Most Osseo drivers know that braking means slowing or stopping a vehicle. The mechanical aspects of the brakes themselves are just one issue. There’s also the power brake system and brake fluid. And then there are the tires, which are critical to the effectiveness of the brakes.

Let’s step back. A car or truck rolls brand new off the showroom floor at a local Osseo dealer. It has brand new brakes with brand new brake pads. The brake lines and the power assist are filled with fresh fluid and are completely clean inside. And the cars tires are brand new, with full tread. Naturally, braking power is at its peak performance.
 
Now, as your drive from Osseo to Maple Grove and back, the miles start to add up. Most Osseo car owners tend to focus on the brake pads. In the Osseo automotive service community, the pads, and shoes on drum brakes, are called the friction material. That’s because they provide the friction used to stop the cars. The pads are designed to be effective throughout their useful life – it’s not until they are worn so thin as to be out of spec that they lose stopping effectiveness.

The mechanical parts of the brakes have pistons and springs that get quite a workout while stopping the cars. Over many miles, these wear and get gummed up. They start to lose effectiveness gradually and could even fail. That’s why a regular brake inspection is important. At Sipe Bros. Inc., we can test the operation of the brakes and see if any parts need cleaning or replacing.

That leads us to brake fluid service at Sipe Bros. Inc.. Some of the critical additives in the fluid that lubricate and clean the cars fluid system are depleted over time. That and moisture building up in the system deteriorate the performance of the brake fluid. Brake fluid replacement at Sipe Bros. Inc. includes flushing the brake system to clean out deposits, water and dirt. Then the system is filled up with fresh fluid.

The tires are what connect the cars to the road. The stopping force is ultimately dependent on the traction provided by the tires. The better they grip the road, the quicker you’ll stop as you drive around Osseo.

For questions about brakes, brake pads, cabin air filter, strut replacement, or tires, talk to Sipe Bros. Inc.  manager Pete Sipe.

Give us a call

Sipe Bros. Inc.
763.425.2524
408 3rd St. S.E.
Osseo, MN 55369

At Sipe Bros. Inc. in Osseo MN (55369) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 763.425.2524. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Air quality affects us wherever we are in Osseo. Many decades ago, Osseo residents began to become aware of how air pollution negatively affects health. But what about the air inside your vehicle?

Cabin air filters are now coming on most new carss since the 2000 model year. These filters clean the air in the passenger compartment. They can filter particles down to three microns, so that’s good enough to clean out dust, pollen and most pollutants. If you suffer from allergies in Osseo, this is very good news.

You can look in your cars owner’s manual to see if you have a cabin air filter. If you do, there’ll be a recommendation for replacing it when it gets dirty. If you live where there’s a lot of dust, pollen or pollution, you may need to change it more often. You can also ask your knowledgeable service advisor at Sipe Bros. Inc. in Osseo.

How hard it is to change a cabin air filter depends on your vehicle. Some are quite accessible; others take some doing to get to them. They’re usually in the cars engine compartment or under the dashboard.

Because cabin air filters are so new on the scene, some Osseo motorists haven’t heard of them – even people who have cabin air filters. Sipe Bros. Inc. service advisors report customers complaining of an unpleasant odor in their vehicle and it turned out to be a dirty cabin air filter.

An important note for Osseo hybrid owners: there is a special air filter that cleans the air that cools the hybrid battery pack. This filter should be inspected every time the cabin air filter is inspected and replaced if it is dirty so that the battery pack doesn’t overheat.

Give us a call

Sipe Bros. Inc.
763.425.2524
408 3rd St. S.E.
Osseo, MN 55369

At Sipe Bros. Inc. in Osseo MN (55369) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 763.425.2524. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

A lot of Brooklyn Park drivers get custom wheels. When you do this yourself (over the internet . . .) you could run into trouble if you’re not careful. Sometimes, once they’re mounted, they just didn’t fit right. The tires rub in turns or on bumps. You don’t want that.

Consulting a tire professional at Sipe Bros. Inc. can ensure you get the right fit. First he’ll ask you a series of questions about your driving needs in Brooklyn Park and what you want in your new wheels.

At Sipe Bros. Inc., we advise Brooklyn Park tire buyers that not every wheel can go on every car. Care must be taken so that tires and wheels are not too large or that the wheel is centered too far towards the outside or the inside so the tires rub.

If you don’t want to make any modifications to your cars, you need to focus on the wheels that fit. With trucks, some Brooklyn Park people like much bigger tires so they need a suspension lift.

Also, most Brooklyn Park people don’t realize that you need to keep the rolling diameter of your new tires – that’s, like the overall height of the tire – very close to what came from the factory in order for your anti-lock brakes and stability control systems to work properly.

The cars’s computers that control these systems are calibrated to a certain size tire. When you go bigger or smaller, the computer doesn’t know what changes you made so it can’t tell how fast you’re going. This, of course, means it sends commands to the brakes and traction control that are based on the wrong speed. If you go with a different rolling diameter, your cars’s engine control computer can be reprogrammed for the new tire size. For information on reprogramming the engine computer, call us at 763.425.2524.

Either way, there are hundreds of wheel and tire choices to choose from in Brooklyn Park. You can pick the style of wheel you want and then talk with your Sipe Bros. Inc. tire professional about how big the wheel should be – and select the right tire to meet your style, performance, ride and handling needs.

At Sipe Bros. Inc. in Osseo MN (55369) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 763.425.2524. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

The Check Engine Light strikes fear into the hearts of some Osseo drivers and is totally ignored by just as many. Just what it means is a mystery to most of us in MN.

First, if your cars check engine light is flashing, that means that something is wrong that could cause severe damage to the catalytic converter or other components. Get that taken care of right away. If your check engine light is flashing, you shouldn’t drive at Osseo highway speeds, tow or haul heavy loads. Take it easy all the way to Sipe Bros. Inc. in Osseo.

If the light is glowing steadily, you should keep an eye on it for a day or two. If the light doesn’t go off, schedule an appointment with your Osseo service advisor to get it checked out.

Some more information from Sipe Bros. Inc. on how the Check Engine Light works may be informative. Most of your cars engine functions are controlled by a computer, not surprisingly, called an engine control computer. The computer is able to adjust many engine parameters for environmental conditions, engine condition and even the way you drive in Osseo.

In order to make these adjustments, the cars computer relies on a network of sensors to provide data. The computer knows the proper operating range for each sensor. When a sensor reading is out of range the computer runs some tests and may turn on the Check Engine Light.

The cars computer will also try to make adjustments to compensate for some readings. If it can do so, it’ll then turn off the Check Engine Light.

If the problem can’t be resolved then the light will remain on and you should get your cars looked at at Sipe Bros. Inc.. Your knowledgeable service technician will plug a scanner into the on-board diagnostic port and read the trouble code stored in the computer. The trouble code will give your Sipe Bros. Inc. technician a starting place as he diagnoses the cause of the problem.

At Sipe Bros. Inc., we also offer cabin air filter and strut replacement.

Give us a call

Sipe Bros. Inc.
763.425.2524
408 3rd St. S.E.
Osseo, MN 55369

At Sipe Bros. Inc. in Osseo MN (55369) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 763.425.2524. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

With front-wheel drive being so common in Osseo these days, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most Osseo folks don’t even have to think about it. And most rear-wheel drive cars differentials don’t need to be serviced for many miles, so it’s understandable that it’s not something on the top of mind. So it’s not uncommon for MN people to not know they have a differential let alone know that it needs service.

To better understand what a differential does, think about a high school track. There are lanes marked off on the track. For the longer distance races, the starting lines are staggered. The starting lines for the outside lanes are ahead of the starting lines for the inside lanes. That’s to compensate for the longer length of the outside lanes. Staggering the starting lines means that each runner has the same distance to run.

The differential compensates for the difference in speeds on drive wheels between the inside wheel and the outside wheel in a turn, because they have to travel together through slightly different distances.

Many cars differentials do a lot of work and require very heavy duty parts. And those parts need protection. The differential fluid lubricates the gears in the differential and keeps them cool. The fluid eventually gets dirty and worn down. Some kinds of differentials require special additives that break down over time. So manufacturers and Sipe Bros. Inc. technicians recommend intervals for replacing your differential fluid.

Your Sipe Bros. Inc. service technician will drain the used fluid and check it out for metal bits, which could be a sign of excessive wear on the gears. He’ll then replace the fluid and install the additives if necessary.

Osseo four wheel drive carss need special attention to their differentials because they have a differential on both the front and rear axles that work at different times and sometimes under heavy loads – so they may need to be serviced at Sipe Bros. Inc. at different intervals.

Your Osseo service advisor can look up the manufacturer’s recommended service interval or you can check your cars owner’s manual.

Give us a call

Sipe Bros. Inc.
763.425.2524
408 3rd St. S.E.
Osseo, MN 55369

At Sipe Bros. Inc. in Osseo MN (55369) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 763.425.2524. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

First, the serpentine belt drives your air conditioning system. Next, the belt powers the alternator.

The serpentine belt may also run the pumps for both the power steering and power brakes. In some carss, power steering may have an electric drive and power brakes can be vacuum driven.

And, on many vehicles, the serpentine belt powers the water pump (on some cars, the water pump is powered by the timing belt).

Your Sipe Bros. Inc. service technician can perform a visual inspection of the belt to see if it has any cracks that signal the belt could fail soon and will measure the amount of belt material to make sure there is enough.

Osseo drivers should be aware that there’s a special, spring loaded pulley attached to the engine called the tensioner pulley and sometimes an extra pulley call the idler pulley. Their job is to make sure there’s a constant tension on the serpentine belt so that it doesn’t slip. The spring can become worn and no longer provide the necessary pressure to keep the belt tight. That’s why it’s often recommended that the tensioner, and the idler pulley if so equipped, be replaced at the same time as the serpentine belt.

All in all, the serpentine belt’s an important part for the function of your cars. And it’s not that expensive to replace at Sipe Bros. Inc. – so it’s good to do so before it fails.

At Sipe Bros. Inc. in Osseo MN (55369) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 763.425.2524. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

In addition to just wearing out, Sipe Bros. Inc. customers need to know that suspension components can be damaged in an accident or by a hard impact – like a pothole, hitting a curb or a rock in the road.

Because the life span of shocks can vary so widely, your cars manufacturer and Sipe Bros. Inc. recommend periodic inspections. During an inspection, your Brooklyn Park service technician will check for worn, broken or missing parts.

Signs that shocks or struts are wearing out: The tires may have a cupped wear pattern. This is from the shocks bouncing unevenly as you drive around Brooklyn Park. You may notice a floaty or drifting sensation when cornering. If the front of your cars dives excessively when stopping, or rocks back and forth after you stopped, your shocks may be worn out. And if they are leaking fluid, it’s definitely time to replace them.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, come into Sipe Bros. Inc. for a suspension inspection. Same if you’ve been in an accident that involved one of your wheels. Worn or broken shocks can cause premature wear or failure on other cars suspension parts such as ball joints and other steering components as well. If your suspension actually fails, it could lead to a serious accident, so let us take care of your suspension components at Sipe Bros. Inc..

When you replace your shocks, it’s usually a good idea to replace all four at the same time. That’ll give you more even handling. Talk with your service advisor at Sipe Bros. Inc. because you don’t want a big difference between the performance of your shocks from wheel to wheel, and replacing all may be the safest bet.

At Sipe Bros. Inc. in Osseo MN (55369) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 763.425.2524. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Let’s focus on stopping in wet Osseo conditions. In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way. If it can’t move the water, the tire will actually ride on top of a thin film of water.

That’s called hydroplaning. At Sipe Bros. Inc. we want our customers to know that if it’s really bad, you can actually spin out of control. At best, you won’t stop as fast.

So how does a tire move water? It has channels for water to flow through. Look at a tire and you’ll see channels: channels that run around the tire and channels that flow across the tire. They’re designed to direct water away from the tire so it can contact the road better.

And the deeper the channel, the more water it can move. A brand new tire has very deep channels and can easily move a lot of water. As the tire wears down, the channels become shallower and can move less water. When it wears down enough, it can seriously affect your ability to stop on wet Osseo roads.

So that’s why it’s so important for Osseo drivers to replace the tires on their carss when they get worn. Consumer Reports and other advocate groups call for a standard of 3/32 of an inch and they have the studies to prove it.

By comparison, you’ve probably seen the wear indicator that’s molded into tires. When tires are worn 3/32 of an inch, the tread wear bar is visible. So the recommended standard has twice the tread depth as a completely worn out tire.

And that little bit of additional tread makes a big difference. Stopping distances are cut dramatically on wet roads. A safe stop from MN freeway speeds with 4/32 of an inch of tread would result in a crash with worn out tires.

There’s an easy way to tell when a tire’s worn to 4/32 of an inch. Just insert a quarter into the tread. Put it in upside down. If the tread doesn’t cover George Washington’s hairline, it’s time to replace your tires. With a Canadian quarter, the tread should cover the numbers in the year stamp.

You’ve probably heard of this technique using a penny and Abe Lincoln’s head. That measure gives you 2/32 of an inch – half the suggested amount.

Of course, tires are a big ticket item for Osseo car owners. Most of us want to get as many miles out of them as we can. But there’s a real safety trade-off. It’s your choice.

At Sipe Bros. Inc. in Osseo MN (55369) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 763.425.2524. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Now when you hear “severe service”, you may think it doesn’t apply to you because you don’t feel your driving conditions are severe or extreme – it’s just normal everyday driving around Maple Grove. At Sipe Bros. Inc., we discuss the conditions that manufacturers classify as severe so that you can make the judgment on your own driving.

• Most trips are less than four miles
• Most trips are less than ten miles and outside temperatures are below freezing in Maple Grove
• You drive in very hot MN weather
• Driving at low speed most of the time (under 55 mph)
• Stop and go driving
• Operating your vehicle in dusty, polluted or muddy conditions
• You tow a trailer, regularly carry heavy loads or carry a car-top carrier on your cars

Most Maple Grove drivers operate under severe driving conditions at least some of the time. How do you know which schedule to follow for your cars?

Carefully think about your driving conditions and decide if you should do your preventive maintenance closer to the severe service recommendation or the regular recommendation. Of course, your Sipe Bros. Inc. advisor can help you with your decision.

At Sipe Bros. Inc. in Osseo MN (55369) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 763.425.2524. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

The crankcase is the bottom area of the engine that holds the oil. When the cars engine’s running, fuel is burned to generate power. Most of the exhaust from combustion goes out through the exhaust system. But some exhaust blows by the pistons and goes into the lower engine, or crankcase.

These hot gases are about seventy percent unburned fuel. This can dilute and contaminate the oil, leading to damaging engine oil sludge. It can also cause engine corrosion in your cars. At high speeds, the pressure can build up to the point that gaskets and seals start to leak.

Champlin car owners need to know that over time, the vented gases will gum up the PCV valve and it won’t work well. That can lead to all of the problems I’ve already described, oil leaks, excessive oil consumption and wasted gas.

Fortunately, it’s very easy to test the PCV valve and quick and inexpensive to replace it at Sipe Bros. Inc.. Even so, it’s often overlooked because many Champlin drivers don’t know about it.

Check your cars owner’s manual or ask your Sipe Bros. Inc. advisor. If this is the first time you’ve heard of a PCV valve, you might be in line for a PCV valve replacement.

Please ask us about your PCV valve. For the price of a couple of burger combo meals, you can avoid some very expensive deep engine repairs.

At Sipe Bros. Inc. in Osseo MN (55369) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 763.425.2524. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.