Spring Auto Body Rust Repair Tips

Auto body rust repair is a very common issue with older vehicles in the St. Louis, Missouri area. Dents or scratches can wear away paint and expose metal to the elements. Living in a snowy environment like what we come across in Arnold, Oakville, Imperial, Festus, and St. Louis, MO might also raise the possibility for rust damage, as road salt and other ice removal accelerants can result in rust damage in the long run. No matter how the rust formed, keep these rust repair tips from CARSTAR Arnold in mind to restore your auto body to like-new condition:

Inspect Your Vehicle’s Surface Carefully

The first step in adequately dealing with auto body rust is figuring out the extent of the damage. If you've got a vintage car, you might give consideration to going over all surfaces of your vehicle with a fine-tooth comb. This is because rust won't always materialize as dark-red discoloration. Rather, what you should be trying to find are little bubbles in the painted surface of the vehicle. If these bubbles can be found, it's likely that rust is hiding beneath it.

Removing Rust

Auto body rust repair is nearly always better handled by the auto body pros, like those at CARSTAR Arnold in Arnold, Missouri. However, if you have some auto repair experience and the patch of corrosion is not any greater than four inches in diameter, then it could be possible to get rid of the rust yourself. To do this, you will want to use a sanding disc with 100-grit sandpaper on the affected region. Working gradually, sand away the rust, as well as the immediate area neighboring the corrosion. This will produce an even plane for paint adhesion.

Additional Sanding

When the rust has been gotten rid of, make sure you sand the area with consecutively finer grit sizes. For instance, another pass may include 120-grit sandpaper and a third pass might benefit from a 150-grit sandpaper. Once sanded finely, tack cloth is advised for getting rid of any metal or dirt debris.

Priming and Painting

Three to four light coats of self-etching primer are recommended for auto body rust repair jobs. Before priming, block off the encircling body paint by using newspaper and masking tape. Wait about 5 to 10 minutes before you apply each successive coat. Then, wait until the following day to put on the paint. Apply the paint in a similar, light-coated manner. After 5 to 6 coats, leave the paint to dry out overnight, then come back and remove the newspaper and masking tape. A wash and wax might be useful whenever the repair is finished.

Safe Driving On Dangerous Winter Roads

Cold conditions could easily create much of the harshest driving conditions of the year. And, months between October and February lead the list for auto accidents, auto damages and accidental injuries in the Arnold, Missouri area.

When the temperature plunges and the snow increases, it is critical for vehicle operators to raise their attention to safety on the road.  With adequate planning, some protective driving procedures and an eye on the weather report, vehicle operators can shield themselves and their motor vehicles during the long cold winter time.

The industry experts on winter weather driving calamities at CARSTAR Arnold in Arnold, Missouri repair thousands of vehicles each year wrecked in wintry, icy catastrophes.  They give road users some helpful pointers to help with making winter time driving more safe.

Look At Your Visibility:

•   Make sure that any and all mirrors are clear and properly fine-tuned for field of vision
•   Clean your car headlights and check out the lightbulbs in all of the car lights – back and front
•   Add de-icer to your windshield wiper fluid
•   Make sure your windshield wipers are free of ice in advance of heading out on the highway – and think about upgrading with new flexible windshield wipers before the snowfall strikes

Go Slow and Stay Back:

•   Put extra distance in between your vehicle and the motor vehicle ahead of you for more safety
•   Don't involve the use of cruise control on icy roads
•   When you find snow or ice on the surface in Arnold, Oakville, Imperial, or Jefferson County, MO, reduce the speed of your car to a safe limit
•   Use cautiousness on bridges, overpasses, and seldom traveled freeways since these may well be slippery due to ice
•   Use extreme caution when you're driving on one-lane roadways

Skidding Smartly

Should the rear wheels slip...
•   Bring your foot off the gas
•   Should you have standard brakes, pump them carefully
•   If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), don't pump the brake system. Apply regular pressure to the brake system. You are going to feel the braking system pulse — it's typical
•   Steer in the direction you will want the forward tires to go. If for instance the back wheels are moving left, steer left. If they're moving right, steer right
•   If your rear wheels get started on sliding the other way when you recuperate, ease the steering wheel in the direction of that side. You might have to steer left and right once or twice to get your vehicle completely under control

When your forward wheels skid...
•   Bring your foot off the gas and switch to neutral, but be sure not to try to steer at once.
•   As the wheels skid laterally, they're going to slow the motor vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and speed up slowly

Prepare for Snow:

•   If your car has rear wheel drive, put bags of sand or kitty litter to help keep your vehicle easier to control on Arnold, MO streets
•   Pack up a snow day kit in the event you get stuck.  Valuable items to include are a blanket, gloves, hat, water, granola bars, flashlight and additional battery packs, extra mobile phone battery pack, flares, wooden matches in water-proof carrier, compass, a pair of scissors, rope and first-aid kit.
•   Create a tool kit for digging your vehicle out with foldable shovel, 2x4 planks to position under tires, ice scraper and snow brush, reflective triangles, flares and exterior windshield cleaner
You can never be too cautious when getting behind the wheel in winter months. Crashes can occur quickly on slippery, slippery streets, so decelerating and making the extra precautions can really make the difference.

If the adverse winter accident does come about, we recommend having a crash plan set up so you won't be stranded on the roadside waiting for assistance.  CARSTAR Arnold in Arnold, Missouri has top-notch, reliable repair service.  Just call 1-800-CARSTAR after you have an incident and they're going to send the tow truck, get hold of your insurer, arrange for a rental car and repair your vehicle.

Caring For Your Vehicle’s Interior

The cleanliness of your vehicle’s interior is as important as its exterior. A well kept interior adds quality to your driving ability and provides the ultimate in comfort and safety. Cleansing the exterior can be as simple as an easy trip through the car wash or hand-applying car wash, wax, detailer, and other car exterior cleaning products. The interior of your automobile is a different story because if you would like to keep it clean, you really need to work at it. Here are some ideas from CARSTAR Arnold in Arnold, Missouri for keeping your vehicle’s interior clean and neat.

Vacuuming

The vacuum might just be the single best tool for keeping your car’s interior clean and sanitized. It's not only an effective way to remove the dirt and debris from under your floor mats to the surface of your seats, it is a fantastic way to get rid of the filth that has accumulated in all the various nooks and crannies of your vehicle. For ideal results, get in there with a high-powered vacuum which has a hose and attachments so you can clean out each crack. A coin operated vacuum at a car wash is a good place to begin. A quick note about vacuuming car floor mats: take them out from the car and shake them out to get rid of surplus dirt before vacuuming.

Fabric Upholstery

While a vacuum cleaner does a great job of removing dirt in the carpeting, floor mats, and seats, sometimes these spots need some extra TLC. After all, grime can frequently get ground into the upholstery leading to discoloration that remains even once you run the vacuum. Beat those blemishes by using a carpet and upholstery cleaner. These cleaning solutions are specially formulated to deep clean your seats and carpets without saturating them with moisture. You'll want to stay away from significant amounts of moisture as this actually promotes mold growth). For rubber floor mats, a good power wash will get the dirt, sludge, and grossness out of your vehicle.

Leather Upholstery

If your car or truck has leather seating, try to keep them looking their best because stained, ripped, and/or cracked seats, aside from being unappealing, might also hurt the resale value of your automobile. A vacuum can, and should, be employed to remove the surface dirt on any sort of seat. For a much deeper clean, a special leather cleaner ought to be used on leather seats (followed by a leather conditioner to protect them).

Dashboard

While you might not notice it all that frequently because you are busy looking at the road when you drive around Arnold, Oakville, Imperial, or Jefferson County, MO, the dashboard can gather its fair share of grit and dust. In addition to vacuum-cleaning, using a microfiber dust cloth on the dashboard is a fantastic way to get it looking great again. Once it’s been cleaned, utilizing a protectant on the dashboard can help you to stop fading, cracking, and peeling. These protectants also aid in retaining the color of your interior against the sun and its ultra violet rays. The steering wheel counts as a part of the dashboard so you ought to put some protectant thereon too. If you have passed the point of no return as it pertains to fading, cracking, and peeling dash, seats, or steering wheel, it might make sense to get a dash cover, steering wheel cover, or seat cover.

Windows

The windows of your car are possibly the most crucial part of your interior to keep clean. After all, clean windows make for better visibility. Eliminating all the smudges, fingerprints, and even paw prints – if you have an animal who often rides along with you – will allow you to see much better while making your car simply look nice. Some glass cleaners even offer a water repellent formula that beads and wisps away water, enabling better visibility. Just make sure you utilize something that won’t leave behind streaks. Newspaper can come in handy in this case. It is important to know that some glass cleaners do not work well with tinted windows and can also harm the heating elements that de-frost and de-fog your windshield. Household glass cleaners contain ammonia, which over time will break down the heating element on your auto glass making your windshield defrosters ineffective.

Trunk

You may be thinking, the trunk? What does it make a difference if the trunk is dirty? Nobody sits in there. From an absolutely aesthetic point of view, having a dirty trunk is not a problem. Nevertheless, did you know that having a messy trunk may affect your vehicle’s gas mileage? Keeping items in there when you are driving all around Arnold, Missouri can add weight to your vehicle, which causes the engine to work harder when you drive, hence burning up more fuel. If you do not absolutely have to carry something around in your trunk on a certain day, it ought to be empty. Your pocketbook will thank you. Obviously we understand that there are situations where trunk storage is required. When this takes place, CARSTAR Arnold advocates keeping your vehicle’s trunk organized, granting you quick access to the items you need.

Organize

Now that you are squeaky clean, ensure that your car is orderly. Organizing your vehicle keeps out the clutter, making interior upkeep much easier. Car organization items are designed with function in mind and are best for those of us who bring items with us while traveling. If you store items in your trunk, a trunk organizer might be the best option for you. Items like visor organizers, dash caddies, and seat organizers keep the mess from exploding while enabling you to simply and efficiently vacuum up debris.

If you've got any other questions on car maintenance, auto body repair, or driving safety, come to CARSTAR Arnold in Arnold, MO and we’d be glad to help get you back on the right track.

Emergency Numbers You Want To Have On The Road

These days, you can keep basically all of your computer information on your cellular phone – from all your music collection to the latest dog-riding-a-skateboard video. You can also utilize your smart phone as a safety net in case there is an emergency. Because CARSTAR Arnold in Arnold, Missouri is concerned about your safety on the road, we'd like for you to take five minutes right this moment to tap these crucial numbers into your contact list so you'll be ready if something happens.

ICE − This number, which is short for "in case of emergency," ought to be your emergency contact – a parent, spouse, close friend or anyone who you want alerted if something happens to you. Many emergency responders and hospital personnel know to look for this number.

Home − Your home phone number, if you've got one. If somebody locates your misplaced mobile phone, he or she can call this number to tell you your phone is intact. Emergency personnel may also try it as an alternative number if there's no answer at the ICE number if you are in a car wreck.

Police − Should you have an emergency or witness somebody else who needs help, you can notify your local police station about the problem more rapidly if you already have the number stored in your phone.

State Highway Patrol − Notice a motorist marooned by the side of the road? Be a Good Samaritan and contact the state highway patrol for assistance.

Auto Body Shop − If you require auto body collision repair, it is best to have a shop picked out ahead of the fact. Take the time to research auto body shops and find the one that you wish to use. If you are living in Arnold, Oakville, Imperial, Festus, or St. Louis, MO, think about choosing CARSTAR Arnold.

A Remark About 911 and Cellphones

While technology continues to improve, many wireless cell phones do not offer a way to ascertain a caller's location. If you call 911 in an emergency, be sure to mention your location, your telephone number, and what has taken place.

CARSTAR Arnold in Arnold, Missouri hopes that you'll keep these tips in mind as you get ready for the next time you are driving. If you've got any questions regarding driving safety, auto body repair, or collision repair services, check out their website today to get more information.

Tips On Being Stranded In Snow

Winter is a phenomenal season in Arnold, Oakville, Imperial, and Jefferson County, MO, particularly if a new layer of snow covers everything. Wintertime could also be a very hazardous season. If you are thinking of traveling during the long cold winter, it is good to be completely prepared for winter driving and to have winter car supplies in your motor vehicle. Unfortunately, being trapped on the side of the road in severe winter conditions is not unheard of. CARSTAR Arnold in Arnold, Missouri has provided these guidelines to help you in case you ever find yourself in that situation.

If You're Marooned While Driving In Winter:

1.   Call 911. If you have access to a cell phone, call 911 to get assistance. When you speak with authorities, be ready to:

• Describe the place, condition of your companions and the trouble you're encountering.
• Listen for questions.
• Follow any instruction. You may be told you should stay where you are to assist rescuers or to return to the scene.
• Do not hang up until you know whom you have spoken with and what's going to happen next.

2.   Remain in your vehicle. Walking in a storm can be very dangerous. You can lose your way, wander out of reach, become exhausted, collapse, and risk your life. Your vehicle itself is a great shelter.

3.   Try to avoid overexertion. Attempting to push your automobile, trying to jack it into a new position or shoveling snow takes great effort in storm conditions. You may risk heart attack or other injury.
4.   Calm down and think. The storm will end and you'll be found. Don't work enough to get hot and sweaty. Wet clothing loses insulation quality making you more prone to the effects of hypothermia.
5.   Keep fresh air in your automobile. It is much better to be chilly or cold and conscious than to be comfortably warm and slide into unconsciousness. Freezing-wet or wind-driven St. Louis area snow could plug your automobile's exhaust system making deadly carbon monoxide gas get in your car.
6.   Don't run the engine unless you are certain the exhaust pipe is free of snow or other objects. Keep the radiator free from snow to prevent the engine from getting too hot. Run the engine at 10 minute intervals for heat.
7.   Turn on the dome light during the nighttime, but only when running the engine.
8.   Keep your blood circulating freely by loosening tight clothes, changing positions frequently, and moving your arms and legs. Huddle close to each other. Rub your hands together or put them under your armpits or in between your legs. Remove your shoes from time to time and massage your feet.
9.   Do not expect to be comfortable. The challenge is to survive until you are discovered.
10.   Make yourself visible to rescuers. Tie a bright cloth to your antenna or door handle.

Whenever you get free from danger, your motor vehicle may have some cosmetic or internal damage. If that's the case, consider taking your car or truck to CARSTAR Arnold in Arnold, MO. They have auto body experts prepared to handle any damage that your vehicle could have incurred.

Hit a Deer, Bag a Turkey

CARSTAR Arnold Announces the Start of ‘Hit a Deer, Bag a Turkey’ Promotion.

St. Louis Metro CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts announces the beginning of its ‘Hit a Deer, Bag a Turkey’ giving-back campaign. The promotion runs November 16 through December 31, 2015. During this time, people that have struck a deer and have the repair carried out at CARSTAR Arnold in Arnold, Missouri get a $25 gift certificate for a holiday turkey and also trigger a turkey donation to CARSTAR Arnold’s Arnold, MO charity of choice. The promotion dates cover the time when deer accidents are at their highest (through mating and hunting seasons) and whenever local charities need all the support they can get from the people and companies in their community.

Current statistics show that Missouri drivers have a 1 in 120 possibility of having a deer-related accident. The chances of deer hits more than doubles in October, November, and December. State Farm Insurance Company’s latest deer-collision data indicates the average cost of a deer-hit-related claim increased 6% to $4,135 (from $3,888 in 2014). To completely cover any potential damage, drivers should have comprehensive insurance that usually extends to such accidents.

According to research by the Insurance Information Institute and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, injuries, vehicle damage, and fatalities can each result from vehicle accidents with deer. In 2013, 191 deaths were the result of crashes with animals, with deer being the animal most often struck. Thankfully, cars may be fixed and there are actions to take to stay safer during this heightened timeframe of deer activity. Defensive driving, using a seat belt, using high beams at night whenever there is no oncoming traffic, and checking the road and adjoining areas for gleaming wildlife eyes are first-line methods. Furthermore, use extra caution in known deer zones and avoid swerving when you see a deer.

St. Louis Metro CARSTAR locations have always been involved in their communities through partnerships with nationwide (particularly the Make-A-Wish Foundation) and local charities and community organizations. After all, while being franchises of America’s largest multi-shop network of repair experts, each and every CARSTAR facility, including CARSTAR Arnold in Arnold, MO, is still locally-owned-and-operated and a business citizen of their community. CARSTAR Arnold's looks forward to giving back this holiday season to people of Arnold, Oakville, Imperial, and Jefferson County, MO while serving customers through deer collision repairs.

Tips For Something You Might Be A Little Foggy On

Driving in fog is regarded as being by far the most risky weather hazard, especially if it's very dense fog or combined with other unfavorable weather conditions. Foggy conditions are the biggest cause of large multi-car pile ups. Nevertheless, there are certain things you can do to lower your risk of a collision. These tips, offered by CARSTAR Arnold Auto Body Repair, will help you to be much safer on foggy Arnold, Missouri streets.

Stay Slow

Inside heavy fog, an extremely frightening thing happens to individuals when they are driving. They unconsciously accelerate! Of course, we all know that accelerating in fog is the worst thing you could do, but fog produces an optical illusion. While you look out your car windows, your body perceives that you are driving very slow. Since the majority of individuals become anxious in fog, they don’t look down at their speedometer. Eventually, they start going faster and faster. This is hands down the riskiest aspect of driving in fog. Make a mindful effort to glance at your speedometer every now and then. There’s a good chance you keep speeding up, without realizing it!

Keep The Headlights On

Always keep your car headlights on when driving any vehicle in foggy conditions to avoid a nasty auto body repair bill. Your daytime running lights are not enough. Many individuals turn their lights off as they feel their headlights are blinding them from reflecting off the fog, but you basically become a “ghost car” when this happens. Your headlights aren’t to help you to see better, it’s so others can see you! If your vehicle features fog lights, use those too. When traveling in fog, it’s extremely important to stay visible to others.

Forget The High Beams

You shouldn't ever use your high beam headlights in foggy conditions. Your high beam headlights reflect off of the water vapor and in fact reduce your visibility. You may feel that your low beam headlights are doing the same thing, but again, keep them on. It’s the most effective way for you to be seen.

Follow The Lines

When driving a vehicle in fog in the St. Louis area, it is a smart idea to follow the lines on the road with your eyes. This is the best way to be certain to remain in your lane. Drivers are normally drawn to lights, and subconsciously, will drive towards lights. So it is far better to watch the lines to make certain you are driving in your lane. Just be sure you are not fixating. Keep your eyes moving.

Increase Your Following Distance

A good following distance is very important in fog. Many drivers tend to “bunch up” in foggy conditions because they feel it’s easier to see. Driving in fog is scary, but now isn't the time to follow too close. That is one of the big reasons massive pile-up’s occur.

When You Stop

Occasionally, foggy conditions grow to be too thick to drive safely. If you are going above your comfort zone, it might be best to stop until the fog lifts. Remember – this is an extremely risky situation! If you cannot see, neither can anybody else. Try to get as far off the road as you can. Pull in a driveway, parking lot, rest area, side street, or just about any other place where you can avoid heavy traffic flow. But if the roadway shoulder is your only option, pull way over. Go into the grass if needed. If there’s a curb, drive over it and park on the opposite side of the curb. Stay buckled up and turn your lights off! If you leave your lights on, people might think you are driving on the roadway and rear-end you. Ensure that your foot is off of the brake pedal, and don't use your flashers. Keep every one of your lights off. If there's shelter nearby, try to get there quickly. If not, stay in your automobile and stay buckled up.

Dense fog typically does not last a long time. The fog might not entirely go away, but stopping for a while should buy you some time and permit the fog to lift a little. Dense fog has a tendency to migrate from area to area, unless you are in a valley where fog tends to settle. If the fog just gets worse while you’re parked, stay put. It is not worth taking chances with your life to continue. But bear in mind, when traveling in fog, stopping on the shoulder of the road must be a last option!

Dense Fog Is Customarily Temporary

Under most “normal” weather conditions, dense fog is short-lived. Generally, you will encounter small patches of dense fog on mountain valleys, peaks, near moist open fields, and close to bodies of water including streams, rivers, and lakes. Whenever the atmosphere is very humid, you may even get spots of fog that appear to wander from location to location. During the worst conditions, normally occurring at night or in early morning hours, the fog may be very dense and cover a span of many miles. This is the most dangerous condition and is generally alerted by fog advisories or warnings from the National Weather Service. When fog warnings or advisories are issued, simply don't drive (this is especially true in fog warnings). It does not matter how great you and the other motorists on the roadway are, if you can’t see, you can’t possibly drive safely.

If you do find yourself having any sort of accident in foggy conditions, think about taking your motor vehicle to CARSTAR Arnold Auto Body Repair. They serve people all over Arnold, Oakville, Imperial, Festus, and St. Louis, MO with premium auto body repairs.