Coon Rapids Auto Repair

Is rust proofing need in cold county ? We say yes !!   If you live in the north salt belt or care a lot about your vehicle you probably will maintain your vehicle by doing the factory scheduled maintenance. But sometimes we are forgetting about is to protect your vehicle by washing and waxing (seal coat) your vehicle often. Keeping a clean vehicle will help maintain the paint and value of your vehicle. Follow directions on what method you decide. I recommend washing is often as needed but to put a sealer on a minimum of twice per year. Also note if you are lucky enough to park in a garage or out of the sun do so, that will help keep your vehicle nicer longer as the suns ultraviolet rays eat at your cars plastic and rubber components. Keep rodents like mice out of your vehicle by using mint spray and dryer sheets. Contact Minnesota Automotive for the best advise on your vehicle. Our we forgetting about rustproofing ?   If you live in a cold weather state where they ... read more

A bit of rain now, a bit of driving later. Minnesota weather does not disappoint in the avenue of keeping us "on our toes". While almost everyone has an idea of what they need to get done before the cold winter months, by the time we get to June, a lot of us just want to relax. We don't want to think about all that we have to do. We here at Minnesota Automotive, however, want to highlight that being prepared might make relaxing that much better. Checking that your cooling system is properly functioning and maintained may stand as one of the brighter highlights to consider in the summer months. The outside heat can increase the workload of the vehicle's engine, which in turn raises its operating temperature. Without the cooling system functioning at 100%, the engine could begin to overheat, causing a bigger list of repairs than just the cooling system. So we recommend keeping up to date on your cooling system's maintenance as well as always having an eye on the coo ... read more

We are reaching the end of winter, and though it's been fairly reasonable, there have been some very cold days this year. With that, our shop has seen its fair amount of charging system issues and questions. A couple that we get often, with all the new electric and hybrid vehicles, are: What is the difference between a lead battery and a lithium battery? Can I switch the type of battery I'm using now? Are there other types of batteries? What kind of battery does a new car have? Here, we'll take a brief look at each question: What is the difference between lead and lithium batteries? This question ends up being both simple and then slightly complicated to answer. Essentially, lithium-ion batteries charge faster, are lighter, last longer, and store more energy than typical lead-acid batteries. Lithium batteries have a higher cost overall than lead-acid batteries, but, as stated, hold more charge and have a longer life. That being said, lithium batteries have a very strenuo ... read more

Whew!! The Holiday season has come, done what it does and left. Now we are all adjusting back into our routines; looking for our own personal fluidity, in our lives. However it's not just us that want things to move smoothly, but also those ever needy vehicles we own, bringing us from place to place. Each fluid is essential to the system it's in, and even the levels sitting low can cause greater damage as time goes on. Below we have some info on two of those fluids, we might not think about all the time in the winter. GAS[FUEL] Often the fuel for the vehicle gets overlooked as only being useful to get it from "Point A" to " Point B". Truthfully that is the main function of this specific fluid; however, the level of gas in your tank does matter, more than just enough to get there. You see low fuel consistently in a vehicle could mean more strain on the fuel pump as it has to push itself harder to siphon the fuel from the tank into the pump. Additionally th ... read more

Why should we maintain our vehicle the second larges purchase we make for most of us ?   If we buy new or used we want, well most of us want our vehicles to be safe, clean and well maintained. Do you buy an extended warranty or not ? Warranty companies are for profit company’s and betting you don’t have an issue. Also they will be looking for you the vehicle owner not to maintain your vehicle so voids there warranty.   In a perfect world we do everything buy the book of maintenance and repairs to keep our vehicle ready to drive and safe. That's easier said then done as that is clear as mud on how to maintain our vehicles now days. New vehicles manufacturers are less clear about how to do this then ever before. The reason why this is going on is a war of less scheduled maintenance for lower cost of ownership. This is a selling point when the vehicle is new. Some 70% of new vehicle buyers sell or trade in the vehicle before the vehicle make ... read more