Service 101

Service 101 and FAQ

Service Descriptions | Maintenance F.A.Q | Driving Tips

Service/Maintenance 101

Rush hour in Markham can sometimes be stressful. If you're driving in stop and go traffic on Steeles Avenue or taking a nice drive on Highway 404, it's important to ensure that your brakes are functioning well. As parts like the rubber in valves and wheel cylinders deteriorate, they spread little bits and flakes into your brake fluid. As a result of this and other factors such as moisture build up, your brake fluid can become worn out decreasing stopping power and compromise the effectiveness of your brake system. Replacing old, worn out fluid helps ensure that your breaking system continues to be up to par.
Did you know that heat and moisture can cause corrosion to brake parts and could result in brake failure? To ensure that this integral part of your vehicle is functioning, we recommend a brake service to clean all debris and corrosion to help ensure your safety.
When you're in charge of thousands of pounds of metal, it's important to ensure that you eliminate as many variables as possible. Over time, the seals and components of your power steering system tend to wear out. When they do they contaminate the power steering fluid which in turn forces the power steering pump to work harder as it now has to pump little chunks of metal and plastic instead of just fluid. This can cause irregular steering and eventually, this problem will break down your power-steering pump to the point where it has to be replaced. A power steering flush will clean gum and varnish from the power steering unit and remove any oxidized fluid. This reduces the wear on the unit to prolong the life of the power steering system.
Worn or dirty spark plugs have the potential to make an engine hard to start, idle roughly, waste fuel and most importantly pollute. Markham is a beautiful place, come rush hour, there are enough cars idling on Warden Avenue. Replacing your spark plugs will help keep pollution levels low so residents can continue to enjoy this picturesque city.
The transfer case is a gearbox that helps shift power from one axle to another in all-wheel-drive vehicles. Sometimes your vehicle will have a hard time changing into or out of all-wheel-drive mode. This service drains and replaces old fluid with new fluid. In doing so, it lubricates all the different gears in the transfer case to keep them clean and turning smoothly so you can enjoy the full capabilities of your Lexus.
Picture this, you're driving down Woodbine Avenue taking a comfortable Sunday drive from Markham to East Gwillimbury. You stop on the side of the road to take some pictures and you notice that your vehicle is idling really rough. This could be due to baked on deposits from the combustion chamber, fuel system, lines etc. A fuel injector service will remove these deposits and get you back to enjoying your vehicle.
A throttle body is a housing which contains valves that regulate airflow entering the air intake system. Overtime, dirt and debris build up on the throttle valve which restricts airflow when the valve is closed. A dirty throttle body leads to stalling and idling problems and it could make the gas pedal hard to push. During a throttle body service, a technician will clean out the throttle valve to help ensure that you do not run into these problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

It can get really hot or cold in Canada depending on the season. And a cooling system is designed to ensure that your engine doesn't overheat when driving and freeze come winter time. A cooling system failure is the most common among mechanical failures in vehicles and a flush removes all rust and sludge deposits to help keep your engine running smoothly.
Although most newer vehicle models have adopted timing chains, timing belts were quite prevalent in the not-so-distant past. A timing belt/chain controls the valves in the engine and can lead to some costly damage if it malfunctions. If you're unsure whether your vehicle utilizes a belt or a chain, come down and visit us at Lexus of Richmond Hill located at 11552 Yonge St in Richmond Hill.
Rebuilding or replacing your vehicle's transmission can cost thousands of dollars and in many cases, can be the death of your beloved Lexus. To help prolong the life of your transmission, a flush pushes new fluid against its normal flow which aids in removing contaminants from the system, providing smoother gear changes and a healthy, happy Lexus.
A cabin air filter assists in keeping exhaust, dust, pollen and odours out of the vehicle's ventilation system and to provide a more enjoyable in-cabin experience. We recommend changing your cabin air filter once every 20,000 to 25,000 kilometres or per the owner's manual.
To help your engine breathe, it's recommended to maintain a clean engine air filter. A dirty one will affect your vehicle's performance and gas mileage. We recommend changing your engine air filter every three years, every 50,000 kilometers or per your owner's manual.
A lube oil filter is responsible for effectively cleaning out engine contaminants and to ensure that your engine enjoys a prolonged life. We recommend you change your oil filter every oil change or per your owner's manual.
To ensure that your vehicle continues to run to its full potential well after it's been driven off the lot, we recommend a semi-annual inspection. This bumper to bumper visual check helps to identify issues before they become major problems.

Driving and Safety Tips

It's important to note that it takes more energy to get to a certain speed than it does to maintain it. We recommend accelerating and braking at a steady pace and trying to maintain a stable cruising speed to maximize the fuel economy of your vehicle.
This is short for Minimum Eye Lead Time. It is recommended that you should be scanning the road about 15 seconds or a block ahead of you in urban areas and roughly 30 seconds or as far as the eye can see on the highway. Remember, it's always better to anticipate hazards than to react to them as they happen.
Braking hard and abruptly is not only unsafe as it can lead to skidding and loss of traction, but it also increases the tread wear on your tires. Especially as winter approaches, you don't want to lose traction especially when driving on a busy road such as Yonge Street.
Blind spots often pose one of the biggest hazards to driving safety. To alleviate the stress on yourself and others, it is recommended to not remain in a car's blind spot for an extended period of time. Instead, speed up or slow down based on traffic and road conditions to ensure a pleasant drive for both parties.
Picture this, you're driving down 19th Avenue enjoying the beautiful scenery around you as you make your way to the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. Suddenly you hear a loud POP! Your rear tire has just blown out and your first instinct is to hit the brakes. DON'T! Braking during a blowout can lead to fishtailing or worse, it can result in a vehicle roll over. It is better to just let off the gas and safely bring your vehicle to the side of the road and slow down before initiating the brake.
Did you know that a tire that is underinflated by even 6 psi could lead to tire failure? Furthermore, a tire's tread life can be reduced by 25% and fuel economy can be reduced up to 5% based solely on there being improper pressure in your tire. If one of your tires looks a little deflated, get it checked out, otherwise, it's good to do a check of your tire pressure roughly once a month.
No one likes being stuck out in the cold. You're coming back from a day of shopping at Fairview Mall, you put the latest bargain finds in your trunk, take a seat and try to turn the car on only to find out you have a dead battery. To help in situations such as this, it's important to keep a few things in your car. Firstly, have a set of jumper cables so you don't have to spend the extra money or time to call a tow truck to boost your car for you. Also, we recommend keeping a bag of sand in the trunk during winter, this will help with traction in case you get stuck in the snow. Lastly, it's always good to have a blanket just in case you need to wait it out for a tow in chilly weather.
It's unfortunate, but accidents tend to happen. The first step is to remain calm, assess the situation, and make sure that everyone inside the vehicle is okay. Then, depending on the severity of the accident, either call 9-1-1 or your local police department who will dispatch an officer to you. If it's safe to do so, move your vehicle on the side of the road, if you can't drive your car, put your hazard lights on. The next step is to write down the names, addresses, telephone numbers and driver's license numbers of all other drivers and the license plates of all other vehicles. You should also note down information of the owners of all the vehicles and get insurance information of each of the other vehicles as well. Jot down specific details about the incident to ensure that everything is accurate as it's been written down while the occurrence was fresh. Lastly, after everything has been reported and all information has been collected, report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible after an accident to begin the claim process.