The biggest issue for St. Peter area drivers is always safety. When your vehicle wheels are out of alignment, the vehicle will pull to one side, which could lead to an accident. When you’re vehicle is out of alignment, you should have it taken care of right away at Autotronics of St. Peter in St. Peter.

When undergoing an alignment service at Autotronics of St. Peter, your vehicle is put on an alignment rack where the tires, steering and suspension parts are checked for damage. Then the alignment is charted and checked against the factory settings.

Precision adjustments are made to bring the wheels back into alignment. This gets all four wheels going in exactly the same direction.

St. Peter drivers should be aware of the signs of alignment problems. These include the car pulling to one side. Also, the steering wheel may not be centered when you’re going straight. If you see the edges of one or more tires rapidly wearing down, you should have your St. Peter service center look it over. If you’ve been in an auto accident in MN, you should get your alignment checked.

Obviously, a big jolt can seriously knock things out of alignment, but St. Peter area drivers also need to understand that a series of smaller ones can add up.

That’s why we recommend periodic alignment checks. If your vehicle owner’s manual doesn’t specify the interval, once a year might be appropriate. Or check with a service advisor at Autotronics of St. Peter in St. Peter.

One thing’s for sure: the cost of the alignment at Autotronics of St. Peter is cheaper for St. Peter drivers than having to buy a couple of new tires because of neglect.

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

St. Peter drivers know that underinflated tires wear out more quickly. Underinflation is also a major cause of tire failure for MN auto owners. More flats, blow outs, skids and longer stopping distances are all results of underinflated tires.

It’s hard for many St. Peter drivers to tell when a radial tire is underinflated. If your owner’s manual recommends 35 pounds of pressure, your tire is considered significantly under-inflated at 26 pounds. The tire may not look low until it gets below 20 pounds.

Uncle Sam to the rescue! A recent U.S. federal law required vehicle manufacturer’s to include a Tire Pressure Monitoring System – or TPMS system – in all vehicles. Many Canadian vehicles have them as well.  The system is a dashboard mounted warning light that goes off if one or more of the tires falls 25% below its pressure recommendations.

Obviously, all of this doesn’t come free for St. Peter car owners. Government studies have estimated the net costs. Of course, the TPMS system itself will cost something. Maintaining the system will have a cost, replacement of worn or broken parts and tire repair cost increases. The net cost is estimated to be between $27 and $100.

MN service centers have purchased new scanning equipment to work with the TPMS sensors and updated expensive tire change equipment to better service wheels equipped with the new monitoring systems.

Autotronics of St. Peter service advisors have been trained on many systems and new tire-changing techniques. All of this adds up to significantly increased cost to the service center to perform what was once a very inexpensive service. So if you’ve noticed the cost of flat repairs, tire changes, and rotations going up, please keep in mind that it’s because of government mandated safety equipment. Your St. Peter service center just wants to keep you safely on the road – and it’s committed to do so at a fair price. Remember, this change will help you avoid the most common vehicle failure, and possibly a catastrophic accident.

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

If you’re reading this article in St. Peter, MN, then you probably care about your vehicle and how it runs. Even though you care, there is still that moment of dread when your professional service advisor at Autotronics of St. Peter tells you the manufacturer recommends some additional service. Your heart beats a little faster, your blood pressure rises. You worry about spending more money than you had planned. And you worry that if you say “no,” you might be harming your vehicle or risking your family’s safety.

At the risk of sounding like your dad, you really should have done your homework. Service recommendations are in your owner’s manual. But it is not like you want to keep your vehicle auto maintenance schedule on your nightstand for bedtime reading.

Vehicles are complicated machines and it takes some effort for St. Peter residents to keep them running well. That is why they have maintenance schedules that explain how to keep your vehicle performing efficiently and prevent breakdowns. In a typical owner’s manual you’ll find: oil change, brake fluid and pad change, coolant system service, transmission service, battery electrolyte levels, cables and terminals, tire pressure and wear, CV boots, cabin air filter, air conditioning, heater, fuel filter, air filter, belts and hoses, power steering fluid, differential service, fuel system cleaning and wheel alignment. And then there are mechanical service requirements like timing belt changes, valve adjustment, steering function, engine and exhaust leaks – yeah, it is a really long list!

Fortunately, this isn’t a test: St. Peter residents don’t need to have it memorized. Your friendly advisor at Autotronics of St. Peter has access to your manufacturer’s recommendations. Don’t be surprised when your service advisor at Autotronics of St. Peter reminds you something is due. Your manufacturer has taken great care in putting together your maintenance schedule. Let Autotronics of St. Peter help you stay on top of maintenance. You can expect them to suggest recommended services and tell you what problems they find under the hood. We’ll also explain how urgent these services are so you can work them into your budget.

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