SEVEN THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THE PARTS IN YOUR VEHICLE

We've all been there before - face to face with an ominous warning light that's just appeared on your vehicle's dashboard.

Do you ignore it, hoping it will disappear? Or investigate, only to sink thousands of dollars into parts that don't resolve the problem?

Perhaps your situation is not ominous at all. Maybe it's more of a functional need, such as new winter tires for the upcoming season, or a roof rack for a fall bike trip to the Rockies.

When picking the right parts for your vehicle, working with a trusted expert can save you both time and whole lot of precious money, says GSL GM City parts manager Casey Stoop.

Casey recently sat down to share his insights into seven things you might not know about diagnosing, replacing or upgrading the parts in your vehicle.

1. Experience matters: It's important that whoever is replacing the parts on your vehicle knows their stuff. Dealership parts and service technicians are not only certified, but also have the most up-to-date training on today's vehicles. Casey notes most staff members in GSL GM City's parts department have 10 to 30 years of experience.

2. Today's vehicles are complex: That means it can be increasingly challenging to diagnose and repair problems with your vehicle if you're not working with a certified technician. That could lead to the unnecessary replacement of parts and wasted money, with the original problem still unresolved.

3. Not all independent mechanics use OEM parts: While aftermarket parts will likely reduce the cost of your repair, there's the risk of lower quality, inconsistency and possible failure. That could end up costing you more in the long run, says Casey, noting GSL GM City uses original equipment manufacturer parts in all repairs.

4. Aftermarket parts can affect your vehicle's warranty: If a part is not properly installed or an aftermarket part is responsible for any sort of failure or damage, then the repair and any subsequent damage would not be covered under GM's warranty. That means you could be on the hook for the repair. Casey says this also applies to performance parts.

5. Dealership-installed parts come with warranties: General Motors offers peace of mind with warranties that start anywhere from 12 months or 40,000 kilometres up to unlimited kilometres on everything from brakes and rotors to alternators and starters. It also offers limited lifetime warranties on parts such as OEM and Professional brake parts, ignition wire sets, radiators, and shock absorbers.

6. Dealerships can work on different brands: This is the second biggest misconception about dealership repairs, says Casey. GSL GM City is not just your parts expert for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles. The dealership can work on all makes and models.

7. Dealerships are not more expensive! Casey says this is biggest misconception, especially when you consider if an aftermarket part is installed incorrectly, or the problem is not properly diagnosed the first time. The value you get with a dealership repair is greater than any short-term savings elsewhere, he says. GSL is price competitive, too. GM has a price-match guarantee on brakes and tires, along with a Bump the Competition program that allows customers to purchase OEM parts at the aftermarket prices.

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To talk with a GSL parts expert, call 403-265-7690 or fill out a parts order form online.