Monthly Archives: October 2015

On Board Diagnostics For St. Peter Motorists

Some St. Peter motorists wonder why Autotronics of ST Peter and other St. Peter auto repair shops charge a fee for diagnostic services.

Think about it: When you hire a local Cleveland HVAC technician to check out a problem with your air conditioner you’ll probably pay a diagnostic fee. When you visit your Kasota doctor for a health problem, you pay the physician to diagnose the ailment and of course for the tests that go along with it.

On Board Diagnostics For St. Peter Motorists

So receiving a diagnostic charge at Autotronics of ST Peter for a tricky automotive problem shouldn’t be a surprise. In the Cleveland area, automotive diagnostics can cover quite a range. If you hear a noise in your minivan brakes when you slow down in rush-hour traffic on a busy MN freeway, you pull off the next off-ramp and take a quick visual check. That is usually enough to know what needs to be done. If you’re having an intermittent problem with your minivan engine, however, Autotronics of ST Peter diagnosis may be much more involved.

Much of the Cleveland drivers’s confusion comes when the problem involves the check engine light. The check engine light comes on when the engine management computer has sensed a problem.

There’s a common misconception among Kasota, Le Sueur, and Saint Peter drivers that the trouble code tells the Autotronics of ST Peter technician exactly what’s wrong. They wonder why there is a diagnostic charge – because the scanner quickly gave the diagnosis.

In reality, it is not that easy and straightforward. The computer monitors many sensors throughout the vehicle. When one of these sensors has a reading that’s out of parameters, the computer will record a trouble code and turn on the check engine light.

The minivan computer’s trouble code just tells the Autotronics of ST Peter technician what engine parameter is out of range – not what’s causing it. The technician needs to determine the underlying problem that’s causing the malfunction.

There are many problems that could cause a troublesome sensor reading for Autotronics of ST Peter customers. The Autotronics of ST Peter service advisor makes a list of the most likely causes and begins tracking down the source of the problem. This takes time.

Cleveland service centers subscribe to databases that document possible causes for all the possible trouble codes. The databases outline procedures for confirming a diagnosis and provide the documented repair. These critical databases are specific to each vehicle and engine combination.

Some diagnoses are quick and easy. Others are more involved, time-consuming, and difficult. Of course Autotronics of ST Peter wants to figure out what’s wrong with your minivan and get you back on the road as quickly as possible.

St. Peter Drivers Severe Service Maintenance Schedules

Since driving requirements and lifestyles differ among St. Peter car owners, minivan manufacturers publish two auto maintenance schedules: the regular schedule and the severe service schedule. Which schedule should St. Peter auto owners follow?
Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Are most of your trips less than four miles around St. Peter?
Are most of your trips less than 10 miles in below-zero MN temps?
Are most of your trips off-highway in MN?
Do you drive often in dusty Cleveland areas?
Do you regularly tow a trailer or carry heavy loads around St. Peter?
Do you drive in very hot or very cold MN weather?

Think about your typical week. Do you live by your nearest St. Peter freeway on-ramp and enjoy a non-stop commute to Cleveland or Kasota? Or, do you drive the neighborhood car pool in stop-and-go traffic on St. Peter surface streets?

Let’s suppose your owner’s manual says the severe service oil change recommendation is 3,000 miles and the standard recommendation is 5,000 miles. You know that you need to change the oil somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 miles. Analyze your driving patterns and St. Peter weather and road conditions to determine which end of the spectrum you’re closer to.

Why should St. Peter auto owners care about this? Normal condensation causes moisture accumulation in the engine oil. Short trips around St. Peter or winter driving means that the engine doesn’t heat up enough for the moisture to evaporate. The water in the oil turns to harmful oil sludge that clogs up your engine and doesn’t let the oil protect it adequately. That’s why MN car owners need to change their oil more often – to clean the sludge out before it causes problems.

Carrying heavy loads (with or without a trailer) in bright MN summer weather causes your engine and transmission to run at higher temperatures and with more stress. The fluids will break down more quickly. Additives that clean and prevent dangerous corrosion will be depleted sooner. Air pollution and dust cause fluids to get dirty faster. Ditto for filters. All of these things can lead to premature wear and eventual repairs, not to mention your gas mileage. If you want some expert advice, talk with your knowledgeable Autotronics of ST Peter advisor. We can help you restore your minivan to good working order and help you know the best schedule to follow.

To learn more, watch our informative AutoNetTV auto video tips at the top of this post.

Autotronics of ST Peter
507.934.9290
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082

St. Peter Drivers Severe Service Maintenance Schedules

Since driving requirements and lifestyles differ among St. Peter drivers, your vehicle manufacturer publishes two auto maintenance schedules: the regular schedule and the severe service schedule. Which schedule should St. Peter drivers follow? Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Are most of your trips less than four miles/six kilometers around St. Peter?
Are most of your trips less than 10 miles/16 kilometers in below-zero MN temps?
Are most of your trips off-highway in MN?
Do you drive often in dusty St. Peter areas?
Do you regularly tow a trailer or carry heavy loads around St. Peter?
Do you drive in very hot or very cold MN weather?

Think about your typical week. Do you live by your nearest St. Peter on-ramp and enjoy a non-stop commute? Or, do you drive the neighborhood car pool in stop-and-go traffic on St. Peter surface streets?

Let’s suppose your owner’s manual says the severe service oil change recommendation is 3,000 miles/5,000 kilometers and the standard recommendation is 5,000 miles/8,000 kilometers. You know that you need to change the oil somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 miles/5,000 and 8,000 kilometers. Analyze your driving patterns and St. Peter weather and road conditions to determine which end of the spectrum you’re closer to.

Why should St. Peter residents care about this? Normal condensation causes moisture accumulation in the engine oil. Short trips around St. Peter or winter driving means that the engine doesn’t heat up enough for the moisture to evaporate. The water in the oil turns to oil sludge that clogs up your engine and doesn’t let the oil protect it adequately. That’s why MN residents need to change their oil more often – to clean the sludge out before it causes problems.

Carrying heavy loads (with or without a trailer) in MN summer weather causes your engine and transmission to run at higher temperatures and with more stress. The fluids will break down more quickly. Additives that clean and prevent corrosion will be depleted sooner. Air pollution and dust cause fluids to get dirty faster. Ditto for filters. All of these things can lead to premature wear and eventual repairs. If you want some expert advice, talk with your friendly and knowledgeable Autotronics of St. Peter service advisor. We can help you restore your vehicle to good working order and help you know the best schedule to follow.

Autotronics of St. Peter
507.934.9290
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
http://autotronicsstpeter.com