Brooklyn Park Auto Repair

Our last blog contained some great trips about getting your car ready for a Winter storm!  Today we are going to discuss  Winter travel tips to keep you and your family safe! If you are from Minnesota, you have probably noticed it's much more treacherous to drive when the temperature is at or near freezing.  Why?  On roadways, water forms when temps rise above 32 and can create new ice conditions when the temp drops below 32! Do you know what tends to freeze first?  Bridges and overpasses.  This is because they freeze from both the top and the bottom!  So be aware!  Also, low-lying areas and shadowed areas can attract ice because the temps may be cooler! If you accumulated a lot of snow on your vehicle from being parked outside during a snow-storm, be sure to remove all the extra snow so that you can be seen and see everyone else clearly!  We’ve all seen the big truck driving down the highway with a cloud of blowing snow bl ... read more

When’s the last time you said “thank you” to your car? Thanksgiving is approaching and soon, most of us will be sitting around a table to a glorious feast, talking about the many things that we’re grateful for. In most cases, we’ll talk about the essential workers, like paramedics, police officers, the fire department, nurses, doctors, delivery drivers, and of course, mechanics. We’ll talk about the family and friends to survive the COVID-19 pandemic and in some cases, we’ll sadly remember the ones who didn’t. At AutoPro, we’re grateful for our customers. We were able to help each other through what has turned out to be a very bleak year. Many shops have closed down, unable to sustain themselves through the pandemic, but thanks to our regulars and their caring, we managed to make it through. But how often did you notice in the past summer how good it was to have a working automobile? How great it felt to take off your mask the mo ... read more

Photo by Josh Hild on Unsplash Fall and winter can be particularly difficult on your vehicles, especially with the weather we get here in Minnesota! That being said, it’s important to know when to get your car ready for the coming winter months, and that time is here. Keep reading to learn how to get your vehicle prepped and primed for the coming cold weather this year by going over these five important areas!   Tires:  Regardless of whether it snows or not in your location, you should make sure your tires have proper tread, tire pressure, and aren’t damaged or unevenly worn. Use the penny test to check your tire tread depth, and inspect around your tires for cracks, or if there are chunks and gouges in the wa ... read more

While you may not know what ABS (antilock braking system) is, it’s vital to your car’s performance. Whether you drive a car, motorcycle, or truck, knowing how your ABS works and what it does for your vehicle will help you appreciate all that it does!  First introduced as an anti-skid system for aircraft in the 1950s, car manufacturers soon put it to work. By the 1970s, Ford and Chrysler had proved it could be utilized in the automotive industry, and to this day, ABS is present in all modern cars. While ABS is part of the electronic stability control system, put simply, your ABS is a safety anti-skid braking system. It was designed to help while braking and works by preventing the wheels from locking up while you brake. By doing so, your car’s ABS helps to maintain traction and contact with the road surface.    The ABS does this due to a system of sensors attached to each wheel. The sensors detect when a wheel is about to lock up and stop moving, which ... read more

What makes John Klarkowski and his team of highly skilled auto mechanics at AutoPro Auto Service unique? So many reasons! From hiring the right people to offering loaner cars, from one of the best warranties in the business to our high level of transparency, everything we do is to create the very best customer service experience for you. We aren’t interested in earning a fast dollar. It’s all about building relationships and making sure you know that YOU matter. Staff: AutoPro Auto Service hires off of character first and foremost. John works hard to motivate and guide his team. They stay with him for years because he makes an effort to create and maintain a great connection. He treats them well and with respect.  The employees come first in order to make our customers come first. John doesn’t have peace of mind unless each employee is doing well. He meets with them daily in order to check-in and makes sure they are all okay.  The goal is to have a positiv ... read more

Tis the season. It is that time of year to pack a thermos of hot cocoa and pile some of your friends and family in the car. Go for a nice cruise through the neighborhoods of Brooklyn Park to see some dazzling lights displays.   We’re on the final countdown to Christmas, and everyone is feeling the holiday spirit, especially at Minnesota’s various light shows! We are blessed with a lot of amazing ways to celebrate the season, but nothing ever beats seeing some epic holiday lights synchronized to our favorite Christmas tunes! If you’re looking for some extra cheer, crank up those holiday tunes and head to the fantastic light displays around Brooklyn Park. Most of them run through the New Year so you can fit them all in.   There is something magical in seeing those glittering festive winter wonderland displays, lights following the lines of roofs, windowsills that highlight the design of these decorated homes. It is wonderful to see the hard work and celebratio ... read more

Bizarre, remarkable, and unusual are all synonyms that describe what “strange” is. These odd cars that you have probably never seen or heard of have made the list of the strangest cars in the world. Time to buckle up and take a trip into the past and check out these one-of-a-kind cars.  Starting off with the egg like shaped 1942 Oeuf Electrique since it only had 3 wheels. It was a tricycle that got an engine that ran on batteries instead of gas. The infamous train designer, Paul Arzen, gave a shot at designing this strange car. The Oeuf Electrique was hand-formed out of aluminum and plexiglass.  General Motors tapped into their creative side and make this turbo engine with 370 horsepower and created the 1953 General Motors Firebird 1 XP-21. This beast was considered an actual jet fighter on 4-wheels with its bubble cockpit and tail fin.  The third abstract car is the 1970 Ferrari 512 S Modulo that was specially made for the Geneva Motor show in 1970. This ... read more

Since most of the people in this country truly love their cars, it’s not unusual to think about just how much that is the case this time of year. Cars represent freedom, control, power, status and that’s more than you can say about most other things in your life. Even if you drive a piece of junk, it still provides the freedom that a bus or bicycle simply cannot! So, for the car lover in your life, here are some ideas for Valentine’s Day:   Books: There are some really, really cool books on the history of cars on Amazon. Muscle cars, a visual history of the auto, classic cars, the art of the automobile, unique cars, and the list goes on. If your sweetheart has a fascination with the automobile, he or she would love one of these visually gorgeous coffee-table books. Check them out ... read more

So, you’re in the market for a new or pre-owned vehicle, huh? The siren song of a newer, shinier, and cleaner vehicle can be very tempting; especially if you’re tired of driving your current vehicle. Of course, the AutoPro Auto Service team promotes preventive maintenance on all new or used vehicles. Why? Because you can save a lot of money over the long haul if you take great care of your 4-wheeled investment. After all, doesn’t it feel good to not have a car payment? But IF you are going to buy a new car or a “new” used vehicle, here are some tips to find a new car that suits your needs and lifestyle. List Your Needs. Before you hit the auto malls, your first step should be to list out your needs. Write down what it is you are looking for in a vehicle. Do you need to carry sound equipment for your band? Do you need to carry a certain number of passengers? Will a convertible be practical as your daily driver? Do you need a truck with running boards so y ... read more

  It's always wise to keep an emergency kit in your car in case you end up in a tricky situation on the road. When the weather gets colder is when it's particularly important to have safety supplies nearby. As a responsible car owner, it's smart to prepare for the worst case scenario. Emergencies can happen to all of us. Whether you run out of fuel, slip off on an icy road, or puncture a tire, a well-stocked emergency kit can get you back on the roads quickly and safely. We suggest keeping the following supplies in your emergency kit.  Jumper cables Flashlight, plus extra batteries (or a hand-crank flashlight) A Swiss Army Knife) Bottled water First-aid kit with adhesive tape, antiseptic wipes and-aides, medical wrap gauze pads, and antiseptic cream Road flares or reflective warning triangles Some other essentials that could be helpful in case of an emergency: Small fire extinguisher. Tire gauge to keep an eye on inflation Jack and lug wrench for when ti ... read more