Category: Uncategorized

Don?t Blow Your Cool (Water Pump Replacement)

It’s always a good idea to keep your cool, and that’s especially true when it comes to some components of your vehicle. One is the engine. It’s hot under that hood thanks to the mini explosions that are occurring in the internal combustion engine when it’s running. Your vehicle has a cooling system which takes the heat out of the engine by moving a liquid coolant to a spot where the heat can escape (the radiator).

The part that keeps that coolant moving is the water pump, which could probably be more accurately called the coolant pump since water is only one component of the fluid that does the cooling. If the water pump fails, your engine can overheat quickly, and that can cause significant and expensive damage to your vehicle. Water pumps can be driven by belts (mechanical) or electricity (electric).

Your vehicle’s manufacturer recommends mileage intervals when you should consider replacing your water pump even if seems to be working fine. That way you are less likely to have a water pump break down at an inopportune time. Some manufacturers recommend replacing it every 60,000-100,000 miles/100,000-160,000 km.

Sometimes your water pump will fail before that, of course. One sign something is wrong with the cooling system is if you notice the engine is overheating. An illuminated engine temperature warning light on your dash or a temperature gauge that shows above normal are two things to look for.

You may also see steam coming out of the engine compartment, which is another sign of overheating. Both could mean your water pump needs replacing. We also recommend that when your vehicle’s timing belt needs to be replaced that you have the water pump replaced at the same time since everything will already be apart.

When your vehicle is already in to have the water pump replaced, it’s a good time for a technician to examine other cooling system components at the same time. Those will include belts, pulleys, hoses, clamps as well as the radiator, thermostat and heater core.

Light Up your Life (Headlamp Replacement)

Did you know that having a burned out headlight can result in your rearview mirror reflecting some flashing lights? In other words, you might get pulled over by the police for only having one working headlight, because in most places it’s against the law.

Not only is it illegal to drive with one headlight burned out, but it’s also dangerous. You can’t see down the road nearly as well at night with only one headlight, and other drivers can’t see you as easily either.

The good news is many newer vehicles warn you when one of your headlamps burns out. When that happens, have it taken care of as soon as you can. While there was a time when all headlamps were pretty much the same, the same isn’t true these days. There are halogen, Xenon, LED and other technologies used in modern vehicles. Plus there are sealed beams (like those on older vehicles) and capsules.

If you have a burned out headlamp, ask your service advisor for recommendations. Usually when one side goes, the other isn’t far behind. Many suggest replacing both headlamps at the same time. Your vehicle’s owner’s manual can tell you what the manufacturer recommends. You also can ask your service advisor about upgrading to a headlight that might give you better visibility.

In order to make sure you’re able to see down the road the way your vehicle was designed and not blind oncoming drivers, it’s vital that new headlights be aimed properly. That’s another good reason to have this service performed by a technician. Now, that’s a really bright idea.

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

Let’s Clear Some Things Up (Headlight Restoration)

You know how exposing your skin to sunlight can cause sunburn and other unhealthy things. Sunlight can also create major problems for your headlights. After they’ve been exposed to ultraviolet light, acrylic headlights can yellow and fog due to oxidation. And when that happens, less light can pass through the plastic, reducing the effectiveness—and safety—of your headlights.

It’s not just the UV light that causes headlights to turn cloudy. Road grime and debris gets kicked up and can scratch the plastic, diffusing the light that should pass through them when they’re clear. Plus, when your vehicle was new from the factory, the headlights had watertight seals all around to prevent moisture from getting into them and fogging them up with water vapor. Just like clouds can hide the sun, tiny water molecules can diffuse the light from your headlight bulbs.

Sure, you could buy replacement parts and start fresh. But the good news is many vehicle repair facilities can restore your original headlights to perform like they did when you first bought your vehicle. Here’s how it works:

A technician will protect your vehicle’s paint by either taking the headlights out or by taping off the paint near the headlights and leaving them in place.
Residue is removed from the headlight surfaces by wet sanding to remove the oxidized plastic.
Using special compounds, the technician will buff and polish the surface of the lens so it looks as smooth as glass.
The newly-polished plastic is then sealed with wax or a special sealant designed to keep them operating like new.
If the seals that keep the moisture out of the inside of your headlights have dried out or cracked, they will be restored or replaced to keep condensation from forming again.

Visibility at night is vital for safe driving, and if your headlights aren’t performing up to their potential, the less you’ll be able to see ahead of you.

There are many advantages of having your headlights restored rather than buying new or aftermarket replacements. It’s friendlier to the planet since plastics are made of oil, so it’s reducing the amount of plastic that is manufactured. And it’s usually cheaper to have your headlights restored rather than replaced.

Consider headlight restoration a way to literally recycle those parts of your vehicle. That seems to be perfectly clear!

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