Category: Auto Body Blog

Small Cars versus Big Cars: The Safety Factors

Small cars are everywhere on American roads these days and that’s because more people are after fuel-efficient vehicles, with fluctuating oil prices around. Many options are sporty versions, they are easier to maneuver, more agile, and of course, compact cars are easier to park. But are they safe? What are your chances of getting out scott-free in cases of accidents, like collisions?

Well, actually driving or riding bigger vehicles do make you feel a lot safer. However, size does not really count that much. While mass is a factor for bigger cars, meaning there is more room between the collision point and the occupants, smaller cars today are built with many safeguards, no longer what they used to be decades ago. Vehicles today have crash standards.

Large vehicles are mandated to keep their impact point at a relatable height to a small car. Both large and small cars have safety features. Today, the small car will not always be the underdog, or that the favor will not always be on the side of the bigger vehicle.

One other factor is vehicle design. Automotive design today is not only to reduce injury, but also to avoid collisions. Cars have crumple zones that absorb the energy even before it reaches the occupants, causing less trauma and injury. The frame rails, hood, suspension, firewall, and windshield provide structural integrity, collapsing in a controlled manner to absorb energy and reduce the effects interiorly. So, the gap now between the safety of a large vehicle and a small one is a lot narrower.

In the same vein, the quality of materials used now is another factor. Lightweight cars are engineered to be rigid and strong. Materials are high-strength with structural integrity, with bracing allowing for crumple zones to be incorporated into the components for protection in an impact.

Safety systems are another factor. Anti-lock brakes, traction control, airbags, and seatbelts are standard, regulated and enforced decreasing significantly the incidence of severe injuries and fatalities.

Smaller cars being easier to control is another factor. They are more nimble; with their sporty suspension and better traction, less mass and quicker response to inertia, they can easily avoid collision. So we can say now that smaller cars today can give the bigger versions a good run for their money.

Welcoming All Makes of Cars in Seattle

Your auto body shop in Seattle believes that safety is primarily in the driver’s hands. But should you find yourself in a road accident nearby, be assured we can respond with our service, be your car big or small.

When people think about car maintenance, they usually think about the engine, the body, and other structures that they need to have serviced by the professionals at our auto body shop in Seattle. Unfortunately, this means that they frequently neglect the care of simple things, like the car’s interior. This is why it is a good idea to invest in a proper set of car mats.

A car mat serves to protect the floor of your vehicle from all of the dirt and mud you track in, the food and drinks you spill, and more. They are particularly important in regions that get a lot of rain or snowfall, as the water you track in can foster the growth of harmful microorganisms in your carpeting.

A good car mat takes a lot of the work out of cleaning your interior, which goes a long way towards creating a sanitary and odor-free environment.

Consider getting a set of tailored car mats for your vehicle today.

Everybody knows that a tire will gradually wear down with use. However, our Seattle auto bodyshop wants you to be aware that there are forces outside of your driving habits that are taking their toll on the rubber you’re riding on.

Indeed, even a tire that is sitting in your trunk, doing nothing, is eventually going to become unsafe. It’s aging, in much the same way that a rubber band ages. The rubber is becoming brittle and cracked, and the steel belts in your tread will gradually pull away from the rest of the tire. When this happens, it’s no longer suitable to support your car.

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to pin down exactly how long a tire can be expected to last. There are several significant variables at play, one of the biggest being heat. It’s been observed that tires age more quickly in a warm environment, or when stored in direct sunlight. Your best bet is to be mindful of the temperature of your spare tires, never buy used tures, and remain vigilant for signs of aging.

Our auto body shop in Seattle has encountered many cars that have developed stubborn, offensive odors.

Maybe the owner spilled something, maybe there was a leak, or maybe something even crawled into their engine and died. Whatever the source may be, it can often leave behind a stench that simply will not go away with conventional cleaning. Fortunately, there are measures you can take against such smells.

First of all, it’s good to be aware of what might cause your car to stink. Dry up wet patches before they encourage the growth of mildew. Clean up food before it attracts mold. Avoid eating, smoking, and transporting pets around in your car whenever you can.

Should you find yourself stuck with an objectionable odor, identify its source and remove it. Dry out mildew, or steam clean spots that might be infected with bacteria. If the smell has worked its way into the fibers severely enough, you may need to replace carpeting or underpadding. There are also some commercial products available which claim to be able to eliminate odors; consider these as appropriate.

Are you in the habit of topping off your gas tank at the pump?

This is a common practice among motorists who are hoping to squeeze as much fuel as possible into their cars. However, our Seattle auto body shop cautions you away from topping-off, as you are ultimately doing more harm than good.

The fact is that your gas station pump automatically shuts off for a good reason. After this point, any further gasoline you pump is going into the gas station’s vapor recovery system. The only think you’re doing for your vehicle is possibly damaging your evaporative emissions system.

It won’t hurt to make a habit of putting in gas when you’re quarter or third full and fill it up to 3/4 or 2/3 full.

Save your money, and trust your fuel pump when it tries to cut you off.

The cold months are upon us, and this means that there are many more potential threats to your car. Hash weather and extreme temperatures can take its toll on your vehicle, so you’ll want to take extra precautions to make sure you and your car get through winter in one piece.

To this end, our auto body shop in Seattle offers the following tips:

• A good broom can be the best way to clear snow off of your car. Try finding a short-handled broom to store in your trunk.
• If you get stuck in the snow, a hubcap can serve as a shovel to dig yourself out.
• Try to avoid putting air in your tires when the temperature drops to ten below. The valve may stick and let all of the air out.
• You can keep frost from building up on the inside of your windows by leaving a window open a crack.
• If you track road salt on your carpeting, you can clean it out with a solution made from equal parts water and vinegar.
• Is your washer solvent freezing? Mix your own with one quart of rubbing alcohol, one cup of water, and two tablespoons of liquid detergent. This solvent will serve down to thirty-five degrees below.