RAINY DAY BENEFITS FOR YOUR FAMILY CAR AND YOUR OWN SAFETY

Everybody likes to avoid wasting money when they can, especially when it comes to vehicle upkeep. Driving on a rainy day can be a costly and dangerous proposition unless you and your vehicle are properly prepared.

Many drivers overlook the impact rainy weather can have until its too late, but smart driving tips from the experts at Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville, Illinois, part of the nations largest chain of collision repair shops, can keep you out of trouble. Knowing how to drive defensively in the rain is a good investment in you and your car or truck.

Here are a few suggestions from Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville, Illinois, also serving Edwardsville, Troy, Collinsville, Glen Carbon and Highland Illinois, that make both sense and cents.

• Check all of the vehicles light bulbs to make sure they are functional.
• Before it starts to rain, remove and replace old or damaged wiper blades.
• Stay toward the middle lanes – water is apt to pool in outside lanes.
• Maintain proper following distance (3 second rule). This needs to be higher in wet weather.
• Drive in the tracks of a car ahead of you.
• Don not follow large trucks too closely, because the spray created by their large tires can reduce vision.
• Be more alert watching for brake lights in front of you.
• Try To Avoid using your brakes; if possible, take your foot off the accelerator to slow down.
• Turn your headlights on anytime you feel a need to use your wipers, in a light rain and in gloomy, foggy, or overcast conditions to help you see the road and help other drivers see you.
• Do not use cruise control on rain soaked roadways – you will have better control in wet weather without it.
• Never drive through moving water if you can not see the ground through it; your car could be swept off the road.
• Watch out for places where floodwater gathers, particularly low-lying roads adjacent to streams, and dips under rail or highway bridges.
• Avoid going through deep water, because it can cause serious damage to a modern vehicles electrical system.
• If possible, stay off the road during heavy thunderstorms. Large flashes of lightning can temporarily blind and disorient drivers, and the accompanying high winds and heavy rain can create deadly driving conditions.

When you need to stop or slow, do not brake hard or lock the wheels and risk a skid. Maintain mild pressure on the brake pedal.

Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville, Illinois also knows a most unwelcome situation – hydroplaning – may develop when conditions are wet. Vehicle speed, tire tread depth and water depth all factor into hydroplaning.

As speed increases, wet traction is greatly reduced. Retaining adequate treading on tires and replacing them when necessary can help prevent hydroplaning. The deeper the water, the sooner you will lose traction, although even thin water layers can cause a loss of traction, including at low speeds.

If you find yourself hydroplaning or skidding, Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville, Illinois offers the following advice:

• Do not brake or turn suddenly.
  
• Ease your foot off the gas until the vehicle slows and you can feel traction on the road again.
  
• Turn your steering wheel in the direction of the skid. As you regain control, carefully straighten the wheels.
  
• If you need to brake, do it gently with light pumping action. If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, then brake normally because the car or truck’s computer will imitate a pumping action.
  

HIGH WATERS LEAVE HIGH AUTO REPAIR BILLS IN THEIR WAKE

Water is welcome in many forms, but when Mother Nature will not turn her faucet off the damage toll can be seen in many different circumstances – including damage to your automobile.

Among the most frequently damaged items in some flooding scenarios are cars and trucks. Even a little bit of water goes a long way in causing serious problems both inside and out. Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville, Illinois can help you determine what shape your car or truck is in and ensure you do not get sunk by buying a water-damaged vehicle.

Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville, Illinois, part of the nations largest family of auto body experts, knows the warning signs of an excessive soaking. Here are some key points to consider.

• Examine upholstery and carpeting closely; if it doesn't match the interior or fits loosely, it may have been replaced. Discolored, faded or stained materials could reveal water damage.
• Smell for musty odors – this could indicate mildew.
• Check the trunk, glove compartment, the dashboard and under the seats for evidence of water damage such as silt, mud or rust.
• Turn the ignition key and make sure that accessory and warning lights and gauges come on and work properly. Make sure the airbag and ABS lights come on.
• Test lights (interior and exterior), windshield wipers, turn signals, cigarette lighter, radio, heater and air conditioner several times to make sure they work.
• Flex some of the wires beneath the dashboard. Wet wires will become brittle upon drying and may crack.
• Look for corrosion in the wheel wells, under the hood and under the rear of the car.
• Go to a trustworthy mechanic for an inspection. Always get your automobiles checked BEFORE handing over any money.
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And just because a driver may not live near any major bodies of water, auto industry experts caution that the risk of buying a water-damaged automobile is not confined to storm and flood-ravaged locations. Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville, Illinois, also serving Edwardsville, Troy, Collinsville, Glen Carbon and Highland Illinois, can help you find automotive peace of mind.

Destroyed cars are often fixed cosmetically and transferred to neighboring states or other areas of the country where many are sold to unsuspecting customers. These floodwaters can cause damage to a car's computer and electrical systems, as well as possibly causing anti-lock braking and airbag systems to not work properly.

Hazed and Yellow Headlights are a Major Hazard for Drivers:

Hazed and Yellow Headlights are a Major Hazard for Drivers:

Headlight Restoration Service from CARSTAR Gives Vehicles an Easy Facelift and Improve Visibility and Safety on the Road

Today, many drivers in the Maplewood Missouri area are on the road with a safety problem they may never see – hazed or cloudy plastic headlights that reduce visibility and make it very hard to see obstacles and other vehicles are one of many issues faced by owners. These yellowed, dingy and hazed headlights also give the vehicle an aged, unsightly appearance and in some cases decrease its value.

While plastic headlights help reduce vehicle weight and withstand the impact of an accident in some accidents, oxidation and sunlight can dull the surface, leaving it dingy, hazy and turning it yellow in some cases. This means the light from the headlights is diffused and not focused correctly on the roadway, which limits visibility in dark, rainy or foggy conditions. Not only can the driver of the vehicle not see the roadway, the vehicle also is less visible to other cars.

Cavalier CARSTAR Auto Body in Maplewood , MO has partnered with 3M and offer a reliable and very affordable solution that delivers excellent results and improved vehicle visibility and safety.

For more tips on dealing with an accident or having your car repaired after a collision, visit www.auto-body-maryville-il.com. CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts offers high-quality, reliable repair service in 30 states and 10 Canadian provinces. Visit www.stlcarstar.com when you need a vehicle repair and they will send the tow truck, contact your insurance company, arrange for a rental car and repair your car.