Multi-point vehicle inspection in Calgary
Every time your car is in for an oil change, we take a careful look at the parts that wear out.
A multi-point inspection is a visual check of the parts that wear out or fail on a car. At Wow Tire & Auto Repair in NE Calgary, it comes with every oil change and covers your front end, brakes, electrical, exhaust, cooling system, belts, tires, and fluid levels and condition.
A lot of big repair bills start as small problems. A cracked belt, a seeping hose or a brake pad near the end of its life is easy to deal with when you catch it early. Our Calgary multi-point inspection is how we catch those things, and it comes with every oil change.
It's a visual inspection. We look, measure where it makes sense, and tell you what we see. If something needs work, we explain why and give you a price. If something is wearing but has time left, we say that too, so you can plan for it.
What we check
It's a visual check with the car up on the hoist. We're looking for wear, leaks, damage and low or dirty fluids in these areas:
- Front end: shocks, steering components and struts
- Brakes: front and rear
- Electrical: lights, horn, wipers and battery
- Exhaust: catalytic converter, manifold, gaskets, muffler and pipes
- Cooling system: clamps, hoses, radiator and water pump
- Belts: A/C, power steering and alternator
- Tires: tread depth, rotation and pressure
- Fluids: levels and condition
Why it matters on Calgary roads
Calgary is hard on cars. Chinooks swing the temperature 20 degrees in a day, which works rubber hoses and belts. Road salt and gravel go after brake lines and exhaust parts. Spring potholes knock out alignment and wear down struts and steering parts.
Worn suspension and steering parts lengthen your braking distance and make the car harder to control. Worn brakes do the same. A weak battery that's fine in September can leave you stuck on the first cold morning in November. Those are the problems an inspection is meant to turn up before they turn into a tow.
What you get afterward
We go over the results with you in plain terms. Typically that sorts into three groups: things that are fine, things to watch, and things that need attention now. For anything in that last group, we explain what we found and what it costs to fix, and we don't start without your approval.
Plenty of our Google reviews mention that we explain the repair before doing it. That's the point of the inspection. You should know what's going on with your car and be the one to decide.
How it goes at the shop
Car goes up
The inspection happens during your oil change, so there's no extra appointment.
Top to bottom check
We go through the front end, brakes, electrical, exhaust, cooling system, belts, tires and fluids.
Sort by urgency
We separate what's fine, what to keep an eye on, and what needs work now.
Explain and quote
We show you what we found and give you a price for anything that needs doing.
You decide
No extra work happens without your OK. Some things can wait, and we'll tell you which.
Questions we hear a lot
Still not sure? Call 403-454-7500 and ask. It's free to ask.
What is included in a multi-point inspection?
Ours covers the front end (shocks, steering components, struts), front and rear brakes, electrical (lights, horn, wipers, battery), exhaust (catalytic converter, manifold, gaskets, muffler, pipes), cooling system (clamps, hoses, radiator, water pump), belts (A/C, power steering, alternator), tires (tread depth, rotation, pressure), and fluid levels and condition.
Is the multi-point inspection free?
It's included with every oil change at our shop, so there's no separate charge for it. If the inspection turns up something that needs repair, we give you a quote first and you decide whether to go ahead. If something can safely wait until your next visit, we'll tell you that too.
How long does a multi-point inspection take?
It adds a little time to an oil change, since we're checking several systems with the car already up. How much depends on the vehicle and what we find. If we spot something worth showing you, we'll walk you over to the car. Call 403-454-7500 before you come in and we'll tell you what to expect that day.
Is a multi-point inspection the same as a provincial inspection?
No. Our multi-point inspection is a visual maintenance check meant to catch wear early. It isn't an out-of-province or insurance inspection, and you don't get a government inspection form from it. If you're registering a car from another province or your insurer has asked for an inspection, call us first and ask.
Get your car looked over
Book an oil change and the inspection comes with it. Call 403-454-7500 or visit us at 404 40 Ave NE.