Minneapolis European Auto Repair

Fuel injectors play an essential role in delivering fuel to the engine to guarantee optimum combustion. A bad fuel injector can decrease gas mileage and occasional idling, leading to poor engine performance. Regular maintenance and the knowledge to spot signs of failing fuel injectors will come in handy for most vehicle owners.  These are the symptoms of faulty fuel injectors that aren't easy to ignore: ENGINE STALLS OR ROUGH IDLE - If your car sputters and vibrates when you are idling at the stop sign or in traffic, this is a major sign that the fuel injector is impaired. An insufficient amount of fuel causes the engine to stall.  ENGINE MISFIRES - The engine may misfire due to dirty gasoline. Whenever this happens, your vehicle may struggle to start because the injectors are dirty. LOSS IN FUEL EFFICIENCY - When your gas mileage becomes irregular, there is a possibility that it is time to have your injectors checked. Clean fuel injectors should boost your mileage ba ... read more

There are several common signs that can indicate damage to your vehicle's drivetrain. They can include noisy axles, clunking sounds, problems accelerating, and a shuddering response when turning. If you've regarded any of these impediments, it is highly recommended that you get it inspected by an auto expert as soon as possible. Minnesota drivers should never put off drivetrain repairs, no matter how much you wish to procrastinate. At Eurotech Auto Service, we've seen how things can go downhill when drivers delay a drivetrain repair.   Don't Put Off Drivetrain Repairs We often don't like the sound "car repairs," so, understandably, many drivers hesitate to take their car to the auto shop when their drivetrain acts up. While sometimes procrastinating can be harmless, it almost always means terrible things for your vehicle. It's especially true for drivetrain damage, which can worsen quickly and can lead to serious harm to your car, your wallet ... read more

Whether it's a chip, a crack, or both, you have to be super careful with damage to your windshield. You might be tempted to overlook it if it's not hindering your ability to see when you drive. However, it is important to know that even the most minor cracks or chips can spread easily and quickly. As a result, it can bring out several more safety risks.   The Risks of a Cracked Windshield Windshield Damage Can Worsen With Bad Weather - Moisture can likely trickle into the chip or crack whenever it rains or snows. If that moisture remains enclosed in the area while in freezing temperatures, then the crack will worsen. The heat from the summer can also cause a crack to worsen if left ignored. Higher Potential of Car Accidents - If your cracked windshield is preventing you from seeing in any way at all while driving, then you need to get it fixed as soon as possible. You are putting yourself and others on the road at risk and increasing your chances of getting into an acc ... read more

Sometimes bad roads are unavoidable. If you drive through potholes, hit a curb, or go on a poorly maintained road, your wheel alignment may get affected. You may not notice any damage at first, but the tires may start to wear out unevenly with time. Regular tire or wheel alignment ensures that your wheels last longer and perform properly. It also prevents your vehicle from vibrating weirdly or leaning in one direction. But how do you know that your car needs a wheel alignment? Here are a few ways to help you know that your car needs tire alignment. Slight Pulling Towards One Direction If your vehicle is not severely misaligned, it might be hard to notice the sharp pulling. You can test your alignment by releasing the steering wheel for a moment when driving on a straight road, with no traffic. If the vehicle swerves in one direction, then you probably need a wheel alignment. Loose Steering Wheel If you notice that your steering wheel is loose, you should immediately have it check ... read more

Vehicles produced after 2008 have inbuilt tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) that check the tire pressure via several sensors. There is a light on the dashboard that shows when tire pressure is low. However, the light only comes on if the tire pressure is 25% below the recommended pressure for safe driving. Therefore, you should not use the TPMS as a substitute for regular tire pressure checks. What Happens When You Ignore the Light? The correct tire pressure is vital for safe driving. So, if it is 25% below the recommended level, the car will have problems with handling and steering. Here is a look at some of the other repercussions: • Low pressure lowers the fuel efficiency of your vehicle, causing you to spend more than you would with the correct tire pressure • It increases the braking distance, heightening the risk of hitting objects and other road users in case of an emergency • It lowers the stability of the vehicle and may cause you to ... read more

You have been noticing your car has not been running too well lately and you are a bit concerned. You find out that it is a head gasket leak; but when you are told this, you have no idea what a head gasket leak is. The head gasket in your vehicle can and will wear out over time and can either be caused by age and use of your vehicle or even misuse or neglect. A head gasket leak is when coolant is leaked from your vehicle, combustion gasses or a combination of both. When this happens, you will likely see blue smoke coming from the exhaust. If you notice that it generally means that there is excess oil that is entering into your combustion chambers. When you have a head gasket leak the intense heat from your vehicle's engine becomes more than normal, your engine can overheat resulting in a head gasket leak. The extra heat in the engine can result in the engine block and cylinder head expanding far too much which can cause failure in your head gasket. When you have a leak in your h ... read more

A vehicle's exhaust system encompasses more than just an exhaust pipe. The muffler also forms part of it and as its name suggests it is in place to 'muffle' the loud sound of the exhaust system as a car's engine can be quite noisy. What does the muffler do? The idea of the muffler in the system is to reduce the sound the engine makes and the exhaust pipe controls the amount of gas released, while the muffler controls the level of noise. The effect and benefit of no muffler in the exhaust system If you've ever lived in a town with very few laws apply to noise levels or experienced unobserved laws pertaining to noise pollution, you'd notice that vehicles, including motorcycles, may be roaring around sans mufflers on their exhausts. This is because some drivers believe that removing the muffler gives the vehicle more power and ultimately more speed, but this is not necessarily true, according to the law. The drawbacks ... read more

Significance of Timing Belt The internal engine of a vehicle comprises many connecting parts that function to deliver power to different systems, and the timing belt is one of them. It is a thin, notched cord made of rubber material that connects the camshaft to the crankshaft, rotating them synchronously and timing the opening and closing of engine valves. This ensures that the pistons fire properly and regularly. In the absence of the linking and timing function of a timing belt, the vehicle won't operate and might result in damage to other parts of the system. What Causes a Timing Belt to Fail? The main culprits of timing belt failure are stress, heat, and the absence of proper maintenance. Timing belts work continuously under stress and in a high heat environment. As a result, they tend to wear off with time and occasionally snap unexpectedly, resulting in expensive repair or replacement. Performing proper timing belt maintenance can prevent the need for costly engine repair ... read more

For many people, their cars are their pride and joy. As with any vehicle, there are a lot of moving parts that can wear out over time, causing expensive and potentially dangerous damage. One of these parts is a water pump. A car's water pump is usually located underneath the belt on the side of the engine and it keeps coolant flowing through the engine to maintain a safe temperature. With such a vital role, its important to repair any damage as soon as possible. Here are some common signs that your water pump is failing. Coolant Leak If you leave your car overnight and notice a green or red puddle towards the front of the vehicle in the morning, this could indicate a failed seal or gasket in your water pump. A slow leak may not leave such an obvious puddle so you should look out for a build up of gelled coolant deposit. Whining Noise A high pitched whining noise coming from the front of your motor as you drive or slow to a stop is usually caused by a loose belt. This could in ... read more

Caring for your vehicle during the winter is important when it comes to making sure that you are safe on the road in any condition. With the winter comes very severe weather, and it can make certain driving situations uncertain if your vehicle isn’t running at its best.  When you perform the proper maintenance on your vehicle during the winter, you will help ensure that your car will handle properly in certain weather and that you won’t find yourself stranded in the cold.  To keep your vehicle running at its best, we recommend the following winter car care tips:  Pack a winter emergency kit in your vehicle, including things like a spare tire changing kit, flashlight, flares, cell phone charger, non-perishable snacks, water, first aid kit, blankets, and more.    Have your vehicle inspected here at our shop to verify that your vehicle is well maintained and will be reliable even in the winter.    Check that all of your tires have prop ... read more