Tag: MN

Paying close attention to your vehicle’s warning lights is one of the surest ways to know whether your vehicle needs a minor automotive service, or a more extensive automotive repair. The dashboard lights are color-coordinated according to the severity of the warning (i.e., yellow is caution, red is serious). Each time you start the car, all of the lights and indicators appear as the car’s computer checks each system. When the lights go out, the computer has verified that each of the vehicle’s systems is functioning properly.

If an indicator light remains on several minutes after the car has been started, or if it comes on while driving the car, you should be concerned about it. You will want to treat all dash warning lights like traffic signals.
The two basic kinds of warning lights; Yellow and Red, are further described below:
Yellow Warning Lights –

On most cars, a yellow “Service Engine Soon” light means “proceed with caution.” Your car’s computer system has indicated a potential problem and is alerting the driver.

The computer system is capable of correcting some minor abnormalities, but if the light continues to come on after multiple car starts, it is telling you that you need to consult a technical manual and/or schedule an automotive service. If the light comes on while you are driving but doesn’t come back on again, the computer system probably corrected the problem without any further intervention.
Common problems that may cause the “Service Engine Soon” light to come on are:

* computer-related problems, such as faulty sensors
* anti-lock brake systems
* safety restraint systems, such as air bags
* emissions components

Red Warning Lights –

A Red Warning light indicates an immediate danger to your car and you should immediately pull over and turn off the car. Whatever caused the red light to come on can be a safety issue (i.e., brakes), so proceed with caution as you maneuver to stop the vehicle.

Unfortunately, when the red light comes on, the problem is already occurringthis is NOT a pre-warning. It can be a matter of seconds before permanent engine damage occurs. Call for road-side assistance for automotive repair.
Problems that normally cause red warning lights are:

* low oil pressure
* engine over-heating
* brake failure
* transmission over-heating
* low battery voltage.

Like smart phones, vehicles these days are ‘smart’ and are continuously monitoring the performance of your vehicle.

For professional automotive service, contact our ASE-certified technicians at A&C Automotive & Machine by calling 651-674-4733, or go online at http://aandcautomotive.com for more information. Since 1985, our auto center has served vehicle owners in North Branch, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Harris and Stacy, MN.

If you’re like most drivers, those little yellow and red lights that flicker off and on when you start your car are often ignored. However, those warning lights are indicators of a vehicle that is operating normally, or one that needs either a minor automotive service, or possibly a more extensive automotive repair. Your car’s computer runs a check of the operating systems each time you turn on the ignition. If the warning lights go out, the computer has verified that the systems are functioning properly.

However, if a warning light remains on several minutes after the car has been started, or if it comes on while driving, make it a priority to schedule an automotive service. These warning lights are just like traffic signals, color-coordinated according to the severity of the warning.
Yellow Warning Light: “Proceed With Caution!”

On most vehicles, a yellow “Service Engine Soon” light indicates a potential problem. In other words, “proceed with caution.” If the light continues to come on after several car starts, it is telling you that you need to schedule an automotive service, or at the very least, read your owner’s manual. Typically, if the light comes on while you are driving and then goes off, the computer system was able to correct the problem itself.
A few common problems that may cause the “Service Engine Soon” light to come on can include the following:

* computer-related problems, such as faulty sensors
* anti-lock brake system
* safety restraint systems, such as air bags
* emissions components

Red Warning Light: “Stop!”

A red warning light indicates that you should immediately pull over and turn off the car. Be careful as you maneuver to stop, as whatever caused the light to come on could be a safety issue (i.e., brakes). Unfortunately, the red light is NOT a pre-warning– the problem is already occurring! Call for road-side assistance immediately for automotive repair to prevent permanent engine damage.
The red warning light indicates more severe problems, such as:

* low oil pressure
* engine over-heating
* failing brakes
* transmission over-heating
* battery voltage too low

For professional automotive service, contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Cannon Auto Repair today by calling 507-263-2120 or go on-line at http://www.cannonautorepair.com for more information. Our automotive repair shop serves vehicle owners in Cannon Falls, MN and the surrounding areas.

The New Year is usually a time to make resolutions for the coming year. The year 2015 may bring financial challenges to many people and, as a result, you may be looking at keeping your older vehicle a little longer than originally planned. It’s easy to overlook the small responsibilities of keeping up basic automotive service. Vehicle owners know that regular automotive service and timely automotive repair are investments that will pay off in the long run with a vehicle that will keep going strong for many more miles.

Consider these three resolutions that will help maintain your vehicle, save you money, and keep you driving safely in the New Year:

Resolution #1 — Schedule a basic automotive service check-up twice a year. A well-trained mechanic can spot problems ahead of time that you might miss. Taking the time to schedule an automotive service with a good mechanic twice a year may seem obsessive, but preventative maintenance is cheap insurance, and will help prevent major automotive repair later. A basic automotive service should include inspecting the tires, lights, windshield wipers, brakes, and car battery.

Resolution #2 – Keep up with fluid and filter changes. Checking on your vehicle’s fluids and filters are crucial to its longevity, making sure to include radiator fluid and the air filter. Mark one day on your calendar each month to make sure all fluids are topped off and filters clean. It can save you some serious automotive repair dollars down the road.

Resolution #3 Take care of small problems early. This is perhaps the easiest responsibility to overlook, but the potential consequences of doing so can lead to major problems and automotive repair costs. That strange noise you hear in your vehicle won’t go away on its own.

Remember…. Don’t put off minor automotive service. Your car will thank you by providing good service for many miles to come.

Need a quality automotive repair? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive by calling (763) 389-3811, or go on-line at http://www.rumriverauto.com/ for professional advice about automotive service. Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN and in the surrounding areas of Milaca and Zimmerman, MN.

One of the basic cornerstones for receiving the appropriate automotive repairs is to troubleshoot the problem correctly. When a vehicle doesnt start, there can be a number of possibilities about what may be causing the actual problem. When you troubleshoot properly, it eliminates potential issues that aren’t the real auto repair problem and points you in the right direction. After all, there is no more frustrating waste of money or time than repairing or replacing an incorrect automotive part. Here are a few troubleshooting tips that can help you, inform you, and save you time, money, and frustration in getting the correct automotive repairs done as quickly as possible.

When troubleshooting for automotive repairs, starting out simply is the best approach. There are several very common problem areas in auto repairs. Some of them are, as follows: brake repair, no-start problems, suspension issues, rattles, ticks, grind, and crunches, warning lights, and transmission problems. One of the trickiest areas of automotive repairs to troubleshoot involves your electrical system. Your automotive repair shop can start out by examining your fuses and plug wires, or by checking out any starting problems.

While troubleshooting problems can sometimes seem to be daunting, as long as your auto repair center takes the right steps in the right order, youll find out what is really causing your vehicle to malfunction. Once youve analyzed the automotive repairs needed, you can begin moving in the right direction to take care of them. The specific process that the auto repair requires and the ways to get the problem fixed become clear and straightforward.”

Need Auto Repairs? Get expert advice on your Automotive Repairs by contacting our ASE Certified Technicians today at (763) 205-3995 or go to www.discountbrake.net for more information. Our auto repair shop in Blaine, MN proudly serves residents in the areas of Fridley, and Spring Lake Park, Minnesota.

Regular automotive service to keep a properly maintained and operated vehicle is definitely a win-win situation. It will decrease the pollution impact on our environment, and ensure that your vehicle will run more efficiently, last longer, and be safer. In addition to saving our natural resources, you will find that in the long run, you will save time and money that you would otherwise spend for automotive repair.

Take care of the environment and your vehicle with these automotive service tips:

Car Tune Up. Replace filters and fluids as recommended in your owner’s manual. For example, a misfiring spark plug can reduce fuel efficiency as much as 30%.
Tires Properly Inflated. Under-inflated tires, alignment problems, or wheels out-of-balance will make the engine work harder to push the vehicle, thereby wasting fuel. Maintain your tires so they will last longer, meaning fewer scrap tires in the tire graveyard.
Maintain your A/C. Air conditioners contain gases that have been implicated in the depletion of the ozone layer. Make sure your A/C is serviced by technicians certified to handle/recycle refrigerants. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, almost one third of the gases released into the atmosphere come from vehicle air conditioners; either by leaking, or escaping during an automotive repair.
Dispose of used vehicle parts properly. Used motor oil, anti-freeze/coolant, tires, and old batteries should not be dumped on the ground or in open streams. Many auto shops will dispose of these used items for you, or call your local government for recycling sites.
Observe speed limits. Use cruise-control on open highways to keep your speed as steady as possible. Speeds above 55 mph will decrease mileage. Avoid sudden accelerations and jerky stop-and-go’s.
Limit idling. Shut off the engine if waiting more than a few minutes. Don’t worry about those five-minute warm-ups on cold mornings as today’s vehicles are designed to “warm up” fast.
Lighten the load. Remove excess items from your trunk. Less weight means better mileage. Store luggage in the trunk (rather than on the roof) to reduce drag.
Eliminate unnecessary driving. Consolidate your daily errands. Join a car pool.
Remember: How you drive, how your car runs, and how you dispose of old parts and fluids, will have lasting consequences on the environment. Leave your mark for good!

Need quality automotive service? Contact our ASE-certified technicians at A&C Automotive & Machine by calling 651-674-4733, or go online at http://aandcautomotive.com for more information. Since 1985, our auto center has served vehicle owners in North Branch, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Harris and Stacy, MN.