Minneapolis Auto Repair

Summer or Winter Tires vs. All Season Tires: Which tires would be the best for my car? This is a question we get quite often at DJ Foreign Auto.  It may come as a surprise to you, but we believe it is beneficial to get a pair of summer tires and winter tires.   In the following blog, we at DJ Foreign Auto will provide you with the pros and cons of summer tires, including handling, temperature ranges and how summer tires manage heat. We also cover the appropriate weather conditions for each type of tire.   What Makes a Summer Tire a Summer Tire?   Summer tires, also known as performance tires, are called that for a reason. Performance tires are invented to produce excellent dry and wet traction along with precise handling. They are intended to be used during warm summer months, or all year in regions that don’t get a true winter (unlike us lucky folk up north).   Why Summer Tires Pe ... read more

WHAT IS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET? “Blown head gasket" can be one of the scariest phrases in car culture. At DJ Foreign Auto Care, we know this is true. Even non-car people know the term and know it can be an expensive fix. Let's talk about your conventional head gasket, how to tell if you blew a head gasket, and steps you can take to prevent a blown head gasket. A CLOSER LOOK AT HEAD GASKETS A head gasket is a seal placed between the surfaces of an engine block and the cylinder head(s). It has two purposes:  A head gasket, being part of the combustion chamber, helps to contain the combustion process for you to have a functioning engine.  The head gasket provides a physical extension of the fluid passages from head to block. The fluids in your engine all serve a different pu ... read more

Pothole Damage Pothole damage is hard to avoid when potholes are popping up in the pavement faster than the early crocus flowers. Unfortunately, potholes are everywhere and avoiding all of them is impossible. Many potholes are created when constant freezing and thawing of water under the pavement weakens the road and causes large fissures. These fissures, when coupled with the pressure of vehicles driving over, eventually turn into potholes.  Freezing winter weather can often lead to potholes, due to the role freezing can play in pothole formation.   DJ Foreign Auto Care, which repairs many vehicles with pothole damage each spring, offers the following tips on avoiding potholes and fixing the pothole damage.  Properly inflated tires hold up better against potholes than tires that have too much or too little air.  If you can't avoid a pothole, try to slow down before you hit it. However, don’t brake directly over a pothole ... read more

  Transmission Failure Warning Signs:Fluid Leaks Transmission failure can be caused by leaking transmission fluid. A little liquid on your driveway can swiftly turn into an immense car predicament. Transmission fluid is vital to your car’s shifting capabilities. It is bright red and sweet smelling. Unlike motor oil, your transmission does not absorb or burn up fluid during use, so if you notice your fluid is running low, it is usually caused by a leak. Keeping an eye on your transmission fluid level is an excellent way to stay on top of this issue.  Common causes for a transmission fluid leak are: -A loose transmission pan/pan leak -Any recent service or part replacement that involves disconnecting cooler lines -Out of balance drive shaft -Worn seals or gaskets -Damaged bell housings -Worn axles (FWD), engine and transmission mounts Warning Light Activates Cars in modern times have sensors meant to pick up and trigg ... read more

How Air Suspension Systems Work: Instead of steel or leaf springs, an air suspension system typically consists of air springs, also known as plastic/airbags, sturdy rubber, and an air-line system, connected to an onboard air compressor, valves, solenoids, all under electronic controls. The built-in compressor is an electric pump, used to feed air to the air bags via multiple lines. Valves play a vital role in air path control, letting air enter different sections of the system. In electronic systems, when the system accommodates for different driving conditions, solenoids inflate and vent the airbags by opening and closing to adjust the quantity of air entering each airbag. An electronic control module regulates the on/off switches, monitors pressure and manages ride height. Air springs are flexible and have a certain amount of elasticity. The more they are compressed, the stiffer they are. The principal difference between a traditional shock or strut is that they have a dampening mec ... read more

  A "check engine" or "service engine soon" light can mean many various things, from a misfiring engine to a loose gas cap. Below are the five most common reasons a check engine light will be displayed: 1. Replace the Oxygen Sensor An oxygen sensor monitors the unburned oxygen from the exhaust. The oxygen sensor monitors combusted fuel. A faulty sensor means it is not providing the right data to your car's computer and causes a decrease in gas mileage. What causes a faulty sensor?  The sensor gets covered in oil ash over time and reduces the sensors ability to alter the oxygen and fuel mixture. A faulty sensor not only reduces gas mileage, but it also increases emissions. What you should do Not replacing a broken oxygen sensor can eventually lead to a broken catalytic converter. 2. Loose or Faulty Gas Cap A cracked or loose gas cap will cause the fuel vapors leak out, and can throw the entire fuel system off.  A loose gas cap causes a reduc ... read more

Winter car starting can be challenging on cold winter mornings. There are four reasons we believe why the cold weather makes it harder to start cars: 1. Batteries hate the cold Cold weather and car batteries do not mix, making winter car starting more difficult. Chemical batteries produce less current when it is cold — sometimes a lot less. At DJ Foreign Auto Care, we recommend changing it every three years, though you could get away with five years, depending on how much you drive and how you drive. Make sure the battery cables aren't disconnected. With your engine off, check if the cables can slip free from the nodes.  Tightening the nut is an easy job and can save you from a mid-drive battery loss that would require you to get out of your car and take off your gloves. Check for corrosion. If there is a white powder around the nodes and/or clamps, it could be a sign of corrosion. If you can't get a new battery, we recommend cleaning the nodes and clamps with baki ... read more

  The arrival of winter in Minnesota always stirs up a longing for adventure (or warmer destinations). After a few months cooped up inside and navigating icy roads, blue skies and sunny weather are reason enough to pack up your car and hit the road. However, your best planning will be ruined if you cannot rely on your car. A malfunction on your everyday commute is one thing, but could you imagine your car leaving you stranded miles outside your hometown? Car care is essential year-round, but especially before a road trip, so complete this road trip inspection before becoming a horror movie cliché. Neglecting to do a quick mechanical once-over (even on newer cars) before hitting the road is asking to be stranded. We are not talking about rebuilding the cylinder head or performing a line-bore on the crankshaft mains. We are merely stating a few reminders that may slip your mental checklist in a rush to get bags packed, and the children prepared. Fluids &n ... read more

What is an EGR valve? The EGR valve is a small component, invented to allow the flow of exhaust gases into the intake manifold in controlled amounts. It is a simple valve that closes and opens as needed. The EGR valve has one job to do. Its role is to either open and direct exhaust gases into the combustion chamber or to close and keep the gases from entering. When your car engine starts, the valve becomes active and remains in a closed position, barring the flow of exhaust gases. Once the engine reaches working temperature and speed is increased, the valve — either through a vacuum or electronic control — increasingly opens, allowing burned exhaust gases to enter and combine with the air-fuel mixture inside the combustion chamber. If you slow down or come to a stop, the valve progressively closes and blocks the flow of exhaust gas. The process continues for as long as the engine is running. When the engine is off, the EGR valve closes and remains so. The EGR valve has ... read more

  Fuel pump replacement is a necessary part of your car's maintenance.  A fuel pump transfers fuel from your tank to your engine. It supplies the fuel at a constant pressure to ensure that the engine is running smoothly. Mechanical or electronic fuel pumps are standard in your vehicle.   A mechanical pump has a diaphragm mounted on the outside of the fuel tank that expands and contracts, creating a vacuum system that expels fuel out of the gas tank and into the engine. Electronic pumps use an electromagnetic motor inside the fuel tank that forces fuel into the engine at a high pressure. Cars with carburetors contain mechanical pumps while vehicles with fuel injection systems have electric pumps.   The motion of the engine directly drives a mechanical pump. Since mechanical pumps contain few moving parts, they tend to be reliable and easy to diagnose and fix. The most common problems with mechanical pumps occur when the diaphragm is damaged in some way, whic ... read more