All Lined Up (Alignment Inspection)

When you head down a straight road, does your vehicle pull to one side? Do you feel vibration in any of the wheels? If you’ve noticed any of these things, it’s probably time for you to get your wheel alignment checked.

When your vehicle left the factory, its wheels were parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. That maximizes traction for good steering and braking. Every time you take your vehicle on the road, normal wear and tear will affect your alignment. Hit a bump, a pothole or a curb and all those little knocks will add up

Bad alignment not only can cause your steering wheel to pull unevenly, it can also wear your tires out a lot faster than they should. In fact, if you look at your tires and see one side of the tread is a lot smoother than the other, it could be another sign of bad alignment.

Since different problems can cause similar symptoms, the first thing our trained technician will do is test drive your vehicle. Then, they’ll check the front end and steering linkage as well as look for tire wear. Then, the technician will put your vehicle on a lift and use computerized diagnostic equipment to measure alignment angles so they can precisely align your vehicle’s components.

There are different kinds of alignments. One is a front-end alignment that aligns components of the vehicle’s front axle. Another is a thrust alignment that makes sure the front wheels are lined up with the direction the rear wheels are pointed. A third type is four-wheel alignment which is usually used on all-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive vehicles. It’s also recommended for front-wheel drive vehicles that have independent rear suspensions. It makes sure the angles of all the wheels are where they should be relative to each other and also the vehicle’s body or frame.

Your steering wheel should be perfectly centered if you are heading straight down the road, so the technician will adjust it so it is. Finally, they’ll take your vehicle back on the road for a final test drive to make sure it’s performing the way engineers intended.

Your service adviser can recommend how often you should have your alignment inspection, since it depends on the type of vehicle you drive (SUV, sporty car, etc.) and your driving environment. Properly aligned wheels can help your vehicle perform better and save you from expensive repairs down the road.

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

The Light Many Drivers Fear (Check Engine Light)

Ask just about any driver about one thing they fear seeing inside their vehicle and they’ll say it’s the Check Engine light coming on. You know, that little light on your instrument panel that is in the shape of a vehicle engine, often accompanied by the words Check, Check Engine, Check Engine Service, or Service Engine Soon.

There are so many different reasons that light shows up, from something as simple as a loose gas cap to a more serious problem that requires immediate attention.

The Check Engine light comes on because a component of your vehicle’s onboard diagnostics system is telling you something isn’t operating normally. Your vehicle has a lot of sensors built in, all tied together by computers. When the sensors are showing that things somewhere aren’t functioning the way they should be, they alert the vehicle’s diagnostic computers and tell you something’s amiss.

The simple rule is if the Check Engine light is on steadily, it’s something you should have checked soon but it’s not urgent. If it’s flashing or has turned red or orange instead of yellow, get your vehicle checked out as soon as possible. If you don’t, you may be facing some costly repairs.

Here are a few problem areas that may trigger your Check Engine Light.

Something’s wrong with the emissions equipment. Maybe too much fuel is getting into the catalytic converter, or the exhaust gas recirculation system isn’t working right. Because some of these components are expensive to replace, it’s worthwhile to have a technician look at your vehicle sooner rather than later.
Your ignition system isn’t working right. That means spark plugs, coils, and wires. If your engine is misfiring, that could translate into an illuminated Check Engine light.
The transmission isn’t behaving the way it should. The transmission works in tandem with the engine, so if a sensor sees something wrong there, it will tell the vehicle to turn on the Check Engine light.

As you can see, there are many things that can cause the light to come on, and when it does, it really is a good idea to find out why. When you bring your vehicle in, we have an electronic device that can read a code or multiple codes stored in your vehicle’s computers. That will provide the technician with clues pointing to the cause of the trouble and helps pinpoint where that trouble is.

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

Something to Latch On To (Hood Latch Safety)

The other day, a driver was trying to open his vehicle’s hood so he could add some windshield washer fluid. But when he pulled the hood release inside the car, nothing happened.

Usually, opening any hood is a 2-step process. You pull the hood release (which is usually a handle under the dashboard to the left of the steering column) and listen for the hood to pop up slightly. (It doesn’t open all the way because it has a safety latch to prevent you from accidentally opening it up while you’re driving.) Then, you get out and find the latch, usually through the grille near the hood. There’s a little handle on it which you push, slide or pull (there are a few different types) at which point the hood can be opened up all the way.

But in this driver’s case, the hood would not release at all when he pulled the handle inside. Not knowing what to do, he called his service advisor, who told him to bring it over. The reason? A hood with a broken latch could be a safety hazard since it is possible it’s not securely closed. And in this condition, it’s possible for the hood to suddenly release while you are driving, obscuring your view of the road.

Latch issues can be caused by many things, perhaps a broken cable between the hood release and the latch. It’s possible that cable just detached or frayed after being opened so many times. If a hood release cable isn’t kept lubricated, it can corrode and just lock up.

In this driver’s case, the cable had corroded and broken, so it had to be replaced. Unfortunately, many times you won’t know you have a problem with your hood latch until one time you pull it and it breaks without warning. When your vehicle is in for routine maintenance like an oil change, a technician will often keep an eye out for signs that your hood latch needs attention so you don’t get “locked” out of your engine compartment.

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