Lakefield & the Kawartha lakes
Seasonal and cottage vehicle service for Lakefield and the lakes
About 15 minutes south of Lakefield via County Road 29 / Water Street
A good number of the vehicles we see from Lakefield and the surrounding lakes barely accumulate kilometres. They come up in May, run to the marina and the grocery store, and sit under a tarp from October to spring. Owners reasonably assume low mileage means low maintenance, and that is where the trouble starts.
Standing still is its own kind of wear. Brake rotors and lines corrode where they are not being used. Tires flat-spot and their sidewalls age out long before the tread does. Rubber hoses harden, coolant and brake fluid absorb moisture on the calendar rather than the odometer, and fuel left in the tank over winter goes stale. Rodents find engine bays inviting.
4 Aces Auto Center is fifteen minutes south at 485 Parkhill Rd E. We handle both ends of the season for these vehicles: a spring wake-up inspection before it goes back on the road, and a lay-up service before it is parked, so the same faults are not found in a panic in May.
What this work covers
- Spring wake-up inspection: brakes, tires, fluids, belts, hoses, lights and undercarriage
- Time-based fluid services — brake fluid, coolant and oil replaced on age, not just distance
- Tire age and sidewall assessment, including date codes on tread that still looks new
- Corroded brake line and rotor inspection on vehicles that sat all winter
- Rodent damage checks: chewed wiring, nests in air boxes and cabin filters
- Lay-up advice and service before the vehicle is stored for the season
Related pages
- Scheduled & Preventative Maintenance
Manufacturer-interval servicing: fluids, filters, belts, hoses and multi-point inspections that keep warranties intact.
- Everything we do for Lakefield drivers
A straight run down County Road 29 from Lakefield to our Parkhill Road bays — cottage-country driving, county roads and trailer work included.
- Trailer wiring and brake controllers for Lakefield boaters and trailer owners
What Lakefield customers ask about this work
- My cottage car has only 40,000 km. Does it really need service?
- Yes, but a different kind. Distance-based items may be far off while age-based ones are overdue: brake fluid, coolant, tires and rubber components all deteriorate on the calendar. We service to whichever comes first.
- How old is too old for tires with good tread?
- Most manufacturers advise replacing tires at six to ten years regardless of tread, and any cracking in the sidewall settles the question. The date code is moulded into the sidewall and we will read it for you.
- What should I do before storing a vehicle for the winter?
- Fresh oil, a full tank with stabiliser, correct tire pressures, a battery maintainer or a disconnected battery, and something to deter rodents. We can do the service part and walk you through the rest.
- Can you inspect it before I put it back on the road in spring?
- That is exactly what we recommend, and it is a good moment to book — May fills quickly with the same request from around the lakes. Call (705) 748-4223 to get in early.
Finding the shop
4 Aces Auto Center · 485 Parkhill Rd E, Peterborough, Ontario K9L 1C2 · (705) 748-4223. Open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Driving directions from Lakefield.
Google reviews
What our customers say
“Very efficient in repairs even in difficult repairs. They try there best to get the vehicle on the road as fast as they can. Greatful to have a good repair shop to have my vehicle in good repair. Thank you for all your good work.”
“I needed a quick fix on my truck as I am a contractor and needed vehicle. I called 4 Aces and Chris got me in the next buisness day 1st thing in the morning. Was met with Smiles and coffee and excellent service. They had me fixed up and back on site the same morning. 5 Star Service at 4 Aces👍”
“They're awesome. After the bs I've been through with other garages and my car, it was a breathe of fresh air with these guys. Anytime no contact drop off, quick workers and chill as well. I'll be going back!”
“The staff at Four Aces was friendly and efficient. They addressed my problems immediately and had me back on the road in good time after checking the vehicle over for any other issues and reporting the results directly to me. Thank you for your continued service and caring in keeping my vehicle in good and safe shape.”
“I have been very pleased with the service I have received at 4 Aces Automotive Centre. They have solved problems that other facilities were not able to do. The pricing seems fair—certainly comparable to other centres. And they seem very friendly, knowledgable, efficient, and skilled. Once, when they had my car up on the hoist—performing a repair— they detected an additional—and serious—problem. Rather than just telling me what they had found, they took me out into the garage to show me the issue and suggested that I have an auto body expert look at the problem to determine if it could be safely resolved before I had 4 Aces proceed with some additional repairs. I trust their work and they seem to genuinely care about the safety of my vehicle.”
“Very efficient in repairs even in difficult repairs. They try there best to get the vehicle on the road as fast as they can. Greatful to have a good repair shop to have my vehicle in good repair. Thank you for all your good work.”
“I needed a quick fix on my truck as I am a contractor and needed vehicle. I called 4 Aces and Chris got me in the next buisness day 1st thing in the morning. Was met with Smiles and coffee and excellent service. They had me fixed up and back on site the same morning. 5 Star Service at 4 Aces👍”
“They're awesome. After the bs I've been through with other garages and my car, it was a breathe of fresh air with these guys. Anytime no contact drop off, quick workers and chill as well. I'll be going back!”
“The staff at Four Aces was friendly and efficient. They addressed my problems immediately and had me back on the road in good time after checking the vehicle over for any other issues and reporting the results directly to me. Thank you for your continued service and caring in keeping my vehicle in good and safe shape.”
“I have been very pleased with the service I have received at 4 Aces Automotive Centre. They have solved problems that other facilities were not able to do. The pricing seems fair—certainly comparable to other centres. And they seem very friendly, knowledgable, efficient, and skilled. Once, when they had my car up on the hoist—performing a repair— they detected an additional—and serious—problem. Rather than just telling me what they had found, they took me out into the garage to show me the issue and suggested that I have an auto body expert look at the problem to determine if it could be safely resolved before I had 4 Aces proceed with some additional repairs. I trust their work and they seem to genuinely care about the safety of my vehicle.”
Book this work from Lakefield
Give us the vehicle, the symptom and the timing that suits you. We order parts before the vehicle arrives so Lakefield customers are not making the trip twice.
485 Parkhill Rd E, Peterborough, Ontario K9L 1C2 · Mon – Fri 8:00 – 5:00