Brake repair
Pads, rotors, drums, fluid and parking brakes
Our services
Auto repair services
Everything from oil changes to transmission repair, at three shops.
One shop for the whole car
Most repairs don’t call for a specialist. They call for a good mechanic who knows the whole car. That’s what you get at Vancouver Auto Parts.
Our mechanics handle brakes, clutches and transmissions, electrical faults and check engine lights. They also do exhaust, fuel, cooling, suspension and 4WD work, plus the routine maintenance that keeps repairs away.
We have diagnostic tools for all makes and models, and we offer same-day service for most repairs. Pick a repair below to see the warning signs, what we do and what sets the price. Not sure what the car needs? Use the symptom finder, or call your nearest shop and tell us what it’s doing.
Clutch & transmission repair
Fluid service, clutch work and transmission repair
Auto electrical repair
Batteries, starting, lights, sensors and modules
Check engine light diagnostics
Check engine light on? We read the codes and find the cause
Exhaust & muffler repair
Mufflers, pipes and emissions, manifold to tailpipe
Fuel system repair
Hard starts, stalling and poor gas mileage
Car maintenance & oil changes
Oil changes, filters, fluids, tires and inspections
Radiator & cooling system repair
Overheating, leaks, coolant flushes and heater cores
Suspension & steering repair
Shocks, struts, springs and steering parts
Transfer case & differential service
Fluid service and repair for 4WD and AWD
Not sure what it needs?
What’s the car doing?
Pick what you’ve noticed. You’ll see what it usually means and what we do about it.
Shops call these the three Cs: concern, cause and correction.
Service deskConcern / cause / correction
Squeals or grinds when I brake
- Usually means
Worn brake pads. A squeal is often the wear indicator touching the rotor. Grinding can mean the pad is gone and metal is rubbing on metal.
- What we do
We measure the pads and check the rotors. Then we replace what’s worn, from pads to rotors and drums.
Check engine light is on
- Usually means
It could be small, like a loose gas cap. It could also be a sensor or a bigger fault. There’s no way to know until the codes are read.
- What we do
We plug in our diagnostic tools, read the codes and test the cause. You hear what we found before any work starts.
Won’t start, or cranks slowly
- Usually means
A weak battery, corroded terminals or a fault in the starting system. Sometimes fuel isn’t reaching the engine.
- What we do
We test the battery and the starting circuit first. If those are fine, we check the fuel system.
Temperature gauge is running hot
- Usually means
Low coolant, a leak, or a cooling part that’s starting to fail. Driving it hot can damage the engine.
- What we do
We check the radiator, hoses, water pump and thermostat. Then we fix the leak or flush and refill the coolant.
Pulls to one side or shakes
- Usually means
Worn steering or suspension parts. A hard hit on a pothole or a curb can also knock things out of line.
- What we do
We inspect the shocks, struts, springs and steering parts, and replace what’s worn.
Clunks over bumps
- Usually means
A worn or loose part in the suspension. One worn part puts extra wear on the parts next to it.
- What we do
We put the car on the lift, find the worn part and replace it.
Slips, grinds or shifts late
- Usually means
Low or burnt transmission fluid, a worn clutch, or the start of a transmission fault.
- What we do
We check the fluid and how the car shifts. The fix can be a fluid flush or a larger repair.
Much louder than it used to be
- Usually means
A leak or a failed part somewhere between the exhaust manifold and the tailpipe. Exhaust getting into the cabin is dangerous.
- What we do
We check the whole exhaust system and repair or replace the failed section.
Burning more gas, stalling or sputtering
- Usually means
A fuel system fault. Fuel passes through many parts on its way to the engine, and any one can fail.
- What we do
We trace it from the tank to the engine, fix the fault and clean the fuel system.
Brake pedal feels soft
- Usually means
Air in the brake lines, low fluid or a leak. A pedal that sinks to the floor is not safe to drive on.
- What we do
We find the leak, bleed the air out of the system and replace the master cylinder if it has failed.
There’s a puddle under the car
- Usually means
The colour tells you a lot.
- Brown or black is usually engine oil
- Red or pink is usually transmission or power steering fluid
- Green, orange or pink with a sweet smell is usually coolant
- Clear to yellow near a wheel can be brake fluid, so don’t drive it
- Clear water under the front of the cabin is usually just the air conditioning
- What we do
Bring it in and we’ll find where it’s coming from. If you think it’s brake fluid, call us before you drive.
Dim lights or electronics acting up
- Usually means
An electrical fault. It can be a fuse or a bulb. It can also be a relay, a sensor or a computer module.
- What we do
We track down the source and fix it, from a blown fuse to a failed module.
4WD won’t engage
- Usually means
A fault in the transfer case or a differential. These parts run in oil that needs to be replaced from time to time.
- What we do
We check the oil for signs of wear inside, service the fluid and repair what’s damaged.
Nothing’s wrong, it’s just due
- Usually means
Good timing. Regular service costs far less than the repairs that come from skipping it.
- What we do
Oil and filter, tire rotation, brake check, fluids, filters, battery and lights. We’ll tell you what’s due next.
No surprises
How a repair visit works
Call or send the form
Pick a shop and tell us what the car is doing.
We check the car
Our mechanics inspect it and run diagnostic tests if it needs them.
You decide
We tell you what we found. You decide what work goes ahead.
We fix it
We get the job done right the first time. Most repairs are done the same day.
Not sure what the car needs?
Call the shop near you and tell us what it’s doing.