Elysian Auto Service

We have all sung along to that old classic the 12 Days of Christmas at one time or another, well in the automotive industry we do things a bit differently, we prefer to highlight the 12 repairs of Christmas. Due to time, and the fact that I don't have that much space we will start at 12 and work our way down...so cue up the music and get those vocal chords ready. It's the holiday season,  Elysian Auto Service repaired it for me https://youtube.com/shorts/d62ks3D6KWo?feature=share - 12  CORRODED WIRES - 11  OLD LUGNUTS - 10 BURNED-OUT LIGHTBULBS - 9  FLUID CHANGES - 8  BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS - 7  LEAKING HOSES - 6  BAD SPARK PLUGS - 5  WARNING LIGHTS  - 4  WORN OUT TIRES - 3  DIRTY FILTERS - 2  TORN WIPERS -  AND A VERY OLD DEAD BATTERY If you are traveling this time of year make sure to schedule an appointment today so you have peace of mind as you make your way to holiday gatherings with friends and family. ...

  Do you have a bad fuel pump? If you are experiencing a situation where your vehicle turns over but won't start, most people immediately think of battery, but that may not be the case. Elysian Auto Service wants to let you know you could be looking at a bad fuel pump. Extended cranking issues are the top symptom but not the only one. A sputtering engine, stalling, low power, and even gas gauge fluctuation can happen when the fuel pump is failing. In today’s fuel-injected vehicles, most pumps are actually located in the fuel tank for more efficient distribution, when the distribution of fuel is interrupted or cut off your vehicle will let you know. We always encourage our customers to pay attention to the signs and bring their vehicles to Elysian Auto Service. A trained ASE-certified technician will diagnose the problem and repair it correctly the first time. Make an appointment today by contacting us at 507-267-4435

  What happens when your CV axle goes bad?   The CV axle shaft or constant velocity axle shaft transmits torque from the differential to the wheels helping to ensure a comfortable ride. Each axle shaft has a rubber boot that is filled with grease which can tear and leak, this is quite often the first sign of an axle beginning to fail. Once that boot tears dirt and road grime can get up to the axle starting the deterioration process, also the grease can spray in all directions causing problems with major components including brakes. Some of the other symptoms you will experience include the vehicle pulling to one side, and a clicking noise when turning or accelerating. In the worst-case scenario the axle breaks and the wheel will no longer turn, at that point vehicle will not move at all. Here at Elysian Auto Service, we see dozens of CV axle issues, it is something you can't ignore. We know the importance of this component, and that is why we check them during each digita...

  Can I drive with a bad thermostat? The short answer to this question is technically yes, but the long and smart answer is no. Yes, your car will still run but not very well. Without that thermostat properly working, it decreases performance and can cause damage. Most think a car would immediately overheat without a functioning thermostat and that may be true, but the car may also never warm up to its optimal temperature. Driving with a bad thermostat is a disaster waiting to happen. The thermostat serves an important role in your vehicle, it is basically a valve between the engine and radiator. When the coolant gets hot the thermostat opens letting the coolant pass to the radiator, if it is not hot then the thermostat stays closed allowing the coolant to circulate. Some common signs of a bad thermostat include your engine overheating or a fluctuation of your temperature gauge. If either happens get your vehicle into a certified shop as soon as possible. Overheating your vehicle i...

Did you know that just for being a customer of Elysian Auto Service you have a 24 roadside benefit?  Here is how it works. If you are in need of roadside assistance no matter how big or small you simply call 877-367-6144 to be connected with 24-hour roadside assistance, they will dispatch help and you will pay for the service at that time. Now here is the great part..just send the documentation required to FMP Roadside Assistance and you will be reimbursed up to $125.00 ! Submit the above documentation to: FMP Roadside Assistance P.O. Box 33535 Denver, CO 80233 Services include towing, lock-out service, fluid delivery, tire change, and jump start. Even if you have only purchased something as small as a windshield wiper from Elysian Auto Service you are eligible. Its nice to know you will have that in your back pocket when an emergency arises. To find out more or set up an appointment for maintenance or repair call 507-267-4435 or check our our website  elysianauto.com. Elysia...

  Is Your Vehicle Ready For The Holidays? Before we know it, Christmas and the New Year will be upon us! For a lot of us, that means extra miles on our vehicles.  Making sure your vehicle is ready to take on the fierce Minnesota winter and holiday travel is very important, and might help give you some peace of mind the next time you have to hit the road. Here are a few things you can do to ensure that your vehicle is in top shape and ready for the season: 1. Check your tires, make sure they are in good condition and have a tread depth of at least 5/32". Buying a set of winter tires is another good option, they contain a specialized tread that can help with traction.  2. Check your tire pressure and make sure they are up to manufacturer recommendations. The cold causes tire pressure to drop. 3. Test your battery, the cold is very tough on batteries. Especially pay attention to your cold-cranking amps, this is what will determine if your battery starts in cold temperatures....

    What Are Winter Tires And Why Do I Need Them? Benefits of Winter Tires It is true that many all-season tires can handle light winter driving to a certain extent. In Minnesota, you might want to think twice about your all-season tires and consider switching over to a winter tire for the snowy months. Winter roads are very unpredictable, you might encounter black ice or heavy snowfall. You will want to be prepared for those situations and to have the best tires possible to help get you on your way.  Here are a few advantages you get with winter tires:  -Longevity: Buying a set of winter tires means you are able to put fewer miles on your regular season tires and they will last longer, and because you will only need winter tires for a few months you will get multiple seasons out of them as well.   -Tread Depth & Traction: Winter tires have a deeper tread depth which helps lessen snow buildup. The specialized tread design also pushes water away from the...

    Why is my brake pedal spongy? A “spongy” brake pedal can result from a few different things. You could have air in your brake line. Or you may have a leak in the brake line. If you have an air bubble in your brake line this can prevent the fluid from flowing down the brake line causing that spongy sensation. The other culprit, a leak in the brake line, can cause this spongy sensation, or your brake pedal may press all the way down to the floor. These are major symptoms and should not be ignored! In a disc brake vehicle, the process is simple to follow, every time you step on your brakes hydraulic brake fluid is sent down the brake line to an item called a caliper. The caliper then squeezes the brake pads against that shiny round silver disc called a rotor, which stops your vehicle. If you have any interruption in the process you have a major problem, and will lose braking power. If there is air in the line we perform a brake fluid service or brake bleed to get all the old ...

  When Should I Replace My Brakes? How often should brakes be replaced? When was the last time my brakes were replaced? You might find yourself wondering about the answer to these questions. There is no simple answer, it depends on where you are driving and your driving style. Someone who is frequently applying brakes (bumper-to-bumper traffic, only drives in the city) is going to need to replace their brakes more frequently than someone who mainly puts on highway miles, meaning they apply their brakes a lot less frequently. Brakes are crucial and should be checked out immediately if there are ever any concerns. Our Minnesota winters make brakes that much more important, can you imagine going into the winter without adequate brakes? There are a few telltale signs to be aware of that will help indicate it is time for new brakes.  Grinding brakes. This is a great indicator that your brake pads are worn down and need to be replaced. If your brakes start grinding, get them checked...

    What Does Brake Fluid Do? We install hundreds of sets of brakes during the year here at Elysian Auto Service, but not everyone is aware of the importance of brake fluid! Did you know that every time you step on the brakes it heats up that fluid and sends it through the system? When it cools, condensation is created and that moisture is absorbed into the fluid which will cause corrosion, especially in the calipers.  So to avoid a costly repair and to keep your brakes operating at peak efficiency we encourage everyone to have a BG brake fluid service at regular intervals to protect those components as you head down the road. Brake fluid should be a part of your regular maintenance schedule much like your coolant or transmission fluid. We like to see most fluids changed every 30,000 miles. When getting a brake job done is the perfect time to perform a brake fluid service. That way you have brand new hardware and fluid. During the month of October is Brakes For Breas...

  What is Brakes For Breasts? Starting September 19th, 2022, Elysian Auto Service in Elysian, MN will join hundreds of Independent Auto Repair Shops across the US and Canada to raise funds for breast cancer vaccine research as part of the Brakes for Breast fundraiser. As part of the fundraiser, participating auto repair facilities will give away FREE (quality) brake pads . The customer simply pays for the labor and any other parts necessary to complete the brake job, and the shops then donate 10% of the brake job directly to Dr. Vincent Tuohy & the Cleveland Clinic Breast Cancer Vaccine Research Fund. Brakes for Breasts fundraising efforts started in 2011 with 5 automotive repair shops in the Cleveland, Ohio area that raised $10,000 and has now evolved to incorporate hundreds of shops in the United States and Canada. Since then, these shops have collectively raised over $1,000,000, making Brakes for Breasts the largest third-party fundraising entity at the Cleveland Clinic. Mor...

  Do Brake Pads And Rotors Need To Be Replaced At The Same Time? Have you recently started to hear grinding when you press on the brake pedal? Or maybe your brake pedal has started to feel squishy? These are both telltale signs that it is time to have your brakes looked at. To answer the question on brake pads and rotors needing to be replaced at the same time, our answer is yes. What are brake pads? Brake pads are flat pieces of steel. On one side they are smooth and on the other side is a thick material that absorbs friction. When you press on your brake pedal, your brake pads make contact with your rotors which slows you and eventually brings you to a stop. Every time you brake, your pad loses a bit of the friction-absorbing material.  What are rotors? Rotors are a disk that oftentimes can be seen from your wheel well. Rotors are what absorb the high pressure from your brake pads. When you press the brake pedal, your pads make contact with the rotors. Rotors are subject to ...

  Elysian Auto Service: Tips For College Commuters For most college students, summer has ended and classes have started. Many students attend a school away from their hometown, meaning they might have a long commute when going home. Elysian Auto Service wants to pass on some tips so that commuters can safely get where they are going.  -Look over your car before getting in, make sure the tires all look full, check that nothing is leaking onto the ground, and make sure all your lights work. -Fill your gas tank before leaving, that way you don’t have to worry about making it to the next gas station.  -Let someone know when you leave, that way they know when you should arrive and can look out for you.  -Carpool! Many colleges have Facebook groups specifically for ride-sharing and carpooling. This will help save money on gas and also make the drive a little less lonely.  -Pack a bag of essentials. Grab an extra phone charger, a water bottle, and some extra snacks. An...

  Auto Repair Shop Near Me: Elysian Auto Service Did you know that Elysian Auto Service is a local family-owned business and has been around since 1984? Owners Carl and Susan Morsching can be found at the shop every day, taking pride in the business they created. We are located on 203 East Main St. in Elysian, Minnesota. We love our small town and supporting communities.  Our technicians are ASE-certified. And our shop is AAA-approved. No job is too big or small, we do it all. Everything from an oil change to a new motor. We also sell tires and offer alignments. We are open Monday through Friday from 8:00-5:00.  Why choose Elysian Auto Service? We pride ourselves on customer satisfaction. Working with customers and making them happy is our main priority. We do everything possible to make your trip to Elysian Auto Service as convenient and quick as possible. We also offer unique amenities such as: -Free Loaner Cars -Free Shuttle Rides -Free Pick Up and Delivery -Digital Ve...

  Elysian Auto Service: Do My Tires Need To Be Balanced? Have you had your tires balanced recently? One of the biggest signs you are in need of a balance is a vibration/shake, especially at higher speeds. It can be frightening at first, especially if you aren’t familiar with tire balancing. The good news is that it is a rather quick and easy fix.  How are tires balanced? A specialized machine is used which tells technicians exactly how much weight needs to be added and where. Each wheel is inserted individually onto the machine. All of your tires are different and will need weights added in different spots. The added weight counterbalances the heavy spots in the tire. Now you will have perfectly balanced tires. This not only gives you a smoother ride but also more even tire wear.  How often should tires be balanced?  Elysian Auto Service recommends this service be performed every 3 tire rotations or every 15,000 miles. Keeping your tires regularly rotated, balanced, ...

  What Is A Fuel Induction? Do you feel like your vehicle might be losing fuel efficiency? Maybe it is idling kind of rough? These could be signs of carbon buildup on your fuel injectors. Carbon builds up over time, and a fuel induction service will help clean up carbon deposits within your engine. Modern GDI engines can see performance and efficiency loss at as early as 3,000 miles.  There are many benefits to this service. You will see your fuel efficiency and performance restored and improved. How does a fuel induction work? At Elysian Auto Service, we perform fuel inductions using top-of-the-line BG Products. We use a machine with a cleaner in it that is able to get in hard-to-reach and see areas and knock down the carbon that has been deposited.  We recommend a fuel induction service every 15,000 miles! If you ask me, it is worth every penny. Give it a try for yourself today at Elysian Auto Service. 

Tips For Traveling With Pets Most of us own a pet that we love like a family member. Approximately 78% of Americans travel with their pets. For some pet parents, this can seem like a daunting task, and for others, it is as easy as can be. Here are some tips to help make traveling with your pet easier.  -Invest in a harness or some type of restraint. This will ensure that your pet is secured in case of an accident. The back seat is the safest place for pets. The front seat has an airbag which could cause injury.    -Portable food dishes. These are usually lightweight and packable, which means they take up less space. -Make sure they have an ID tag with up-to-date information. Have you recently moved or changed phone numbers? If your pet has a microchip make sure to update your info in there as well.  -You never know what traveling might bring, be sure to have extra cleaning supplies and towels along.  -Bring familiar or comfort items. Traveling can be very stress...

  What Are Some Common Dash Warning Lights? We have all been there, driving down the road and minding our own business when a dash warning light suddenly pops on. You might have known the meaning, and maybe even the cause right away. Or if you are like me, you might have no idea! Dash warning lights can be scary, the last thing you want is to have your vehicle brake down. Being informed about what specific warning lights mean will help ease some stress and you will be more knowledgeable about what is going on with your vehicle.  Check Engine: This light could mean dozens of different things. It could be something as simple as a loose gas cap, or as serious as a major mechanical issue. The check engine light relates to the vehicle's emissions system and the motor. It is important to note when it came on, and if you noticed anything else out of the ordinary going on with your vehicle at the time. This can help your mechanic pinpoint what is going on.  Oil Pressure: This lig...