Repairs
For quality repairs by expert technicians, call Altech Performance
With the increasing complexity of the new vehicles, its critical to have a knowledgeable repair technician engaged to ensure you are making the right choices to extend the life of the vehicle while maintaining warranty conditions. At Altech Performance, your Toronto Honda and Acura specialists, our highly trained team offer standard repair consultations and repairs using whats right for your situation.
Top 10 Common Repairs (according to MainStreet)
10. Removing Aftermarket Alarm
- Percent of Fixes in 2010: 1.96%
- This is a repair car owners bring on themselves when they attempt to install after-market alarms (or other hands-free devices, car stereos, etc.) on their own.
9. Replacing Intake Manifold Gaskets
- Percent of Fixes in 2010: 2.05%
- Leaks in the intake manifold gasket, which prevent leakage of air or the mixture of air and fuel between metal engine parts, can also contribute to larger problems with a car’s fuel economy, emissions and engine performance.
8. Replacing Ignition Coils
- Percent of Fixes in 2010: 2.58%
- Ignition coils essentially tell the spark plugs when to do their job, and ignoring a problem with them can do serious damage to your car’s entire ignition system. Determining whether or not there is problem with the ignition coil typically involves going through a diagnostic test.
7. Replacing Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor
- Percent of Fixes in 2010: 2.65%
- Problems with the engine coolant temperature sensor, a sensor that does exactly what its name suggests, was actually only the ninth most common repair when CarMD analyzed its data over a 14-year timespan.
6. Replacing Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve
Percent of Fixes in 2010: 2.85%
Average Cost: $288.19
Problems with the exhaust gas recirculation valve, a part of the emissions system responsible for recirculating a portion of a car’s exhaust through the engine a second time, was actually the fourth leading cause of vehicle failure in a separate list compiled by CarMD.
5. Replacing Spark Plugs
- Percent of Fixes in 2010: 3.71%
- Another small part that can cause big problems is the spark plug, which is responsible for igniting fuel in the cylinders. According to CarMD, replacing a spark plug on your own can cost less than $10. However, because faulty spark plugs can reduce your gas mileage or melt your car’s significantly more expensive catalytic converter, having them replaced by a certified mechanic may actually be worth the added expense.
4. Replacing Mass Air Flow Sensor
- Percent of Fixes in 2010: 4.36%
- Jacobsen says repairs to the mass air flow sensor, which measures the amount of air supplied to the engine and determines how much fuel should be delivered to it, also typically indicates a preventive maintenance issue.
- “It stems from not replacing your air filters,” he says, estimating that doing so would cost around $25 compared to the $400 you’re likely to shell out for a new sensor.
3. Replacing Catalytic Converter
- Percent of Fixes in 2010: 6.40%
- According to Jacobsen, the costliest repair in the top 10 should never have made the list to begin with. This is because catalytic converters, which are responsible for controlling a vehicle’s emission system, typically only fail when a smaller, related part – such as a spark plug or fuel injector – is ignored for too long.
- “It’s a case where not taking care of something small leads to a big repair with a hefty price tag,” he says.
2. Loose Fuel Caps
- Percent of Fixes in 2010: 9.28%
- A leading reason the pesky “check engine” light turns on, loose or missing gas caps cost very little to fix but can cause car owners tons of money if left unattended, since the problem can result in a 0.5% decrease in gas mileage.
- CarMD estimates that lost, damaged or missing gas caps cause 147 million gallons of gas to evaporate every year.
1. Replacing Oxygen Sensor
- Percent of Fixes in 2010: 9.43%
- According to Jacobsen, the oxygen sensor, which monitors the amount of unburned oxygen in the exhaust and tells the car’s computer when there is either too much or not enough gas in the tank, should really be a do-it-yourself repair.
We can help!
Schedule a visit with us to have a 10-point inspection for your vehicle, identifying any immediate near-term cause for concern. We also provide recommendations on how to get the best gas mileage, new performance parts that may interest you and even Dyno Services for those preparing for the track!
Our shop is located in Toronto, Ontario. We proudly serve the following areas: Toronto, Scarborough, North York, East York, Etobicoke, Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Newmarket, Aurora, Woodbridge, Mississauga, Pickering, Ajax, ON, and surrounding areas. Schedule an appointment for your next Honda service or repair today!