Albert Lea Auto Repair

Car Buying Tips So, you are in the market for a new or “new to you” car. Here are some tips to help you make the best choice for you and your family. With a little preplanning and research, you can find just the right vehicle for your needs without spending too much money. Follow these steps to get the right vehicle for the right price every time. Budget- Before you start looking for a “new” vehicle, determine what budget you will have to work with. Set a realistic number that you can afford. Remember to include tax and titling costs and possible increased insurance costs. Do you have the funds to buy it outright or do you have a down payment or trade-in? A trade-in will decrease your tax requirement, but many dealers will give you less for a trade-in than you could sell it private party for. In some situations, it is safer and easier to just trade it in for your next vehicle and sometimes it is worth the effort to sell your old vehicle yourself. If you ... read more

What do I need to know about Interval Service of my vehicle? Interval Service is what vehicle manufacturers call their maintenance schedules for their vehicles. The maintenance schedules are different for every manufacturer and can vary from model to model. The maintenance schedule for your vehicle is in the owner’s manual. I know, who looks at an owner’s manual anyway? Well, if you would like to get the maximum life from your vehicle investment, it would be a good idea. Here are a few key points to know before digging out your seldom/never used owner’s manual. The first thing to determine is how is your vehicle used. Is it considered “normal use” or “severe use”? You might be tempted to say, “I drive my car nice” or “I only drive to the store or work”. I must be a “normal use” driver, right? Most vehicles operated in the United States would be considered “severe use”. Read on to find out why ... read more

Should I warm my vehicle up in cold weather? Warming up a vehicle before driving it in cold weather has been a topic of debate for a long time. There are both advantages and disadvantages to this. The determining factors have also changed a bit with modern vehicle designs. Let’s explore this topic and see what the correct answer is for your situation. The first question we should ask is, what is considered cold weather? For the sake of this discussion, we will call cold weather anything below 32°F or freezing. Very cold will be any temperature in the single digits or below. Properly maintained vehicles with multi-port or direct fuel injection systems start much better in cold and very cold conditions. As the temperature decreases, the fuel does not mix with the air as efficiently. Fuel injectors are better at getting fuel to atomize (mix) with the air than carbureted systems. Carbureted vehicles require a much longer warm-up period in cold weather due to this fact ... read more

So, you purchased your first vehicle or are new to maintaining a vehicle. What do you need to know about keeping your vehicle reliable and on the road? What are the vital steps to take to make sure you can count on your vehicle when you need it most? Waiting until you are broke down on the side of the road is by far the most expensive way to maintain your vehicle. Here are some great ways to prevent that situation! 1. Get to know your vehicle. Each vehicle has its own quirks and peculiarities. Almost like a personality. Get to know the personality of your vehicle. Learn how to operate the systems that your vehicle is equipped with. It may have many creature comforts, but do you know how to use them? Your owner’s manual will have more details about each system related to your specific vehicle. Headlights. Know how to manually turn them on and off if the automatic function quits. Door Locks. It may seem silly but with most vehicles using power ... read more