RAINY DAY TIPS FOR YOUR CAR AND PERSONAL SAFETY

Everybody likes to conserve 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 very well prepared.

Many drivers overlook the impact rainy weather can have until its too late, but a few smart driving tips from the experts at Steve’s CARSTAR Auto Body Repair in Arnold, part of the nation’s 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 tips from Steve’s CARSTAR Auto Body Repair, also serving Arnold, Oakville, Imperial, Festus and St. Louis that make both sense and cents.

• Before it starts to rain, change out old or damaged wiper blades.
  
• Check all of the vehicle’s light bulbs to make sure they are working.
  
• Stay toward the middle lanes – water tends to pool in outside lanes.
  
• Maintain proper following distance (3 second rule). This needs to be multiplied in wet weather.
  
• Drive in the tracks of a car or truck ahead of you.
  
• Don’t follow large trucks too closely, because the spra
  y created by their large tires can reduce vision.
  
• Be more alert watching for brake lights in front of you.
  
• Keep Away From 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’ll have better control in wet weather without it.
  
• Never drive through moving water if you can’t see the ground through it; your vehicle could be swept off the road.
  
• Watch out for places where floodwater collects, particularly low-lying roads adjacent to streams, and dips under rail or highway bridges.
  
• Avoid driving through deep water, because it can cause serious damage to a modern vehicle’s 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 gentle pressure on the brake pedal.
  

Steve’s CARSTAR Auto Body Repair in Arnold 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 considerably reduced. Maintaining proper 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, Steve’s CARSTAR Auto Body Repair 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, gradually 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 cost can be seen in many different circumstances – including damage to your automobile.

Among the most regularly damaged items in some flooding scenarios are cars and trucks. Even a little bit of water goes a long way in causing serious destruction both inside and out. Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair in Arnold, MO can help you understand what shape your car or truck is in and ensure you do not get sunk by buying a water-damaged vehicle.

Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair in Arnold, MO, part of the nation’s 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 mean mildew.
• Check the trunk, glove compartment, the dashboard and beneath the seats for signs of water damage such as silt, dirt 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.
• Bend some of the wires underneath the dashboard. Wet wires will become weak upon drying and may crack
• Look for rust 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 cars and trucks checked BEFORE handing over any money.

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 car or truck is not limited to storm and flood-ravaged places. Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair in Arnold, MO, also serving Oakville, Imperial, Festus, St. Louis MO, can help you find automotive peace of mind.

Damaged cars are often restored cosmetically and relocated to nearby states or other areas of the country where many are sold to unsuspecting customers. These flood-waters can cause damage to a vehicle's computer and electrical systems, as well as potentially causing anti-lock braking and airbag systems to fail.

Headlight Hazing a Major Hazard for Drivers: Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair in Arnold MO help you!

Headlight Hazing a Major Hazard for Drivers:

Headlight Restoration Service from Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Gives Vehicles an Easy Facelift and Improve Visibility and Safety on the Road

Many Arnold, MO drivers are on the road with a safety problem they do not see. Hazed or cloudy headlights can reduce visibility and make it extremely hard to see obstacles and other vehicles. These hazed headlights also give the automobile an aged appearance and decrease its worth.

Plastic headlights help reduce the weight of automobiles and withstand impact, oxidation and sunlight can dull the surface, discolor or leave it cloudy and hazy. 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.

Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair has partnered with 3M, together we can offer a reliable solution that delivers excellent results and improved vehicle safety - at a very affordable price.

For more tips on dealing with an accident or having your car repaired after a collision, visit www.auto-body-arnold-mo.com. Steve's 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.