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Do you ever feel like you could take on some of your own auto maintenance? Indeed, while there are many jobs that you will likely need to turn to our auto bodyshop in Seattle for, there are also plenty of tasks that even the least engine-savvy driver can shoulder. All you need is the right set of tools, and you should be able to tackle many of your routine (and a few of your not-so-routine) maintenance and repair jobs by yourself. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Screwdrivers: A good set of screwdrivers goes a long way. At the very least, it’s good to have a medium-sized flat head and a medium-sized Phillips head, but a complete range of sizes can be a boon for many repair jobs.
• Pliers: These tools are valuable for manipulating metal parts and cutting wires. You can find them in sets, including expandable combination pliers, wire cutters, and needle-nose pliers.
• Wrenches: When looking for a set of wrenches, you want to look at your car’s manufacturer. This will tell you whether you want a metric set or an SAE set. In addition to conventional wrenches, it also pays to have a set of allen wrenches for most modern cars.
• Ratchets: Though ratchets and wrenches do a lot of the same jobs, there are times when one works better than the other. As with wrenches, you’ll want to check to see if you need a metric or an SAE set.
• Jack and Stands: If you want to work under your car, you’ll need a jack and at least two stands. Be sure that the jack is up to the task of supporting your vehicle.

Every hour in the US, approximately thirty-three cars catch fire. This can be a frightening and costly experience, particularly since many insurance plans do not cover fires. Fortunately, with the following tips from our auto body shop in Seattle, you can work to defend yourself against automotive fires and reign in the potential damage in the event that your engine goes up in flames.

• Keep your car in good working condition, bringing it in for regular maintenance once a year.
• Look out for the smell of burning rubber or plastic. This is a sign that you should pull over and investigate.
• Most fires are the result of a faulty fuel line or fuel pipe. If you suspect that there might be a leak in your gas or oil, lay out a newspaper under your car overnight and check it for stains in the morning.
• If you catch fire out on the road, calmly signal and move to the right shoulder or lane. Shut off the engine and get everyone out of the vehicle.
• A miniature fire extinguisher can be a good addition to your car’s emergency kit.

Suppose you are at a mechanic who just can’t seem to get to the heart of your problem.  Maybe he pinpointed the issue to your fuel injector, and then decided that the fuel pump needed to be replaced.  Everybody makes mistakes from time to time, but you should remain on the lookout for signs that you should be leaving this mechanic for the professionals at Greenwood’s auto body shop in Seattle.

Sometimes an unscrupulous mechanic is taking advantage of your own lack of automotive expertise to justify unnecessary repairs.  Even if the mechanic is honest, though, it’s possible that you’re dealing with somebody who simply does not have the means to properly diagnose your problem.  If your mechanic is making you go through additional repairs that were not initially accounted for, have him justify the original repair.  You may be entitled to a partial refund.  If the mechanic gets difficult or continues to misdiagnose your car, it may be time to trade up to Greenwood.

Most of the time, when we talk about fostering better driving habits, we’re focusing on our teenage drivers. After all, a full forty-three percent of teen drivers admit to texting while driving. However, our auto body shop in Seattle wants to remind all the parents out there that a lot of the responsibility should be falling upon them; indeed, it paints a sobering picture when you consider that the percentage of adults who admitted to texting while driving was at a whopping forty-nine.

According to a survey conducted by Liberty Mutual and Students Against Destructive Decisions, a surprising number of parents are engaged in unsafe driving practices while their kids are in the car. Eighty-three percent of students surveyed said that their parents were periodically guilty of risky driving behavior. Talking on a cellphone was the biggest offense, closely followed by speeding, with texting taking a distant third place. Sixty percent of teens said that they tried to stop this behavior, but a full forty-one percent said that they were ignored.

If this describes your own driving habits, take care to be more mindful in the future. After all, it’s not enough that you simply get your teen to his or her destination safely; you also need to set a proper example so that he or she will drive more safely when you’re not around.

When people think about car maintenance, they usually think about the engine, the body, and other structures that they need to have serviced by the professionals at our auto body shop in Seattle. Unfortunately, this means that they frequently neglect the care of simple things, like the car’s interior. This is why it is a good idea to invest in a proper set of car mats.

A car mat serves to protect the floor of your vehicle from all of the dirt and mud you track in, the food and drinks you spill, and more. They are particularly important in regions that get a lot of rain or snowfall, as the water you track in can foster the growth of harmful microorganisms in your carpeting. A good car mat takes a lot of the work out of cleaning your interior, which goes a long way towards creating a sanitary and odor-free environment. Consider getting a set of tailored car mats for your vehicle today.

Taking your car in for maintenance and repairs at our auto body shop in Seattle is a good way to keep up the resale value of your vehicle. However, there is no way to completely prevent the gradual decline of your investment. There are many factors that will chip away at a car’s value over time, one of which is the mileage.

Mileage is a big factor for people buying a used car. Unfortunately, the specifics of how mileage affects a price are not cut and dry. The general rule of thumb is that a car should accrue roughly ten thousand miles every year. If your car has significantly more mileage on it than it should for its age, this can be taken as an indication of additional wear and tear. You can therefore expect to drop the price by a few hundred dollars when trying to sell your car.

Obviously, it can be difficult to reign in your driving if you have a particularly strong need for your car. It therefore pays to focus on the factors that you can control. With that in mind, always remember to bring your car in for appropriate maintenance and repairs with Greenwood Collision in Seattle.

Your timing belt is a very important and often overlooked part of your engine. Without a properly functioning belt, your engine will simply fail to run. Our auto body shop in Seattle can check up on your belt as part of your regular maintenance, but you may occasionally need to replace this belt ahead of schedule. Be on the lookout for the following signs that your belt is in need of a change:

• Problems Starting: If you have trouble starting up your engine, the timing belt may be to blame.
• Excess Emissions: When your belt falls out of synchronization, the problem may manifest in your exhaust valve. This leads to excessive exhaust emissions in your exhaust pipe.
• Overheating and Leaking: If your engine has been prone to overheating or fluid leaks, these may be inflicting damage on your timing belt. You’ll want to fix whatever is causing your overheating or leaking problems, and then check to make sure your belt is holding up.
• Abrupt Changes in Noise: Sometimes you may notice that your car’s engine isn’t making the same sound it usually makes. This can be caused by a faulty belt.

Rust is a big problem for your car. Be it in the engine or the body, this is the slow and silent killer for an automobile. Our auto body shop in Seattle can check your vehicle for rust as part of your regular maintenance, but it also pays to periodically inspect your own vehicle for signs of this corrosive blight.

It can be easy enough to spot signs of rust on your car’s exterior. However, the biggest problems tend to occur out of sight, on the underside of the vehicle. This is where problems frequently go unnoticed for long enough such that it effectively destroys the car. Take the time every so often to look under your car, and schedule a visit to Greenwood Collision as soon as possible if you find any signs of rust.

The cold season is rapidly approaching. Here in the Northwest, this means rain, snow, slippery roads, biting cold, and early nightfall. In short, this is far and away the worst season for driving. With this in mind, our auto body shop in Seattle has prepared the following advice to help assure that you and your car get through the winter intact.

First of all, get your proper maintenance, equip your car with an emergency kit, and keep your car filled with gasoline. Your chances of getting stranded out on the road are all the greater in the winter, and you’re likely to encounter far fewer people to help you. Should you end up stranded, resist the urge to seal up your car and crank your heater to fight the cold while you sleep. This is a good way to succumb to carbon monoxide poisoning, which is lethal. And if you end up in a wreck, bring your car down to Greenwood Collision; we’ll have you back on the road in no time!

Has this ever happened to you? You start your car normally, you get out on the road, and suddenly the engine surges, causing your vehicle to abruptly speed up and buck. This can be a dangerous problem, and one that you should fix or bring to our auto body shop in Seattle as soon as you can manage. Unfortunately, there are many potential causes for engine misfires, including the following:

• Your Cooling System isn’t Working: Check for problems in your radiator fluid, your coolant, your fan belt, your thermostat, or anything else that might cause your engine to overheat.
• Your Ignition Timing is Malfunctioning: Check to see if your timing needs an adjustment.
• Your Fuel-Pressure is Too Low: Look for problems in either your fuel pump or your fuel pressure regulator.
• You Have an Ignition Problem: The culprit may be your starter, your starter solenoid, your ignition coil, your distributor cap, your distributor rotor, or your spark plugs.
• Your Torque Converter is Locking: If you have an automatic transmission, check to see that your converter is properly in place.
• Your Fuel Injectors or Fuel Filter is Clogged: When your fuel injectors or filter become completely clogged, it can cause your engine to fail. Try changing your filter and cleaning your injectors.
• There is a Leak in Your Vacuum Line: Inspect your vacuum line to see if it needs to be replaced.
• Your EGR Valve is Stuck: When your EGR valve refuses to close, your engine can surge. Check to see that it is opening and closing properly.
• Your Drive Axles are Faulty: Inspect your CV joints for signs of damage.
• You Have Internal Engine Trouble: Look at your compression to determine the condition of your engine.