​If you’ve been driving a truck or other heavy vehicles for a long time, you may remember a time when inspections weren’t quite as strict or stringent as they are now. One of the big shifts that happened recently regards the upkeep of brake systems, with new standards requiring a schedule of maintenance at least once a year. There are a few reasons for this, but today we’re just going to talk about two of them.
 
The first reason is straightforward, and plays a role more often than you would think: it’s simply a matter of quality. If you walk into a parts section of an automotive store, you’re going to find many more options than you ever thought, for almost any part on a vehicle that can be replaced – brakes included. And while competition for your hard earned dollars is good, you may find a wide range of prices waiting – and, unless you have a lot of money to burn, you’re likely to lean towards something on the cheaper side. While these cheaper brake pads/shoes will work, they may not work as well as something more expensive, because they are often produced or manufactured for as cheaply as possible – which may be here at home, or may be far overseas. This means quality control may not be effective, the component parts may be tainted or sub-par to begin with, or they may just get damaged during a long trip across an ocean. Our advice? Buy the cheapest brake pads at your own risk, because you’re likely to be paying again if they fail early.
 
The second reason that brakes have to be checked every year now is that the latest criteria of inspections for the Commercial Vehicle Inspection Program (CVIP) has changed.  Inspections of years past included a cam rotation, lining thickness measurements, and push rod traveling, from which we could pinpoint the drum wear, even though we usually visually inspected the brakes through the hole in the backing plate. We only pulled drums if physical damage or the measurements indicated that we had to check for a defect in the wheel.
 
Now, though, CVIP standards say we must pull the brakes every year on various makes and models of equipment, in order to verify things like pad/shoe condition, drum wear, heat dissipation, and cracking to within one inch of the drum lip. As you can imagine, this causes us to replace many more brake parts, because the visual inspection is much more thorough.
 
As with any of these new regulations, it can be tough to stay on top of it all when you’ve got everything else in your job to worry about. That’s why it makes sense to leave it to the pros – especially the ones whose specialty is preventative maintenance and who are dedicated to keeping your rig running, operational, and compliant before the major problems appear. West Tech Mobile is that shop – and we look forward to helping you get the most out of your heavy equipment, trucks, and other heavy-duty vehicles in Calgary!

In recent years, a new trend of anti-idling laws has cropped up in many places around the world, and Alberta could be next in line. These laws are meant to reduce waste and emissions from vehicles that are idling for long periods of time – affecting everything from long-haul trucks at rest stops to the huge cargo ships waiting in a port. The laws are for a good reason, but they often fail to account for the reason why the vehicles are idling in the first place: the weather outside can be extreme, and it’s often quite literally unsafe to be in a vehicle without heating or cooling for several hours.
 
In the winter, temperatures down to -40º C can only be kept at bay by running a heater in the cab. And in the summer months, when outside temperatures can reach +40º C or higher, a truck’s interior can heat up 10-15 degrees beyond that in just an hour – an absolutely fatal temperature for anyone inside. The conventional way of cooling the cab of a truck is usually with the truck running and using the diesel and electrical system of the truck. Getting the cold air off of the truck systems is a more complex process and requires a compressor to compress your refrigerant; so what is the solution to this considering idling laws are against running trucks in this fashion? That’s where Autoclima comes in.

Designed to be a workaround for anti-idling laws, Autoclima is a battery-powered technology that uses your daytime driving to charge itself and allows you to run air conditioning without having to start your engine. With up to 8 hours of battery life, it’s the perfect way to save fuel while keeping your cab at the perfect climate, and it won’t drain your engine’s battery either. Whether you’re at a lonely rest stop along the Coquihalla highway, or pulled over at a busy gas station outside of a major southern city, you can be sure you’re following any regional anti-idling laws while also staying comfortable – at any time, and in any season.
 
The Autoclima units can even be adapted to units that were built without A/C – such as older vehicles or big heavy equipment like trackhoes or tractors. It’s simple and quick, and will keep drivers happy during long hot days spent on the road or in the field. And since they run off batteries instead of fuel, your fuel costs will go down since engines will no longer need to idle to keep you sitting comfortably in hot weather conditions.
 
If you want the freedom and potential that Autoclima provides, look no further than West Tech Mobile! We can install and set up everything for you, keeping you in line with the law so you are saving engine hours and diesel fuel while silently using the free cold air on the days and nights you need it. We’re located in southeast Calgary, near 52 St and Peigan Trail, and from there we can do service all across southern Alberta with our fleet of mobile service vehicles. Contact us today to find out more!

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We’ve already had a few blasts of winter weather here in Calgary, and as the season goes on, there’s bound to be days where you can’t avoid hitting the roads, even when they’re covered in ice. Modern vehicles have all kinds of safety systems built in to help you keep control on slick surfaces – but they rely on proper maintenance and upkeep in order to work their best and do what they’re meant to.

One of these systems is traction control, which is a real-time analysis of how your wheels are moving and whether they are getting any traction on road surfaces. The computers send power back and forth from one wheel to another to try and maximize friction and grip along the road surface, leaving you with (hopefully) better chances of not ending up stuck in a snowbank, or skidding out on the side of the road. Your heads-up display (HUD) on the dashboard should have lights or other indicators to show that the system is working, when your wheels are spinning on gravel, ice, dirt, etc. – and if not, then you know there’s an issue somewhere along the line.

Another system is your shock absorbers, which allow your tires to keep better contact with the ground while driving through rough or bumpy terrain. However, like all good things, they don’t last forever, and when they start to wear away, your driving experience can be significantly lessened: not only will your ride be bumpier and rougher, but factors like your stopping distance will be increased as well. Because bad shocks are less effective at keeping your tires down on the road surface, during a hard brake the rubber is likely to actually lift up off of it as the weight and momentum of the car builds up and releases again and again. From there, it’s simple math – less contact with the road, more time to stop. In fact, depending on speed, it can take an additional 15-20 feet to stop if your shocks are worn down, and in a potential crash situation, that can literally be the difference between life and death.

To know if your shocks are nearing the end of their usefulness, look for some common warning signs: besides the warning light on your HUD, listen for bumps or squeaks when you brake or drive over rough terrain; uneven wear on the tires; loose hardware at the connection points; or leaking fluid or increased wetness around the shield by the shock. A little bit of attention goes a long way!

As for anti-lock braking systems (ABS), they operate by preventing your wheels from locking up and skidding along a surface when the brake pedal is held. This allows for improved steering in a skid and less wear on the friction points when emergency brakes are held. In these systems, the computers track wheel speed, hydraulic pressure, air pressure, and other factors, and if they cross certain thresholds in combination – like when the hydraulic pressure increases while going highway speed – then the ABS system kicks in. It will input and remove pressure from the system, increasing and decreasing the braking ability, to allow for maximum control at the most efficient stopping speed.

There’s no doubt that these systems are great, and that their implementation has revolutionized the safety of the vehicles they are in. But they are all dependent on proper maintenance in order to function, and require systematic checks to make sure they are operating at their best potential. Don’t wait until the snow falls again, or an accident almost takes you out, before you think about what’s going on in your engine and throughout your vehicle. Be proactive, get everything looked at, and save yourself trouble and worry by knowing that you’re doing all you can in order to be safe on the road.

At West Tech Mobile, we are certified to inspect these systems and many others, and our knowledgeable technicians can make sure you’re roadworthy, even in our rough Alberta winters. With our fleet of service vehicles, we can even come to you for an added layer of convenience. Contact us today to find out more, and stay safe out there.

Have you ever wondered just how to tell when your truck or other equipment needs a tune up? You don’t have to be an expert to get a sense for what’s happening when you’re driving. Just let your senses help you out! Here are some ways to discern potential problems using nothing more than what you’ve already got.
 
1. Listen: This is one of the most helpful senses when trying to find out what might be going on in your engine. If you hear knocking coming from under the hood, possible causes could be mechanical parts – like valves, injectors, gaskets or pistons – or even some sort of mechanical failure in the engine itself. It could be an exhaust leak, badly aligned tires, or any number of issues. The only way to be sure is to get a mechanic to take a look – ideally before major work is needed. So call us, and save stress and your money! And if you hear honking from other drivers while you’re behind the wheel, then that is probably a good sign that something might be wrong. Stop right away, check over your truck, and make sure everything is okay to drive!

2. Feel: If the steering wheel pulls on one side when you drive it could be a wheel alignment issue, or even a blown tire – which, if you have 18 of them, you might not even notice until your control starts to slip! If the steering pulls to the side when you apply the brakes it could be air lines, or a hydraulic brake system problem. Keep alert and be aware of what your truck is telling you, through every vibration, jolt, and drag.

3. Smell: This is one of the least desirable senses to encounter in a truck, as it’s very rare that a noticeable smell means something good. It could be burned oil, rubber, brake pads, friction dust from the transmission, or even an exhaust leak into the cabin (for which you’d notice a smell of combustion), or coolant vapours, which are somewhat sweet and very distinct.
Brake fluid can leak by the push rod inside the cabin and smell oily, and the engine air HVAC system can sometimes smell if the air conditioning hasn’t been used for quite a while (get a mechanic to take a look if it doesn’t go away within a day). Even the smell of diesel can seep into the cabin if there’s a faulty fuel line. Keep your nose attuned to what’s going on with your truck and you will likely end up saving yourself a lot of trouble!

4. Sight: You might see more than hazy heat lines coming up from your engine one day! There might be smoke, steam, or coolant vapours – and if that last one happens, it can be very dangerous, since it means coolant has splashed on the exhaust manifold, leading to a possible fire, where you’ll see the flames and feel the heat!
If any of your dash lights come on, take notice immediately! Don’t ever assume they’re an erroneous warning.  If the lights are yellow, make plans to get the systems checked out, but if they are red then you must stop immediately or the engine will seize. Even something as simple as a warning light for oil pressure should be followed, because if you keep driving, the engine will seize due to friction…and it is much more expensive to change your engine than to swap out your oil! 

5. Taste: While taste generally isn’t something that helps identify engine trouble, we hope it goes without saying that you should not taste any of the substances and fluids that you might find in your engine or other systems – but we’re not the only ones to worry about. Due to the sweet smell of coolant that we mentioned earlier, furry friends like dogs usually love the taste of engine coolant and should not be allowed into any areas where they might encounter it in a container or on the ground. It’s fatal if they ingest it, so we make sure not to let any dogs into our service bays, and we hope you do the same.

If you’re ever unsure of what might be going on with your truck, don’t take the risk of letting it turn into something major – call West Tech Mobile to get an expert opinion on how to keep your rig flowing smoothly when you need it. Use our contact page to get a hold of us by phone, email, or message, or even drop in to our shop at 22-5555 51 Ave SE in Calgary, Alberta!

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Have you ever gone to a workshop or a place of business, seen how it operates, and left feeling put off by the employees and their lax safety standards? We have. Whether it’s a messy and dirty work space, improper procedures, incorrect equipment, or just plain bad attitudes – an industry like ours is full of companies who don’t take their safety seriously. And that’s why here at West Tech Mobile, we’re committed to going the extra mile with our workers. We want them all to get home safe to their families at the end of the day, and to prove it, we are proud to show off our Certificate of Recognition (COR) from Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety department.
 
A COR is our way of saying we care about more than just the vehicles we work on – we care about our employees, our customers, and making sure our jobs are done right. We perform at the highest standards of safety, which is beneficial to our customers for many reasons, and ensures that every task, from an engine overhaul to a stuck lock replacement, is done with extra care and caution. When it comes to dangerous mechanical and repair jobs, with heavy equipment, moving parts, and specialized knowledge, that extra care really plays a huge part in getting the work done well.
 
We’re not just guessing, either. As a company that’s earned a COR in Alberta, we follow strict rules for every job, and take the time to properly analyze situations as needed. We have our basic safety courses and our certification for everything from operating equipment like service truck cranes or forklifts to doing first aid and putting a bandage on. We know how to treat hazardous materials and are up to date on WHMIS protocol. We are properly trained on safety procedures and PPE usage when we enter job sites to work on units – helping to prevent an Alberta OHS representative from handing down fines and penalties, which in turn, saves you money!
 
We’ve known for a long time that having a COR certification is in our best interests – it structures our company with health and safety on top, and shows any potential employees and clients that we are serious about it. It’s not something you can buy, either; it has to be earned. It takes an entire year, involves interviews with employees, and has a test at the end. It’s serious dedication, but we know that it is worth it for the long-term benefits.
 
So spend less time worrying about whether our technicians are trained to operate your equipment, whether they are current on their worksite safety, or whether they have the right tools and knowledge to be around your crews. All of our service trucks have first aid kits, hard hats, safety vests, fire extinguishers that are inspected monthly – all of our crews can do hazard assessments with your Health and Safety Officer, which results in less accidents – and all of this saves you time, because when your officer sees that we are as serious as they are, they are more likely to let us do the job you called us to do!
 
If you need work done on your heavy equipment, truck, work units, or other heavy-duty gear, West Tech Mobile is the place to go! Our COR is just one more reason why choosing us results in less headaches for you. After all, it doesn’t cost more to have a repair done by a COR-Certified shop… it costs less, because of all the reasons above!
 
For more information on COR, visit the Alberta government’s OHS and MHSA sites. For more information on West Tech Mobile in Calgary and how we can help you, give us a call at 403-265-5699 or visit our shop at #22, 5555 51 Ave SE – the feeling you get when you walk in will be a lot different from other shops!