Car Washes & Your Vehicle’s Paint

April 28, 2017 by

Is there a legit but secret method of washing your car that will not cause damage to its paintwork?

PopularMechanics says…at the veryleast… avoid the gas station quick car washes with the big brushes.   If you care at all about your vehicle’s exterior finish…they can do more harm than good.  But a gold old DIY car wash at home will achieve the best results.

Most people that a wash and wax is the best way to keep their car shiny and clean. Their heart is in the right place, but there is much more to washing a car than those two things.  Mike Pennington and Rick McDonough of Meguiars explain these steps as a proper way to wash your car and maintain a clean exterior.

  1. Evaluate the Condition of Your Vehicle
  2. Read the Label
  3. Washing Your Car
  4. Prepare the Surface
  5. Polishing for Extra Gloss
  6. Wax to Protect
  7. Maintain a Shine and Protection
  8. Wash the Windows
  9. Wash the Wheels

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Here’s another viewpoint from the car enthusiasts TV show, FifthGear:

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Filed Under: Tips

Witness a Vehicle Accident? How to Respond

February 29, 2016 by

Witnessing a vehicle accident first-hand calls for a high level of composure (i.e. calm, cool, and collected response) under traumatic circumstances.  How you should respond largely depends on how severe the crash is…and the extent of the injuries, but here are some general guidelines to keep in mind.  Following these tips will position you to be better prepared to help your fellow drivers while waiting for professional emergency responders to arrive at the scene.

  1. Ensure your safety first – If you are driving when you spot a car crash, pull over to the side of the road at least 100 feet from the scene and put on your hazard lights. You want to give enough distance so you don’t put yourself in danger of broken glass, leaked fuel, or flames.
  2. Call 911 – Never assume that someone else already called 911. Even if the wreck doesn’t appear severe, the authorities should be notified.  Let the 911 operator know you witnessed a car accident, the location, number of people involved, and any other pertinent details.
  3. Check on the victims – Once you’ve ensured that it’s safe to approach the scene, check on the condition of the crash victims to make sure they are okay and offer help, if you are able. While this can be an emotionally taxing time, try to stick to the facts and remember that this is not the time to assess who is at fault for the accident or make judgments on what the other driver must have been thinking. A good rule of thumb is to never admit fault at the scene. Unless there’s a risk of the vehicle catching fire, do not under any circumstances move an injured person. Despite your best intentions, you could accidentally make the injury worse. Let the trained medical professionals tend to the injuries, but you can provide comfort by reassuring victims that help is on the way.
  4. Stabilize the vehicles (if you can) – If the accident is minor, ask the driver to put the impacted vehicle in “park” and turn off the ignition. This will eliminate the risk of fire, especially since chances are good that the crash has caused an oil, fuel or coolant leak.  If it’s safe to do so, enlist help to move the car out of further harm’s way and to leave space for other vehicles and emergency responders.  If that’s not possible, set up flares or traffic triangles to warn other drivers of the accident.

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Filed Under: Tips

Chrome Care & Restoration – Ultimate Guide

December 31, 2015 by

Here is a portion of one DIYer’s experience with restoring the chrome on a 1966 Chevy Chevelle Malibu…using two product lines by Eastwood Company and Mothers Polishes.  We have our own professional product preferences here at Johnny’s Custom Auto Body…but our purpose here is not to rebut or debate…just to provide some insight from one genuine enthusiast.

classic muscle car restoration - 1966 Chevelle

In light of where collector car values have gone in recent years with a mint survivor fetching as much money as a prime restored example there’s a lot to be said for that old adage, “they’re only original once.” And only original once can also apply to chrome that has been replated and then improperly cared for or mistreated, meaning it will never look as good as it once did.

What all of this means, whether a car is a survivor or a nicely done restoration, is that care has to be taken not to scratch the surface. The best way to restore the brilliance of any brightwork — whether it’s chrome-plated, polished aluminum, stainless steel, or anodized — is to start with the mildest method first. For example, washing automotive brightwork with a mild pH-balanced car wash will begin the detailing process, but it’s likely more aggressive steps will have to be taken until the job is completed satisfactorily.

After the brightwork has been brought to its most brilliant state, the next stage is to preserve the brilliance with a wax or polish protectant. The good news is just like after going to the dentist and having an intensive cleaning done all it takes to keep the brightwork brilliant is to follow with scheduled upkeep.

  1. The mildest approach and best way to start preparing chrome and anodized aluminum trim for polishing is by soaking off years of dirt and grime with a good pH-balanced car wash like Mothers California Gold Carnauba Wash & Wax. Harsh detergents can further haze anodized aluminum trim.
  2. The best trick in the world to polish and clean chrome, stainless steel, or anodized aluminum is with super-fine 0000 (four ott) steel wool. Or better yet, fine grade bronze wool because it resists rust.
  3. A heavy concentration of Mother California Gold Carnauba Wash & Wax soap makes heavy bodied suds that cling. The super-fine steel wool makes a good wash mitt, but throw it away directly after using.
  4. Nothing blasts off the soapsuds and further flushes out dirt and grime like a good old-fashioned high-pressure garden hose. We followed up with blowing compressed air to ensure no water pockets were left to create rust.
  5. It doesn’t hurt to experiment with different products to see what works best. We used Mothers California Gold Chrome Polish and Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish along with fine-grade bronze wool to handle the heavy rust.

Read More – HodRod

Filed Under: Tips

Fixing a Wreck with Another Wreck? That Sounds Bad

October 29, 2015 by

Funny how asinine notions that we would never tolerate in an airplane trip environment…get considered acceptable by “too big to fail” companies that affect our family’s safety in our everyday driving vehicle.

Ford says:

You wouldn’t trust salvage parts in the airplane carrying you 30,000 feet up. Why trust them in your Ford?

Not all collision replacement parts are created equal. They can be recycled from wrecked cars, salvaged from a junkyard, or worse. It’s hard to know what will end up in your car—unless you ask. Ford collision replacement parts are engineered and tested to work as a system with your specific vehicle. If you need collision repairs, always insist on new OEM Ford parts at your certified Ford Dealership or independent installer.

Learn the right questions to ask, your collision repair rights and more at TakeAGoodLook. [UPDATE: The hilarious “That Sounds Bad” video by Ford has been ‘privatized’ on Youtube, so we had to replace it below.]

 

OEM vs Salvage & Aftermarket Auto Parts – Collision Safety Consultants:

The use of aftermarket parts could affect air bag deployment. It’s important to use manufacturer-recommended repair procedures and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts.

“There’s a lot of engineering that goes into making a crash-protection system,” says David Zuby, chief research officer for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “You can’t willy-nilly change those parts because the system may not work the way it was designed.”

SOURCE: ConsumerReports – Are low-cost replacement bumpers safe?

Please note, this video was re-uploaded and edited due to a copyright claim made by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in which they had YouTube take our video down because it used some of their educational crash test footage.

We were disappointed that the IIHS, an organization dedicated to highway safety, had taken this action, and surprised, until we discovered that “State Farm helped found the organization in the 1950s and still is an active member of the IIHS Board of Directors.” Then, we were less suprised.

SOURCE: https://www.statefarm.com/about-us/community/safety-awareness/auto

Read More – Collision Safety Consultants

See Also: http://www.insure.com/car-insurance/oem-parts-rights.html

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Halloween Driving – 3 Reasons to Beware

October 31, 2014 by

Halloween is a tradition that revolves around turning scary things into fun. For children it’s about costumes and candy…for adults, it’s about parties and frolicking.  But one aspect of Halloween to beware of is the scary spike in three kinds of unfortunate activities found on the streets and highways each October 31st:

  1. Pedestrian Deaths – third-deadliest day overall for pedestrians (NHTSA)…30 pedestrians are killed each year on Halloween
  2. Vehicle Thefts – National Crime Information Center states Halloween as the busiest holiday for car thieves…over 2300 vehicles in 2011
  3. Vehicle Vandalism – twice as likely to be vandalized on October 31 (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

Keeping trick-or-treating kids safe so they can enjoy the night is priority #1 on Halloween. Children are four times more likely to be struck by a motor vehicle on Halloween (CDC). Parents and motorists can use these tips for keeping kids safe this October 31.

Trick or Treaters:

  • Buddy Up! – Until trick-or-treaters reach 12 years old, parents should escort thier kids (AAA recommends). Groups of kids are easier for drivers to see than lone children.
  • Crosswalks Only! – Coach kids to never cross the road mid-block or between parked cars. Studies show nearly three-quarters of pedestrian deaths occur at places other than the crosswalk.
  • Costume Check –  Make sure masks don’t obstruct your child’s vision, adjust the length of costumes to avoid tripping and add reflective materials or tape to make kids visible. Don’t wear costumes that are all dark.

Motorists:

  • Avoid shortcuts – Especially through residential neighborhoods and streets where lots of trick-or-treaters will likely be present.
  • Be EXTRA Careful – Be vigilant for kids on darker streets, medians and curbs. Excited trick-or-treaters may not pay necessary attention to traffic and cross the road in unexpected places.
  • Right-side exit – Driving your kids around on Halloween instead of walking? Be sure they exit and enter the car on the passenger side of the vehicle.

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halloween car

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How to Maximize Your Car Insurance Claim

June 30, 2014 by

Your car insurance company’s primary job is to cover the cost of vehicle repairs… when it becomes damaged from a covered incident. More and more frequently, this entails your insurance company paying the repairer…directly.  What many covered drivers don’t fully realize is that they have the right to choose any auto body shop (with rare exception) and often…whether you choose to have any repairs done at all.  In many states, including California, it’s actually illegal for your insurance company to tell you that you must use a particular repairer that they have a relationship with.  It’s called “steering”…the act of directing you to or away from a specific repair shop…or requiring that repairs be made by a specific repair shop.


By design, car insurance must pay for all repair work that your car needs resulting from a covered accident…including and especially the repair of vital parts affecting the vehicle’s ability to be driven…as well as any body damage.  Despite the fact that an insurance company may want to minimize their financial losses, what they can’t take into consideration when paying a claim are that you may wish:

  • to do your own repairs
  • to use parts that aren’t as nice as the damaged ones (used replacement part are permissible, but usually must be in at least as good of condition as prior to the accident).
  • to not fix your car at all

Here are some limiting factors to bear in mind when considering doing any repairs yourself:

  • If you have a car loan not yet paid off…the bank owns your car…and they can (usually will) decide to fix it. …restoring it to its previous condition…because a damaged car has less collateral value.  In fact, you’re legally required to report damages to the vehicle to both your insurance and the bank if you don’t have it paid off.
  • If the car is deemed a total loss, but you want to do your own repairs…you must buy it back from the insurance company.  This doesn’t even sound good at first…and it usually isn’t worth considering in most situations.
  • You Must Make a Claim & Pay Your Deductible. It may not be entirely true that one single accident can raise your rates, every claim still goes on record.  Weighing the value of gaining an insurance claim check…against the ultimate cost of making an insurance claim is worth taking a few minutes to ponder.

Be sure to talk to your trusted body shop repairer to consider the pros and cons. But remember: your insurance company’s obligation is to pay you for all the damage done to your vehicle.  HOW you spend that money…is up to you.

Read More – LifeHacker

 

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Classic Car Restoration – DIY or Pro?

May 5, 2014 by

Ever had that nagging romantic desire to find and hook up your long lost muscle car from high school days…and restore her to her former glory?  Kinda like a Weird Science garage restoration project, it sounds like a blast at first…then the realities emerge.  Whether it’s a ’69 Camaro Rally Sport…or a ’67  Mustang Fastback, the hours and dollars can run into serious numbers.  So it’s probably wise to come back down to earth after the initial thought of it…and create some practical guidelines to keep your labor of love going strong, rather than crashing and burning a few months down the road.  A few hours of thoughtful planning can help avoid alot of wasted time, money and heartache.


Here are some rules of thumb:

1. Retain Expert Advice

Having someone with a great reputation that fixes and restores cars for a living in your corner, could well be the wisest first step to make.  Expert advice always costs something worthwhile up front, but like any investment, it’ll likely pay off big time when you’re considering a potential purchase.  Having another set of eyes for a second opinion is always wise…and expert feedback with a critical perspective just makes even more sense.

2. Make Appreciation Potential a Top Criteria

Contrary to popular belief and plenty of stories about magnificent finds in old barns…the supply of old cars for sale that need restoration is fairly large. Most of these cars aren’t worth much, and will never be valuable no matter how carefully they’re restored. Don’t impulsively settle on a particular model. Do some research to determine which models are more valuable once they’ve undergone restoration. A car with appreciation potential might cost more to buy, but it’s important to remember that the cost of the car is only a small component of the total project cost.

3. A Car that Starts is Worth 2 in the Bush

If your candidate car actually starts and runs before you even buy it, you’re a step ahead by significantly reducing the chances of expensive and time consuming mechanical repairs when the restoration process begins. The riskiest vehicle purchase you make is one that has been sitting idle and never started for years. You might get lucky and only need a new battery, starter or fuel pump. Worst-case…the car may have a seized engine needing to be completely rebuilt or replaced.

4. Replacement Parts Availability is Critical

The quickest way to bring your project to a screeching halt is discovering a lack of needed replacement parts. The more scarce your chosen car is, the more likely that there may not even be aftermarket replacement parts available…and used parts may be exorbitantly expensive. Keep your dream machine project alive and moving smoothly ahead by making sure replacement parts won’t be a deal killer…and your budget stays within reach.

Read More – AOL Autos

 

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Cars & Pets: Transporting Safely

December 31, 2013 by

Die hard dog lovers…loyal and true… have an agonizing moral dilemma when it comes time to leave the house for a trip or vacation of some sort: Take your little buddy with you or leave him at home?  Hell, some pet owners can’t even go to Walmart without feeling guilty.  Total duration of trip, drive time, season of the year, destination environment, the dog’s age and health and a multitude of other issues factor into the decision making process.  As tempting as it can be to want to bring them with you…the most humane approach boils down to a variant of the Golden Rule: Putting your dog’s best interests first, not your own.  Having to leave him/her in a strange hotel room or kennel for any length of time may actually be more difficult for your companion than your imagined separation anxiety for him if we find a pet-sitter and leave him at home in his own realm.

Dilemma: Should He Stay or Go?

So you get over the hump of the first decision and decide to take him with you. Here are some rules of the road:

Dogs: No roaming in the car

The safest way for your dog to travel in the car is in a crate that has been anchored to the vehicle using a seatbelt or other secure means. Dog restraints or seatbelts are useful for preventing your dog from roaming around the car and being a distraction to the driver, but they haven’t been reliably shown to protect dogs during a crash.

Cats: Belong in carriers

Most cats aren’t comfortable traveling in cars, so for their safety as well as yours, keep them in a carrier. It’s important to restrain these carriers in the car so that they don’t bounce around and hurt your cat. Do this by securing a seat belt around the front of the carrier.

Front seat is for humans only!

Keep your pet in the back seat of the car. If an airbag deployed while your pet was in the passenger seat (even in a crate), it might injure your pet.

Heads inside!

If you’ve bought into the previous three rules, this one is already handled. Dogs and cats should always be kept safely inside the car. Pets who are allowed to stick their heads out the window can be injured by particles of debris or become ill from having cold air forced into their lungs. Never transport a pet in the back of an open pickup truck.

What to bring

If you’re a frequent traveler with pets, some of this stuff can just be stored in a designated plastic storage tote at home. For multiple pets, the best bet is to bring a separate tote for each one. That way, you can keep their food, medications, and toys organized. Some suggestions for the tote include:

  • Pre-packaged food – Bring along your pet’s usual food, and prepack each meal in a Ziplock bag. Familiar food is good for your pet on the road, and can save money over buying as you go. Packing by serving is less messy and more convenient. If you have more than one pet, label each one’s food separately, and always bring spares in case you get stuck.
  • Biscuits, treats, toys – A favorite toy or two relieves stress.
  • Water in resealable plastic container – Any plastic bowl will do, but a number of sources offer specialty travel bowls.
  • Collar ID Tag – Get one with your pet’s name, your name, and your telephone number. A cell number is best for the road, or you can tape a local number to the collar. Bring along your own vet’s number, too. Permanent microchips for tracking are also available. Ask your vet.
  • Pet friendly guide book – For tips on lodging, pet stores, emergency services, and pet friendly parks along the way. Also check out websites like PetFriendly.com and PetsWelcome.com.
  • Dog towels – if your dogs like to swim, bring along some old towels. They’re also handy if the pooch takes an unexpected mud bath. Your friends and hotel staffs will thank you.
  • Leash, and maybe a longer run – It should be obvious, but don’t forget the leash. A longer run is good if you’re going to be tying the dog outside.
  • Documentation of shots – Don’t leave home without them.
  • Medications – Don’t forget any pills, ointments, or anything else you give your pet at home.
  • Plastic bags – For cleaning up after your pet.
  • Litter and box – If you’re traveling with a cat.
  • Pet carrier – For cats and smaller dogs.
  • Cleaning supplies – in case there’s an upset stomach or “accident” on the road.

Plan ahead

As much fun as it can be for both the pet and the family to bring Fido or Snowball along on a trip, traveling with animals generally requires a bit more planning. If you’re staying in hotels, make sure they’re pet friendly before you book. And keep in mind that some hotels and motels that say they allow animals may have weight limits. If you have a 200-pound Mastiff, make sure you let your hosts know ahead of time.

While on the road

  • Stop every couple of hours to let your pet take a break and have some water.
  • Never let your pet ride with its head out the window – eye, ear, and head injuries could result.
  • Don’t leave a pet in the car unattended in the car without leaving windows a few inches open. Open the sunroof if you have one. And never, ever leave a pet in the car on hot days.
  • Always put your pet on the leash before opening the door or tailgate to let them out.

Read More – ConsumerReports

Filed Under: Tips

How to Save Money on Gas: 5 Tips

September 17, 2013 by

If you’re gas price watcher in the Santa Clara County area, you’re aware that the current range is $3.85 to $4.39.  It seems the good old days of cheap gasoline are long gone.  Especially with commute times among the nation’s highest here in the San Francisco Bay Area, gasoline prices hitting record highs over the past couple years…has an ongoing significant impact on family budgets, travel plans and life in general.  Here are some tips from AAA (American Automobile Association) on ways of lessening the pain at the pump.

Gasoline & Money Saving Tips

  • Tailgaters, Back Off! – Allowing more distance from the car in front of you, let’s you take your foot off the gas pedal to slow down instead of hitting the brakes harder than necessary.  Gas Savings: 33% on highway & 5% around town.
  • Drive the Speed Limit – Not only does it save gas…it’s SAFER! The U.S. Department of Energy reports that each 5 mph driven over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.24 per gallon for gas.
  • Lead-foot to Feather-foot – Changing driver behavior can be challenging…but it’s also one of the most effective ways to conserve gasoline. The idea is…Instead of making quick starts and sudden stops, go easy on the gas and brake pedals. See a red light ahead?…don’t wait till the last second to brake!..you’ve gotta stop anyway. Conversely, when the light turns green, be a smooth operator and ease on down the road.  Potential fuel savings…up to 33 percent, according to the The U.S. Department of Energy.

 

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When a Car Crashes in Front of You

May 20, 2013 by

Ever consider how you might react, or even experience firsthand the sobering reality of seeing a serious car crash right in front of you while driving?  Unless you’re a trained highway safety expert or an Emergency Medical Technician (ahem), you may not have given it a second thought…until it happens to you.  With safety, medical, legal, insurance and probably several other complicating perspectives to consider, it’s hard to know where to begin.  Here, we’ll consider the layman’s perspective and depending on feedback, scrutinize other viewpoints in later posts.


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