Known in the area as being the premier certified auto mechanic in Blaine, MN, Clark Automotive can put our experience to work for you for all of your automotive service needs. There’s a lot to consider when it comes to vehicle maintenance and we’re here to make it easy for you. We get a lot of questions about vehicle maintenance and preventative care that you can do to keep things running smoothly. To help you navigate the world of automobile service and maintenance, we’d like to discuss a couple of maintenance tasks to keep your vehicle running smoothly.
Common Auto Maintenance Tasks to Keep in Mind
Car Batteries
Batteries will fail over time, though they often have a shortened lifespan due to extreme exposure to cold, infrequent engine startup and using improperly grounded accessories in your vehicle. In the event that your car will not start due to a battery issue and you’ve had to jumpstart it, normal driving should recharge the battery. However, it won’t determine whether there has been any damage due to the above mentioned parasitic battery drains, so having a reputable auto repair shop run a diagnostic isn’t a bad idea after your battery has failed.
You can prolong the life of your battery in a number of ways. First, by making sure your car does not sit unused for long periods of time. Installing a block heater in the winter also minimizes the effect of cold exposure. Finally, ensuring that all accessories are turned off when the car is shut down means they won’t place a huge draw on the battery every time you start it.
Wiper Blades
Windshield wiper blades put up a good fight and take a lot of abuse during our long Minnesota winters and our hot summers. If you notice streaking, squeaking, skipping or any signs of physical damage to your wiper blades, it’s time to replace them. Always replace blades in pairs to ensure your windshield will be reliably clear and you can drive safely. Once one blade fails, the other is not long behind, so it is just as well to change them both at once and stay ahead of the problem.
Using your ice scraper and defrosting feature to thoroughly clear ice from the windshield before running the wipers will help ensure your wiper blades last. Additionally, pulling the blades away from the windshield when the car is not in use can help prevent damage to the blades from freezing to the glass. In the summer, try to minimize the amount of direct sunlight your wipers get, as this breaks down the rubber faster.
Blaine Minnesota’s Clark Automotive Is Here For You
Taking care of small auto maintenance tasks as discussed above can help make vehicle ownership less stressful. For the big jobs, we’re always here to help. We provide knowledgeable car repair and even warranty services for the vast majority of extended automobile warranties. Give us a call today at 763-784-7944 and we’d be happy to answer any of your questions!
