Tuesday 30 September 2014

Auto Electrical Repair: How to Diagnose Problems!

Accurate auto electrical diagnosis is one of the most difficult challenges when working on today's automobiles. Considering the large number of systems in a vehicle that uses electricity in order to operate, it is critical to be able to quickly diagnose problems to perform the correct auto electrical repair. Whether you are having problems with an engine control issue, an automatic ride height system, or a power window issue, or starters and alternators, the electrical systems all utilize the same principles.

Because auto electrical problems are so difficult to diagnose, you can help your mechanic determine where to look first for problems. The appropriate auto electrical repair can then be taken care of to get you back on the road again.

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• Verify the problem --

This is more challenging than it sounds. Sometimes duplicating the auto electrical problem can be the most challenging aspect of the diagnosis, especially if it occurs only intermittently. Collecting as much information about exactly when the problem occurs will help your technician, to duplicate and confirm a problem.

Useful information for the auto electrical repair technician includes:

  • How often does the problem occur?
  • How long after the vehicle is started does the problem occur?
  • Does the problem occur only over bumps or when turning corners?
  • Does weather and temperature have any effect on the problem?
  • Does the car have to be idling, driving, in reverse, moving forward, be in gear, etc.?

Try to be as exact as possible in collecting information.

• Determine related symptoms --

This serves to help you isolate which circuit, or which part of the circuit, has the problem that needs to be repaired. By identifying related symptoms you can often eliminate unnecessary diagnostic procedures. Knowing an approximate area where the problem is gives your technician a definite direction in diagnostic testing.

Need help with auto electrical repair issues? 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 starters and alternators. Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN and in the surrounding areas of Milaca and Zimmerman, MN.

Thursday 25 September 2014

Advice From An Auto Shop: Keep Children Bicyclists Safe!

Now that school has started, remember that the number of children bicyclists has increased. On most highways, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as vehicles and often share the same lane. However, Children riding bicycles create special problems for drivers because they are not nearly as capable of proper judgment as an adult when determining traffic conditions.  Be alert and avoid an urgent visit to an auto shop, or more importantly, the hospital!

One main issue is that bicycles can be difficult to see among the other vehicles. Riders are more exposed and more easily injured in an accident. The most common causes of bicycle and auto collisions are drivers turning left in front of an oncoming bicycle or turning right into the path of a bicycle. Oncoming bicycle traffic is often obscured and their speed is difficult to determine.

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To refresh your memory on bicycle safety laws, here's a reminder from an auto center:

  • When passing a bicyclist going the same direction, do so slowly and leave at least a 3 foot clearance distance between you and the bicycle until you have safely passed.
  • When a bicyclist is entering the intersection from the opposite direction and you are intending to turn left, wait for the bicyclist to pass before turning.
  • If your vehicle is turning right and a bicyclist is approaching on the right, let the bicyclist go through the intersection first before making a right turn.
  • Always use your turn signals.
  • Watch for bicycle riders turning in front of you without looking or signaling, especially if the rider is a child.
  • Be especially cautious in school zones and neighborhoods where children and teenagers might be riding. Watch out for bikes coming out of driveways or from behind parked cars or other obstructions.
  • Check side mirrors for bicyclists before opening the door.
Remember: By following the safety tips above, drivers can help prevent auto accidents and accident-related injuries, possibly even saving a life!


Schedule an inspection at your auto shop to make sure all your lights and blinkers are working properly. Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive by calling (763) 389-3811, or go on-line at http://www.rumriverauto.com for more information. Since 1997, our auto center has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN and in the surrounding areas of Milaca and Zimmerman, MN.

Sunday 21 September 2014

Keep Your Car Battery Going Strong with these 4 Tips!

After summer's hot temperatures, you might want to have the amount of charge in your car battery checked out. Excessive heat and overcharging shortens the life of a car battery. Heat causes fluids to evaporate, which can then cause damage in the internal structure. A malfunctioning component in the charging system, usually the voltage regulator, allows too high of a charging rate, which will eventually destroy the battery. Don't let an emergency car battery replacement interrupt your busy schedule.

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These four maintenance tips can help keep your vehicle's car battery at its peak performance and help prevent an inconvenient car battery replacement:

  • Overcharging can damage a battery as quickly as undercharging. Ask your mechanic to check the electrical system and make sure it is charging at the proper rate.
  • On a regular basis, check the fluid level in your battery if it is the type that requires topping off. Add distilled water when necessary.
  • Always replace a car battery with one that's rated at least as high as the manufacturer's equipped original.
  • Keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt becomes a conductor, draining the power. Corrosion accumulating on the terminals becomes an insulator, inhibiting current flow.
By following the simple tips above, you will help prolong the life of your car battery and save you the cost and inconvenience of a car battery replacement.

Need a new car battery or just a charge? We will be happy to help you. Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive by calling (763) 389-3811, or go on-line at http://www.rumriverauto.com for more information. Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN and in the surrounding areas of Milaca and ZimmermanMN.

Monday 1 September 2014

Smart Driving Tips: Save Your Wheel Alignment!

If you've completed all your summer road trips and are starting to settle in for the Fall Season, you may want to have your wheel alignment checked. Loss of the proper car alignment is a common occurrence after traveling bumpy roads for very many miles. However, preventive strategy is about preparation, driving skills and reacting appropriately if a big bump or a pothole sneaks up to surprise you.

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Smart Driving Tips --


As you get back on a busy schedule of work, school, sports, music lessons, etc., you can keep your ride comfortable and reduce potential damage to your vehicle by practicing these smart driving tips:

  • Check your tire pressure on a regular basis. If a tire is too soft, it handles poorly and a sudden bump or pothole may cause it to rupture. Over-inflated tires are susceptible to damage as well.
  • Keep the windshield clean! You want to make sure you can see any bumps or other obstacles in the road.
  • Stay focused and pay attention to the traffic around you. What are the other vehicles doing? Don't tailgate—this restricts your ability to anticipate obstacles or sudden braking by the vehicle in front of you.
  • Beware of hidden potholes lurking under puddles.
  • Reduce your speed on bumpy gravel roads. Slower hits generally involve less damage from losing your car alignment or a punctured tire.
  • If you do have to drive over a bump or hit a pothole, take your foot off the accelerator, brake lightly, if at all, and then let off the brakes entirely the moment before impact. Immediately pay attention to whether or not you have a flat tire. You may want to pull off the road at your next opportunity to check your tires or rims for damage.
  • Try not to make a sudden swerve in an attempt to avoid an obstacle. It creates a hazard for vehicles immediately behind and beside you. You could also hit the bump on an oblique angle, potentially causing greater damage to your tires and wheel rims, and throwing off your wheel alignment.
Lost your wheel alignment? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive by calling (763) 389-3811, or go on-line at http://www.rumriverauto.com for more information about car alignment service. Since 1997, our auto shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN and in the surrounding areas of Milaca and Zimmerman, MN.