NOT JUST ANOTHER CUSTOMER (Finding the Right Service Facility)

You might remember a hit TV sitcom that was set in a bar, a place where “everybody knows your name.” The idea, of course, is people feel more comfortable where they aren’t just another customer among many; they’re special because their relationship goes back a few years.

That comfortable relationship can extend to professionals you deal with, too. Think of your accountant, your dentist, your doctor. Most people try to stick with the same person or firm in those businesses. They have grown to know their work over the years and they’ve learned to trust their professionalism, the quality of their work and their track record.

Ideally, you should have that same relationship with your automotive service facility, like your friends here at Autotronics of St. Peter. You may have tried several facilities over the years until you found one that did good work at a reasonable price. The longer your relationship with your service facility, the better the people there understand your wants and needs.

And you trust them to only perform repairs you really need and not try to sell you parts and services you don’t.

For most of us, it’s a great feeling when you walk in the door and you’re greeted with a smile. That goes for us at Autotronics of St. Peter as well. That history you’ve established by regularly going to one facility for service and maintenance helps you feel more confident about the work they do. And, at Autotronics of St. Peter, we appreciate your loyalty as a customer. Maybe it won’t be exactly like that TV sitcom place, and maybe not “everybody knows your name.” But your service advisor will, and you won’t feel like you’re just another customer.

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

The Daily Grind (Grinding Noise)

If your vehicle makes a grinding sound when you turn the steering wheel, it’s speaking to you. No, really, it is. So listen to what it’s saying and you could avoid a much more costly repair down the road.

A grinding sound coming from the front of your vehicle when you are turning can offer some very informative clues as to what’s going on. One cause could be that there’s a problem with the mechanical linkage that enables you to turn the wheels. Another is that the hydraulic system that makes turning the steering wheel easier may have its own problems.

Think of it. Hydraulic power steering has many components that need to work in tandem. The power steering fluid may be too old and contaminated. Or its level may be low. That may be caused by a leak somewhere in the system. A technician can check things over to find out exactly what’s happening.

Other causes of grinding while turning can be problems with the suspension in the front. You may have a failing CV (constant velocity) joint. It could be your brakes are partially engaging while you are turning. That metal-on-metal sound is never a sign that things are working just the way they’re supposed to.

To a technician looking to pinpoint the problem with your vehicle, it’s not a daily grind at all. Experience and training will help her or him zero in on what’s causing the noise and get you back on the road. Maybe you can enjoy your sound system more after that distracting background noise has disappeared!

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

The Economy of Maintenance for St. Peter Drivers

Do I keep my old vehicle or buy a new one? It’s a question most St. Peter drivers ask themselves at some time or another.

Generally, what it comes down to is the choice between a car payment and the possibility of repair bills. Most of the time, we want to choose the car payment because we don’t like the inconvenience and uncertainty of vehicle repairs. But that payment has a detrimental effect on our budget and bank account.

Edmunds.com is a great website to help you with your decision. This site uses repair histories to calculate the average repair bills for specific makes and models of cars. You can plug in the information for your vehicle and get an estimate on what it will probably cost you to continue owning that vehicle.

Now, Edmunds.com isn’t a crystal ball. It can’t know what will happen to your specific vehicle. But it can guide you in knowing how much money to budget for the repair and maintenance of your vehicle. Ultimately, that can help you in your decision to buy a new vehicle or wait a few years.

For example, a five-year-old Camry V-6 is projected by Edmunds.com to cost about $96 a month, on average, to repair and maintain (at the time of this writing). Remember, maintenance costs are part of vehicle ownership, whether it’s a new vehicle or an old one, so the projected cost for repairs on your five-year-old Camry average out to only about $50 a month. That’s a whopping lot less than a new car payment.

If your vehicle is older than five years, you should also talk to your friendly and knowledgeable professional at Autotronics of St. Peter about its future. They are more familiar with the average cost of repairs for vehicles in your area and of specific problems they commonly see in particular vehicles. More importantly, they know you and they know your car. They can give you a heads-up on what repairs you may be facing in the near future.

Remember, the older your vehicle gets, the more important preventive auto maintenance becomes. Over time, vehicles accumulate wear and debris, and we just have to give them a little more attention. Getting to know your vehicle and its peculiarities is also good auto advice for St. Peter drivers.

If you decide to keep your older vehicle, you may want to talk with your Autotronics of St. Peter service advisor about fluids specially formulated for older engines. These motor oils, transmission and other fluids are designed to clean older engines and automotive systems and recondition their seals and gaskets.

Good care at Autotronics of St. Peter in St. Peter will keep your older vehicle on the road in MN. And that may be just the boost you need in this uncertain economy. It may even save you enough to be able to afford that new vehicle you’ve been dreaming about.

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