Category: Auto Body Blog

Many of us struggle with a cluttered-up car. If you spend a lot of time on the road, you probably accumulate a lot of food wrappers, drink containers, food waste, and other pieces of garbage. This not only compromises your car’s interior, but can make for a more dangerous driving environment. So, how can you keep your car clean?

The answer is quite simple: Try putting a small trash bin in your car. A plastic cereal container with a plastic bag in it is a strong choice; place it at the feet of the passenger seat where it won’t intrude too much on anyone seated beside you. By having a small, convenient place designated for your trash, it is easy to keep your car clean in even the most hectic circumstances.

If your automotive maintenance needs go beyond simply managing your trash, consult our auto body shop in Seattle.

Many drivers think of winter as being the time for dead car batteries, but the hot summer months are actually even tougher on your power supply. This is because heat serves to accelerate chemical reactions, like those that occur within your battery. When a car’s battery is heated up, it is more prone to overcharging. Meanwhile, the internal battery fluid is more vulnerable to evaporation. This can dramatically reduce the battery’s lifespan.

You can protect your battery by keeping it clean. Regularly detach the cables from the terminals and wipe them off, then assure that it is reconnected securely. Should your battery become overcharged or otherwise damaged, visit our Seattle auto body shop.

It happens all too often: a driver, probably drunk, drives the wrong way down the road to collide with an innocent motorist. They’re difficult to avoid, they’re highly dangerous, and they claim roughly 360 lives every year in the United States. So, what can you do to protect yourself?

Unfortunately, there is rarely a lot of time to react to a wrong-way driver. However, there are still a few measures you can take to avoid them. As a majority of such accidents occur between 6 pm and 6 am, it is good to be particularly mindful at this time. If you’re driving on a multi-lane road, avoid the left lane unless you are passing another vehicle. Aside from this, there’s not much you can do aside from maintaining proper awareness and defensive driving practices.

Should you have a run-in with a wrong-way driver, bring your vehicle to our auto body shop in Seattle for repairs.

The heat of the summer months does more than just make driving uncomfortable. It also has the potential to inflict cosmetic damage to your vehicle. So, when the weather turns hot, consider taking the necessary steps to protect your car from the sun.

To begin with, try waxing your car with a polish that offers UV protection. This is a simple way to protect your finish from the sun’s harsh rays, and prevent your paint from fading. Since you can’t apply the same wax to the delicate plastic in your car’s cabin, consider making use of a sunshade; this will prevent fading and cracking.

Should you require any further help maintaining or restoring your vehicle, call Greenwood’s auto body shop in Seattle.

If you took proper care of your car during the winter, you’re probably going to need to de-winterize your vehicle as we leave the cold months behind. Consider the following tips from our auto body shop in Seattle:

• Lose the Snow Tires: These tires are heavier than is needed in the summer, and will reduce your fuel economy.
• Check Your Fluid Levels: If you stored your car during the winter, you’ll need to check on your coolant, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, differential fluid, and brake fluid.
• Clean Your Undercarriage: Particularly if you live in a snowy climate, your car may have accumulated salty residues that can quickly corrode the metals.