Auto Repair: Is your vehicle ready for summer?
Before you pack your car and head out on your summer road trip, make sure you are on schedule for all your auto repair services. A pre-trip inspection will help you avoid the inconvenience and potential safety hazards of breaking down miles away from home, resulting in emergency auto repairs. An inspection will determine how road-ready your vehicle is so you can take steps to have the problems fixed before your road trip, providing you with peace of mind and a safer journey.
Auto technicians say the key to making sure your vehicle keeps running well today, and down the road, is routine car maintenance. Yet many drivers tend to stall when it comes to keeping up with some everyday auto repair basics. A recent survey by the Car Care Council found:
- 38 percent of cars had low or dirty engine oil.
- 54 percent had low tire pressure.
- 28 percent had inadequate cooling protection.
- 19 percent needed new belts.
- 16 percent had dirty air filters.
- 10 percent had low or contaminated brake fluid.
Your auto mechanic can help you develop a Service Schedule to keep track of regular vehicle maintenance. Most of the checks and services can be done at little or no cost. Best of all, they are quick and easy to do.
A pre-trip vehicle check should include:
- Tune-up to help the engine deliver the best balance of power and fuel economy and produce the lowest level of emissions.
- Inspection of the brake system
- Make sure the battery connection is clean, tight and corrosion-free.
- Check filters and fluids, including engine oil, power steering, and brake and transmission, as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant. Dirty air filters can waste gas and cause the engine to lose power.
- Check the hoses and belts that can become cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or show signs of excessive wear. These are critical to the proper functioning of the electrical system, air conditioning, power steering, and the cooling system.
- Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Underinflated tires reduce a vehicle’s fuel economy and uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.
- Check that the gas cap is not damaged, loose or missing to prevent gas from spilling or evaporating.
Need quality auto repairs? Whether you are going for a day trip or taking a week-long vacation, our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive by calling (763) 389-3811, or go on-line at https://www.rumriverauto.com/ for more information and to schedule an appointment. Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Milaca, MN, and Zimmerman, MN.
Before you pack your car and head out on your summer road trip, make sure you are on schedule for all your auto repair services. A pre-trip inspection will help you avoid the inconvenience and potential safety hazards of breaking down miles away from home, resulting in emergency auto repairs. An inspection will determine how road-ready your vehicle is so you can take steps to have the problems fixed before your road trip, providing you with peace of mind and a safer journey.
Auto technicians say the key to making sure your vehicle keeps running well today, and down the road, is routine car maintenance. Yet many drivers tend to stall when it comes to keeping up with some everyday auto repair basics. A recent survey by the Car Care Council found:
- 38 percent of cars had low or dirty engine oil.
- 54 percent had low tire pressure.
- 28 percent had inadequate cooling protection.
- 19 percent needed new belts.
- 16 percent had dirty air filters.
- 10 percent had low or contaminated brake fluid.
Your auto mechanic can help you develop a Service Schedule to keep track of regular vehicle maintenance. Most of the checks and services can be done at little or no cost. Best of all, they are quick and easy to do.
A pre-trip vehicle check should include:
- Tune-up to help the engine deliver the best balance of power and fuel economy and produce the lowest level of emissions.
- Inspection of the brake system
- Make sure the battery connection is clean, tight and corrosion-free.
- Check filters and fluids, including engine oil, power steering, and brake and transmission, as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant. Dirty air filters can waste gas and cause the engine to lose power.
- Check the hoses and belts that can become cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or show signs of excessive wear. These are critical to the proper functioning of the electrical system, air conditioning, power steering, and the cooling system.
- Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Underinflated tires reduce a vehicle’s fuel economy and uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.
- Check that the gas cap is not damaged, loose or missing to prevent gas from spilling or evaporating.
Need quality auto repairs? Whether you are going for a day trip or taking a week-long vacation, our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive by calling (763) 389-3811, or go on-line at https://www.rumriverauto.com/ for more information and to schedule an appointment. Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Milaca, MN, and Zimmerman, MN.
