Category: Blog

Common Alignment Issues in Cars

AlignmentAlignment issues can make your daily commute dangerous, as they can cause your car to pull to the right or left. Driving a car on the highway is difficult enough without trying to compensate for a car that seems to have a mind of its own. Below, we discuss some common ways your car gets out of alignment, and we share how we assess alignment issues.

What causes Alignment Issues?

There are a lot of different ways your car can get out of alignment, but most alignment issues are caused by poor road conditions. In a perfect world, all roads would be smooth and paved, but we know, especially in Minnesota, land of 10,000 potholes, that few roads are perfect. Cracks and potholes can cause serious damage to your suspension and tires, which can lead to alignment issues.

Even if most of your driving is done on smooth surfaces, you can still develop alignment issues if you aren’t careful. If one or more of your tires wears down at a faster rate than the others, it can cause your car to pull in one direction. That is why it’s important to ensure that you regularly rotate your tires so they wear down at an even rate.

Camber, Caster, and Toe

There are three main components our mechanics look at when diagnosing your alignment issue. These are the camber, caster, and toe.

CamberCamber – Camber angle is the measure in degrees of the difference between the wheel’s vertical alignment perpendicular to the road. Imagine that you drew a straight line from the middle of the top of your tire to the middle of the bottom of your tire when it’s on the axis. Ideally, the line would be perpendicular to the road. When the top of the tire tilts towards or away from the fender wells, this is considered a negative or positive camber angle. See the picture for a visual depiction.

Caster – To get a good visual of how caster is measured, imagine you are staring at the side of your car. When looking at the wheel, you want to make sure the middle of the wheel is touching the ground. If the point of contact is slightly in front of or behind the center or your wheel, you might have an issue with your caster. Then again, some people request to have their caster altered because a positive caster can make the vehicle more stable at high speeds and during cornering.

ToeToe – Toe is determined by the angle at which your tires rest on the axel. You can visualize this by imagining you are looking at your tires from a top-down view. Ideally, the wheel and the axel will create a perfect 90-degree angle, but sometimes a tire will begin pointing inward or outward. When this happens, your tires will wear out faster, and you may experience a decrease in handling and stability. Similar to caster, certain vehicles are tuned to have a positive or negative toe to give them added roll resistance or to provide better grip while turning.

Let Us Fix Your Alignment Issues

If you notice that your car is pulling to the right, or if your car doesn’t seem to be handling as well as it used to, you probably have an issue with your alignment. The problem isn’t going to fix itself, and the longer you ignore the problem, the worse it will get. Give us a call or stop on in to our shop today!

Related source: YoSpeed.com

Exploring the Different Types of Car Tires

Engineers are constantly looking for new ways to improve upon current technology, and one of the most studied components of automotive engineering is the development of the optimal tire. While some are radically attempting to reinvent the wheel, others are simply trying to improve upon the current model. Below, we look at some of the emerging trends in the tire industry.

Inside the Tire

One way scientists have tried to improve tire technology is by experimenting with what goes inside the tire. Compressed air is often viewed as the norm, but more and more people are choosing to fill their tires with nitrogen. Although compressed oxygen is made up of 78 percent nitrogen, switching to a purer component has many benefits. By filing your tires with a pure nitrogen compound, your tires will:

  • Retain optimal pressure for 3-4 times longer than compressed air.
  • Maintain the same level of handling during driving and braking.
  • Be less prone to blowouts.

As you might expect, filing your tires with nitrogen will be more expensive than compressed air. Not all shops have the equipment to remove the air from your tires and fill them with nitrogen, and the shops that do usually charge at least $100 for the swap.

Outside the Tire

Airless TireAnother revolutionary development in the tire industry is the airless tire. Airless tires have already been implemented on some specialty vehicles, like golf carts, riding lawn mowers and heavy construction equipment, but they aren’t very common in the automobile industry.

Airless tires are usually comprised of polyurethane foam or compressed polymers. The outside of the airless tire is usually covered by tread, similar to your average tire. Since the airless tire isn’t filled with compressed air, there’s no chance that you’ll suffer a dangerous blowout. Also, airless tires maintain the same pressure, so ideally you’ll always be operating at the optimal pressure.

Even though they may be the way of the future, there are still plenty of faults with the current airless tire model. The first issue is that the tire doesn’t operate well at high speeds. The Tweel Airless Tire, the brainchild of the engineers at Michelin, constantly vibrates at speeds above 50 mph. The tires also give off a considerable amount of noise at that speed, which makes for an annoying drive.

The last issue with the airless tire is that it deviates from the norm. All innovation must inherently differentiate from the standard vision, but the problem for auto engineers is how to manufacture and develop large quantities of airless tires at a low cost. The first pneumatic (compressed air) tire was first developed in 1887, so engineers have been perfecting the science for over 125 years. Until the issue with airless tires can be resolved, auto manufacturers and buyers will continue to turn to cheaper and readily available pneumatic tires.

If you want the best option on tires in the Twin Cities, look no further than Affordable Auto. Give us a call or stop on in today!

Related source: HowStuffWorks

Celebrate National Teen Driver Safety Week

Teen DriverSince 2007, the third week in October has been celebrated as National Teen Driver Safety Week. The week is designed to help reinforce safe driving habits in the million of teen drivers who get behind the wheel on a daily basis. To do our part, we compiled a checklist of things you can do to help keep the teens in your life safe when they are in the car. 

Practice, Practice, Practice – Make sure your teen has plenty of practice behind the wheel before they go for their license. Many driver’s education courses require a student to spend a certain amount of hours behind the wheel under the supervision of an adult, but those hours aren’t always strictly enforced or monitored. According to the Minnesota Department of transportation, a parent or guardian must sign a form that states the teen has completed at least 30 hours of training behind the wheel, 10 of which must come at night. If you don’t keep an accurate record of the hours you spent with your teen, you might be cheating them out of necessary hours. If possible, have them log at least 50 hours of practice before they go for their road test.

Teach them the common pitfalls – Children inherently emulate their parents, so set an example for your teen when you’re driving. Over 75 percent of serious teen crashes were caused by driver error, and three main errors were to blame.

  • Driving too fast for conditions;
  • Distracted driving;
  • Failing to detect a hazard.

Don’t floor the gas pedal, and make sure your eyes remain on the road. If you’re going to answer your cell phone while driving, do so with the help of a hands-free device, and always be aware of your surroundings. Practicing these habits will make you a good role model for your teen.

Cell phone management – Now is the perfect time to talk to your teen about the dangers of texting while driving. No text is worth losing a life. In fact, you can ensure that your teen doesn’t text while driving by having them download one of these five apps. Some of the apps prevent text messages from being sent or received if the phone is moving fast than 10 mph, while other programs simply read the text out loud so your teen can keep their eyes on the road.

Do your part to help keep the teens in your life safe when they’re behind the wheel.

Related sources: NHTSA.com, TeenDriverSource.org

5 Things To Do In The Fall In Minnesota

Pumpkin_PatchPicturesque Minnesota is bustling with life during the fall, and many people hop in the car to check out the state’s beautiful landscape and attractions. To help you in your search for fun fall activities in Minnesota, we complied a list of five places to drive to before it gets too cold. In the event you need a tune up before heading off to some of these destinations, swing on in to Affordable Auto!

1. Apple Picking at Parley Lake Winery and Deardorff Orchards Nestled in Waconia, Minnesota, Parley Lake Winery allows you to sip on some apple-infused wine while you stroll through the orchards looking for that perfect Honeycrisp apple. Unlike some other orchards, at Parley Lake you are encouraged to go pick your own apples right off the tree. Finish your trip with a flight of their award winning wine, or check out the petting zoo.  Distance from downtown Minneapolis – 29.3 Miles, 40 Minutes.

2. Halloween at Valley Scare Every weekend in October, Valley Fair transforms from a cheerful amusement park to a home for ghosts, goblins and ghouls. Check out the creepy characters that roam the many haunted houses, or work your way through a clown-infested maze! A trip to Valley Scare is not for the faint of heart. Distance from downtown Minneapolis – 21.5 Miles, 27 Minutes.

3. Pumpkin Picking at Tom’s Pumpkin Farm Halloween is just around the corner, so load the family into the minivan and take a drive to Tom’s Pumpkin Farm in Lindstrom, Minnesota. Every pumpkin on the farm is priced below $4, so you can keep the kids happy without breaking the bank. Once you’ve got your gourd, head on over to the corn maze. Come back at night on a Friday or Saturday in October and try to navigate through the Midnight Maze! Distance from downtown Minneapolis – 46.9 miles, 52 minutes.

4. Autumn Golfing at Deacon’s Lodge Squeeze in one more round of golf before the season ends by taking the drive up to Breezy Point, Minnesota. Designed by Arnold Palmer and named after his father, Deacon’s Lodge may be the most picturesque course in Minnesota. Deacon’s Lodge has over 500 acres of forest, wetlands and lakes to challenge even the most experienced golfer. A trip to Deacon’s Lodge in the fall should be on any golf-enthusiast’s bucket list. Distance from downtown Minneapolis – 148 miles, 2 hours 31 minutes.

5. Hop in a Hot Air Balloon at Stillwater Balloons  What better way to check out the fall foliage than by seeing it from the skies? At Stillwater Balloons, their trained pilots will take you on an hour-long flight above the St. Croix River Valley. Check out the colors of the season from hundreds of feet off the ground, and celebrate your journey with a champagne toast! Distance from downtown Minneapolis – 26.7 miles, 32 minutes.

 

When Should I Replace My Car’s Shocks?

Car ShocksShocks are an essential part of any vehicle. They are designed to help absorb wear and tear on your car, and shocks also help keep you comfortable while on the road.

Everyone loves driving on a smooth road, but odds are your car will travel over thousands of cracks, holes and divots during your commute. This is especially true during pothole season in Minnesota. To compensate for the bumps in the road, your car’s shocks help absorb the impact so you aren’t bouncing around on the inside of your car.

To understand how shocks work, go ahead and stand up. Take a small jump. When you land, you’ll notice your knees and legs bend to help absorb your weight. Try that same jump again, but this time, try not to bend your legs when you land. Not only is that uncomfortable, but you’ll feel greater strain on your legs because they come to an abrupt stop. Now do you understand why you need shocks?

What causes my shocks to wear out?

The simple answer is anything that causes you car to bump will take a toll on your shocks. If you drive your car to the grocery store and back once a week, odds are your they won’t take much wear. On the other hand, if your commute is more rugged, your shocks will wear down faster. Some things that place strain on your shocks include:

  • Potholes;
  • Uneven/dirt roads;
  • Stop-and-go traffic (aka Interstate 94 at rush hour);
  • Adverse weather, like rain, ice and snow;
  • Hilly or curvy terrain.

When should I replace my shocks?

Similar to most car parts, your shocks wear down over time. The more bumps you hit, the quicker they’ll wear down. This is especially true if you’re doing any off road traveling or speeding over dirt roads.

As your shocks wear down, you’ll begin to notice that your car seems more “herky-jerky” when you hit bumps. You may also notice some rocking when you hit the brakes. If your shocks are really worn down, it can throw your suspension out of whack and cause thousands of dollars worth of damage.

So when should you replace your shocks? If you notice any of the above symptoms, take your car in for a diagnostic test to see if you need new shocks. Another good rule of thumb to follow is to have your shocks replaced every 50,000 miles.

Remember, now through October 31 is our Shocktoberfest special, where you can get four shocks for the price of three. Now is the time to winterize your car with new shocks, so contact us today!

Related source: HowStuffWorks

Window Tinting in Minnesota

Window TintConsidering getting your windows tinted? Want to learn the benefits and the laws in Minnesota? Affordable Auto Glass has you covered.

Benefits of Window Tinting

Customers come to us all the time asking about our window tinting services. A lot of people believe window tinting is only done to “look cool” or to make it easier for a driver to see at sunrise/sunset, but there are plenty of other reasons why tinting your windows is a smart and practical move.

Protect Fading – Sure, window tint will keep the sun out of your eyes, but it also prevents damaging sunrays from hitting your car’s interior. Imagine window tint as sunscreen for the inside of your vehicle. The sun’s rays can cause your leather or vinyl to fade, which can make your car look less appealing and affect the resale value.

Beat the Heat – Window tint can keep your car’s interior cooler as your drive, so you won’t need to blast the AC or roll down the windows as often. We’ve written before how driving with the windows down can hurt your car’s gas mileage, so if window tint can keep you at a comfortable temperature, you can actually save some money at the pump.

Reduces Glare – The sun’s glare can make driving dangerous, and it also puts unneeded strain on your eyes. Window tint reduces glare and makes it easy for you to see your surroundings while on the road. Plus it will protect your eyes!

Theft Prevention – Whether it was your backpack or GPS unit, you’ve probably left something valuable in your car overnight on accident. Hopefully nothing happened, but far too often we service cars that have had their windows smashed because a thief saw something inside the vehicle. Window tint can make it difficult for people to see into your car at night, which will protect anything valuable you keep in your car.

Minnesota Window Tint Regulations

We’ve talked about Minnesota’s window tint laws before, but we thought it would be good to rehash the regulations.

Window tint is measured by the amount of light that can pass through the window. This is known as the Visible Light Transmission percentage.  Each window must allow a certain percentage of light to pass through it. Check out the chart below for tinting regulations in regards to passenger cars:

Affordable Auto Glass

Some vehicles, like an SUV, truck or minivan, can have a lower VLT percentage on their rear windshield. Some of these vehicles can legally have their back windows tinted to 20% VLT. Most of these types of vehicles come with factory-installed tint, but if not, we’d love to do the procedure for you!

If you have any questions about tinting your windows, or you want a price quote, give us a call at (952)-933-0744

Cruise Control Reduces Speed, Increases Driver Drowsiness

Cruise controlMost cars these days are equipped with cruise control, which allows a driver to set the speed of the vehicle without having to maintain constant contact with the gas pedal. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that cruise control technology was first introduced 100 years ago. Cruise control is a useful tool for drivers, especially on long road trips, but new data out of France reveals that the convenience comes at a price.

A study by the Vinci Autoroutes Foundation found that cruise control or speed-limiting vehicles led to an increased risk that the driver would become drowsy, and it also significantly increased a driver’s reaction time.

For their study, the foundation divided 90 drivers into three groups based on their age. The drivers were then put through a driving simulator over a three-day period. They were asked to drive 75 miles each day, and in the simulator they encountered construction, a bus accident, a tollbooth, and radar. Drivers were hooked up to equipment to monitor eye movement and brain activity to aid in data collection. They were also asked to rate their level of vigilance every 15 minutes.

After looking at the data, researchers found:

  • All participants exhibited greater signs of drowsiness when using cruise control.
  • The average level of self-reported vigilance decreased significantly as time passed. The most common response at the beginning of the trip was that the participant was feeling “rather awake,” but that changed to “neither awake nor asleep” only 30 minutes into the drive.
  • When using cruise control, all drivers took longer to brake for the simulated encounters. By the end of the trip, drivers were breaking roughly 85 yards closer to the incident location.
  • Young drivers between the ages of 18-30 were the most affected by the fatigue of the trip.

Andre Dufour, the lead researcher of the study, said cruise control can help people avoid speeding tickets, but drivers must take extra precautions to stay alert.

“They help people to obey the speed limit,” said Dufour. “But you have to know how to use them.”

He added that even though the vehicle can help complete some functions normally reserved for the driver, “the person is still in charge and still responsible.”

Related source: ABC News

The Best Time to Buy Tires in Minnesota

CC image Kumho KL-78 AT Tire by David Resz on FlickrLast week, our mechanics passed along some tips for what to look for when buying tires. Now that you know what to look for, the next thing you want to know is when is the best time to buy tires.

Most people only think of buying tires when they have a flat or they notice their tread is gone, but you can actually save some money if you buy your tires at the right time. Below, we talk about the two times of year you can find the best bargains on tires.

September and October

That’s right, now is a great time to buy new tires as we gear up for another Minnesota winter. Snow and ice may be the last thing on your mind, but September and October are when many auto shops stock up on tires that preform well during the cold winter months. If this winter is anything like last year, we’re in store for at least five months of poor driving conditions.

Not only will you save some money by buying tires during the period when dealers have a surplus of stock, but similar to our related blogs on auto maintenance, the key to extending the life of your vehicle is to take steps to prevent problems from occurring, instead of fixing the end result. It’s always a good idea to buy your new tires a little earlier rather than later, as postponing the purchase could lead to a much bigger bill if your car can’t stop in time or keep you on the road during winter conditions.

March and April

If the best deals on tires revolve around the seasons, it should come as no surprise that March and April – the end of the winter months – are good times to purchase new tires.

Similar to when people gear up for the winter driving season in the fall, consumers use the springtime to prepare for the hot driving months June and July bring. Auto dealers once again stock up on tires during the spring, which means you’ll probably see more deals on tires as people begin to plan cross-country road trips and other getaways. If you bought a set of tires specifically for the winter, now is the time you’ll start to think about ditching them for a set that preforms better in the heat.

If you’re in the market for new tires, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (952) 933-0735. We want to keep you safe as the weather cools down, so let us help winterize your car by installing a new set of tires today!

Related source: About.com

Buying Tires in Minnesota? Look No Further than Affordable Auto

Tire TreadTires are an essential part of any vehicle. Much like shoes for a person, tires are the one thing between you and the ground, so it’s critical you buy the right type of tire for your car. After all, you wouldn’t play football in high heels or go for a run in sandals!

That said, picking out a new pair of shoes is probably an easier task than purchasing the right type of tires for your vehicle. When picking out tires, there are a few things to consider:

1. Tread Life – You’ll want to buy tires with a high tread life so you don’t need to buy new tires in a year or two. The easiest way to evaluate tread expectations is by examining a tire’s Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG). Every manufacturer is required by law to test its tires in order to establish a UTQG rating. The higher the rating, the longer the tread life and quality of the tire. Although the tests can’t account for all variables (like temperature, road conditions, or speed), the UTQG rating provides a good basis to help determine the quality of each tire.

2. Remember the Weather – The type of tire you purchase is directly related where you live. Say, for example, you live in Arizona or Texas. You’ll want a tire that can preform and hold tread at above average temperatures. In Washington and Oregon, they look for tires that preform well during wet conditions. Since Minnesota experiences all four seasons, you’ll want to make sure you purchase a versatile tire that can keep you safe throughout the year. Ask a technician for more information if you need help determining which tire is best for your local weather conditions.

3. Stick with what works – Before you head into the shop to purchase a new set of wheels, take a look at what you currently have on your car. If they held their tread well, consider buying the same tire model this time around. You can also peruse the Internet or ask a trained service expert which types of tires are common for your vehicle. Also, for more information about tire size and speed rating, check out this helpful article.

4. Buy a Complete Set – You’ve probably had your car in the shop on at least one occasion where the mechanic says your front tires are running low on tread. You may be tempted to buy two new tires to fix the problem, but this could actually make the situation worse. See, tire tread wears out differently for a variety of reasons. Usually, the tires on the front of your car wear out faster as they are tasked with shouldering the majority of the engine’s weight. Also, unless you always ride with a friend, your front-left tire generally wears out the fastest because of the additional weight of the driver. The less tread left on the tire, the more susceptible you are to experiencing a dangerous blowout. If you end up only buying two new tires, your car’s alignment could be damaged if they aren’t the same size as your old tires. Instead, buy four tires at a time and get in the habit of regularly rotating your tires so the tread wears evenly.

These tips can help you make your decision when shopping for new tires. Also, if you’re wondering if your current tires should be changed, check out our previous blog on preparing your car for a road trip. In that blog we provide a simple test for checking if you have a safe amount of tread on your tire.

If you’re in the market for new tires, or you simply want to talk with an experienced auto technician, give us a call at (952) 933-0735.

Related source: Edmunds.com

5 Tips for Choosing the Right Auto Repair Shop

CC image Affordable Auto ServiceWhen your car needs work, two things come to mind. You want someone who will get the repair done quickly, and most importantly, someone who won’t overcharge you for the work. But how do you know which auto repair shops are honest and which ones want to take you for a ride? Below we share five tips for picking out a trusted automobile repair center.

1) Look for Experience – This may sound obvious, but just because a business has been operating for 50 years doesn’t mean the same mechanic has been doing all the work. Check out local websites, and don’t be afraid to ask how long the head mechanics have been working on vehicles. The more experienced the mechanic, the more likely he’s dealt with the exact same issue in the past.

2) Avoid certain National Chains – Some nationwide garages can offer a quick fix for your vehicle, but similar to the first point, they don’t always have the most experience. Many of the national chains have a higher rate of employee turnover than local shops. This may not seem that important, but you’ll learn why this is crucial in the next point.

3) Price Varies – The goal of any successful business is to operate in the green, and that can be hard to do if the company has a high rate of employee turnover. The more people a company hires, the more time they need to spend on training. Who usually does the training? The head mechanics. If a company can’t service as many vehicles as normal because a few of their workers quit, or because the lead mechanics are taking time out of their day to train the new hires, the company will be operating at a slimmer margin. The shop then needs to look for a way to make up the difference, and sometimes they achieve this by charging a little bit more for parts or labor.

4) Read the Reviews – The majority of people now use the Internet to find a trusted auto dealer, and many leave online reviews. Most car repair websites will have page dedicated to their customer reviews, but it’s important to remember that the company is the one controlling what is said on the site. Instead, check out the company’s Google Review. Based on a 5-point scale, you can see what customers think about the service they received.

5) Dealer vs. Local Shop – There are a few differences between a dealer garage and a regular auto body shop. If you have a complex vehicle-specific problem, like you lost the smart key to your car and you need a new one programmed and cut, you might be better off going to a dealer who focuses on one car brand (i.e. if you own a Jetta, go to a Volkswagen dealer). On the other hand, these brand specific dealers are going to charge you a lot more to do the work, because in theory, you’re dealing with someone who only works on your type of car. If you’re getting routine or even heavy-duty work done on your car, a local garage will be your best bet. They can handle major fixes like alignment, electrical issues, engine repair or windshield repair without charging you an arm and a leg.