National Car Care Month in April is the time of year to give your car some extra attention. Basic car care is the key to a long-lasting vehicle, as well as improving its safety and dependability.

“Neglected vehicle care almost always means much higher costs down the line in the form of more extensive repairs or lost resale value,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Following a routine maintenance program makes financial sense, extending useful vehicle life and helping avoid costly repairs down the road.”

We recommend 10 basic maintenance procedures to keep your car operating at its best for the long haul:

1. Check all fluids- Including engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.

2. Check the hoses and belts- To make sure they are not cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or showing signs of excessive wear.

3. Check the battery- Replace if necessary. Make sure the connection is clean, tight and corrosion-free.

4. Check the brake system- Annually and have the brake linings, rotors and drums inspected at each oil change.

5. Inspect the exhaust system- For leaks, damage and broken supports or hangers if there is an unusual noise. Exhaust leaks can be dangerous and must be corrected without delay.

6. Schedule a tune-up- To help the engine deliver the best balance of power and fuel economy and produce the lowest level of emissions.

7. Check the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system- As proper heating and cooling performance is critical for interior comfort and for safety reasons such as defrosting.

8. Inspect the steering and suspension system- Annually including shock absorbers, struts and chassis parts such as ball joints, tie rod ends and other related components.

9. Check the tires- Including tire pressure and tread. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.

10. Check the wipers and lighting- So that you can see and be seen. Check that all interior and exterior lighting is working properly and replace worn wiper blades so you can see clearly when driving during precipitation.

11. Wash your car regularly- It’s that simple, but not as simple as taking some dish detergent and a couple of rags and hosing your car off. Household dish detergents will strip wax off the car and can potentially damage the paint. Use a cleaner specifically made for automobiles and use terry cloth towels because they pull dirt from the surface.

12. Visually inspect the paint- For particles that have adhered to the paint such as tree sap, salt residue, or unfortunate insects.

13. Wax On, Wax Off- Every spring and fall, use a wax and polish (these two terms are used interchangeably) to improve the shine and protect the surface.

14. Visit Us- If your car is involved in an accident, no matter how minor, have the damage immediately evaluated to maintain your safety and prevent even more body and paint damage.

For more information, please visit www.autobodyxperts.com

Car Care Council

What is Paintless Dent Removal?

Paintless Dent Repair is the process of removing small dents and dings without having to use any fillers or paint. By pushing the dent out from the back side. We can keep the damaged area of your vehicle totally original. Paintless Dent Removal is an art or craft that takes years of practice. What makes PDR so difficult is that metal work is being done with the paint still on the vehicle.

How Is The Dent Removed?

The process generally starts by cleaning the panel and analyzing the damage. The technician determines how to best access the dent from the backside and what tools will be needed. Every panel is a different challenge and every dent has a preferred access point. The dent is accessed by placing a tool behind a dent through a windowsill, wiring loom, headlight, removing door panels, creating a hole, etc. The tool(s) are then used to apply just enough pressure to remove the dent without affecting the painted finish. By using metal rods, a skilled technician can methodically message out the dents. This is when hand eye coordination is most needed, because the technician cannot see his tool behind the dent. By moving the metal behind the dent and using a reflective light source a technician can then find his tool to correctly remove the dent with results typically 90 to 100% true. Now the vehicle is back to its original condition.

Why Would I Use PDR? There are great advantages to using Paintless Dent Removal!

1) Cost is big factor. A dime size dent in your car door can cost up to 3-5 times as much to repair at body shop than using Paintless Dent Removal.

2) Time/convenience.) Paintless Dent Repair can be done at your home (in your driveway) or office (in the parking lot.) An average quarter size dent can take 20 minutes to an hour typically. The same dent at some body shops can leave you without your car for 2-4 days.

3) You retain the value of your car. Why? Because the dent is not being filled with putty and then re-painted (which is the traditional style.) When a dent is removed correctly your vehicle stays original.

4) Your car will not require being re-painted (the factory paint is not being removed) Typically aftermarket paint will not last as long as factory paint. No more worries about possible mismatched paint, runs, over spray etc.

5) PDR is totally environmentally friendly procedure.

Does your vehicle look a lot like this right now?

Although road salt is necessary for safe transportation when snow and ice accumulate on roads and highways, taking active steps to protect your car from road salt is necessary to avoid rust and corrosion and general loss of your investment.

Why Road Salt?

Salt was first used in snow and ice control in the 1930s to make roads safe and passable by creating a lower water freezing temperature. Salt is the most available and cost-effective de-icer and is easy to store, handle, and apply. Unfortunately, road salt also promotes rapid corrosion.

Removing Road Salt at the Car Wash

When salt is on the road, washing your car is the major factor in combating corrosion and maintaining the value of your car. Salt that remains on a vehicle surface and undercarriage for any length of time can;

• damage your car’s clear finish.
• promote rust.
• affect the mechanics of your vehicle.

Preventing Salt Damage to Your Car

• Wash your vehicle every 10 days or less.
• Wash your vehicle whenever the temperature reaches 40 degrees F. or higher.
• Wash your vehicle during the day to allow it to dry completely before freezing evening temperatures begin.
• Immediately after washing the vehicle, open and close all doors, the trunk, and other parts of the car with locks several times before parking it to prevent locks from freezing.
• Avoid driving through deep snow. Deep snow can become packed into the undercarriage and contribute to corrosion and even cause drivability problems (reduced braking action, vibrations, inhibit airflow, etc).

Snow and sleet contain corrosive road salt and rain and snow collects pollutants in the air and drops them as acid rain which can damage the protective finish of your car.

• Wash your vehicle as soon as possible after a snow or rain shower if you live in an area subject to acid rain.
• Wash the underside of your car often during the winter months in a car wash that does not use recycled water.
• Avoid driving through large puddles of standing water where road salt collects.
• Repair paint chips that are larger than the tip of a pen to avoid corrosion.
• Wax your vehicle at least every six months to give your vehicle a strong protective coating.
• Wax your vehicle before winter to protect your paint from corrosive salt.

Vehicles are one of the biggest investments we make in our lifetimes and protecting them from the ravages of the environment, such as salt and rust is important. Certain vehicle problems are inevitable, but rust from road salt is one that can be prevented.

Some of the areas of vehicles that are most affected by rust are body panels including doors, fenders, the hood, and tailgate. The reason for this is that they inherently have areas that retain moisture. Depending upon the model of vehicle, there are many other areas that can retain moisture as well. Certain cars retain more moisture just due to the way they are designed, so you have to be especially careful and vigilant with them. Some factors that you have no control over include the environment in which you live. If you live in a coastal area you are exposed to more salt air for example. If you live in an area where there is snow and ice on the road, the authorities usually use salt on the roads which can result in rust on your car’s undercarriage.

Rust prevention tips:

1. Keep your car clean and coated with a finish protectant at all times.
2. Keep the underneath of your car rinsed continually when you are in an area where a lot of salt is present as mentioned above.
3. Keep your grill, cowl, tires, and wheels clean and free from moisture holding material like leaves.
4. Make sure any drainage holes in the frame, floor, and the bottoms of the doors are clear so that any moisture can get out.
5. Always open your doors after washing your car to allow any accumulated water to drain out.

Rust Proofing Tip

Rust proofing only works on new vehicles. Rustproofing a pre-owned vehicle may trap dirt and moisture beneath the product resulting in an increased risk of rust and corrosion.
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When you are involved in an accident, you will undoubtedly need to visit an auto body repair shop. Oftentimes, the customer’s primary concern is the amount of time repairs will take, which is reasonable considering how difficult life can be without a vehicle.  To help answer the most pressing questions, here are a few factors that influence the amount of time your car will be in the shop:

Extent of Damage
The amount of damage done to your vehicle will directly influence how long repairs will take. For example, an auto body repair that only affects one panel of the vehicle will take much less time to repair than one that involves multiple. Additionally, if a vehicle sustains damage to multiple different types of body components, such as doors and wheel wells, then repair will take more time.

Damage Type
While all collisions are stressful, they cause different types of damage.  Each of these types of damage requires unique attention; for instance, suspension work takes a considerable amount longer than a simple dent removal. Also, if a vehicle has suffered damage to more than one of the driving systems, then you can expect a longer wait.

Part Availability
One of the most common reasons a vehicle repair takes longer than expected is part availability. When your car is involved in an accident, there is a good possibility you will need to replace a few key components. If a part is hard to locate or is on back-order from the manufacturer, then your repairs will take longer than initially anticipated.

From collision repair to auto paint and car detailing, we can make your vehicle look brand new all over again. No matter what service we perform, there’s one thing you can always count on: exceptional quality each and every time. Call us at 1-800-669-6692 or check out our website for additional information.

Your vehicle is being repaired at Auto Body Xperts. What can you expect? What do you need to do? Who is involved? These are all valid questions. Our step by step process gives you the details.

In fact, according to the Insurance Information Institute, over 1 .6 million deer-vehicle collisions occur each year.  These accidents result in vehicle damage, injuries and even fatalities at a cost in the neighborhood of $4.6 billion.

Deer collision accidents are on the rise, partially because the deer are being displaced from their natural habitat by urban sprawl but also because the deer population is growing.

A Few Facts…

• Prime times to find deer near the roadside are around dawn and from dusk to late evening.
• Deer collisions are most likely to occur during deer breeding season – from October through early January.
• Deer are pack animals. So if you see one, be assured that others are usually close by.

Deer Season Driving Tips

1. Know the likely deer-crossing zones – Whether or not a road is marked with a Deer Crossing Sign, be especially alert for deer when driving on roads or highways on the outskirts of town and in rural areas – especially where roads divide farm land from wooded land.
2. Know when deer are on the move – Be especially careful between 5AM and 8AM and between 5PM and midnight.
3. Always wear your seatbelt – Sixty percent of fatal animal crashes occurred when the driver was not wearing a seatbelt.
4. Use your high beams – When driving at night, especially during peak hazard times, use your high-beam headlights when there is no on-coming traffic. This won’t necessarily deter the deer from entering the roadway, but it will increase visibility so that you can more easily spot the deer sooner.
5. Brake firmly if you notice a deer near the road – Slow down and stop if necessary.  Be careful not to swerve out of your lane either into on-coming traffic or off the shoulder and into a ditch.
6. Don’t rely on devices – Items like deer whistles, deer fences and reflectors have shown some promise at deterring deer from entering the roadway but should not be relied on. If you would like a deer whistle on your vehicle, stop by your local Auto Body Xperts facility and we will arrange to have some installed.
7. Keep your distance – If you do strike a deer, don’t approach it.  An injured deer is frightened and can injure you as well as further injuring itself.  If the deer is blocking the roadway, it poses a threat to other drivers; so call the authorities immediately.
8. Contact your insurance agent & body shop – If you strike a deer and have damage to your vehicle or damage to some else’s property, notify your insurance representative as soon as possible and provide the necessary details. You should also notify a trusted body shop and schedule your vehicle in for an estimate. If your vehicle is leaking fluid from the impact, do not try to drive it home from the scene, doing so could further the extent of damage. If you should decide to contact Auto Body Xperts, just dial 1-800-669-6692 and one of our friendly employees will handle all of the work for you. They will not only call your insurance company, but will send a tow truck to your location and arrange for a rental vehicle.

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All drivers, not just new ones, should carry an auto accident report kit in the car. The kit should include accident procedures and an accident report form. When you are frantic, the last thing you want is to worry about insurance guidelines or trying to find a piece of paper. You should also always have a pen in your car.

You must file a police report

A major accident will be handled differently than a minor accident because more action, attention, and detail is required. Whereas some minor accidents are not reported to police or insurance companies, major accidents will require both police and insurance company involvement. Major car accidents are those with injury, those that cannot be moved out of traffic, or those that have caused significant property damage.

Check for injuries and call 911

After any car accident, try to remain as calm as possible. Check yourself and everyone involved for injuries. If there are serious injuries, make sure you request an ambulance when you call 911. If you are located in an unfamiliar area, look for any street sign or exit sign that can give clues as to your location. This will obviously speed assistance.

Do not move a seriously injured victim as doing so could worsen the injury. However, if the victim is in danger of further harm, such as a car fire, then move the victim to safety.

If possible, move your car off the road

Once you have confirmed that all people involved are safe, then you can worry about the cars. If possible and legal, move the cars out of traffic’s way and turn the cars off. Check your state laws, since in some states it is against the law to move cars from the accident scene.

If the car cannot be moved, turn the car off and turn on the hazard lights. Use road flares if available and necessary. Road flares will be much more visible than your hazard lights at night and in fog, rain, or snow. Do not sit in or stand near your car if there is any risk of being hit by another car.

Never admit or assign blame

Never admit fault to anyone, apologize, or accuse another driver of being at fault. An accident scene is not the place for argument, so keep calm and polite. Do not sign any papers unless given to you by the police or your insurance company.

When police arrive, they will make an accident report. Be cooperative, truthful, and state the facts. Remember, anything you say to the police can be used against you later. Do not admit fault to the police, even if you think it was your fault. The other driver may have also made a mistake that contributed to the accident. The insurance companies will work this out.

You should have an auto accident report kit in your car. Fill out the accident report form with information about the other driver(s), any witnesses, the scene, damage to the cars, and an explanation of what happened. Do this immediately while everything is fresh in your mind. Be as specific as possible. Take photos of the damage to the cars and of the accident scene. Your own records of the accident can serve as a supplement to the police report for your insurance company. If you do not have an accident report kit, stop down at the nearest Auto Body Xperts and we will help get you started.

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1. Don’t drink and drive. We all know that fourth of July cookouts, fireworks and parties are ripe with beer and liquor. If you’re drinking this holiday, call a designated driver or a cab. Remember, drinking and driving injury accidents in Michigan occur most in the summer.

2. Don’t text and drive. People who are texting and driving are 23 percent more likely to get into a car accident. If you need to talk on the phone or text, pull over. And also avoid other distractions, such as going on the Internet (yes, people even use their iPads while driving) and eating.

3. Check the basics – tires, lights, battery. Before your road trip, make sure your battery has enough juice. If it has been years since you replaced your car battery, consider changing it before you leave. Check your headlights, tail lights and turn signals. And check your tire pressure. Low tire levels can reduce fuel efficiency, and they are a safety issue. Also make sure to have jumper cables in the trunk.

4. Pack a first aid kit and roadside assistance kit. Know your roadside assistance phone number in case you break down and need help. Think about packing a cooler of water and a flash light.

5. Pack proof of auto insurance. Always have your proof of car insurance in your glove box. It’s also a good idea to keep a camera and something to write with in the car, just in case an accident occurs. Here’s a list of what to do at the auto accident scene.

6. Plan for construction zones. Visit the Michigan Department of Transportation website before your road trip, and research the construction areas in Michigan.  This can make for a safer and shorter trip. Also, be aware that the speed limit in construction zones is 45 miles an hour when workers are present.

7. Watch your speed. State and local police officers will be out in full force this week. Watch the speed limits and keep a safe traveling distance from the cars in front of you.

8. Avoid home fireworks. Even sparklers can be dangerous and unpredictable. It’s best to leave fourth of July fireworks to the experts, to avoid personal injury.

9. Two important points when renting a car. Make sure you buy the extra insurance offered by the rental car company, and always choose a rental car with Michigan plates. You want to be covered with the most comprehensive auto insurance, should you be injured in a car accident. We recommend getting in contact with your local Enterprise office for the best service.

10. Buckle up and make sure car seats are secured properly. Wearing seat belts at all times is one of the best way to protect yourself and your family in case of a serious car accident or truck accident. If you are traveling with infants or children, make sure they are secured properly in their car seats or booster seats.

If you’ve been in a car accident and need help now, feel free to call 1-800-CARSTAR and they will provide you with great service, and get you in contact with the nearest CARSTAR facility.

Stay safe, and have a blessed 4th of July weekend!

-Auto Body Xperts CARSTAR-

http://www.michiganautolaw.com

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