Make Sure That Your Repair Was Done Right

If your vehicle is seemingly repaired and ready to go, how do you really know if the repair was done right? To address this issue, we offer you these simple steps that we recommend you take to review what’s been repaired on your car and ensure everything is operating like it should be.

1.    Whenever you go in to pick up your vehicle from the repair shop, allow a minimum of thirty minutes to complete the whole process.

2.    Ask to go over the vehicle with either the person who wrote the estimate or the person that does the actual repair on the car.

3.  Be ready to ask questions and never hesitate to take all the time that you think is necessary to review the repairs.

4.    Take a printout of the initial estimate with you and compare it to the final statement.

5.    Assess the final statement and make sure that they explain it to you thoroughly. The final bill should be very detailed. They should be able to walk around the vehicle with you and tell you exactly what every expense is for.

6.    Be sure to get a warranty for all of your repairs and understand where the warranty will be good at and what the limitations will be.

7.    If it's raining when the car is repaired, ask to check out the inside of the car. Also, be sure to clear the rain off of the exterior so that you can see the paint.

8.    Ensure that all of the new parts were installed wherever possible.

9.    All of the paint should match completely (color, darker, lighter).

10.    Inspect all of the gaps around the trunk lid, doors, and hood.  Gaps should all be very similar in size.

11.    Open the all of the doors, the trunk, and the hood so that you can inspect for polish or rubbing compounds.

12.    Check the mileage, but keep in mind that most repairs will require a test drive to ensure that the repairs worked.

13.    Check the fuel level. You should have noted your fuel level at the drop-off.

14.    If alignment is what your vehicle needed, get a before and after printout. These should be in factory specification tolerances.

15.    If structural damage is what your car needed, get a before and after printout of that. As with the alignment report, this should be in factory specification tolerances.

16.    Be sure that your radio works fine.

17.    Make sure that the heater and air conditioning blower fan work, keeping in mind that debris may come out of vents from the repair work.

18.    Inspect warning lights on the dash to make sure that none are on.

19.    Check external lights on the vehicle if they were replaced.

20.     Take it to Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center because ‘Relax We’ll Take It from Here’.

Your Front End Doesn't Have To Freeze This Winter

Before you know it, we'll be experiencing all manner of winter weather; and with it comes the inevitable salty, sandy roads, foggy driving conditions and limited visibility for your car or truck.  With all of this in mind, we recommend these few simple tricks to give your automobile the same thing as a winter parka and ski goggles to protect it all winter long.

The key to protecting your car's exterior is to get all of the finishes on the outside cleaned and ready for a protective winter coat, then you need to actually apply the coat to the car.  Our top ten tips include:

1. A good bath is just what your car needs to start out, and don't forget to use the car wash soap so that you can remove that summer dirt and grime without removing wax protection.

2.    Tar and debris can easily be removed from your car with an adhesive remover. All you have to do is rub it on with a micro-fiber cloth. If you let it sit for a few minutes to loosen dirt, old wax and tar, then it will be easy to just wipe it off.

3.    Plastic headlight lenses can be taken back to like-new lucidity before you have to deal with winter fog and snow with nothing more than a brief trip to Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center to eliminate the hazing and discoloration that lessen your headlights' performance and visibility.

4.    Clean the tires and wheels to rub off any brake dust or highway grime. All you need to restore the tires to a new finish after that is a tire restorer.

5.    Use a cleaner wax to remove surface scratches.  One of these simple to use waxes eliminates scratches on the surface and restores the shine to the finish in one effortless step.

6.    Scratches and dents that can't be addressed by a cleaner wax should be repaired at Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center before rust has the opportunity to set in.

7.    A protective coat of synthetic wax is essential, as it chemically bonds with clear coat finishes and makes sure that the car’s finish looks good all winter.

8.    Get all of the glass clean on the outside and inside for improved visibility.

9.    Protect your vehicle's upholstery with a vinyl and leather restorer, which restores the natural shine and smooth feel of the factory finish.

10.    Clean the carpet of the car with a top-quality carpet cleaner and protect from winter salt and dirt with a protective spray.

Tips For Travel During Your Holiday Vacation

If you're on the long road to grandmother’s house or just going down to the local mall for some last minute shopping, it is essential for you to take these few precautions to prevent the holiday headache of a car accident.

Large amounts of traffic, drivers that are distracted with their holiday plans, and troublesome winter weather comes together to create the perfect storm for drivers during December.  Really, it’s one of the worst months for traffic accidents.

But with the proper level of preparation, some necessary preventative driving measures and an eye on the weather report, drivers can protect themselves and their vehicles the treacheries of the holiday season.

The true experts on holiday driving accidents, CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts from Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center, repair countless vehicles each and every year that have been battered in icy, snowy accidents.  We're happy to offer these helpful tips to make holiday driving safer.

Keep In Mind:
•   Check the route: Look at road conditions before the trip to know if there's going to be any delays
•   Stay In Touch: Bring a cell phone in case of emergencies
•   Turn down the Jingle Bells: Minimize distractions like loud music
•   Don’t invite thieves: Presents lying around in the back seat are more inviting than cookies and milk is for Santa.  Lock them securely in the trunk to prevent possible break-ins
•   Take a break: If you are traveling a distance and you start to feel tired, take breaks or a quick catnap at a rest stop to stay alert
•   Protect yourself: Never forget to wear a seatbelt
•   Don't Text and Drive: Texting and driving can harm you and your family, not to mention the potential harm to other drivers. Keep the phone stored away for emergencies. When it becomes necessary for you to send a text message, safely pull to the side first.

Check Your Visibility:
•   Fill your fluids: Add some de-icer to your windshield wiper fluid
•   Upgrade your wipers: Make sure that the windshield wipers on your car are free of ice before going out on the road and think about the possibility of updating with new flexible windshield wipers before the snow hits your area
•   Check your visibility: Be sure that all of your mirrors are properly adjusted and clear
•   Look at the lights: Clean any hazed headlights and check bulbs in all of your vehicle lights both in the front and rear

Slow Down and Stay Back:

•   Watch out for holiday revelers: Some drivers might down a few drinks before hitting the roadways. Stay alert and watch other drivers to make sure that you know if they begin to swerve
•   Keep it slow: If there's snow or ice on the ground, reduce your speed ten or 20 miles per hour under the speed limit
•   Leave some space: Have at least two or three car lengths between your vehicle and the one in front of you
•   Cruise with caution: Do not use your cruise control while traveling on icy roads
•   Stay alert to the surface: Use caution while on bridges, overpasses, and infrequently traveled roads as these could be slippery from ice and use extra caution when traveling on one-lane roads

Prepare for a Snow Day:
•   Weight it down: If your car or truck has rear wheel drive, put a couple bags of sand, litter or bricks in the back to help keep your vehicle under control
•   Stock up on supplies: Pack a snow day kit in the even that you get stuck in the snow.  Important items to include are a blanket, gloves, hat, water, granola bars, flashlight and extra batteries, extra cell phone battery, flares, compass, scissors, rope, wooden patches in waterproof container and first aid kit.
•   Take some tools: Have a box of tools prepared for digging your car out if necessary with collapsible shovel, 2x4 planks to put under tires, ice scraper and snow brush, reflective triangles, flares and exterior windshield cleaner

If an accident does occur for you this holiday season, we suggest that you have a collision plan in place so you don't find yourself stranded on the roadside waiting for assistance.  CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts at Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville offers high-quality, reliable repair service in your area. Just give them a call at 618=345=4519 when you have an accident and they will send the tow truck, contact your insurance company, arrange for a rental car and repair your vehicle.