Coon Rapids Auto Repair

Vehicle maintenance is not optional if you want to be safe and keep others safe on the road. As our new vehicles get safer with new technology, we still need to do the basics to protect our loved ones, which is our second-largest investment for most people. Simple things that should be looked at are: daily checks, weekly checks, monthly checks, and yearly checks on vehicles.    Daily vehicle check: Do a walk around and look at the tires. Are they low on air pressure? Make sure all exterior lights are working. Most new vehicles will tell you if you have an issue with that on your instrument cluster, but not all the time, so it’s a good idea to check manually. Weekly checks Look for leaking fluids; look under your vehicle for loose or hanging trim pieces. If your vehicle is older, it is a good idea to open the hood to check your fluid levels. Check your oil, anti-freeze windshield washer fluid, and other fluids. Monthly checks If you're not doing a weekly che ... read more

Tires for Winter – make sure you have the best shoes for your vehicle. Want to know what works in winter for your vehicles's tires – read on.....   Choosing the right winter tires is crucial for ensuring safety and optimal performance in cold and snowy conditions. Here are some key factors to consider when selecting winter tires for your car: Winter Tire Types:Studded Tires: These tires have metal studs embedded in the tread for improved traction on icy roads. However, they may be restricted or prohibited in some areas due to road damage concerns. ( not legal in Minnesota )  Stud-less Tires: These tires use special rubber compounds and tread designs to provide traction on snow and ice without the need for studs. They are a popular and effective choice in many winter conditions. Tire Size: Use the correct tire size recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer. Check your veh ... read more

Next used vehicle purchase, what should it be ?   Aaron Strand, Owner of Minnesota Automotive, has 30 years in the auto repair business gives his do’s and don't s … There are so many choices out there, how do we know which vehicle to pick ? Number 1 for most customers is budget and cost of ownership. There is a lot of misinformation when it comes to cost of ownership. In general the Auto Industry want’s you to believe there vehicle has lower cost of ownership by pushing the recommend maintenance to be longer and longer, pushing 10,000 mile oil changes and lifetime transmissions. Well that might work for customer at first when they’re the first owner and trade the vehicle in before it’s at 100k miles. This is bad for the second owner of the vehicle may have many major repair bill’s as the vehicle has not been maintenance-ted well or enough. With the complex engines in the new vehicles oil changes and general maintenance is more ... read more

Ev’s The band wagon Lets face facts the EV’s are coming and are already here. The band wagon say’s lets buy an all Electric vehicle to save the environment. I say let’s take a closer look? Pro’s: To buying the all electric vehicle. No gas, charging cost is about 1/3 of the cost of gasoline, if you charge from home. No tail pipe emissions and way less maintenance. This is a really a good idea if your in the smog capital of Los Angles, CA. Where the smog is bad; because the mountains hold the environmental air in. There is definitely a need to reduce exhaust from all industry's, In that part of California, that is were the feel good environment stuff ends. Con’s: Where do we start ? There is so much, lets start with the cost, of the vehicle. Full electric vehicles are out of the price range of most new vehicle buyer’s, about 1/3 higher then the price of a gas engine vehic ... read more

Who makes the best battery for your money?  At Minnesota Automotive we replace hundreds of vehicle batteries per year. Why is imported to have a good battery in your vehicle? New vehicles now day’s have between 50 to 100 computers modules in the vehicle with the need for a higher reserve capacity. We see many customers having erroneous codes and battery codes when the battery is at the end of it’s life or just not big enough for the vehicle. Now many new vehicles also have to be programmed for the new battery, or the new battery just installed will most likely shorten the life of the new battery with old charging strategy put into the battery from the engine computer. It’s better left to the experts like at Minnesota Automotive to make sure the right battery is installed and the engine computer is programmed for the new battery. According to Consumer Reports April 2023 report. The NAPA Legend battery blue label group 24 is the bes ... read more