Wheel Alignment: Stay In Control!

Do you feel like you’re losing control of your vehicle as you head down the road? If your car needs a wheel alignment, it could be the cause of an accident! The correct wheel alignment affects the ride and handling of your vehicle. Your car should track straight and true on a level road, unless there are other issues causing steering problems.

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A car alignment consists of adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. A correct wheel alignment helps to minimize excessive wear and tear on your tires, saving you money in the long run with longer- lasting tires. If your car has a mind of its own (swerving all over the road), ask your car alignment technician to check for a lost wheel alignment.

A car alignment service should typically include:

• A test drive at the start of the alignment service,
• The front end and steering linkage checked for excessive wear,
• The tires checked for excessive camber wear (caused by the tires making only partial contact with the road). All four tires should have even wear patterns.
• Checking other components that could cause steering problems, such as poor tires, failing brakes, or faulty power steering, and
• A test drive at the end of the alignment service.

Tip to Remember: Most drivers know their vehicle well enough to recognize a wheel alignment problem. If you are experiencing steering problems, schedule an inspection and repair with a car alignment technician as soon as possible to prevent further possible damage to other components of your vehicle.

Wondering about a needed wheel alignment? Our professionals can help keep you on track. 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 a car alignment problem. Since 1997, our auto shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN and in the surrounding areas of Milaca and Zimmerman, MN.

Car Tune-up Checklist.

When you take your vehicle to an auto shop for a tune-up, you are essentially asking technicians to inspect your engine, analyze vehicle performance, and make adjustments as needed. The engine tune up checklist should include both preventative and restorative engine assessment, and final maintenance recommendations. These will vary from vehicle to vehicle based on age, mileage and unique manufacturer recommendations.

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To give you a better idea of what happens during a car tune up, here is a basic tune up checklist:

1. Check visual appearance of spark plugs.  Are they worn? What color are the insulator firing noses? An engine in good condition should have spark plugs with light tan or gray insulator firing noses. Any other color could be the sign of an engine problem.

2. Test the performance of spark plugs. What color is the spark? Is the spark properly igniting the fuel?

3. Check spark plug wires to make sure they are not hard or cracked.

4. Check the fuel filter to make sure it isn't clogged or dirty.

5. Check the engine's fuel pump for proper function.

6. Inspect the engine's fuel injectors to make sure dirt or other deposits are not restricting the amount of fuel that can be delivered to the engine.

7. Make sure fuel injector buildup isn't affecting how the spark plugs fire.

8. Adjust the engine timing and idle if necessary.

9. Check that the PCV valve isn't clogged or leaking.

10. Inspect the vehicle's points and condenser.

Since the age of the vehicle, number of miles, and maintenance history all uniquely affect a vehicle's service needs, it's important to remember that there is not a one-size-fits-all tune up procedure. Remember that some vehicles will require analysis of more engine components than those listed above.

To learn more about the tune up procedure that's right for your vehicle, 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 andZimmerman, MN.

Car Slowing Down? It’s Time For A Tune Up!

Is your car starting to perform poorly, stalling at intersections or lacking the power to safely pass a slower vehicle? It's time for a tune up. In today's modern vehicles, the term tune up "car tune up" generally refers to a general maintenance service to inspect and/or replace various components of the vehicle at specified intervals.

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If you notice any of the following symptoms in your vehicle's electronic ignition system, it is probably time for a maintenance service, or in other words, a car tune up:

    * Engine runs rough, especially when idling, or accelerating.

    * The motor stalls frequently. The spark plugs may be corroded or worn, the gap between the spark plug electrodes may need adjusting, or an electronic sensing device may need to be adjusted.

    * The engine is hard to start. There may be a problem in the starting system [such as, a weak battery, a weak fuel pump, the ignition system, or a faulty electronic component, such as the electronic control unit (ECU)].

Because the intervals for a car tune up can vary from one vehicle to another, it's a good idea to read your owner's manual or consult with your auto mechanic to learn the correct intervals of basic service for your specific vehicle. Today's newer cars with electronic ignition and fuel injection systems can go from 25,000 miles to as many as 100,000 miles without needing a major tune-up (i.e., maintenance service). However, older cars with non-electronic ignitions generally require a service every 10,000 to 12,000 miles or every year, whichever comes first.

A wise vehicle owner will have the various components of the ignition system inspected periodically to keep it performing at peak operating efficiency. It's especially important if you do a lot of stop-and-go driving, pull heavy loads (like a camper or boat), or make a lot of short trips. Schedule a full diagnosis with a trustworthy auto mechanic. The correct maintenance service could prevent a future accident.

Need expert advice on a 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 more information. Since 1997, our auto 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.

Oil Change: Ready for Winter Driving?

The cold days of winter are at our door! If you haven't yet made time after the hot months of summer to schedule an oil change, do it now--it is not too late. Those high temperatures of summer probably played havoc on your vehicle's engine, especially relating to oil changes. Don't get caught out in the cold with unexpected engine problems.

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To get your vehicle ready for winter driving, here are a few tips.


    * Oil changes. When oil is cold, it thickens; when it heats up, it becomes thinner. It may have become too thin in hot weather and lost its cooling efficiency for the motor. Regular oil change are crucial when it comes to protecting your engine against extremes in weather.

    * Know the viscosity. Viscosity is measured using two numbers and a letter. For example, 10W-40; the first number (10) refers to the thickness at cold temperatures (0ºFahrenheit), and the second number refers to the thickness at high temperatures (212º Fahrenheit.) The first number is crucial for the cold months of winter--make sure your engine is protected at startup. The second number is more important once the motor is warmed up and running.

    * Types of oil and engine protection.

          o Synthetics - maintain a more consistent viscosity over a wide range of temperatures, but are more expensive and could be incompatible with certain older engines.

          o Synthetic blends - include a combination of both natural and synthetic, providing the benefits of synthetic without the higher cost.

          o Premium conventional oil – natural, and of a higher quality with increased levels of protection.

Your selection will depend on the climate in which you drive, compatibility with your vehicle, and of course, your budget.

To make sure your vehicle survives winter's cold temperatures, check your owner's manual for the best type of oil to use in your specific vehicle. If in doubt, be sure to ask your oil change specialist for advice.

Need to know more about the right oil change for winter? 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. Rum River offers quality vehicle maintenance and detailing services. Since 1997, our auto shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Milaca and Zimmerman, MN.

Tune Up: Is a Car Tune Up still necessary?

Are you concerned about the appropriate care of your vehicle? In today’s newer models of vehicles, advanced technology requires meeting emissions standards put in place since about 1996. Cars no longer have the same components that were included as part of the traditional car tune up.

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In older model vehicles, a traditional car tune up consisted of…

• Recalibrate the carburetor: The carburetor was responsible for creating an air and fuel mixture which was then pulled into the cylinders.
• Reset or replace the points: Points were moving parts responsible for timing the spark to ignite the air and fuel mixture.
• Replace worn out high voltage wires: Wires which ran from the distributor and points to the individual spark plugs.
• Replaced spark plugs: or reset the gap if the spark plugs were not replaced.

The technology involved in a car tune up today involves…

• Carburetors were replaced by fuel injection systems which use electronics to measure the fuel added to the intake.
• Distributors and points were replaced by electronic ignition systems.
• High voltage wires have been replaced by coil/plug ignition systems. This means that the high voltage is created at the spark plug. There are no high voltage wires that need to be replaced.
• Most cars today have the spark plugs buried underneath the overhead cams. This makes them hard to replace. Accordingly, many cars and trucks use platinum tipped spark plugs which are good for 100,000 miles or longer.

Thanks to advances in technology, a regular "tune up," as we remember it is no longer required. However, it is still important to follow the recommended service intervals for your vehicle. Not only does this honor the vehicle’s warranty, but will also ensure that your car performs at optimum efficiency.

Need a professional car tune up? Contact our ASE-Certified Technicians today by calling (763) 389-3811, or go on-line at http://www.rumriverauto.com/ for more information about any of your car problems. Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Milaca and Zimmerman, MN.

Car Tune Up Princeton MN: Car Shopping Tips from the Tune Up Specialists!

If you’re tired of your old “clunker” always needing some form of auto repair or tune up, you may be ready to turn it in and head out the door to look for a reliable used car or truck. You don’t want to worry whether it needs a basic car tune up, or has some other complex problem that is lurking just under the hood.

In a recent survey by Kelley Blue Book, the majority of car shoppers plan to buy used and spend less than $15,000. The competition is fierce, making it a buyer’s market. To help you through this daunting experience, here are a few tips:

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• 
  

  THE SEARCH

  • Find the type of vehicle you want to purchase: websites, auctions, classified ads, reviews, on-line forums;
  • Locate the cars you’re interested in: selecting those within the Kelley Blue Book price range (you want to know the value of your current vehicle and the one you want to purchase);
  • Ask for a history report: this will tell you whether it’s had a regular car tune up schedule, been in an accident, or other important information;
• 
  

  THE EVALUATION

  • Ask questions. If buying from a dealership, ask about the documentation fee, or any other hidden charges. Is there a dealer’s guarantee, manufacturer’s warranty or extended warranty left on the car, and if so, is it transferrable? Does the car have a clean title?
  • Consider the mileage. The ideal used car mileage ranges from 10,000 to 15,000 per year.
  • Go for a ride—hit the brakes, listen to the road noise, gun it a little, check for unacceptable blind spots, drive over bumps, inspect it for dings, inspect tire tread, check for fluid leaks and exhaust smoke.
  • Evidence that the car may be in need of a tune up or major repairs: poor gas mileage, sluggish acceleration, rough idling or stalling, “check engine” light flashes or stays on.
  • Schedule an inspection with a certified auto mechanic if purchasing from a private party. If you’re purchasing from a dealer, an inspection and a car tune up has most likely been performed.
• 
  

  THE PURCHASE

  • Negotiate the price you want to pay and stick to it.
  • Do the paperwork. If buying from a private party, you will need to go the DMV with a bill of sale to register and transfer the title. A dealership will usually handle this for you.

If you need our assistance to inspect your “new” used car, contact our ASE Certified Technicians today by calling (763) 389-3811, or go on-line at http://www.rumriverauto.com/ for more information. Since 1997, our auto shop Princeton MN has served customers in Princeton MN and in the surrounding areas with Milaca MN automotive repair services and Zimmerman MN automotive repair services, Minnesota area.