Stopping “Brake” Downs (Brake Pad Replacement)

If someone tells you to put the brakes on something, you know it means stop. And stopping is one of the most important safety maneuvers you can do in any vehicle. That means your brakes have to work properly.

Let’s face it. You stop dozens of times every time you drive. And over time, that takes its toll on your brakes. Friction is what stops your vehicle. Most newer vehicles have disc brakes, and the parts that wear out the fastest are those that rub against each other every time you stop, the rotors and the pads.

The rotors are discs that rotate with the wheels, and the pads are removable surfaces that make contact with the rotors to slow or stop your vehicle. Bits of both wear off each time you stop, and when enough of either (or both) lose too much material, your brakes become unable to safely slow or stop your vehicle.

The pads usually are the parts that wear out first. Signs that your brakes might be getting worn are:

You hear grinding, squeaking, or clicking when you apply them
It takes a longer distance to stop
Your pedal vibrates when you brake
The front of your vehicle pulls to one side when you brake

If you notice any of these, bring your car to us so we can have a technician inspect your brakes. Most brake pads have a wear indicator that indicates it’s time they should be replaced. The technician who is checking things out will also look at your rotors for wear, as well as other brake system components.

With regular inspections and maintenance, you’ll be sure that when you need to stop, your vehicle will be up to the task.

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

What Is an EGR Valve? (EGR Valve Service)

If you’ve ever felt your vehicle hesitate, go, then hesitate again, you might think there’s something wrong with the transmission. After all, it’s not moving smoothly down the road. But there are plenty of malfunctions that can cause those symptoms, one of them being something you may have never heard of: the EGR valve.

EGR stands for Exhaust Gas Recirculation. It’s a system that channels small amounts of exhaust back into the engine to cool down the cylinders and reduce polluting gases. Those include nitrogen oxides that can cause smog. The EGR valve regulates how much of the vehicle’s exhaust gas is recirculated. After years and long distances traveled, that valve can get clogged or fail. Sometimes the EGR valve can stick open. When the EGR valve isn’t working properly, your vehicle can start releasing those nitrogen oxides and pollute the air.

The symptoms of a malfunctioning EGR valve include:

Engine losing power
Engine idling roughly
Pinging and knocking sounds in the engine
Stalling and hesitation
Fuel economy decreasing
Check Engine light illuminated

Depending on its condition, the EGR valve can be cleaned or it may need to be replaced. Consult with your service advisor to see what options are recommended to you.

The EGR system is part of your vehicle’s pollution and emissions control equipment. If you care about keeping our planet’s atmosphere clean, you’ll want to make sure it’s doing its job—for everyone’s benefit.

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

Lubricate Driveshaft

See if any of these are happening to your vehicle. You feel it vibrating excessively underneath when it’s running, or you hear strange clunking, grating, or grinding sounds coming from beneath. Maybe it’s hard to turn your vehicle, or you can hear squeaking when you’re going slow. Perhaps you feel a shudder when you step on the throttle.

Any of those could be signs that your vehicle’s driveshaft might need lubricating, and it’s important to have one of our technicians check it out. Your vehicle’s engine puts out a lot of twisting power. That force is called torque, and the driveshaft is the part that handles the job of transferring all that torque from your engine to the wheels. If it’s a four-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicle, it will have driveshafts front and rear.

Some driveshafts have different segments which are connected by couplings called U-Joints. So that everything can glide along fine, that whole assembly needs to stay well lubricated. Our technician can inspect the driveshaft and U-joints to make sure there aren’t any broken or excessively worn parts.

Many manufacturers recommend servicing and lubricating the driveshaft at certain intervals, and it’s important to keep on that schedule. It’s essential because poor lubrication can lead to a failure while you are driving, possibly causing other expensive parts to fail. Not keeping your driveshaft lubricated or failing to maintain it regularly is the top cause of driveshaft problems.

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