction causes it to slow down and stop.

Disc brakes

The hydraulic brake fluid flows into a piston, which presses an inboard pad against the rotor. At the same time, the caliper, which holds the piston and brake pads, presses the outboard pad against the rotor. The pads then squeeze the rotor, which is attached to the wheel, forcing your vehicle to slow down or stop.

Handing over your car to our GM Goodwrench technicians for inspection is easy—in fact, it’s like stopping at a traffic light! This stop allows you to get detailed updates about the state of your GM vehicle.

Reliable service

Using a color-coded inspection form with green, yellow and red boxes, technicians identify the state of the various components. Everything is thoroughly examined, whether it’s the brakes, the tires, the battery, the belts, the cooling system—and even the wipers.

Easy-to-understand inspection report

A green box with a checkmark means that the component was checked and is in good condition. A yellow box means that the component or system should be checked during your next maintenance visit. A red box means that repairs or maintenance should be performed immediately. As for the white boxes, they’re used to indicate fluid levels, whether any fluid was added and whether a given fluid should be monitored carefully.

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Look for the right symbol

Driving with four winter tires improves traction and reduces braking distance—that’s a fact. Winter tires are designed expressly for challenging winter conditions and meet specific snow traction performance requirements. Tires that meet these requirements are marked with a peaked mountain with a snowflake.

What’s so special about winter tires?

They’re made from a special rubber compound, and their tread patterns are suitable for cold temperatures. Winter tires are designed specifically for road conditions that prevail when temperatures fall below -7 °C. Their tread stays flexible, which keeps snow from collecting in the grooves and provides better traction.

All the more reason to trust them with your GM vehicle!

There’s no doubt about it: your car’s manufacturer can teach technicians all they need to know about maintaining and repairing your car. That’s why our GM Goodwrench technicians receive special training on how to maintain GM vehicles using GM-approved parts and state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment. But exactly what training do you need to become a GM Goodwrench technician?

The most advanced training in the industry

People who are interested in becoming GM Goodwrench technicians can complete the GM Automotive Service Educational Program, a two-year course available at carefully selected schools working in partnership with GM institutions. This technical and practical training, which is the same all across Canada, is the most advanced program in the automotive industry and has been successfully completed by more than 3,000 technicians over nearly 25 years.

GM technical training

After they complete the Automotive Service Educational Program, all GM Goodwrench technicians have access to ongoing GM technical training. This training is available 24/7 in segments ranging from 20 minutes to 3 hours depending on the topic. As learners progress, they take challenging exams to test their new knowledge. The training is then complemented with Highly Interactive Distance Learning (HIDL) sessions broadcast to dealerships, which are delivered by a GM instructor based in an Oshawa studio.

Clearing misconceptions

If you think that all wiper blades are equal, think again. Here are some myths and facts that you should know about.

Myth : Wiper blades can last for several years.
Fact : They should be replaced at least every 12 months.

If your current blades leave streaks, leave a haze or miss sections of your windshield—and if they squeal, cause excessive friction, chatter or lift—it is high time to replace them. In extreme cases, worn-out wiper blades can even scratch your windshield and force you to replace it.

Causes of wiper wear

UV rays from the sun, oil found in some car waxes, airborne debris, moisture, and extreme cold and heat are all factors that contribute to deteriorating the rubber on wiper blades.

Myth : Winter wiper blades are useless.
Fact : They have their uses, and several features make them more effective. For instance, their rubber boot helps prevent snow and ice build-up.

Unlike their all-season counterparts, winter wiper blades have a riveted steel superstructure for increased strength and durability. Their design allows for a low connection point for hook arms and wipe stability for all wiper arm types.

Tips for extending the life of your winter wiper blades

• Do not use windshield wipers as ice scrapers. You should keep an ice scraper in your vehicle.
• Allow plenty of time to warm up the vehicle with the defroster on “high” to melt the ice as much as possible before you turn on the wipers.

The golden rules of winter driving

Winter can make driving more stressful. But if you follow good practices, you can tackle the cold season with more confidence. Here are the golden rules of winter driving according to GM Goodwrench Service.

See and be seen

Before you leave, make sure the headlights, stop and tail lights and turn signals are clean and unobstructed so that other drivers can see you. If it’s raining or snowing, turn on the headlights and tail lights to be more visible. Don’t skimp on windshield washer fluid, and don’t forget to use an antifreeze solution in very cold weather.

Don’t drive around in an igloo

Make sure you clear all the snow from your vehicle, including the roof. When snow accumulates on the roof, it can increase the drag on your vehicle, which increases fuel consumption.

Start smoothly on icy roads

Icy spots often form at intersections, so starting smoothly can save you a lot of trouble. As tires spin on the snow, it becomes more polished—and therefore more slippery. If you feel that one of your wheels is slipping, it means you’re using too much acceleration.

Look out for black ice

Sometimes the road may appear to be normal when it’s actually covered by a thin layer of ice known as black ice. Generally, in the winter, asphalt is a grey-white color. If the road is black and shiny, be careful. Slow down, and brake smoothly and gently.

Keep your distance

On icy roads, stopping distances are from 3 to 12 times as long as on dry roads. In addition, the heavier the vehicle, the greater the stopping distance required. Look well ahead and above all, don’t tailgate.