Your car will have its share of nicks and scratches no matter how careful you are, so it’s a good idea to add some touch-up experience to your skill set. With a pot of matching paint and just a little bit of time and effort, you can have that ding in your paint’s finish looking like it never happened.

If the area has any rust, that’s a different sort of fix, and covering it with paint is not advised. If the scratch or nick is fresh, sand the area lightly, clean thoroughly and put a small amount…

Exhaust leaks are a common occurrence in older cars. If your exhaust is leaking, it can be a safety hazard, and it can also diminish your fuel economy. 

Here are some tell-tale signs that you have an exhaust leak:

Loud Engine

Does your engine sound louder than normal? You could have a hole in your exhaust, or it could even mean that your turbo or exhaust header bolts are rumbling loose.

Smell Of Fumes Inside The Car

Have your car inspected immediately upon smelling fumes while driving with the windows up. 

Winter puts a strain on your car. To help prevent damage that can occur and keep your car running its best, consider using the following tips while getting your vehicle ready for when the temperature begins to plummet.

During cold weather motor oil can thicken and make it hard for your vehicles engine to turn over. To find out what the manufacturer recommends, read your owner’s manual, or stop by Alfa Romeo of Minneapolis for professional help. Our technicians are well trained on various makes and models of vehicles and know what they are doing.

Pressing down on a car's brake pedal slows the wheel and eventually stops them and the vehicle. How does this happen? Several parts work together, with the brake pads being the parts many drivers are familiar. Brake pads make themselves a bit more noticeable when suffering from problems, as the pads screech, grind, or make other noises when wearing out.

How do brake pads work, and what is their job? Brake pads create pressure and friction on the rotors. When the cylinder sends brake fluid to the calipers, the calipers put the brake pads to work.

At Alfa Romeo of Minneapolis we are often asked about vehicle gaskets. Drivers in St. Louis want to know how gaskets can become worn and fail to function properly. Understanding the nature and purpose of a vehicle gasket can be helpful. Here's what you need to know.

Gaskets are primarily used to create seals on a vehicle between two separate mechanical parts. They can be made of either durable rubber or metal, and they are typically shaped to fit a precise area. Gaskets are made to absorb heat, and most of them can last for the entire life of…

It's really important that you take the advice that your vehicle is telling you when your tire pressure monitoring light comes on. An improper level of air pressure in your tires can lead to some pretty serious damage to your tires, so it's a good idea to heed the warning that you're given.

Low air pressure is a common occurrence, especially if you haven't filled your tires in a while. Check your owner's manual to see what air pressure level you should be filling your tires to. Too much air in your tires can occur…

When the temperature starts to cool, we usually field questions about winter tires at Alfa Romeo of Minneapolis. We're often asked if all-season tires are good enough for St. Louis Park winter driving. In short, they're not. We urge you to think of winter tires as standard winter equipment.

During the segment of the year when the average temperature is above 45, all-season tires are optimal. Once the thermometer drops, the rubber on all-season tires hardens, which significantly diminishes their traction capacity. Meanwhile, winter tires can stop a vehicle in 40% less distance in cold 

As the seasons change from summer to fall and then to winter, it's time to start thinking about how to drive safely in St. Louis Park when there is snow and ice on the roads. One thing you might not have thought of is your windshield wipers. Regular wipers might not be the best choice for winter driving, and you might want to have the staff at Alfa Romeo of Minneapolis install winter wiper blades for you.

Winter wiper blades look a lot like regular wiper blades, but there are some key differences. Winter blade frames are longer and…

Brake pads are one of the fundamental components of your cars braking system. There are several designs of brake pads, each with a unique set of features from the other. Visit us Alfa Romeo of Minneapolis to learn more about the various types of brake pads; our team in St. Louis Park is quite conversant with the items and will match you with brake pads best suitable your needs.

Ceramic brake pads

Ceramic brake pads are made of a combination of clay, porcelain, and refined copper fibers. They are best known for their reduced noise levels, ensuring a safe ride…

There are a few different ways that you can tell that your vehicle is in need of an alignment performed by a service technician at Alfa Romeo of Minneapolis. If you notice any of these issues happening, give us a call to set up an appointment at your earliest convenience.

When you're driving on a flat road, you may feel like your vehicle is pulling to one side of the road without you turning the wheel. One of your tires may appear to be wearing down faster than the rest of them. It may not be the whole tire…