Have you ever gone to listen to an orchestra? The musicians take the stage early and tune their instruments. Each individual instrument must be in tune, but the critical thing is for the entire orchestra to be in tune with each other. That’s why they tune up together.

Now this is no surprise; I’m going to relate the orchestra to your vehicle. Your engine has many component systems that each need to be working properly. And the components need to be working in sync, all timed up together in order for the engine to work efficiently.

We call this… (ta-da) a tune-up. When an orchestra’s out of tune you get a bad concert. When your vehicle’s out of tune you get bad performance and bad fuel economy.

So check your owner’s manual for recommended tune-up intervals. Or ask your St. Peter service advisor at Autotronics of St. Peter what he thinks.

…Just be careful not to say you want to make beautiful music together – that kinda makes us uncomfortable.

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

At Autotronics of St. Peter we get a lot of St. Peter drivers asking about vehicle trip preparation. That’s a big deal. You could be driving through mountains and deserts in some pretty lonely areas around MN, so it’s important to know that the vehicle is up to the task and won’t leave you stranded.

Smart St. Peter drivers plan ahead for a major road trip – and there are a lot of things to get ready. Where should you start? You could start with the tires. Look them over for tread wear and check to see that they are properly inflated. Take a quick test drive around St. Peter to see if you can feel any vibrations: Are the wheels in balance? Is the car tracking straight? Is the alignment ok? Come to Autotronics of St. Peter for a peace-of-mind trip inspection.

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

The next thing is a full service oil change to make sure all of your fluids are topped off and you have fresh oil for the trip. And if your car has over 75,000 miles/120,000 km, you may consider putting in the high-mileage formulation to clean harmful sludge deposits in the engine. 

How about your transmission and brakes? Have you had your transmission and brakes inspected in the last six months?

How are your wiper blades? There’s nothing like not being able to get rid of the bug juice on a long road trip away from St. Peter.

Check your owner’s manual for any other recommended services, and have Autotronics of St. Peter in St. Peter do the multi-point inspection before you head out on your trip.

Consider also having the coolant system serviced at Autotronics of St. Peter – you want to stay within the vehicle manufacture’s recommendations. If you’re towing a trailer around MN you’ll want to be keep in mind that you’ll be going a long way under severe conditions.

A lot of St. Peter drivers overlook severe conditions like towing, MN summer heat or driving on dirt roads. Plan ahead for your next road trip – Autotronics of St. Peter wants you to get there and back.

Screeching tires, crunching metal – it’s an accident! If you’ve ever been in a car accident in St. Peter, even a minor one, you know how upsetting it can be. It’s hard to think straight and know what to do.

Let’s review what St. Peter drivers should do in case of an accident:

When an accident occurs, you should always stop. Leaving the scene of an accident in St. Peter is considered a crime – even if it’s not your fault. And hit and run penalties are fairly severe, possibly resulting in steep fines, loss of your MN driver’s license or even jail time.

Your jurisdiction may require that you try to help someone who is injured by calling for help or performing first aid if you are able. Warn other motorists by putting out flares, using your flashers or lifting your hood. Call St. Peter emergency services as soon as possible. Tell the operator if medical or fire help is needed.

You should always file a police report. It’s tempting to skip this if everything seems to be ok. But without a police report, the other guy can say whatever he wants about the accident later, and you won’t have an objective report to help defend yourself. Discuss the accident only with the police. Emotions are strong after an accident and we naturally want to talk about it – don’t. Never admit fault or guilt to anyone including the St. Peter police officer. Sometimes we may feel at fault, but in the eyes of the law, the other guy may be responsible.

Truthfully give the officer the facts: such as, “I was going 30 miles an hour,” or, “I was going 55 kilometers per hour,” not, “I wasn’t speeding.” Remember, anything you say to the officer or anyone else can be used against you. Also get the officer’s name and ID number and ask where you can get a copy of the accident report.

Get the facts on the driver and owner of the other vehicle:

• Name
• Address
• Phone number
• Date of birth
• Driver’s license number and expiration
• Insurance information

Also take down a description of the other vehicle, license plate and vehicle identification number (VIN). Most MN auto insurance companies don’t record license plate numbers, so the VIN is the best way to track a vehicle in MN.

Ask witnesses, including passengers, to wait for the police. If they can’t wait, ask for contact information and request that they write a brief description of what they saw. If someone refuses to leave their name, write down their license plate number so the police can track them down later if necessary. Always call your insurance agent or your insurance company. Call or see a physician if you think you may have been injured. For vehicle repairs, call Autotronics of St. Peter at 507.934.9290.

Contact Autotronics of St. Peter to learn more about what to do in case of an auto accident.
You can find us at:

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