The best auto body shops have experience, knowledge, and expertise in the industry. But when is it time to take your vehicle to an auto body shop you trust? Let’s look into three situations where sending your car to an auto body shop is in your best interest.

Your Vehicle Has Damaged Paint

Your vehicle’s paint can be damaged in a number of scenarios. A shopping cart, a tree branch, or even a child’s toy can do damage to your car’s paint job. The good news is that the best body shops offer auto body paint refinishing services. With paintless dent removal (PDR) becoming a more popular option in this situation since it is cost-effective and quick, look for an auto body shop that offers PDR services. This way, your vehicle can look good as new in a matter of hours.

There’s an Issue With a Window

Auto body shops also do window repairs and replacements. So, if you notice a chip or a mark that could turn into something more complex, take it to a trusted auto body shop that can get the repair done efficiently. It’s important to get your cracked or shattered window fixed as soon as possible, as it can be unsafe to drive a vehicle with windows that can break on you at any moment. If glass were to fly while you were driving, it could cause another series of accidents you want to avoid.

You Were Recently In a Car Accident

Did you know that 72% of car crashes result in property damage? If you and your vehicle recently suffered a car accident, it’s best to take your car to a reliable auto body shop that offers collision repair services. Even if you don’t think your car is damaged from the accident, it’s best to have a professional thoroughly inspect your vehicle for damage you can’t see yourself. They may be able to spot auto body damage that can easily be repaired in due time, which is definitely in your best interest if the spotted problem could have turned into a bigger issue.

Your vehicle is one of your biggest investments, so do yourself a favor and take it to one of the top auto body shops in your area in any of the three situations outlined above. An auto body issue may seem small at first, but it can worsen if time goes by and the problem is not addressed. To learn more, contact Formula 1 Collision Center today.

5 Tips To Properly Disinfect Your Vehicle During The Coronavirus Pandemic

As COVID-19 moves across the country, we all know that is is contagious. Washing our hands and disinfecting surfaces are the best way to defend against the coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). With everyone donning masks and gloves each time we go out in public, are we making sure our cars are clean and disinfected as well?

If you are using your car during this time, it is a good idea to give it an initial cleanup and periodically go over your car’s interior to make sure there are no germs lingering around. Hopefully, this article will help you understand how important cleaning and disinfecting your car’s interior is without damaging it in the process.

Here are a few tips:

1. Use cleaners that disinfect – It isn’t enough to just make your car smell clean; it has to be disinfected in order to kill the coronavirus germs. Most of the same household cleaners that kill coronaviruses on hard surfaces at home can also clean a car’s interior surfaces without damaging its interior. Chances are, you may already have some of these products at home. According to the CDC, alcohol solutions that contain at least 70 percent alcohol are effective against coronavirus. For the most part, nearly every interior surface of a vehicle can be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol without any damage to it. You can even use disinfecting wipes to wipe down the interior of your car and any other area that could be considered a high-touch area.
2. Don’t use bleach or hydrogen peroxide – While they both kill coronaviruses on surfaces, they will most likely damage your car’s upholstery. They can cause damage to the vinyl and plastics used in most modern vehicles today. Don’t use ammonia-based cleaners on car touch screens either. These cleaners can damage the anti-glare and anti-fingerprint coatings.
3. Protect your leather – Most car leathers and imitation leathers have a urethane coating protecting it, which is safe to clean with alcohol. But over time, cleaning leather with alcohol can leave it prone to damage and discoloration. You should use a good leather cleaner, then a good leather conditioner afterward.
4. Clean all surfaces touched by hands – steering wheel, door handles, shift lever, any buttons or touch screens, wiper knob, turn signal stalk, passenger and driver door armrests, grab handles and seat adjusters.
5. Keep a sanitizing kit in your car – Keeping supplies inside your car is a good idea. You can make a kit of hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and spray, masks, and gloves to keep you going. Make sure you remove your gloves before you open your car door and get inside. You don’t want to cross-contaminate your vehicle when you get inside with your gloves and masks. You can clean your door handle and steering wheel all day long, but if you have dirty hands, you put that dirt back on when you touch it.

It’s virtually impossible to turn on the television, radio, or computer without hearing about the coronavirus (COVID-19). Don’t panic, just be as prepared as you can. Nothing can guarantee you will avoid catching the bug, but these tips can help to minimize the risk. We hope you can use this information to help keep your vehicle as clean as possible while reducing the spread of the virus.

Other Tips & Advice – If you are looking for Tips To Keep Your Car Cool in the Arizona Heat, visit our blog. Stay safe out there!

Tips to Keep Your Car Cool in the Arizona Heat

The Tucson summer temperatures are already here and heating us up! Although we love the long sun-filled days and great weather that Arizona offers, our cars need special attention throughout the long hot day’s. Sky-high temperatures can send us all running for the AC, but using these tips can keep you and your passengers riding in cool comfort all season long!

• Keep your interior cool– When you get in your car after it has been sitting out in the sun, the heat can take your breath away. Cool down your interior more quickly by immediately rolling your windows down and driving with them down and the air on full blast. This forces the hot air out and allows the cool air to circulate. Within a minute or so of driving, the air inside the car will be tolerable enough and you will be ready to roll up the windows.

• Keep it fresh – Hot weather can really bake in a stench into your car’s interior, especially if you are the team mom or dad, and transporting sweaty, stinky athletes is on your summertime agenda. Make it a point to wipe down your seats on a regular schedule. If you have a leather interior, the store shelves are full of fresh-scented leather cleaners and wipes. Check under your seats to make sure no passengers have left anything that might season your car in the heat and throw a box of opened dryer sheets under one of the back seats to always keep your car smelling it’s best.

• Steering wheel melting? – Turn your steering wheel 180 degrees before getting out of the car. This way, the area of the steering wheel that you actually use will be shaded and you won’t blister your hands while you are driving.

• Don’t blow out your tires – Under-inflated tires are riskier because the lack of air pressure puts the tire under increased strain. On the flip side, over-inflated ones are more likely to hydroplane in a monsoon downpour. Keep a tire pressure gauge inside your glove box so that you can check your tire’s air pressure periodically throughout the summer months.

• Keep your engine cool – Keep an eye on your coolant level on a weekly basis. Hot temperatures combined with low coolant levels can increase the chance of your engine overheating. This can also cause your AC to work overtime. If you’re driving and your temperature gauge is rising, your warning lights start to flash or steam begins pouring out from the hood, this is signs of an overheated engine. Pull your car over to a safe place, turn off the engine, and wait at least a half-hour for it to cool down completely before opening the hood. If your coolant levels are low, topping off the tank could solve the problem. If it doesn’t, contact a tow truck and your mechanic.

These tips can help you keep your car cruising cool all summer long! If you are ever in need of collision repair or auto body refinishing, give Formula 1 Collision Center a call at 520.369.4291. STAY COOL!