The manufacturer’s maintenance schedule that comes with your vehicle includes regular spark plug replacement.

With all the things you have to do each day, why bother with preventive maintenance for your vehicle? It’s just one more thing to add to your to-do list, right? Wrong! Preventive maintenance can save you time, money and headaches galore. Here are some reasons why smart vehicle owners take the time for preventive maintenance: Saves money: Preventive maintenance on your vehicle saves you money in many ways. Routine oil changes, for example, remove dirty …… ( more )

Now that summer is in full swing here in Minnesota, one of the more popular things for car owners to try to do themselves is to recharge their air conditioning unit with a store-bought recharge kit. While this may seem for the typical owner to almost be too good to be true, let us tell you some cold hard facts around these kits. Dangers of DIY A/C Recharge Kits One of the biggest issues with …… ( more )

While summer is here and winter can somewhat be forgotten about for a couple of months at least, there are still a few important things to remember when it comes to vehicle maintenance during the hottest season of the year: Tire Pressure Warming temperatures raise air pressure – a 10 degree increase can affect tire pressure by 1-2 psi. High tire pressure means you’ll get fewer miles to each gallon and means your tires will …… ( more )

The average driver has no idea what kind of obstacles they may encounter on a given day or trip, which is why it’s imperative that their vehicle’s wheels are properly in-line. Wheel alignment is extremely important when it comes to how your car handles the road. Suspension is what connects your vehicle to its wheels and provides a smooth, safe ride over uneven streets. As a result of accidental run-ins with curbs or potholes, parts …… ( more )

April is National Car Care Month in the United States, with the Car Care Council encouraging drivers from coast-to-coast to take some time to assess the health of their vehicle(s). Click HERE to download a complimentary ebook from the Car Care Council and check out some info on your vehicle’s hoses below: • Coolant hoses and heater hoses are components that CAN, and WILL, wear out in the lifetime of a vehicle, possibly even multiple …… ( more )

Your vehicle’s exhaust system is one of those things you don’t notice… until you do. Maybe you’ll smell leaking fluids. Or hear loud clicking and noises from the engine. Or see a billowing cloud of grey or green smoke lingering behind you on the road. When everything is working properly, you’ll hardly ever have a reason to think about the exhaust system in your vehicle. So what does the exhaust system do? The exhaust system …… ( more )

Your vehicle’s brake system is obviously very important to your safety and having brake maintenance performed regularly is very important to keeping this vital system functioning at a high level. Taking these maintenance steps will go a long way towards keeping your brake system healthy: Inspect your brake pads for wear at least once per year under normal driving conditions. Some manufacturers recommend replacing brake pads if there is 1/8 inch or less of the …… ( more )

Minnesota has already been hit hard by Old Man Winter this year and there’s still a lot of calendar space between now and Twins Opening Day. With Ramsey County roads currently less-than-ideal in terms of drivability thanks to snow, ice, etc., here are a few items you can keep stored in your vehicle to avoid being victimized by slick conditions the next couple of months: Salt/Sand. When you encounter ice that’s particularly thick and/or slick, …… ( more )

Winter roads in Ramsey County can be messy. With snow, ice, mud and road salt to deal with, it can seem like keeping your vehicle clean can be next to impossible this time of year. However, in addition to the obvious aesthetic benefits, keeping your car clean during the winter is even more important than other seasons because of one major enemy of vehicle health: corrosion. As we all know, salt is used by our …… ( more )