Tag: Seattle Auto Body Shop

Are you aware of your car’s warning lights? When your engine is having problems, a quick response to these lights could make a big difference in money, time, and even lives saved.

According to AAA, the “big three” of your warning lights are your engine oil pressure, your engine coolant temperature, and the vehicle charging system. These should light up briefly when you first start your vehicle, and then turn off again once the engine is running. Should any of the big three fail to light up as you turn on your car, you should have the appropriate system checked by our auto body shop in Seattle. Should any of them remain illuminated after your engine is turned on for more than a few seconds, you should either check your owner’s manual or consult our mechanics for more information.

If you’re planning to sell your car privately, you probably are going to need to take a picture of it to display for potential buyers. The right picture can make a huge difference as to whether or not you unburden yourself of your old vehicle quickly, or for a good price. So, when it comes time to capture your car’s good side for the camera, consider the following tips from our auto body shop in Seattle:

• Photographers swear by something they call “the Golden Hour”. This is a phenomenon that occurs in the first hour after daybreak and the last hour before sundown where the light is perfect for taking pictures.
• Find a good place to take your picture, preferably with no other vehicles in the background.
• Feature any dents or scratches that your car may have. Your buyer is going to see them when he or she comes to look at the car anyway, so it’s best to be upfront about any flaws so that they aren’t used as negotiating leverage when you discuss price.
• Showing off the interior is also important. Take a photo of the driver’s seat, as this is probably the place that has seen the most wear.
• A picture of the odometer serves to validate your listed mileage.

With the warmer months sneaking up on us, it is time to start thinking about what the heat means for your car. Though you may look forward to not having to defrost your windows or warm up your engine, there are other ways that you can be getting the most out of your vehicle when the weather turns hot. One of the most obvious, simplest of these is parking in the shade.

When you park in the shade, you’re not just making the car more comfortable for when you return. You’re also helping your fuel efficiency. The warmer your car is, the more the gas in your tank is going to evaporate and escape. With this in mind, seek out the protection of overhanging trees or buildings whenever you can, and invest in an effective windshield shade.

For more help getting the best out of your fill-ups, bring your car in to our auto body shop in Seattle. A little routine maintenance can go a long way!

Though not many people think of pests as a problem that might apply to their cars, there is a risk of your vehicle becoming infested by insects or rodents. With all of the small places to hide in your car, removing your pest problem can be fairly difficult. In bad cases, a rodent carcass may get in your engine and destroy key components. The best way to deal with a potential pest problem is to take steps to avoid attracting pests in the first place.

The biggest part of keeping away pests is not giving them anything to eat. Firstly, this means maintaining a clean interior. When you spill food, clean it out quickly and vacuum the carpeting. You should also be looking at the area you park your car in; if your garage is offering pests a meal, they could very well be retreating to the comfort of your car to eat it.

Should the worst happen, bring your car in to our Seattle auto body shop for repairs.

Smoking in your car is never a good idea. In addition to the big distraction they represent while driving, the butts can burn your seats, and the smoke can be a big nuisance to your passengers. To make matters worse, the problem doesn’t go away too easily when you stop smoking. Getting the smell out of your vehicle can be a bit of a challenge, for which our Seattle auto body shop gives the following advice.

The first step should always be to vacuum or launder anything that you can. If that does not work, try leaving some citrus fruit peels or a bowl of vinegar in your car overnight. If the odor is embedded in your carpeting, sprinkle some baking soda on the surface and let it sit for a few hours, and then vacuum it up. By the time you remove your cleaning materials, your car should be smoke-free.

Nobody likes to have their car’s heater break down, particularly if you have to weather the harsh cold months of Seattle. So, what can you do when your car starts to go cold at a bad time? With a little bit of foresight, you should be able to get through the worst of it until such a time as you can bring your vehicle in to our auto body shop in Seattle for repairs.

One good product to look into is a portable car heater. These simple devices plug into your cigarette lighter, and can offer much of the same comfort as a conventional heater for a reasonably low price. If you don’t have access to a portable heater, consider keeping some extra layers or hand warmers in your emergency kit. Even a single candle, safely mounted in your car, can serve well to warm up the confined and insulated space of your car.

If your coolant runs dry, it can be tempting to replace it with tap water. This can be a good short-term solution, but you should get new coolant as soon as it is convenient. After all, coolant is specially designed to be better for your car than normal water. First of all, it takes more heat to boil away engine coolant. Secondly, during the winter, water is more likely to freeze and rupture your radiator. Further, unless you’re using pure water, you’re likely leaving behind deposits of minerals like calcium and magnesium that are clogging up your system.

Should you find that your coolant is leaking out of your engine, bring your car down to our Seattle auto body shop. It is only by maintaining a healthy supply of coolant in your car can you avoid the severe damage that goes along with an overheating engine.

If you notice a recurring fluid stain under where you park your car, it may be something to bring to the attention of our auto body shop in Seattle. To help you identify your specific problem, consider the appearance and smell of the fluid and refer to the following list:

• Oil: The most common form of fluid leak, and the easiest to identify. It will generally come in the form of a dark-brown-to-black fluid, though it may be lighter if the oil is cleaner.
• Coolant: A viscous fluid that is generally either green or pink.
• Transmission Fluid: May be a very deep red color with a sharp odor.
• Power Steering Fluid: A slightly yellow, syrupy fluid with a very faint scent.
• Windshield Washer Fluid: May be blue, green, or orange. Smells like window cleaner.
• Brake Fluid: Similar to power steering fluid. If you believe you have a brake fluid leak, do not try to drive your vehicle.

Are you in the habit of letting your gas tank run dry? If so, you may want to start fueling up earlier. It’s not just a good way to keep from getting stranded with an empty tank, but it’s actually better for your engine.

The fact is that the fuel in your gas tank is serving to cool off your fuel pump and keep it in good working order. Unfortunately, the less gas in your tank, the less effective it’s going to be as a coolant. Once your fuel gauge drops below a quarter of a tank, your pump is no longer submerged. This can cause the pump to get very hot, which can lead to a failure which can cost you as much as $800 to repair. So, take care to keep your tank properly filled with gas, and bring your vehicle to our auto body shop in Seattle for all your repair needs.

You’ve probably heard people talking about fuel additives from time to time. These mysterious substances are often advertised as improving the performance of your vehicle, probably by cleaning out your engine so that it runs like new once again. But are these additives all they’re cracked up to be, or is it a big batch of snake motor oil?

In truth, if you’re taking proper care of your engine, you probably aren’t going to benefit from any fuel additives. Many of the gasolines you’re pumping into your car are likely to be filled with additives already, and they’re not doing all that much for you unless your car hasn’t been properly maintained for several years. If this is the case, consider bringing your vehicle in to our Seattle auto body shop to have it tuned up.