Tag: Seattle Auto Body Shop

Every hour in the US, approximately thirty-three cars catch fire. This can be a frightening and costly experience, particularly since many insurance plans do not cover fires. Fortunately, with the following tips from our auto body shop in Seattle, you can work to defend yourself against automotive fires and reign in the potential damage in the event that your engine goes up in flames.

• Keep your car in good working condition, bringing it in for regular maintenance once a year.
• Look out for the smell of burning rubber or plastic. This is a sign that you should pull over and investigate.
• Most fires are the result of a faulty fuel line or fuel pipe. If you suspect that there might be a leak in your gas or oil, lay out a newspaper under your car overnight and check it for stains in the morning.
• If you catch fire out on the road, calmly signal and move to the right shoulder or lane. Shut off the engine and get everyone out of the vehicle.
• A miniature fire extinguisher can be a good addition to your car’s emergency kit.

Do you ever feel like you could take on some of your own auto maintenance? Indeed, while there are many jobs that you will likely need to turn to our auto bodyshop in Seattle for, there are also plenty of tasks that even the least engine-savvy driver can shoulder. All you need is the right set of tools, and you should be able to tackle many of your routine (and a few of your not-so-routine) maintenance and repair jobs by yourself. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Screwdrivers: A good set of screwdrivers goes a long way. At the very least, it’s good to have a medium-sized flat head and a medium-sized Phillips head, but a complete range of sizes can be a boon for many repair jobs.
• Pliers: These tools are valuable for manipulating metal parts and cutting wires. You can find them in sets, including expandable combination pliers, wire cutters, and needle-nose pliers.
• Wrenches: When looking for a set of wrenches, you want to look at your car’s manufacturer. This will tell you whether you want a metric set or an SAE set. In addition to conventional wrenches, it also pays to have a set of allen wrenches for most modern cars.
• Ratchets: Though ratchets and wrenches do a lot of the same jobs, there are times when one works better than the other. As with wrenches, you’ll want to check to see if you need a metric or an SAE set.
• Jack and Stands: If you want to work under your car, you’ll need a jack and at least two stands. Be sure that the jack is up to the task of supporting your vehicle.

Not every mechanic is as honest as our auto bodyshop in Seattle. Indeed, mechanics have a certain reputation for padding your bill. Unscrupulous mechanics are in a minority, of course, but they’re still something you want to keep an eye out for, particularly if you are either elderly or a woman.

Though it can be hard to measure such things, evidence has indicated that mechanics are more likely to overcharge women and the elderly. To defend yourself against this, there are several measures you can take. First and foremost, it pays to send the message that you are at least somewhat auto-savvy; do a little research on automotive fundamentals, and try to diagnose your own problem before you go into the shop. If you are able to discuss your repair needs intelligently and knowledgeably, your mechanic is more likely to see you as a peer and less likely to think they could get away with dishonest behavior.

Secondly, if you have the luxury, try getting two written estimates for parts and labor. Make it clear that you have another option available; when businesses need to compete for your money, you come out on top.

The point of an engine flush is to clean out the inside of your engine, breaking up deposits of sludge that can gather over time. It’s a good thing to have done if you require it, but the unfortunate truth is that many mechanics will try to pad your bill by conducting a flush that you do not actually need. It is for this reason that, should you ever find yourself needing to rely on a mechanic you don’t trust as much as our auto bodyshop in Seattle, you should be aware of how to tell when you need an engine flush.

A modern engine does not need to be flushed as part of its regular maintenance. In fact, you probably don’t need a flush unless you’ve really been neglecting your car. You can get a sense of the state of your engine by taking a look in your oil-filter lid, but if you’ve been taking good care of your engine you probably won’t find much. Talk to a trusted mechanic if you require any further information.

There is a common belief out there that, if you use a silicone-based wax on your car, you will not be able to get it repainted. However, the painters at our auto body shop in Seattle would like to assure you that this is nothing more than a myth. We can give your car a quality paint job, regardless of the waxes you might have used on it in the past.

While it is true that silicone can interfere with a paint job, this does not affect you once your car has been painted the first time. Should particles of silicone be on the sheet metal of your car’s body when it is first painted, it would prevent the paint from staying on the surface. Once the first coat is on, though, silicone can be easily removed. This is a good thing, too, since you would be hard pressed to find a car wax that does not contain some degree of silicone.

Are you keeping a close watch in your tire pressure? Our auto body shop in Seattle advises that you maintain a proper pressure in your tires in order to maximize their lifespan and effectiveness. However, even if you’re making your regular checks and keeping your pressure up, you may be surprised to discover that you’re doing it wrong.

Many people make the mistake of always inflating their tires according to the pressure identified on the tire’s sidewall. This is not ideal. Your tire is only giving you the maximum inflation pressure. Since these same tires are probably appearing on different kinds of cars, this number is not going to represent an optimal pressure for each individual make and model. You want to follow the manufacturer-recommended pressure, which can be found in the owner’s manual or on your vehicle placard, which is usually in either your glove box or on your door post.

What do you do if your car is stolen? This isn’t something you should think about only after it has actually happened. Indeed, there are many ways that you can prepare yourself for a car theft, minimizing its impact on your life and maximizing the chance of getting your vehicle back. Take the advice from our Seattle auto body shop to thwart the car thieves of the world:

• Keep your car’s registration card on your person, and not your glove compartment.
• Write your car’s vehicle identification number under the hood of your car, inside your trunk lid, and on the battery.  If you don’t know your VIN, you can find it on the dashboard on the driver’s side.
• Avoid leaving important personal property in your car.  If you need to, leave it in the trunk or another place where it is not visible to people outside the car.  Even if the car itself is not the target of your thief, it is surprisingly easy to break a window and grab hot theft items like cell phones.
• Keep a record of the year, make, model, and color of your car.  You will want to be able to give this information to the police after your car is stolen.
• Park your car in a locked garage.  When a garage isn’t available, use security devices, like a steering-wheel lock or a gearshift column lock.

There’s no worse time than the winter to have back windshield wipers. If your wipers aren’t up to the task when it starts coming down outside, you could easily find yourself taking an unplanned trip to your Seattle auto body shop. Unfortunately, the winter is also the time when your wipers are most likely to quit on you.

In truth, if you live in an area that regularly sees snow over the cold months, you’re probably finding yourself driving on a lot of roads that have been sprinkled with coarse salt. This salt is getting onto your windshield, trapping itself under your wiper blades and grinding down the rubber. Gradually, you’re losing the ability to shove the heavy snowfall off of your glass, which can be disastrous in the wrong conditions. Be prepared for the winter months, and have a spare set of appropriate wiper blades ready to go.

Our auto body shop in Seattle probably doesn’t need to tell you about how a regular car wash can do wonders to preserve your car finish. Periodically getting rid of the dirt and grime clinging to your vehicle prevents wear and enhances your paint’s ability to resist the elements. However, there are bigger threats to your paint job that should not be ignored, chief among these being bird droppings.

Bird droppings are highly acidic. The longer they remain on your car, the more they are able to eat into your paint and compromise your finish. If they get deep enough, they can leave behind scars that will require a sanding and repainting to repair. Therefore, if you notice any birds leaving their mark on your paint job, don’t wait until your regular car washing time to clear it away.

It happens every day: an unsuspecting motorist is confronted by a dangerous criminal who ends up riding off with his or her car. In order to protect you from carjacking, our Seattle auto body shop offers the following advice:

A big part of avoiding a carjacking is being aware of your surroundings. Take a look at where you plan to park: is this a good neighborhood? Is it well-lit? Are there any suspicious people lurking around you or moving towards your vehicle? Try to avoid dangerous places when you can, and keep your doors locked and windows up at all times.

Should you find yourself in a dangerous situation, remember to prioritize your own safety. Your car is not as important as your life. If it comes down to it, give up your vehicle and leave the rest to the police and your insurance company.