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How to Change a Flat Tire On Your Car

Flat TireIt’s pothole season, and that means your tires are exposed to dangerous crevices on a daily basis. Particularly nasty potholes can puncture your tire, leaving you high and dry, unless you know how to fix the problem (or you have AAA). Changing your tire is something everyone should know how to do, so follow along as we walk you through the procedure in seven easy steps.

Find a Flat, Safe Surface – Although it’s not always easy to get to a perfectly flat surface, make sure you pull far enough off the road that you’re out of danger, especially if you need to change a tire on the driver’s side. If you can’t get to a safe area, call a tow truck. It’s never worth risking your life. Make sure your hazard lights are on as well.

Secure Your Car – You want to keep your car in a stationary position, so put your car in park and throw the parking break on for good measure. For added safety, put a rock or other larger object in front of your tires to ensure your car stays as still as possible throughout the process.

Jack It Up – Secure the jack under your car’s frame near the tire that you are going to change. Reference your owner’s manual to make sure the jack is in the correct position. Typically this is just behind the front wheel well if you’re changing the front tires, and just in front of the back wheel well if you’re changing the back tires, but give the manual a glance. Once secure, raise the jack so it is supporting the car, but not lifting it further than need be. Double check to make sure the jack is perpendicular to the ground.

Loosen Up – Remove the hubcap and loosen the nuts. By keeping the wheel on the ground during this process, you’ll ensure that you’re turning the nuts and not the whole wheel. Once that is done, crank the jack high enough to remove the flat. Completely remove all the nuts at this point.

Add The Spare – Remove the flat tire and put the spare tire in place. Once it’s on, securely tighten the nuts by hand until they are snug. You don’t need to tighten the nuts with a tire wrench until the wheel is back on the ground.

Lower The Jack – Slowly lower the tire until it’s back on the ground, but not so much that the wheel is fully supporting itself. Tighten the nuts with a tire iron as much as possible. After the nuts are secure, lower the jack until it is no longer supporting the car. Remove the jack and replace the hubcap.

Clean Up – Put the jack back in the trunk along with any other supplies you used during the process. Take the flat tire with you until you get to a location where it can be disposed of properly. If your spare tire is a different shape and size than the other tires, you’ll want to take your car into a service center sooner rather than later, as driving long distances on a spare can be dangerous.

Related source: WikiHow

Why Isn’t My Car’s Air Conditioning Working?

My car's AC isn't workingSpring is here, and if you’re like us, you’ve already taken a drive with the windows down at least once. Temperatures are only going to rise, and soon enough you’ll be turning that dial on your dashboard from heat to cool air to AC.

Air conditioning is a nice luxury that most people don’t give a second thought to until their unit stops working. Today, we explain some of the most common reasons why your car’s air conditioning isn’t working.

Refrigerant Leak – A leak in the air conditioning system is one of the more common problems we see with broken AC units. To fix this, mechanics inspect the hoses and flush the system to identify the leak. Once the leak is found, we simply seal the crack and recharge the refrigerant. Preform regular maintenance checks to prevent leaks in your hoses.

Broken Cooling Fans – Cooling fans, as their name implies, help push the cool air into your car’s cabin. If one or more of the fans break, you’ll notice it pretty quickly. Replacing the fans is a relatively quick fix for most mechanics.

Compressor Issues – There is a clutch on the compressor on the front of your air conditioning unit that can cause problems if it gets stuck. Compressor issues can be very problematic, especially if the clutch gets locked in the “on” position. If that happens, your AC will run constantly, draining your fuel efficiency and locking you into a perpetual state of cool. If it gets stuck in the off position, a mechanic will have to determine why the clutch isn’t engaging.

Major Problems – If one of the above problems goes unaddressed for too long, it can cause other issues with your air conditioning unit. A leak can cause fan issues, which can lead to compressor problems. In this scenario, your mechanic may need to replace the whole AC system, which isn’t cheap. As always, the best way to prevent major issues is to fix minor problems when they arise.

Related source: Ward Automotive

April is National Car Care Month

National Car Care MonthApril has been deemed National Car Care Month, and it seems fitting since it appears the snow has finally subsided for the season. Drivers are encouraged to celebrate National Car Care Month in their own way, but we’ve listed a few suggestions as a way of saying “thank you” to your ride.

Buy New Tires – As we mentioned in a previous post, deals on tires revolve around the seasons. The best time to buy tires is in the spring or in the fall because drivers want to prep for the hot summer sun or the snowy winter season. Many auto shops have great deals on tires during the spring as they stock up for an expected rush. If your tires have taken a beating from the Minnesota potholes, it’s probably time to invest in a new set.

Get an Oil Change – Changing your oil is one of the simplest ways to extend the life of your vehicle. If you’ve been waiting for the weather to warm up to preform the service yourself, now is your chance! If you’d rather let a professional do the work, we’d be more than happy to assist.

Fix Any Cracks – Your windshield takes a beating during the winter months. Dirt, grime, rocks and ice get kicked up onto your window, and sometimes they leave their mark. If you’ve left any chips or cracks unattended, now is the time to get them fixed. Changes in temperature can cause cracks to grow, and the last thing you want is for your windshield repair to turn into windshield replacement. As we preach on the blog, fix the minor problems before they turn into a major headache.

Brake Check – Drivers tend to hit their brakes more often during the winter season because snowy conditions and icy roads lead to more congestion on the highways. If your brakes are making a grinding noise, or if your stopping distance seems to have increased, stop in to an auto center to have them serviced. Remember, as a general rule, break pads should be replaced every 10,000-20,000 miles, while rotors should be replaced every 50,000-70,000 miles. If you’re overdue for service, make an appointment during National Car Care Month!

The 4 Most Common Car Diagnostic Codes

Diagnostic Codes for CarsSince the teams competing in the Final Four and the Frozen Four (Go Gophers!) have been determined, we thought we’d stick with the theme and come up with a list of four on our own. Behold, the four most common car diagnostic codes!

Oxygen Sensor Codes – As we made mention in last week’s post about crazy car facts, the most common car problem is a faulty oxygen sensor, so it makes sense that sensor issues top the list of common diagnostic codes. If your oxygen sensor isn’t working properly, you’ll likely notice a dip in gas mileage or your car will randomly stall, neither of which are good. Get your oxygen sensor fixed before it causes bigger problems.

Engine Misfire Codes – An engine misfire code is another common code that mechanics deal with on a daily basis. If your engine is misfiring, one or more of the cylinders isn’t working properly. Not only will this impact fuel efficiency, but you’ll also likely notice that your car vibrates a bit. You never want to ignore an engine issue, so if you notice that your car shakes while idol, swing on into a service center.

Evaporative System Codes – The evaporation system is another important part of your car. The evaporation system is responsible for containing and removing vapors that are produced when fuel is burned. It’s a pretty complex problem that can be disrupted by the simplest things, like a loose gas cap. If a diagnostic test reveals an evaporation code error, try tightening the gas cap. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to let a mechanic take a closer look.

EGR Codes – EGR stands for Exhaust Gas Recirculation, and its purpose is to control the engine’s emission of smog-causing nitrous oxides. The vehicle’s computer system controls the EGR system by opening and closing valves as needed. EGR problems can occur if you don’t regularly have your oil changed, or if you take a lot of short trips with your car. These quick trips don’t give your car enough time to adequately warm up, which can cause carbon buildup. Left unchecked, a problemed EGR system can cause major engine issues.

Related source: Bumper to Bumper Radio, KTAR 92.3FM in Phoenix

20 Surprising and Interesting Car Facts

Car FactsWe’re all about cars at Affordable Auto Service. That’s why we came up with 20 odd, amusing and trivial facts about these mechanical wonders. Enjoy! 

1. The average fuel cost across all vehicles is 14.45 cents per mile, or about 23 miles per gallon.

2. The best selling car of all-time is the Toyota Corolla.

3. The U.S. consumes about half of the world’s gasoline.

4. Ferrari manufactures a maximum of 14 cars a day.

5. Although 1886 is credited with being the birth year of the modern automobile, the first gas gauge wasn’t installed until 1922.

6. Every year, over $60 billion worth of car maintenance goes unperformed.

7. The average consumer spends $400 a year on diagnostics, scheduled maintenance, and tune-ups.

8. Traffic congestion wastes three billion gallons of gas each year.

9. The first windshield wipers were hand-operated.

10. The most commonly stolen vehicle is the Honda Accord.

11. White is the most popular car color.

12. The total average repair cost in the U.S. is $305.55, including $202.28 for parts and $103.27 for labor.

13. The average American will spend two weeks of his or her life stopped at red lights.

14. 90 percent of drivers admit to signing behind the wheel.

15. The first cars did not have steering wheels. They were operated by a lever.

16. An airbag inflates within 40 milliseconds of a crash.

17. It takes half an ounce of gas to start a car.

18. Most car horns beep in the key of “F”.

19. The automobile is the most recycled consumer product in the world.

20. Faulty oxygen sensors account for 40 percent of all check engine light related issues.

Related sources: CarMD.com, Yahoo Autos, Visual.ly, PrecisionTune.com, TexasMotorCars.com

Go Green With These Car Care Tips

Green Car Care TipsAlthough St. Patrick’s Day has come and gone, we thought we’d stick with the spirit of the holiday by discussing some “green” car care tips.

Proper Tire Care – Taking care of your tires is one of the easiest ways to improve your fuel efficiency. The farther you go on a tank of gas, the better, for both you and the environment.

The easiest way to make sure your tires are properly inflated is by checking your tire pressure regularly. You can check the pressure in just a few seconds with the help of a pressure gauge, so get in the habit of checking your tires twice a month or before a long road trip. Your tires are more susceptible to pressure change as the weather warms and cools, so keep an eye on your tires as we embark on another interesting Minnesota spring.

Oil Care – Replacing your oil at the recommended intervals is another way to improve your car’s overall performance. Many mechanics will tell you that regular maintenance and oil changes are the best way to extend the life of your vehicle. Consider getting your oil filter changed when the oil is getting replaced. If your filter is clogged, your fuel efficiency will decrease.

Also, whether you change your own oil or take it into a shop, make sure the old oil gets recycled. Car oil can be very detrimental to wildlife and ecosystems if it is disposed of irresponsibly. Ask your mechanic what they do with the oil, and if you preform the job yourself, hold on to your old oil until you can get it to a proper disposal location.

Tune Up Time – As we noted above, regular maintenance is the best way to keep your car in optimal shape, but it is also important to quickly fix issues when they arise. You wouldn’t wait a week to go to the doctor if you broke your arm, so don’t hold off on fixing your muffler if it breaks.

As is the theme with these tips, neglecting to fix something that is negatively affecting your fuel efficiency is not only harmful for the environment, but also bad for your wallet. Putting off some maintenance might seem like you’re saying money, but if the problem snowballs into a larger issue or if you are ticketed for a motor vehicle violation, your expenses are going to skyrocket.

Green Car Products – There are plenty of car parts on the market that are better for the environment than others. For example, your can buy low rolling resistance tires, which help improve your fuel economy, or you can purchase green products like environmentally friendly windshield wiper fluid or antifreeze. Better yet, purchase one of these environmentally friendly vehicles!

For more information about what you can do to “go green” when it comes to auto care, give us a call or stop on in to our shop today!

Reporting Potholes in Minnesota

As we noted last week, potholes can cause major damage to your car. Now that temperatures are on the rise, you’ve no doubt encountered a swarm of potholes during one of your commutes. Hopefully you’ve been able to avoid the big potholes, but that wasn’t the case for one Minnesotan whose airbags deployed when he ran over a rather nasty pothole.

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Like we said, we’re more than happy to help you fix any issues that may arise from hitting a pothole: Alignment, damaged tires, broken bearings, handing issues, etc. Although we can fix your car, we can’t fix the pothole that dinged your car in the first place. If you want to let the city know about a dangerous pothole, here’s what you need to do.

Calling In a Pothole

The first thing you need to do is note the location of the pothole. You might be surprised to learn that the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) only replaces and maintains interstates and state highways. Here is a map of the interstate and state highways in the Twin Cities metro area. If the pothole is on one of these roads in the Twin Cities metro area, follow this link to report it to MnDOT. If the pothole is on an interstate or state highway outside of the metro area, you’ll have to report it by contacting your local MnDOT maintenance representative.

Since MnDOT only fixes potholes on interstates and state highways, you’ll have to go through a slightly different reporting process if the pothole is on a less-trafficked street. The Transportation Department asks citizens to report these potholes to the county or city where the pothole is located. Just remember that your submission is considered public information, so don’t say anything that you wouldn’t be comfortable seeing in print if it got picked up by a news station.

If your car is making a funny noise after hitting a pothole, or if it doesn’t seem to be working correctly, give us a call. We’ve fixed many different problems caused by potholes, so let our trained technicians take a look at your car. We’ll have your car running smoothly in no time.

Related source: Minnesota Department of Transportation

I Hit a Pothole With My Car – Now What?

I Hit a PotholePothole season is upon us, which means you’ll likely see plenty of drivers swerving all over to keep their car from succumbing to one of many concrete craters. Even the best drivers in the world can’t avoid every pothole, so be prepared for bumpy driving conditions for the next few months. Today, we talk about some common problems caused by potholes, and what you should do if you hit a pothole with your car.

Pothole Pains

Potholes sprout up every spring as temperatures begin to rise. A pothole occurs when melting snow seeps into cracks in the road. The water then freezes overnight when the temperatures dip below freezing. The frozen water expands, which pressurizes the spot on the road. When the pressure becomes too great, or when a vehicle puts added pressure on the spot by driving over it, the area ruptures.

As more and more cars drive over the pothole, they’ll slowly chip away at the hole causing it to expand in size. The bigger the pothole, the bigger the problem.

Try to avoid potholes if possible, but if a pothole is unavoidable, resist the urge to slam on the breaks. As we likened in a previous post on potholes, driving over a pothole is similar to putting on a green. If you hit your golf ball too hard, it will simply fly right over the hole with little resistance. If you hit it slower, it will drop into the hole. A slower putt may be better in golf, but the slower you drive over a pothole, the farther your car will dip.

If you hit a pothole with your car, keeping driving unless you notice something is wrong. If your car starts pulling in one direction or you hear odd noises, pull over in a safe location. Continuing to drive with a major issue can put you and other drivers on the road in danger.

Problems Caused By Potholes

Potholes can cause a lot of issues with your car, but some problems are more common than others. Common problems caused by potholes include:

Flat or Damaged Tires – A particularly nasty pothole can severely damage or puncture your tires. Fortunately, this calls for a relatively quick and inexpensive fix compared to other issues.

Handling Issues – Potholes can throw off your ability to fully control your car. The concrete chasms can do damage to your bearings, which help turn your car right and left. If you’re having trouble steering after hitting a pothole, pull over as quickly and safely as possible.

Alignment – Similar to handling issues, a pothole can cause your car to pull to the left or right. The problem will only get worse if you ignore it, so stop in to a repair shop to have your car realigned in no time.

Minnesota Hit With Worst Driving Conditions in Decades

Minnesota Snow DrivingWe all know the weather in Minnesota can be a little rough, but the weather we experienced at the end of last week contributed to some of the worst driving conditions the state has ever seen.

The storm came in Thursday afternoon and continued into Friday morning. Some areas of the state got more than six inches of snow, and plowing was discontinued in some places until the snowfall ceased. Drivers woke up for their morning commute only to find ice-covered cars, slick roads, and more than a few cars in the ditch.

Minnesota State Trooper Matt Langer said the roads were the worst he’s seen in 25 years. Lt. Col Langer urged Minnesotans to stay off the roads on Friday unless it was “absolutely necessary.”

Despite Langer’s warnings, more than 400 crashes were reported between Thursday afternoon and Friday evening. The Minnesota State Patrol also said they responded to 40 jackknifed semis, 32 accidents with injury, and one fatality. When you add it all up, the Minnesota State Patrol responded to one accident every four minutes between Thursday afternoon and Friday night.

You can see some photos of the driving conditions from around the Twin Cities metro area below.

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394 westbound blocked at penny pic.twitter.com/VpU32rL4lW

— Joe B (@joeb612) February 21, 2014

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Yesterday's snow is making Minnesota travel conditions treacherous: http://t.co/CiJAPGkdj7 pic.twitter.com/33kdlrDVY4

— KARE 11 (@kare11) February 22, 2014

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RT @KimInsley: Another good reason to stay home. Cars/trucks not making it up hills. pic.twitter.com/Yrwe6zJ1mK

— KARE 11 (@kare11) February 21, 2014

Driving in Adverse Conditions

We’ve blogged frequently this winter about how to stay safe while driving on the snow and ice. You can check out our expanded post by following the link, or see the abbreviated list below.

1. Check Your Tires – Winter tires can help you get up that same hill other cars with All-Season tires can’t.

2. Windshield Prep – Clear the snow from all of your windows so you can make lane changes without worrying if a car is hidden in your blindspot.

3. Take It Slow – No need to be Dominic Toretto out there.

4. Know Your Roads – If you know a sharp turn or a steep hill is coming up, ease off the gas pedal. You won’t be able to maneuver certain areas of your drive at the usual speed, so use common sense.

5. Prepare For The Worst – Make sure your car is stocked up on emergency essentials, like:

  • A charged cell phone
  • Blanket
  • Emergency lights/flashers
  • Sand or other traction-improving material
  • First aid kit

If your need to have body work done because you got in an accident during the blizzard, or if you need a new battery as temperatures again drop below freezing, stop in to Affordable Auto today.

Related source: St. Cloud Times

How do I know if a Mechanic is Ripping Me Off?

Screen Shot 2015-07-16 at 10.28.27 AMUnless you have a friend or family member who is well versed in automobiles, finding a trusty mechanic can be an intimidating process. We would love to believe that people in the service industry are inherently trustworthy, but unfortunately that isn’t always the case. 

Although you may never know for sure until you’ve had service done at a specific auto garage, there are a few things you can do to ensure the shop you’re visiting is trustworthy. Below, we share four tips on what to look for in a trusted mechanic.

1. Check Out Google Plus – One of the first places you should look while doing your homework on a mechanic is to see if the company has a Google+ page. Google+ is a more professional social media site where users with a valid Google account can leave honest feedback about the company. Customers can score the service they received on a 5-point scale, with 5 being the best. If you head on over to our page, you’ll see that we currently have a 4.6/5.0 rating. We’re pleased to have so many 5-star ratings, but we’re committed to improving that score every day.

2. Visit Other Social Media Pages – Customers are often a little more vocal on sites like Facebook and Twitter, but one thing to look for is how the company responds to complaints and praise. You might think, “Why should I care if a company takes the time to thank a customer for kind words on Twitter or respond to a negative post on Facebook as long as they do good work on my car?” Sure, it probably doesn’t matter to you that someone else had a problem because it’s not yours, but if a company shows that they are committed to resolving issues and reaching out to customers it shows that customer satisfaction is very important to them. If they value customer satisfaction, odds are they won’t jack up the price of service just to make a few more bucks.

3. Ask Around – Talk to friends and family about their experience with certain mechanics in the area. Since everyone has to have regular maintenance done on their vehicle, odds are you’ll get plenty of advice if you simply ask. Maybe your friend knows a great mechanic, or your brother-in-law had a bad experience with a certain shop. Many of our new customers hear about us from someone they know, and we’re glad our customers are happy to talk about their experience at Affordable Auto.

4. Bypass the Big Boys – We’ll save you the “buy local” spiel and explain why some of the national chains aren’t the best choice for your car. The thing is, although the national garages might be able to offer a slightly slower price to preform maintenance on your vehicle, you might be sacrificing quality work to save a few bucks. Many of the national chains hire young mechanics either right out of trade school or with only a few years of experience. It’s commendable that they are helping them get into the industry, but sometimes these mechanics aren’t the most knowledgeable, simply because they haven’t been in the industry long enough. At Affordable Auto, six of our technicians have a combined 150 years of experience working on all types of makes and models. They’ve seen it all and fixed it all. Put your trust in experienced mechanics.