Are you keeping a close watch in your tire pressure? Our auto body shop in Seattle advises that you maintain a proper pressure in your tires in order to maximize their lifespan and effectiveness. However, even if you’re making your regular checks and keeping your pressure up, you may be surprised to discover that you’re doing it wrong.
Many people make the mistake of always inflating their tires according to the pressure identified on the tire’s sidewall. This is not ideal. Your tire is only giving you the maximum inflation pressure. Since these same tires are probably appearing on different kinds of cars, this number is not going to represent an optimal pressure for each individual make and model. You want to follow the manufacturer-recommended pressure, which can be found in the owner’s manual or on your vehicle placard, which is usually in either your glove box or on your door post.
What do you do if your car is stolen? This isn’t something you should think about only after it has actually happened. Indeed, there are many ways that you can prepare yourself for a car theft, minimizing its impact on your life and maximizing the chance of getting your vehicle back. Take the advice from our Seattle auto body shop to thwart the car thieves of the world:
Keep your car’s registration card on your person, and not your glove compartment.
Write your car’s vehicle identification number under the hood of your car, inside your trunk lid, and on the battery. If you don’t know your VIN, you can find it on the dashboard on the driver’s side.
Avoid leaving important personal property in your car. If you need to, leave it in the trunk or another place where it is not visible to people outside the car. Even if the car itself is not the target of your thief, it is surprisingly easy to break a window and grab hot theft items like cell phones.
Keep a record of the year, make, model, and color of your car. You will want to be able to give this information to the police after your car is stolen.
Park your car in a locked garage. When a garage isn’t available, use security devices, like a steering-wheel lock or a gearshift column lock.
There’s no worse time than the winter to have back windshield wipers. If your wipers aren’t up to the task when it starts coming down outside, you could easily find yourself taking an unplanned trip to your Seattle auto body shop. Unfortunately, the winter is also the time when your wipers are most likely to quit on you.
In truth, if you live in an area that regularly sees snow over the cold months, you’re probably finding yourself driving on a lot of roads that have been sprinkled with coarse salt. This salt is getting onto your windshield, trapping itself under your wiper blades and grinding down the rubber. Gradually, you’re losing the ability to shove the heavy snowfall off of your glass, which can be disastrous in the wrong conditions. Be prepared for the winter months, and have a spare set of appropriate wiper blades ready to go.
Our auto body shop in Seattle probably doesn’t need to tell you about how a regular car wash can do wonders to preserve your car finish. Periodically getting rid of the dirt and grime clinging to your vehicle prevents wear and enhances your paint’s ability to resist the elements. However, there are bigger threats to your paint job that should not be ignored, chief among these being bird droppings.
Bird droppings are highly acidic. The longer they remain on your car, the more they are able to eat into your paint and compromise your finish. If they get deep enough, they can leave behind scars that will require a sanding and repainting to repair. Therefore, if you notice any birds leaving their mark on your paint job, don’t wait until your regular car washing time to clear it away.
It happens every day: an unsuspecting motorist is confronted by a dangerous criminal who ends up riding off with his or her car. In order to protect you from carjacking, our Seattle auto body shop offers the following advice:
A big part of avoiding a carjacking is being aware of your surroundings. Take a look at where you plan to park: is this a good neighborhood? Is it well-lit? Are there any suspicious people lurking around you or moving towards your vehicle? Try to avoid dangerous places when you can, and keep your doors locked and windows up at all times.
Should you find yourself in a dangerous situation, remember to prioritize your own safety. Your car is not as important as your life. If it comes down to it, give up your vehicle and leave the rest to the police and your insurance company.
