Category: Uncategorized

Road Ready (Trip Inspection)

Maybe you’ve been cooped up for a while and are yearning for a change of scenery. Or maybe you need to visit a relative who lives far away. You choose not to fork out the big bucks for airline tickets, so it’s time for a road trip. Make sure you’re road ready by having your vehicle professionally inspected before the big drive.

One of our technicians can check out several of your vehicle’s most important systems so you can be more confident that you’ll be able to go the distance without a breakdown. Here are a few things a trip inspection may include:

Your vehicle stops with brakes that, in turn, stop the tires. They must both be in sound condition. The technician can look at your tire tread, the condition of the sidewalls, and note the tires’ age. Brakes have pads and rotors that should meet certain specs, so an expert inspection of their condition is important, too.

A technician can check other vital fluids such as engine coolant, power steering, transmission, and windshield washer fluid. Your wipers must be in good condition so you can see, and they’re often one of the most neglected parts of a vehicle.

Your headlights must work correctly and be aimed properly so you can see and so that you’re not blinding oncoming drivers. They’re powered by your battery, and a technician will check how old yours is and how well it holds a charge, all important for reliable starting.

For cabin comfort, your climate control system needs to work correctly, which means both heat and air conditioning. If things need to be repaired – before the trip will be a lot more convenient than trying to do it while you’re traveling.

The technician can inspect hoses and belts, two things that frequently fail on a long trip. And the big advantage of having a pro look over your vehicle is that they not only know what to look for but also can make the repairs the right way. Now that’s the ticket to being road ready.

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

The Cable Guy (Battery Cables and Maintenance)

If you’ve ever noticed your vehicle’s lights are dim or not working at all, the problem could be many things. But one possibility is your battery cables aren’t doing their job. A power outage in your vehicle is similar to one in your house and needs to be repaired to get things back to normal.

Battery cables connect your vehicle’s battery to the vehicle itself. There is a positive cable when provides the power and a negative cable that connects to the vehicle chassis and provides a ground for electrical components.

A failing battery cable may cause your vehicle not to start. Your starter may turn over very slowly. Or you may just hear a series of clicks. One other clue is on your dash—the battery warning light.

There are many things that can cause power issues in a vehicle, but it’s important to keep battery cables clean and maintained. Salt and corrosion are enemies to any power system. A technician can keep things in top shape, disconnecting the cables, inspecting them and cleaning their ends and the battery terminals. Cables, by the way, are often made up of smaller strands of wire. If they are frayed, some of those smaller wires can touch metal parts of the vehicles that they shouldn’t. The result? Electrical system malfunctions.

So if you see any of these signs that something is not quite right with the power in your vehicle, consult your service advisor and get it checked out. Feel the power!

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

A Bright Idea

You’ve probably noticed how much easier it is to see when you’re driving in the daytime as opposed to at night. It’s one of the main reasons about half of all fatal vehicle accidents happen when it’s dark.

That’s why it’s important that your vehicle’s headlights are in top condition and working the way they should. That means that they’re aimed correctly and producing the amount of light they are intended to produce.

For many years, headlights were a standardized size and shape. They were what is called a “sealed beam,” and when you needed to replace one, it was pretty simple. You just took the old one out and plugged a new one in.

But now there are hundreds of different types of lighting systems on vehicles, producing light with such illuminating technology as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), halogen bulbs, high-intensity discharge (HID) bulbs and more. Some vehicles have systems that turn your lights in the direction you turn your steering wheel so you can more clearly see where you are going.

Now that it’s not so simple to change headlamps or bulbs, it’s wise to consult your service advisor. She or he can tell you what your options are. There may be ways you can upgrade your lighting with new headlamps or components, but it’s important not to install new parts that could damage your vehicle. For example, the headlight housing could be damaged if a bulb burns too hot for its design.

It’s also good to check regulations and laws where you live. Some regulate the color of light your headlamps can shine and how bright they can be. It’s wise to leave it up to a technician to replace your headlamps. Some are tricky to get at, and modern engine compartments can be packed so tightly, it’s hard to maneuver around all of the other engine components to reach the headlamp compartment.

Oh, one other thing to keep in mind. Even if your headlamps are both working, you might notice people are flashing their lights at you, even when you don’t have the high beams on. That could mean your headlamps are aimed wrong; for the safety of the other drivers and yourself, have your technician check your headlamps’ aim.

You’ll see the light when you have good visibility at night.

Autotronics of St. Peter

111 Jefferson Avenue

St. Peter, MN 56082

507.934.9290

http://autotronicsstpeter.com