What are Aftermarket Parts?

Posted on by Greenwood Collision Auto Body Shop Seattle

Sometimes an auto collision repair job at our Seattle body shop may call for replacing damaged parts with what are called “aftermarket parts.” These are simply parts that were not made by the original manufacturer. It is perfectly legal to use such parts, and their aftermarket nature should be no particular indicator of a low-quality or second-rate product.

Consumers should be aware that an auto body shop is required to provide them with an invoice of all parts used in the repair of their car, and that this invoice should identify all aftermarket parts used. Check your invoices to assure that your shop is complying with this, as a failure to do so may be indicative of dishonest repair work.

What Do I Do if My Car Suffers Flood Damage?

Posted on by Greenwood Collision Auto Body Shop Seattle

It’s a pretty good bet that your car was not meant to go underwater.  If you get caught in a flood, drive into a lake, or otherwise submerge your vehicle, you’ve got a big problem on your hands.  The good news, however, is that your local Seattle auto body shop can help you through such an ordeal.  So stay calm, call your insurance agent, and try following these simple tips to keep the risk of further damage to a minimum.

Firstly, DO NOT START THE CAR.  This could damage the engine further.  Assess the damage, taking note if the engine or the interior got wet.  Taking photographs can help you in an insurance situation, and possibly give your mechanic insight on what to look for.

Have the car towed if you need to, preferably somewhere that can help you dry it off.  High powered fans are the best way to do this.  You’ll want to watch out for mold in case the car can be salvaged, so take special care of the interior.

Even after your car dries out, you can’t expect it to perform like it used to.  Your electronic systems may have to be replaced altogether.  Be prepared for some lengthy repairs, and get your water-logged wreck down to Greenwood as soon as possible.

https://autos.aol.com/article/flood-damaged-car-insurance/

Dodging the Tire Switcheroo

Posted on by Greenwood Collision Auto Body Shop Seattle

How well do you know your tires?  If you woke up one day and had a different set on your car, would you notice?  If you’re like most Americans, you probably wouldn’t, and Seattle auto body shops that are less honest than Greenwood know how to take advantage of this.

Tires are expensive, and we go through a lot of them.  Each year, our country spends a total of about twenty billion replacing tires, adding up to an average of five per driver.  With this in mind, an unscrupulous auto mechanic stands to make a shady bit of extra profit off of you by replacing your wheels with older tires.  It’s easy enough to do once your car is in the shop, and nearly impossible to prove after it’s been done.

If you’re ever dealing with a mechanic whom you don’t yet trust, try discretely marking your tires to foil potential tire thefts.  Document this marking and inspect your bill carefully to see if they’ve recorded any services that you didn’t ask for.

Of course, you can always choose the easy route and take your car to Greenwood instead.  We have a reputation and an integrity as robust and stable as a good set of tires ought to be!

https://autos.aol.com/gallery/repair-shop-scams/

Fuel Injectors and Air Filter Scams

Posted on by Greenwood Collision Auto Body Shop Seattle

Not every Seattle auto body shop is as honest as Greenwood!  There are places out there that will try to milk your business for all it’s worth, even resorting to tricking you into thinking that you need to replace a part that doesn’t need replacing.

Should you ever find yourself in an unfamiliar body shop, be wary of the extra services they try to tack on to your bill.  One common scheme involves the mechanic showing you a part that he claims came out of your car and telling you that it needs to be replaced.  Popular items here are fuel injectors and air filters.  This part may be caked in filth such that even a non-expert like you should agree that it needs to go.  However, it’s entirely possible that this part is a dummy, specially prepared to trick customers.

Keep track of when you last changed your fuel injectors and air filter.  An air filter should last you about a year, or 15,000 miles.  Fuel injectors can last you for 35,000 miles at very least.  If your mechanic tries to tell you otherwise, there is a good chance you are being lied to.  Get your car out of there and bring it down to Greenwood ASAP!

https://autos.aol.com/gallery/repair-shop-scams/

Your Deceitful Little Fuel Gauge

Posted on by Greenwood Collision Auto Body Shop Seattle

Have you ever been frustrated with your fuel gauge?  Have you ever wondered how such a simple device manages to consistently misrepresent exactly how much gas is in your tank?  Before you haul your car down to your Seattle auto body shop, take the time to get to know your gauge.  It isn’t broken, it’s simply experiencing the same limitations that plague all fuel gauges.

If you could open up your gas tank and look inside, you’d find something that resembles the floater in your toilet tank.  This is the device that is operating the needle on your fuel gauge.  When your tank is full, the ball floats to the top and your dashboard needle points to “F”.  When it’s empty, the ball drops to the floor and your needle points to “E”.

The problem with this system is that the floater logically needs to be bigger than the rod it’s attached to.  It’s therefore bound to hit the ceiling of your tank before it’s full of gas, and bound to hit the floor before the gas entirely runs out.  This is why your gauge might claim that your tank is full for a good fifty miles after your last fill-up, and why it points to “empty” long before you find yourself rolling to an untimely stop.

https://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-gauge.htm