When it comes to your vehicle, it all starts with the battery. Proper battery maintenance is important for two reasons:

First, your vehicle won’t start or run without it. Second, it is the key to the long life of your auto electrical system. If your battery isn’t working efficiently, your alternator has to work overtime to make up for it, and other electrical components can suffer as well.

A number of years ago sealed batteries were introduced to the local St. Peter, MN, market. They were hailed as being ‘maintenance-free batteries.’ While it is true that you can’t get in and adjust the electrolyte levels of a sealed battery, it is by no means maintenance free.

Batteries are very sensitive to changes in the weather around MN. Temperature really affects auto battery performance. A battery inspection is an important part of your spring and fall checkups. Next time you’re under your hood, take a look at your battery.

• Is it clean and free of residue? A dirty battery will drain.
• Is there corrosion at the terminals where the battery cables attach to the battery? If there is, the corrosion can interfere with how efficiently electricity passes back and forth from the battery.
• Are the cables loose? Make sure they are tight.
• Are the cables themselves corroded? Corrosion can actually eat through the battery cables.

Autotronics of St. Peter service advisors can inspect and test your battery. If the inspection warrants a cleaning, have it done. If the battery test indicates that replacement of the battery or cables is in order, you will be lucky to have caught the problem before it becomes a major inconvenience.

Your battery will also last longer if you keep your fuel system and ignition system clean. It’s all part of your commitment to regular maintenance, to keep your vehicle running on St. Peter streets at its best for a long, long time.

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

The pungent smell of rotten eggs can send people running for the hills.  So when that odor is inside your vehicle, yikes!  Yolks!  The good news is that a trained service technician can search the source of that smell and stanch the stench… that comes from another words that begins with S.  Sulfur.

Fuel contains small amounts of hydrogen sulfide, but they’re enough to stink up a vehicle when it’s not properly burned.  You may know that the smell of rotten eggs can often be a sign of a catalytic converter that isn’t working the way it should.  That could be due to age, damage or an abundance of oil that’s clogging it up. 

If a sensor in charge of managing the fuel has failed, the engine can run with too rich of a fuel mixture.  That can overload the catalytic converter and allow some of the byproducts to escape without interruption from the chemical reaction that is supposed to prevent them from going out the tailpipe.

There’s another possibility, but it’s usually only in stick shift vehicles.  That’s leaking, old transmission fluid.

Catalytic converter repairs are best left to a professional. Technicians at your vehicle service facility have equipment and training that can help them pinpoint the cause of this funky fragrance.  Once the cause is found, repairs made and/or parts replaced, the smell should go away fairly rapidly.

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

Remember snow tires? They were basically just regular tires with big, knobby lugs to get them through deep snow. They were loud and rode hard, and St. Peter drivers couldn’t wait to get them off the car. Then along came television advertisements for “all-season” radials. MN drivers ran out and bought some and we thought we were done with snow tires forever.

Tires have come a long way since then. Modern winter tires sold in the St. Peter area are much better designed for the wide range of conditions that come with MN winter weather. They are made with a rubber compound that helps them stay flexible in cold weather. Regular tires become hard and stiff at St. Peter temperatures below 45°F (7° C) which reduces their traction. That’s a concern in winter, especially with snowy or wet conditions. But it also means that St. Peter drivers are better off with winter tires in cold weather even when it’s dry.

The tread design on winter tires has been improved to move snow, slush and water. The lugs and grooves throw packed snow out of the tread as the tire rotates. This means the tread is open and ready to move more snow when it rolls around again. Summer tires can pack up with snow, which makes them more dangerous than a bald tire.

The all-season tire that is popular among St. Peter drivers is a compromise between summer and winter performance. This means they give adequate performance for St. Peter drivers in either season but aren’t great in either. Summer tires give great performance in hot weather but lousy performance in winter. St. Peter drivers need to put more thought into their tire choices these days.

If you want the performance that new winter tires can give you, you should have them properly installed by your friendly and professional service advisor at Autotronics of St. Peter. It’s best to purchase four snow tires and put them on all the wheels of your vehicle. But if you only want two, you need to put them on the rear of your vehicle, even if you drive a front-wheel drive vehicle. St. Peter drivers always want to put the tires with the best traction on the rear of the vehicle.

For more auto advice about tires for any MN season, ask your friendly and knowledgeable Autotronics of St. Peter tire professional. They can help you find the right tire for your area and for your driving needs. For the best performance from your tires, whatever the season, don’t forget preventive maintenance. Keep your tires up to pressure for the best durability, safety and performance, but don’t overinflate them. Remember, good car care provides the safest road for all of us in St. Peter.

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