Albert Lea Auto Repair

Imagine you're up in the arctic on a dog sled. Your dog team is pulling straight and true. You can cover a lot of ground fast. Now imagine what would happen if one or two of the dogs wanted to go their own way and were pulling off to the side. That would slow you down. You would have to work harder to keep the sled going where you want it. The dogs are all working as hard as before, but you're covering less ground for the same effort. You're wasting kibble. The same is true of your vehicle when the wheels are out of alignment. That wheel that's pulling to the side is dragging down the rest of the car; so you push a little harder on the gas pedal to keep up your speed on ALBERT LEA roads. You're wasting gas. Have your wheel alignment checked at least once a year. We can help you with that at Sanderson Auto in ALBERT LEA. Get it checked right away if you feel the car pulling to one side. Sometimes we bump a curb or hit a pothole and knock our wh ... read more

The interval for tire rotation could depend on a recommendation from either the tire manufacturer or the vehicle manufacturer. The background question for ALBERT LEA drivers is why do tires need to be rotated? Front tires wear differently than the rear tires because steering wears the shoulders faster up front. Rotating the position of the tires allows for more even wear among all the tires. Now the suspension set-up on certain vehicles may also affect the relative wear between the front and rear. There are several rotation patterns – your friendly and knowledgeable Sanderson Auto tire professional will see that you get the correct pattern for your particular vehicle. Wheels and tires are not perfectly balanced due to slight variations in the manufacturing process and the placement of tire pressure monitoring sensors. So weights are strategically placed on the wheel to ensure that the tire spins true. When a wheel is out of balance it is essentially bouncing thousands of extra times ... read more

Car care is an important part of auto safety in Albert Lea. But the most important thing we can do to improve safety on Minnesota roads is to drive safely. Defensive driving is safe driving. And defensive driving is all about attitude. You have to decide that you will be a safe driver in Minnesota, no matter what anyone else is doing. Albert Lea drivers can start with awareness. Always maintain awareness of your surroundings, the road conditions, other vehicles on the Albert Lea road or interstate and road hazards. Have you ever suddenly realized that you have arrived somewhere, but you don’t really remember driving there? That is unsafe driving. Never assume that other Albert Lea auto owners are paying attention. You be the one on alert. You be the one to take initiative to stay out of the way of other Minnesota drivers. And don’t let familiarity dull your alertness. Remind yourself to pay as close attention while driving on the roads near your Albert Lea home as you wo ... read more

Basic Oil Change: 3,000 miles/Synthetic Oil Change: 5,000 miles or per manufacturer recommendation. Engine Air Filter: Dirty, contaminated air filters can restrict proper air flow and result in reduced engine performance, fuel economy, and damage air flow sensors. Have them replaced every 15, 000 miles! Cabin Air Filter: A restricted airflow affects the amount of air flowing through the ventilation system resulting in poor heating or cooling in the passenger compartment. In some cases the filter can start to mold, causing odors. Have it replaced every 15,000 miles! Brake Fluid Flush: Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the atmosphere, lowering the boiling point of the brake fluid, resulting in a soft brake pedal. Longer stopping distances, and can also cause internal corrosion on the master cylinder, anti-lock brake module, and calipers. This should be checked at about 30,000 miles. Fuel Injection/Induction C ... read more

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Sometimes we hear Albert Lea auto owners say, "What's up with all this maintenance stuff? Modern cars just don't break down." While it is true that today's cars and trucks are extremely reliable, they are also becoming increasingly complicated and use more exotic materials than ever before. All that complexity demands higher tolerances for everything. For example, most Albert Lea motorists don't realize how high tech automotive fluids have become. Fluids like, engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant and brake fluid. Did you know that a modern engine would not run for more than a few months using motor oil formulas from 30 years ago? Today's automotive fluids contain a much higher percentage of additives to protect your vehicle's components from premature wear and corrosion. Time and miles march on for all of our cars. Please don't think we're using scare tactics to get you to take care of your maintenance - but here are some personal stories from AutoNetTV staf ... read more

Hey Albert Lea! Let's talk about one of our MN summertime must-haves: your car A/C. It's real easy for Albert Lea auto owners to take their car's air conditioner for granted. Just push the right buttons and out comes cool, dry, clean air. But your air conditioning system needs attention from time to time to help it keep its cool. Do you hear loud noises under the hood when you turn on your air conditioner? Do you only get cool air sporadically? If so, it is time to get your air conditioner checked at Sanderson Auto in Albert Lea.  When most Albert Lea folks hear the words "air conditioning problems", it sends a shiver up their spine. That is because the air conditioning system is fairly complex. It has a lot of parts and when it's broken, it's costly to repair. What things can Albert Lea and Clarks Grove auto owners do to prevent air conditioning breakdowns? A common cause of a ... read more

Richard Petty once told AutoNetTV, “You’ve gotta have good brakes. If you’ve got good brakes you can keep yourself out of a lotta trouble.” That’s why a regular brake inspection is on every Albert Lea driver's maintenance schedule. An inspection at Sanderson Auto will check your brake system and let you know if there are any problems. Of course, if you’re having trouble with your brakes, get your car into Sanderson Auto in Albert Lea right away. Here are some important symptoms for Albert Lea car owners to watch for: If you are experiencing any of these, it’s time to get your brakes checked. To to your cheerful Sanderson Auto service specialist. There are two types of brakes: disc and drum. Disc brakes have a rotor that’s attached to the axle. Calipers straddle the rotor, kind of like the brakes on a bicycle. Drum brakes are most common on back wheels. Both types have pads or shoes that ... read more

A lot of Albert Lea drivers have asked whether or not they should use their severe service maintenance schedule, which is listed in their car owners' manual. It can be somewhat confusing, so we decided to consult an expert. Cricket Killingsworth is from QMI/Heartland, a manufacturer of automotive products and fluids. She's been in the automotive business for 24 years and is a speaker, a trainer, and a writer. Cricket says there's so much confusion on this topic because, "Most owners' manuals actually have two maintenance schedules. Sometimes these are called 'regular service' and 'severe service'. Sometimes they're simply called Schedule 1 and Schedule 2. A severe service schedule recommends that things like an oil change, air filter replacement, and transmission service be done more often: either in fewer miles or in less time." Foreign and domestic auto makers create a specific schedule for each vehicle they manufacture. So there isn't one generic sc ... read more

The coolant system is a vital part of your vehicle. It is also the second most common cause for vehicle failures. Even though coolant system failure is fairly common in Albert Lea, it is easy to prevent. Sanderson Auto 131 West College Street Albert Lea, MN 56007 507.377.3320    507.377.3320 The most recognizable part of the coolant system to Albert Lea car owners is the radiator. It is connected to the engine with hoses and is filled with coolant. The coolant draws heat off the engine and then passes into the radiator. Air passes through cooling fins to reduce the temperature of the coolant and then it's back to the engine again. There are several ways for the cooling system failure. Most common is with the coolant itself. Coolant is comprised of water and antifreeze. The proper ratio keeps the coolant from either boiling away or freezing. Understan ... read more