Automotive Service in a “High-Tech” World

Most vehicle owners are aware that the automotive industry is considered to be a "high tech" industry. Innovative technology allows for numerous safety and performance benefits in today's vehicles. No matter if you're familiar with the automotive service industry, or just starting out, you've undoubtedly heard references to today's cars as being much more high-tech than their predecessors. What does this mean with regard to automotive repair? Exactly how high-tech are these vehicles and the industry that builds them, and what does high-tech really mean?

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 The Center for Automotive Research (CAR), a nonprofit research organization based in Ann Arbor, MI, recently released a report to help answer these questions. According to the study, an industry sector is considered high-tech if it meets certain criteria and contains certain characteristics. For example, a high-tech industry would generally have 10% or more of its workforce consisting of technical employees like engineers. The report concludes that the automotive industry is not only high-tech, it "leads the pack" when it comes to technological developments and applications.

The study reported:

    * For every vehicle manufactured worldwide, automakers spend an average of $1200 for research and development.

    * Today's average vehicle contains around 60 microprocessors—four times as many as just 10 years ago.

    * A typical computer network in a vehicle has more than 10 million lines of software code (this is over half the lines of code that reportedly run Boeing's 787 Dreamliner).

    * Approximately 4800 patents are granted to the automotive industry every year.

    * Five automakers—Volkswagen, Toyota, General Motors, Honda and Daimler—are among the top 20 in all corporate research and development spending. GM and Ford individually spend more money on research and development than either General Electric or Apple.

    * Vehicle electronics currently make up as much as 40% to 50% of the total cost of a vehicle. This is up from 20% less than ten years ago.

The report goes on to suggest that an automobile is the most complex purchase ever to be made by consumers. This leads to the conclusion that today's and future jobs in the automotive industry will be performed by those who have the advanced training and skills necessary for designing, building and maintaining the high-tech components inherent in vehicles.

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

Make A Car Tune Up One of Your New Year’s Resolutions!

For many people, the New Year is usually a time to make resolutions for the coming year. As the economy continues to fight a stubborn financial crisis, 2014 may present a unique challenge. Budgets are tight 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 good car care, which includes a tune up. Vehicle owners know that regular car tune-up and engine maintenance services are investments that pay off with improved fuel economy, longer engine life and cleaner air.

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Here are three resolutions to consider that will help keep up on your vehicle's maintenance, save you money, and keep you driving safely in the New Year:

#1 -- Schedule a car tune up twice a year. Regardless of how well you think you know your vehicle, a well-trained mechanic can spot things ahead of time that you might miss. There are many components of an engine that require attention and maintenance. Taking the time to schedule a tune up with a good mechanic twice a year may seem obsessive, but preventative maintenance is cheap insurance.

#2 - Keep up with fluid and filter changes. Checking on your vehicle's fluids and filters are crucial to its longevity. 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 repair dollars down the road.

#3 – Take care of small problems early. This is perhaps the easiest responsibility to overlook, but the potential consequences of doing so can be hazardous. Doing so can lead to larger problems and repair costs. It's easy to hear a strange noise in your vehicle and hope that it will go away. Unfortunately, there aren't any cars out there that can fix themselves.

Remember.... Don't put off minor maintenance or service, such as a car tune up. Your car will thank you by providing good service for many miles to come.

Need a car tune up? , 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 our tune up services. Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Milaca and Zimmerman, MN.