Any St. Peter driver who understands preventive maintenance knows that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is bad auto advice. Replacing a part before it breaks is much less costly for St. Peter residents than repairing the engine damage that comes after a part breaks or fails. A good example of this is the serpentine belt.

The serpentine belt gets its name because of its circuitous path around the engine. The serpentine belt is driven by the engine and powers a number of systems, as follows:

1. The serpentine belt spins the compressor that generates the cool air for the air conditioning system.
2. The serpentine belt powers the alternator. The alternator generates electricity for use in the vehicle’s electrical systems and to charge the battery. Without the alternator, the battery wouldn’t last more than a few miles.
3. In many St. Peter residents’ vehicles, the serpentine belt runs the pumps for both the power steering and the power brakes. In other vehicles, the power steering pump may be electric and the power brakes may use a vacuum boost.
4. On many vehicles, the serpentine belt powers the water pump. The water pump keeps coolant circulating through to maintain appropriate operating temperatures. In some MN vehicles, a timing belt runs the water pump.

When a serpentine belt fails, all of these systems fail as well, which can lead to engine impact.

Replacing parts before they break saves money for St. Peter residents by preventing more repairs and the frustration of having your vehicle in the shop for an extended period of time. If you’re looking for an adage to apply to good car care, you might remember the old story of how “for want of a nail, the kingdom was lost.”

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

About 90% of our driving decisions in the St. Peter area are based solely on what we see. So having a good pair of windshield wipers is extremely important.

Most St. Peter drivers have experienced the frustration and fear of not being able to see clearly during a storm, or when our vehicle windshield is just dirty. In fact, it’s estimated that 46,000,000 drivers across the nation are driving with wipers that can’t adequately clear their windshield in a storm.

It seems like our wiper blades are always at their worst when we need them the most. If that sounds like you, you’ve got plenty of company in the St. Peter area. 78% of drivers only change their wiper blades after the blades function so poorly that they become a safety hazard.

St. Peter drivers need to change their thinking. Instead of blades being something to replace when they fail, we need to consider wiper blades as vehicle safety component. Then we’ll stay ahead of the storm.

St. Peter vehicle owners really ought to replace wiper blades twice a year; in the spring and the fall. If you live in the colder parts of MN, you may even want to get special winter blades in the fall.

Winter blades are made to resist freezing. Speaking of winter and freezing St. Peter conditions, if your vehicle has been sitting for a long time and the windshield becomes frozen, don’t use your wipers to clear off snow and ice. That can shred your blades and may even damage the wiper motor.

Your wiper blades live outside in the freezing cold and blistering sun. Over time, they become hard and brittle, and then tear. They also lose their flexibility and just don’t clear the vehicle windshield effectively. Worn wiper blades aren’t just a safety hazard for St. Peter drivers; they can also scratch their windshield. That may require replacing the entire vehicle windshield – that’s the consequence for neglecting such a small part.

Autotronics of St. Peter recommends St. Peter drivers replace worn blades right away. We can provide you with a quality replacement blade. At Autotronics of St. Peter, they cost about the same as they would at the store – but installation is included.

Of course you also need washer fluid to help your blades do their work. Even though Autotronics of St. Peter will top off the washer fluid with a full service oil change, it is a good idea to have some extra fluid at home. Take it with you if you’re heading out on a road trip.

Always use windshield washer fluid. Plain water, even that fancy French bottled water, just doesn’t cut it. It can freeze in the fluid reservoir or on the windshield itself, making things worse. Besides, water won’t clean your windows as well.

So follow these tips to keep your windshield clear and your eyes on the road.

Find us at:

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

Have you ever seen a ballet performance? Have you wondered how all of those dancers manage to travel all over the stage jumping and twirling and never crash into each other? That’s the job of a choreographer.

Our auto engines are also highly choreographed. Pistons travel up and down inside cylinders. Valves at the tops of the cylinders open to let air and fuel in or exhaust out. These valves have to open and close at precisely the right time or the engine will run poorly if at all. The movement of the valves and pistons must be in harmony with each other. This choreography is the job of the timing belt or timing chain.

Timing belts, or chains, rotate the shafts that control the opening and closing of the valves. Timing chains are metal and durable enough that they may never need to be replaced.

Most vehicles, however, use a timing belt. Timing belts are tough and flexible, and considering the work they do, they last a long time for St. Peter auto owners . But they do wear out. If they break, the consequences for St. Peter drivers can spell disaster.

No matter what kind of engine you have, a broken timing belt will cause the engine to shut down or will lead to major engine damage. But in some engines, the valves protrude down into the cylinders enough that if the timing belt breaks, the pistons can smash the valves, bending or breaking them. If the engine is spinning fast enough, the broken parts can then shred the cylinder head. This adds to thousands of dollars of engine damage.

The only way the damage can be avoided by St. Peter auto owners is by replacing the timing belt on schedule. Most vehicle manufacturers recommend replacing the timing belt at 60,000 miles (100,000 kilometers), but others can go as long as 90,000 or 100,000 miles (145,000 to 160,000 kilometers). Check the schedule for preventive maintenance in your owner’s manual. If you’re due or overdue for a timing belt replacement, don’t put it off. Get it done now at Autotronics of St. Peter in St. Peter.

Your friendly and knowledgeable Autotronics of St. Peter technicians probably aren’t great dancers, but they can offer you some great auto advice on how to keep your engine properly choreographed. Don’t hesitate to consult them about replacing your timing belt or any other car care concerns you may have.

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