Category: Uncategorized

Steering You Right (Power Steering Signs of Problems)

Nearly every modern vehicle on the road today has power steering, a wonderful invention that makes steering take far less effort than it did in the “good old days.” Today, we take our steering for granted: until something goes wrong, that is.

Most power steering these days is rack-and-pinion, the rack being a metal bar between the front wheels with notches in it and the pinion being a gear whose teeth fits into those notches. Adding power assist makes it easy to turn. That assist comes in the form of hydraulic fluid that is pressurized by a pump powered by the engine, an electric motor that adds a power assist or a system that uses both an electric motor and hydraulic fluid.

Your vehicle usually gives you a heads up that something is going wrong with its steering. Here are a few signs to look for:

A humming, whirring, rubbing or grinding sound coming from you engine compartment when you turn.
Signs of hydraulic fluid leaking, such as wet spots under your vehicle.
The smell of burning oil while you’re driving.
Steering wheel hard to turn or vibrating.

If you notice any of these signs, it’s a good idea to have a trained technician check them out. They may be signs of:

Power steering pump going bad
Steering rack or gear seals wearing out, causing them to lose hydraulic fluid
Broken fluid hose
Defective power steering cooler
Loss of pressure in the power steering gearbox
Worn out steering pump belt
Failing electric power steering motor

It’s important to have these checked out sooner rather than later. You need to be able to steer properly in order to drive safely. Plus, some of these problems can cause more serious—and expensive—damage if they’re not fixed. Power steering is a wonderful feature of your vehicle. Keep it well maintained and it will steer you right.

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

Follow the Bouncing Vehicle (Bad Struts and Shocks)

If you hit a bump in the road and your vehicle just keeps bouncing up and down for a lot longer time than it used to, you may have bad struts and shocks. They’re the things that help to keep your vehicle’s wheels and tires planted to the road surface.

But they don’t last forever. With care and depending on where and how you drive, shocks and struts should be replaced at intervals ranging from 50,000 miles/80,000 km to 100,000 miles/160,000 km. If you drive on bumpy roads with a lot of potholes, that interval will likely be shorter. Rough surfaces can take their toll.

But how do you know if your shocks and struts are doing their job properly? The best way is to have your vehicle checked by a technician. He or she can inspect the shock absorbers and struts for leaks, corrosion and damage. Mounts and bushings can also go bad and they should be evaluated as well. A thorough examination by a technician will also include looking at other suspension parts. Some may contribute to making your vehicle behave the same way if they’re broken, corroded, worn or bent.

If you need new shocks and struts, your service advisor will make sure that you get those that meet manufacturer’s specifications. That’s important because they want to make sure you’re getting the handling and performance engineers designed your vehicle to have.

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

Sounds Like a Hot Rod (Noisy Exhaust System)

Driving along, your exhaust system’s rumbling so loud that people turn and stare at you pass by. You’re wondering when the police are going to pull you over for illegal noise.

Your mind immediately thinks, aha! A broken muffler.

Well, your exhaust system is composed of many more parts than just a muffler.

Your engine makes power because of thousands of tiny explosions from detonating fuel. Those explosions make a racket, so engineers came up with a system that acoustically dampens that sound in addition to getting rid of harmful exhaust.

In the engine is the exhaust manifold that looks like several pipes that join up into one pipe. It directs exhaust to the catalytic converter. The catalytic converter converts harmful gases into less harmful gases using certain chemical reactions. Then comes the muffler that has baffles inside to quiet the sounds of your engine noise. Finally: the tailpipe.

All of those pipes and parts are joined together by clamps and held up by brackets, and they ride over some pretty bumpy roads. They are also exposed to the elements, like salt, water, rocks and grit. Chances are that one of those clamps or brackets has been weakened by corrosion. When you hit a bump, bingo! The crack widens into a gap and there’s a spot for the engine noise to come roaring out instead of being directed into the muffler’s quieting chambers.

You might be surprised to know that the exhaust system can rust from inside out. How? Moisture is one component of exhaust, and moisture on the inside can do the same kind of damage as moisture from the outside.

It’s a good idea to have your exhaust system looked at regularly by a technician. He or she can evaluate the condition of the metal and recommend when it might be time to replace parts before they break.

Then you’ll have a decision to make. Newer exhaust systems are made out of stainless steel that is much less prone to corrosion issues. Others are made of aluminized steel that also fights rust. You’ve probably already guessed that they can cost more, but the extra price up front may give you an exhaust system that will last much longer.

Sure, with a repaired exhaust system, you won’t have quite the head-turning vehicle you once had. You’ll just have to live with all the quiet.

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