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Car maintenance tips and when to replace parts.
What to check, how often, and the signs that something needs attention. Written for Ontario roads and winters, with a source for every fact.
- Tires and brakes
- Oil and fluids
- Warning lights
- Every fact sourced
Seasonal checklist
Ontario weather is hard on cars. Two quick checkups a year, one before winter and one in spring, catch most problems early.
Fall, before winter
- Put on winter tires once the temperature consistently dips below 7°C.1
- Have the battery tested. CAA recommends testing at least twice a year.2
- Check that your wipers clean without streaking.3
- Check the coolant level and make sure the heater and defroster work.
- Pack a winter kit: first aid kit, ice scraper, washer fluid, booster cables, a shovel and kitty litter or traction mats, a flashlight, a blanket and extra clothing, water and snacks, and a charged phone.4
Spring, after winter
- Switch back to all-season tires once winter is over. Winter tires are made for temperatures below 7°C.1
- Wash off the road salt, underneath the car too.
- Have the alignment checked. Potholes and curbs can knock it out.5
- Have the brakes looked at before summer driving.
- Test the AC before the first hot day.
Tires: tread, pressure and age
Your tires are the only part of the car touching the road. Tread depth, air pressure and age decide how well they grip.
Signs you need new tires
Put a quarter in the tread with the caribou's nose pointing down. If the tread covers the tip of the nose, you have more than 6/32″ left. If you can see it, your tread is getting low.7 2/32″ is the legal minimum in most Canadian provinces.7 Winter tires worn close to 4 mm (5/32″) shouldn't be used on snow-covered roads.8
Air pressure
Check the pressure at least once a month, when the tires are cold: parked for 3 hours or driven less than 2 km. Use the pressure on the label on the driver's door edge or door post, not the number on the tire, which is the maximum.8 Tires lose about 1 psi for every 5°C drop in temperature, so check again when the weather turns.8 Just one tire 8 psi low can cut 15,000 km off its life and raise fuel use by 4%.8
Winter tires
The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada advises switching to winter tires as soon as the temperature consistently dips below 7°C, for better traction, braking and handling on snow, ice and cold dry pavement.1 Winter tires aren't required by law in Ontario, but Ontario insurers offer a discount for them, so ask yours.10
Brakes: the warning signs
Brakes usually warn you before they fail. Learn the signs and you'll catch problems early.
Signs it's time
- A screech when you brake. Many pads have a built-in wear indicator that makes this sound.11
- Grinding or scraping, which can mean the pads are worn through.11
- The car pulls to one side when you slow down or stop.11
- A spongy pedal, or one that goes down further than usual.11
- Vibration in the steering wheel or pedal when you brake.11
- It takes longer than usual to slow down.11
- The brake warning light is on.11
How long brakes last
It depends on how and where you drive. Have your brakes checked at each seasonal tire change, when the wheels are already off.
Brake fluid
Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time. That moisture turns to vapour well below the fluid's rated boiling point, so the pedal travels further and braking gets weaker. Brembo suggests changing brake fluid every 2 to 3 years unless your car maker gives a different interval.12
Oil: how often and how to check
Engine oil keeps the moving parts inside your engine from wearing each other down.
How often to change it
We recommend changing your oil and filter every 6 months. Your owner's manual or the maker's maintenance schedule may call for sooner, so check it too. Most newer cars also have an oil monitoring system that tracks your driving and tells you when a change is due.13 If your maker calls for conventional oil, you can upgrade to a synthetic blend or full synthetic, but don't downgrade from what the maker specifies.13
When to act now
Battery: before it leaves you stranded
Car batteries last 3 to 5 years on average. High heat evaporates the fluid inside, and freezing temperatures drain the charge.2
Signs of a weak battery
Make it last
Alignment and suspension
Hitting potholes, curbs or road debris can knock your wheels out of alignment. Left alone, misalignment wears out tires early and can make the car less stable.5
Signs of an alignment problem
Push down hard on one corner of the car and let go. It should bounce up and settle. If it bounces more than twice, the shocks are likely worn.16
When to get an alignment
With new tires, after hitting potholes, curbs or road debris, and once a year, which is what most car makers recommend.5
Fluids to check
A monthly look under the hood covers most of them: power steering, brake, transmission and engine oil levels should all sit within their marked ranges.3
Coolant
If the temperature light comes on, stop safely and let the engine cool before you check the coolant level.14
Brake fluid
If the level keeps dropping, have the brakes checked. The brake fluid warning light needs urgent attention.11
Transmission and power steering fluid
Check the levels monthly.3 Your maker's schedule says when to change them.
Washer fluid
Keep it topped up, and carry extra in your winter kit.4
Filters, spark plugs and belts
These parts wear on a schedule. Your owner's manual lists the intervals for your car, and we check them at every service.
Timing belt
If your engine has a timing belt, replace it on the schedule in your manual. On an interference engine, a broken timing belt lets the valves and pistons collide, which can cause serious damage.17
Engine and cabin air filters
Replace them on your maker's schedule, sooner if you drive on dusty roads.
Spark plugs
Replace them at the interval in your manual. Many modern plugs last a long time.
Serpentine belt
Have it replaced if it squeals, cracks or frays.
Wipers and lights
Seeing and being seen. Both get harder in an Ontario winter.
Dashboard warning lights explained
Red means danger: stop safely and get the car checked. Amber means it needs attention soon, though the car can usually still be driven for a short time.14
| Light | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Oil pressure | Engine oil pressure is too low. | Stop safely, turn the engine off and check the oil level. If the light stays on after a restart, turn the engine off and have the car towed.14 |
| Engine temperature | The coolant is too hot, or there is a coolant leak. | Stop safely, let the engine cool and check the coolant level. Have it towed if needed.14 |
| Brake system | A red circle with an exclamation mark means a brake system problem. | Test the brake pedal and parking brake. If the light stays on, check the brake fluid level or have the car towed.14 |
| Battery or charging | A problem with the battery or charging system. | Cut back on electrical use and have the car towed to a shop.14 |
| Check engine, flashing | A serious engine problem. | Stop somewhere safe and have the car towed to the nearest garage.14 |
| Check engine, steady | A fault in the emissions control system. | Make sure the gas cap is tightened until it clicks. If the light stays on, visit a repair shop.14 |
| ABS | The anti-lock braking system isn't working. | Avoid hard braking and see a mechanic right away.14 |
| Tire pressure | One or more tires is low on air. | Check the tire pressures and inflate the low tire.14 |
| Airbag | A fault in the airbag system. | Contact your mechanic as soon as possible.14 |
A simple maintenance schedule
What to check and how often. Your owner's manual has the exact intervals for your car, and it always comes first.
| What | How often |
|---|---|
| Tire pressure | At least once a month, with the tires cold8 |
| Oil and filter change | Every 6 months (our recommendation), or sooner if your manual or oil-life reminder says so13 |
| Tire rotation | Every 8,000 to 12,000 km, or every other oil change9 |
| Wheel alignment | Once a year, with new tires, and after a hard hit5 |
| Battery test | At least twice a year2 |
| Brake fluid | Every 2 to 3 years, or by your manual12 |
| Fluid levels | Monthly: power steering, brake, transmission3 |
| Wiper blades | Replace every year (our recommendation) |
| Brake lights and flashers | Monthly3 |
| Tires over 5 years old | Inspected every year, replaced at 10 years6 |
| Timing belt | By your manual |
Maintenance questions
Quick answers to what drivers ask us most.
How often should I change my oil?
We recommend every 6 months. Change it sooner if your owner's manual calls for it or your car's oil monitoring system says a change is due.
When should I put on winter tires?
As soon as the temperature consistently dips below 7°C, according to the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada.
How do I know if I need new tires?
Check whether the tread is down to the wear indicators, try the quarter test, and look for cuts, cracks or bulges on the sidewall. After 5 years, have your tires inspected every year.
Is it safe to drive with the check engine light on?
If it is steady, make sure the gas cap is tight, and if the light stays on, visit a repair shop. If it is flashing, stop somewhere safe and have the car towed.
How often should brake fluid be changed?
Brembo suggests every 2 to 3 years, unless your car maker gives a different interval.
How often do I need a wheel alignment?
Once a year, with new tires, and after hitting potholes, curbs or road debris.
How long does a car battery last?
Car batteries last 3 to 5 years on average. CAA recommends having yours tested at least twice a year.
Sources
The facts on this page come from these sources. The small numbers in the text link here.
- Tire and Rubber Association of Canada: When to install winter tires in Canada
- CAA Niagara: How to make your car battery last longer
- Pennsylvania Driver and Vehicle Services: Vehicle maintenance checklist
- Transport Canada: Winter driving emergency kit
- Michelin Canada: Wheel alignment and balancing explained
- Michelin Canada: When to replace tires
- Michelin Canada: Tire tread depth guide
- Transport Canada: Riding on air: tire pressure and tread
- Michelin Canada: Tire rotation guide
- LowestRates.ca: Ontario winter tire car insurance discount
- The AA: How to tell if your brakes need replacing
- Brembo: Brake fluid: when changing it saves the whole team
- CAA North & East Ontario: 5 common vehicle oil change questions answered
- CAA-Québec: Understand 14 important warning lights in your car
- RAC: Signs your car battery is low
- NAPA Know How: Testing your shocks: how much bounce is too much?
- Wikipedia: Interference engine
Not sure what you're seeing?
Bring it in. We'll take a look and tell you, in plain words, what it needs and what can wait.