Five Maintenance Procedures Your Car Cannot Do Without

People tend to hop into their cars without thinking about all of the things that could be going wrong under the hood. However, you can’t understate the importance of keeping your car in tip-top shape. CARSTAR Arnold in Arnold, MO, as top quality auto repair experts, want you to know about these five auto service items you shouldn’t skip.

Oil Changes

Oil is the lifeblood of a healthy car. Most people know that they have to change the oil every 3,000 miles, but don’t forget that you should also examine your oil level every 1,000 miles just to make sure that everything is as it should be.

Keep your oil changed. It is the easiest thing to overlook and ignore but the most crucial thing anyone can do. We at CARSTAR Arnold see a lot of worn engine parts because of the lack of oil changes.

Tire Maintenance

Properly maintained tires enhance your vehicle's steering, stopping, and traction. Tire pressure ought to be set to the manufacturer’s specifications, which can usually be found in the owners' manual, on a sticker inside fuel filler door, or on the door well of the driver's side door.

It’s vital that you keep your tires inflated to the pressure that is recommended by the manufacturer of the car. Proper inflation keeps your tires wearing properly. Over- or under-inflated wears tires out faster, can negatively affect fuel consumption, and present a safety hazard. Get your tires rotated and balanced every 6,000-8,000 miles and get the alignment checked at least once a year to make sure there are not suspension problems.

Fluids

Checking the other fluids in your vehicle is also very important. Of course, we have already covered how you need to have the oil changed regularly. When you do that, also check all of the fluids including the transmission fluid, brake fluid, and coolant. Flush the transmission fluid around every 50,000 miles.

Brake Check

A brake inspection should be part of your vehicle’s ongoing regular maintenance to guarantee safety and reliability. Have your brakes inspected at least once per year or more often if you experience grinding, vibrations, or shaking when you brake. Regardless of the automobile, brakes usually need to be replaced every 20,000-30,000 miles.

Scheduled Maintenance

Failure to adhere to the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule may lead to loss of warranty coverage, breakdowns, poor fuel economy, and an increased cost of ownership in the long run. Having a certified professional examine your automobile according to these schedules is an opportunity to catch troubles before they get you stuck or turn into bigger repairs.

Build a relationship with an auto body shop. Moving from shop to shop might save a few bucks on certain jobs, but ultimately the only one who'll have any responsibility for the shape of the vehicle will be you. Having a reputable auto body shop you trust means you having somebody looking beneath the hood for any possible problems on a regular basis. A good mechanic, who's familiar with your needs, your expectations, and your car, will help you get the most from the car.

If you're in Arnold, Oakville, Imperial, Festus, or St. Louis, MO area and do not already have a regular auto body mechanic, think about taking your vehicle to CARSTAR Arnold. They help countless drivers like you keep their automobiles in top performance shape.

Avoiding Staged Auto Body Claims

Staged auto body accidents are becoming increasingly popular, endangering the lives and boosting the auto insurance rates of innocent drivers who may unknowingly think they're at fault. Questionable claims from staged accidents increased 46.3 percent from 2007 through 2009, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, or NICB, a nonprofit agency in Des Plaines, Illinois, funded by 1,100 property and casualty insurance providers nationwide to fight auto insurance fraud and automobile theft. Here are some ideas from CARSTAR Arnold in Arnold, MO based on information from the NICB. If you have an auto body accident in Arnold, Oakville, Imperial, Festus, or St. Louis, MO, you will be glad that you were prepared with this important auto body repair info.

Auto insurance fraud added $4.8 billion to $6.8 billion to auto injury claim payments in 2007, based on the Insurance Research Council's November 2008 study "Fraud and Buildup in Auto Injury Insurance Claims: 2008 Edition." NICB investigations in Florida, New York, and California uncovered sophisticated, multistate rings that included the staged accident participants and doctors, chiropractors, lawyers, and even auto body shop owners that profited from the car insurance scam.

Multiple claims for one accident

One common element runs though the majority of staged accidents. The "victim" vehicle will contain three to four passengers who will file medical claims against the victim's auto insurance company in addition to a car damage claim. Stagers often target younger ladies and older adult drivers as they enter or exit a shopping mall or parking garage. If you're talking on a cell phone or appear otherwise distracted while driving, you're a perfect mark.

There'll be somebody sitting there at the curb and you pull up and they'll wave you on by. The next thing you know, you're getting blocked and then getting clobbered. Do not always assume that it was an accident; it may very well have been intentional.

Avoiding a staged accident

Here are six tricks from CARSTAR Arnold on how to avoid becoming a victim of a staged accident:

• Avoid tailgating. Recognize the "swoop and squat" scenario in which a motorist suddenly swoops in front of you then slams on his or her brakes, and leave plenty of distance between you and the car before you in case the driver slams on his brakes.
• Call the cops even if damage is minimal. An Arnold, Missouri police report will make it more difficult for a stager to intentionally damage their car later to collect a bigger claim against your car insurance company.
• Grab a camera or use your cell phone to photograph everything and everyone at the scene. Pay extra attention to the number of people in the other vehicle and the harm to both vehicles.
• Be wary of passers-by who just happen to arrive on the scene, especially if they offer to point you to a doctor, attorney, or tow-truck company. They might be part of the scam.
• Steer clear of tow-truck drivers that you did not call. They are generally part of this car insurance scheme.
• Be wary of doctors who insist that you file a personal injury claim following an accident, especially if you aren't hurt.

Although auto body fraud is a very real concern, lots of auto body accidents aren't anything more than accidents. In either case, consider taking your vehicle to CARSTAR Arnold, which serves the people of Arnold, Oakville, Imperial, Festus, and St. Louis, MO.

Finding The Best Place For Auto Body Repair

If you have been in a car accident, it’s crucial that you know that auto body shops only sometimes have your interests in mind. Sadly, some auto body shops will routinely downplay claims, minimize auto repair costs, use cheap parts, or even fail to fully repair problems. These practices can devalue your automobile and give you even worse problems down the road.

Here are a few fundamental principles from CARSTAR Arnold in Arnold, MO on things to look for when choosing an auto body shop, and tips on how to be a proactive participant in your car’s auto body repair to make sure that it comes out looking great and costing you no more than necessary.

Research Before You Repair

Angieslist.com, Yelp.com, and Google reviews are useful sources to get a sense of an auto body shop’s quality based on customer reviews, but take the online reviews with a dose of skepticism. You will want to pay attention to well written, thought-out reviews – not nasty one-liners, because even the best businesses can end up with an unsatisfied customer every so often. You may even be able to find discussion forums specific to your vehicle’s make and model where forum members can suggest good auto body shops in your community.

Choose an Auto Body Shop with a Warranty

Some auto body shops offer their own independent warranties on their repairs for fit, finish, functionality, and overall quality. Request to see their warranty and ask some questions about it prior to agreeing to work with a given auto body shop and make certain it does not have a time frame. A good auto body shop will offer a lifetime warranty. CARSTAR Arnold offers such a warranty for the people of Arnold, Oakville, Imperial, Festus, and St. Louis, MO.

Keep Your Existing Manufacturer Warranties Intact

Ask your chosen auto body shop if any mechanical repairs will nullify or change any existing warranties you may have on your new or recently purchased automobile. Factory warranties on engines and accessories might be compromised if your automobile needs mechanical repairs after a collision, so make sure your car’s factory warranty is not being compromised with aftermarket parts, or repairs that otherwise aren’t manufacturer-approved.

If your insurer is trying to “mandate” aftermarket or used parts that will void your factory warranty, demand that the insurer give you a written warranty exactly the same as your factory warranty. Nine times out of ten they’ll just pay for original parts, rather than giving you the runaround.

Get More Than One Estimate

It is best to get estimates from a number of different auto body shops. After your first estimate, show their estimate to the second shop and the third shop, and ask how they match up against the first auto body shop’s quote. You may find that one or the other is skipping over a lot of important items. Don’t merely compare the final estimated cost, since one auto body shop may be quoting for an entirely different method of repair than the other. You’ll want an auto body shop that's both thorough and friendly.

Do Not Be Willing To Settle

Do not settle for anything less than totally new factory-original parts for your vehicle, and be sure to let the auto body shop know it. Of course, there are some jurisdictions where auto body shops can opt to utilize aftermarket or used parts, but those are generally not the way to go. Look at the work closely to make sure that your vehicle was restored to original condition by the parts used, or you have the right to ask for new parts. The shop managers should have no doubt that you are not willing to settle and that you want nothing but top-quality work. If you do not tell them that you won’t settle, there might be shoddy work done on your vehicle. That is why you need to look for qualities like thoroughness and friendliness in every auto body shop you consider.

Make Sure Everything Is Written Down

It used to be that you could trust people to live up to their word. Sadly, that’s just not the case anymore. There are key phrases that insurance adjusters and auto body shop people like to throw around like “totally cover the rental car,” “restore your vehicle to pre-accident condition,” and even “pay for everything.” Those words sound really great, but you will want to make sure that those kinds of things are all in writing. If you are talking to an insurance adjuster over the phone, follow up with an email so that you have a written record of what was promised by all parties involved. That will also make sure that everything is clear for everyone so all parties are on the same page. If you end up having to appeal a decision or call someone out for a broken promise, you will be glad that you got it all in writing.

These are only a few of the precautions that you ought to take whenever it comes to your next car repair. After all, your car is the second-largest investment you will make after your house, why not ensure that it is repaired right? If you've got any more questions about auto body repair or would like an estimate, get a hold of CARSTAR Arnold in Arnold, MO to get the answers you need.