Autobody Repair – What You Need To Know
It’s a fact of car ownership; you will be involved in an accident or parking lot incident that will lead you to a body shop for paint repair. Being an educated consumer is the best way to assure you get the best service and your car leaves better than new!
How to find a body shop?
Most insurance companies will have a list of recommended shops in your area. If insurance is covering the bill, ask them if they have a preferred shop. Most shops use the same estimation software and quotes usually vary very little between shops but it cannot hurt to get 2 – 3 quotes to make sure you are getting the best deal.
If you are paying for the entire repair and insurance is not involved, shop around. Many shops turn down non-insurance work, because quite frankly they get paid more when dealing with an insurance company. Insurance companies have a book of rates which they pay for each type of damage and it’s usually a higher payout than if you were to pay out of pocket. The same scenario plays out with health insurance too, paying cash usually results in a lower bill for the job at hand.
The quote.
Make sure the person estimating the work has all the information at hand. They should know how the accident happened, and any other issues the car has had after the accident. If the impact was hard enough problems with the engine, suspension or transmission could pop up and the estimator should know this to get an accurate quote.
What to expect when taking your car to a body shop…
First remove all valuables from the interior of the car, and any extra stuff in the trunk. I am not too concerned about theft, but body work is dusty, and your valuables may come back to you with a coating of dust or overspray. Most minor body work can be completed in 2 – 3 days so if you don’t have alternative transportation, get a rental car. Your insurance company or the auto body shop can often help you arrange for a rental car and have it waiting for you when you drop off the car.
Picking up your car at the autobody shop.
ALWAYS inspect the work. Look at the repaired area in a well-lit area, preferably in the shop if it’s raining outside or dark. Look for overspray, dry areas where the clear coat was not applied well, and any sanding marks which may not have been gotten out before final paint. You or your insurance company is paying a lot for the repair, so make sure you are happy with it!
Also pay attention to the body shops recommendations for “after care”. Modern paints and paint booths leave a durable finish, but often times washing and waxing your car should only be done after 30 days when the paint is fully cured. Following these tips, your car should be as good as new, and when it comes time to resell, or trade-in, your investment will be protected.
Posted: 7th April 2014 | Author: Kevin Schappell | Category: Body
Winter Car Care Tips
As the temperature drops and you get the shovels ready, have you thought about your car? It needs attention too, and by being prepared you can assure a safe winter driving season.
Check Your Coolant!
The most important thing to do, since the damage can be so expensive, is to check your engine’s coolant. Engine coolant or anti-freeze is designed to keep your engine cool all year round but when the temperature drops it must also keep from freezing. Anti-freeze is usually a mixture of distilled water and propylene glycol and can protect from freezing way below 0 degrees F. Have your mechanic check the freezing point using a refractometer and top off the level prior to winter’s chill.
Is Your Battery In Tip-Top Shape?
Batteries have a typical lifespan of 3 – 5 years depending on brand, construction and environment. Cold weather puts stress on a car battery and will reduce the rated output making cold weather starts tough. If your battery is over 4 years old, I suggest getting it checked with a load meter, and consider replacement if you are in a cold weather climate for safety sake. Having the terminals cleaned, and cables checked is also a good idea going in to the winter months.
Air Up Those Tires.
As the air outside cools down, so does the air in your tires. Tires can lose 3 – 5 PSI when the temperature drops. Also check out the tread, and consider a good set of winter tires to help plow through the winter months.
Are You Prepared?
A good emergency kit is vital for winter driving. Make sure to have jumper cables, first aid kit, a warm blanket and some ice melt to help you out of slippery situations. A collapsible shovel and a tow rope are optional, but recommended if you do a lot of winter driving on rural roads.
Last But Not Least…
Have a good coat of wax on your car! A fresh coat of wax before the winter season will help protect your car’s paint from the harsh salt and chemicals used by road crews. Regular car washing and cleaning of the undercarriage will assure your car stays rust free and operating properly. Click here to schedule a convenient mobile car wash and detailing today.
Posted: 7th January 2014 | Author: Kevin Schappell | Category: General
How I shop for new tires…
I have bought many sets of tires over the years for many different cars. I also used to work at a tire store and installed my fair share of tires. The majority of the time I am shopping at the worst time, the car needs inspection, or there is a hole in the tire which can not be patched. Plus, since budgeting is not my strong suit, price is ALWAYS a consideration. Here is my process…
- Research – I head over to www.TireRack.com and enter my vehicle specs and sort through the reviews. As with anything on the internet, you will get idiots leaving mindless reviews, but I have found the quality of reviews on TireRack to be better than average. You will be able to spot the idiots by their grammar and usually terse responses.
- Price – Once you have found 2 or 3 well reviewed tires in your price range, get a shipping quote and get an all-in price from TireRack, don’t purchase just yet.
- Installation – TireRack offers a service where they ship your tires to a local shop and for a set fee, that shop will mount, balance and install. Convenient and price effective. Most shops that participate in the program are independent shops, which do more than just tires. Get the price for this service as well. You can have the tires shipped to your house and go to any local shop and get them mounted and balanced, but call around and get prices. In my area, Eastern PA, going rate is $25 per tire.
- Call your local tire stores and get pricing on the tires you researched on TireRack. Not all local tire stores will carry all brands, so you may have to call around or check their websites out for the brands they carry. Some of my local shops are matching TireRack pricing after shipping/install is considered. This has been my favorite method, as I get to support my local store and get the best pricing, a true win-win.
Posted: 19th December 2013 | Author: Kevin Schappell | Category: General
Waterless Car Wash – Is it any good?
I have had a lot of visitors asking about waterless car washes, which have become more popular as environmental concerns have grown. Water is a precious resource, and the thought goes that conserving water, and keeping contaminants out of the water supply is a good thing.
What Are Waterless Car Wash products?
Most I have tried are a chemical spray which attempts to lift the dirt from the surface of your car. You spray it on, and wipe it off, hopefully with a 100% cotton towel to avoid scratches. Basically an instant detailer spray used by many enthusiasts before a car show to touch up their finish.
Does it work?
Probably works for light dirt, but in my mind the danger is the possibility of scratches. The less liquid (water) the greater the chance for scratches from the dirt you are trying to remove. I would also be concerned about how the waterless car wash spray would affect the top layer of wax.
I say be safe and wash your car the right way…
Posted: 31st October 2013 | Author: Kevin Schappell | Category: Car Care
Broken Timing Belt?
My question…
Do the rest of the belts like the water and alternator they are still working when I crank the car…should they not be working?
or the timing belt works independent from the others?
I also check the distributor rotor and it’s not spining with the cap off…. that’s why I think it’s the tming belt…
Any help will be appreciated…
Luis
Answer:
Yes, it’s the timing belt. The accessory belts are driven from the crankshaft. The timing belt is driven from the crankshaft as well and turn the camshaft/s. The distributor is also usually driven off the camshaft. So if the distributor is not turning, the camshaft is not turning, and the belt is broken. The same holds true for timing chains as well. Usually the chain will not break, but the teeth will wear off of the gears bolted to the camshaft or the crankshaft.
Posted: 29th October 2013 | Author: Kevin Schappell | Category: Engine