Automotive Tips from Autotronics of St. Peter: Knowing When Your Timing Belt Should Be Replaced

The timing belt in your engine controls the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves. St. Peter drivers need to replace it on a schedule to avoid failure.

Timing belts are very difficult to get to, requiring quite a bit of labor to access. Timing belt replacement is one of the more expensive maintenance services, but the cost at Autotronics of St. Peter to correct an engine damaged by a broken timing belt is much, much more.

The timing belt has a tensioner to help maintain proper belt tension. The tensioner should be replaced along with the timing belt and any idler pulleys at the vehicle manufacturer’s specified service interval. Your Autotronics of St. Peter service advisor can help you with the timing belt.

Give us a call.

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

A Clean Sweep (Fuel Injector Cleaning)

Your vehicle gets its power from burning fuel, usually gasoline, and it counts on something called fuel injectors to send gas to the engine in a spray that is easy to ignite. It’s a precise operation, and when it’s working well, you have plenty of power and an efficient engine.

But after time, contaminants in the fuel system may prevent the injectors from spraying like they’re supposed to. They can also shoot contaminants into the engine.

One sign that could point to dirty fuel injectors is a misfiring engine. Misfires can be caused by several things, so it’s a good idea to bring your vehicle to us so we can trace the cause. Another sign is that your fuel economy has gone downhill or your engine doesn’t have the “pep” it used to.

If we discover that your injectors are clogged or not working the way they should, we can clean them to get rid of those contaminants to restore your engine to its top performance. When you bring your vehicle to us, we will connect the flushing equipment, flush out the injectors and reassemble the system.

A good time to have fuel injectors inspected is when you bring your vehicle in for routine maintenance. An oil change is an ideal time to have a technician take a close look at your entire fuel delivery system.

When you have your fuel injectors cleaned, you may see your mileage go up, your engine performance improve, and your exhaust emissions decrease.

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

Differential Service

When you’re driving and turn a corner, you probably aren’t aware of all that’s going on with your wheels. The outside wheels have a longer distance to travel than the inside wheels, so there are gears that allow the wheels to go at different speeds when you turn.

That set of gears is called a differential. In front-wheel drive vehicles, it’s by the transmission and called a transaxle. Rear-wheel drive vehicles have the differential, naturally, on the rear axle. Many all-wheel and four-wheel drives add a center differential since power has to go to the front and rear wheels. (Some newer vehicles power wheels with electric motors, but that’s a whole different story.)

Time and distance traveled eventually can take their toll on the differential, and you may notice some noises you hadn’t heard when your vehicle was newer. Sometimes you’ll hear a whir that might change in pitch when you turn. You may hear clicking sounds when you’re moving. Others describe rumbling sounds coming from underneath during a turn. Another symptom of possible differential problems may be vibrations or shakes the faster you go.

All of these could be signs that you have problems with a differential. One common cause of differential problems is the gears aren’t getting enough lubrication.

These can all have serious effects on your driving. You may find it hard to turn, or your wheels may lock up. That could put you or drivers around you in a dangerous position.

It’s better to take care of differential problems before they get too serious. Bring in your vehicle so we can have a technician check yours out. They can see if there are any differential fluid leaks or failing gaskets. In some cases, we may recommend your differential fluid be replaced. And if there are any mechanical issues, some components may need to be replaced as well.

When your differential is maintained, you’ll be doing your vehicle a good turn.

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