Certified Collision Center

If you notice water is leaking into your convertible when the top is up and there are holes on the top, you know that it is time to replace your convertible top. However, there are a number of other issues that may also be indicative of a worn or aging top that you may be unaware of. Read on to learn about some of the lesser known signs that your convertible top needs to be replaced. 

Your Convertible Top is Sagging or Ill-Fitting

Think about your favorite shirt for a minute. As it is washed, exposed to sunlight and worn, it stretches out and losses its shape. The same can happen with a convertible top. Your top can start to sag or becoming ill-fitting as it is exposed to outdoor elements, including sunlight, extreme temperatures and moisture. If you notice your top is not tight fitting or is starting to sag, it may be time for a replacement. 

Mold or Mildew is Growing on the Top

It is important to routinely check your convertible top for mold or mildew. If you notice a small amount of mold or mildew growing on your convertible top, you need to use a mildew or mold-killing product to clean the growth from your vehicle and prevent it from coming back. However, if you have failed to do this and notice a large amount of mildew or mold, it may be time to replace the top. Large amounts of either mildew or mold can stain the top and weaken the fibers, which can easily lead to a rip or hole in the future. 

The Top is Discolored

Most people want their convertible top to do more than just protect the inside of the car from the elements. They want the top to compliment the rest of the car and add to the overall look of the car. A convertible top can start to fade or become discolored in as little as three to six years, depending on the material it is made from, how it is cared for and the weather elements it is exposed to. If yours has begun to fade, replacing it can provide your car with a much needed face lift. 

There is Excessive Sound or Wind When Driving With the Top Up

The final sign that your convertible top may need to be replaced is hearing excessive sound or wind while you are driving with the top up. Convertibles are not quiet, but you are likely accustomed to what yours sounds like. If it sounds louder than normal, the top may be ill-fitting or the material may be wearing thin due to age. Both are signs that replacement is likely needed. 

If your convertible top is showing any of these signs, you need to bring your convertible to an autobody repair shop to have the top inspected and likely replaced. Here at Certified Collision Center, with locations in Tracy, Manteca, Stockton, Oakdale, Modesto, South Sacramento, Lodi and Galt, California, we handle all of your autobody repair needs and more, including replacing convertible tops. Schedule your appointments with on of our convenient locations today. 

The 4th of July is known for barbeques and fireworks. If you are planning on lighting off fireworks to celebrate Independence Day, you should always take precautions. Fireworks can cause damage to many surfaces, including your automobile. Now is great time to learn how fireworks damage your car, how you can prevent that damage and how that damage can be repaired can help you learn what precautions you need to take when it comes to your automobiles and fireworks. 

What Type of Damage Can Fireworks Do To Your Car?

The number one cause of damage to cars from fireworks has to do with the ash. As fireworks go off, they release ash. When hot ash lands on your car, it can actually leave behind small burn marks or scorch marks on your car. Worse, when water interacts with dry ash on your car, chemicals in the ash are released which can eat away at the paint on your car. 

How Can You Protect Your Car From Firework Damage?

The best way to protect your vehicle from firework damage is to park your car in the garage on the 4th of July. If that is not an option, consider investing in a car cover. Find a car cover that fits your car nice and snug for the maximum protection possible. If placing your car in a garage or using a cover are not an option, consider waxing your car prior to the 4th of July. The wax coats your paint, which can also help to protect it from ash damage. 

How Do You Remove Ash on Your Vehicle?

If you were not able to protect your car during fireworks, you will want to remove ash from your vehicle as quickly as possible. Start by lightly sweeping off as much as you can using either your hand or a microfiber cloth. Do not use any type of brush, as the bristles can scratch your car. From there, you will want to spray down your car from the top of the car down to the bottom. Ash released chemicals that can eat away at your paint once wet. As such, you want to spray from the top to the bottom in a fast, yet efficient manner to ensure you wash all ash away. From there, wash your car as you normally would.  

How Can a Professional Can Repair Firework Damage?

If you notice that the paint on your vehicle is has small burn marks, it bubbling or peeling, or is fading, firework damage may have occurred to your vehicle. There are many ways that a professional can repair this damage. If the damage is limited to a small spot, touch-up painting may be done. If the damage is extensive, your entire vehicle may need to be stripped and re-painted to get your car looking its best. 

At Certified Collision Center Auto Body Repair, with locations throughout the Central California Valley, out autobody repair shop can help you with everything from minor exterior paint damage to major auto body damage. Call us today to schedule your appointment and let us get your car looking good as new again. 

The sun and heat can be brutal on your car. The sun and heat can both cause your car’s paint to fade, chip, crack or bubble, cause the interior fabric in your car to fade, damage the steering wheel or even cause the dashboard to peel or crack. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to help protect both the interior and exterior of your car from the sun and heat. 

Try to Park In the Shade or Under a Cover When Possible

Most cars are sitting longer than they are actually being driven. One of the best ways to protect your automobile from the hot summer sun is to try to park your car in the shade or under a cover when possible. The shade or cover helps to shield your car from sunlight and protects it from the damage that the sun does. If this is not an option, consider using a car cover that blocks the sun’s UV light, or a windshield sun protection cover to protect the interior of your vehicle. 

Use Products to Protect the Interior of Your Car From Sun Damage

Another way to protect the interior of your car from sun damage is to use products that protect the interior of your vehicle. You can use a steering wheel cover, a dashboard cover and car seat covers. This adds a new layer of protection between the sun and these fixtures in your car. Best of all, if the sun does cause a cover to crack or fade, you can simply remove it and replace it easily. 

Wax or Coat the Exterior of Your Car to Protect the Paint

The final tip for protecting the exterior of your automobile is to either wax or coat the exterior of your car to help protect the paint against fading, cracking, chipping or bubbling. Coating your car involves having it coated in a clear coat of paint that helps to protect your car. This option can be pricey, but it offers the best protection against many types of exterior damage, including sun damage and scratches. Waxing your car is a process that is done after washing your car. A thin layer of wax is placed on your car every two to six weeks, which helps to protect the paint on your car against sun damage. Wax must be reapplied routinely or it will not fully protect your vehicle.

Trying to park in the shade or in a covered spot when possible, using products to help protect the interior of your car and waxing or coating the exterior of your car are some of the best ways to protect your vehicle from sun and heat damage. However, if the damage is already done, you will want to bring your vehicle to an autobody repair shop to have it repaired before the issue worsens. At Certified Collision Center Auto Body Repair, we can help to repair both the interior and exterior of your vehicle. Bring your car to one of our convenient central California locations to begin the process of fixing your car. 

There are numerous benefits associated with tinting your auto windows. Tinting your windows can help to keep your car cooler in the summer months, can help reduce sunlight glare, can help to prevent thieves from seeing into your vehicle and can help to reduce fading and heat damage to the interior of your car caused by the sun’s heat. Both an autobody repair shop and window tinting shop can tint your windows, but you must first select the type of tint you want installed. Here are a few of the factors that you should consider when selecting auto window tint. 

The Type of Auto Tint

One of the factors that you need to consider when you are selecting auto window tint is the type of auto tint. Many people do not realize that there are different types of materials that can be used to tint your windows. Some of the most common materials for tinting automobile windows includes dyed window tint, metalized window tint, hybrid window tint, ceramic tint, and carbon tinting film. Each type of window tinting materials has its own unique benefits, so it is important to research the various options when deciding which one may be ideal for your automobile. 

The Features of the Auto Tint

Another important factor to consider as you go about selecting auto tint for your vehicle are the features of the specific auto tint you are looking at. Various types of auto tint have different features, including the color of the tint, the clarity of the tint, the solar control of the tint and the heat control of the tint. As you consider these features, also keep in mind any legal rules and laws in regards to window tint in the state that you reside in. California has rules that regulate how much light the tint must allow in. The percentage of light that is allowed in varies based on where the tint will be applied, such as the windshield, auto windows or back windows. 

The Lifespan and Warranty of the Window Tint

The last factor that you need to consider as you select window tint for your vehicle is the estimated lifespan of the window tint and any warranty that the window tint may come with. The brand of window tint can affect the estimated lifespan, as well as the length of the warranty that is offered with the tint. A knowledgeable installer can explain the lifespan of various window tints to you based on the driving and weather conditions where you frequently drive. 

At Certified Collision Center, with offices conveniently located throughout the Central Valley area, we offer many types of services beyond just autobody repair. One of the other services we offer is window tinting services. If you are looking to have your windows tinted, our experts can help you to select the right tint for your vehicle and then install it. Call us today to book your appointment. 

If you have been involved in an accident, you will want to bring your vehicle to an autobody repair shop. Once at the shop, a representative from the insurance company will likely meet with an auto body shop employee to complete an estimate for damages. This estimate is then used to determine if the repairs should be made or if the insurance company is better off totaling your car, based on the estimated costs for repair. If you have never had an estimate done before, you may be wondering what you can expect. Here is what you can expect when you are having an estimate completed at an auto body repair shop. 

Getting a Statement of the Accident Details

When you first bring your vehicle to an auto body repair shop for an estimate, an employee of the company will meet with you to discuss the details of the accident. They will want to hear your version of what happened. It is important to be detailed about what happened, as the details affect what part of the car may have been damaged in the accident and what type of damage may be pre-existing. The employee will then walk around your car with you and have you point out the damage that you feel was caused during the accident. 

An Exterior Inspection of Your Vehicle

After leaving your vehicle with an auto body repair shop, they will complete what is known as a shell estimate. They will take a look at the exterior of your vehicle and determine what types of damage they think may be present based on what they can see. They will not be able to see everything that is damaged until they begin to remove parts from the vehicle. They will then have the insurance company approve the work based on the shell estimate. 

A Thorough, More Complete Estimate

Once the insurance company, or you, if you are paying out of pocket, have approved the shell estimate, an auto body repair shop will complete a more in-depth estimate. They are know able to do this as they pull off panels or remove damaged parts from the car. A repair shop can then detail exactly what is damaged on the car that may have been hidden and exactly how much repairs to the vehicle will be to get the car back to its pre-existing accident state. 

If you have been involved in an accident, you are allowed to bring your vehicle for autobody repair to any auto body repair shop that is licensed in your area. At Certified Collision Center, with offices conveniently located throughout the Central Valley area, we are here to help you with everything from minor dings and dents to major auto body damage. Contact your insurance company to tell them you want to bring your vehicle to us, and then schedule an appointment with us to take a look at your car. 

If you are like most drivers, you have noticed people drive a bit erratically when the skies open up.  Complicating the challenge of driving in the rain is the fact that the moisture causes oils trapped within the road to move up onto the surface, making the conditions even slicker.  However, defensive drivers who proactively alter their driving strategy in accordance with the onslaught of rain will avoid accidents and arrive safely at their destination.  Here’s how to do it.

Steer in a Strategic Manner

There is no reason to drive at or beyond the posted speed limit amidst a downpour.  Reduce your speed and you will decrease the chances of hydroplaning.  However, if your vehicle ends up hydroplaning, turn the steering wheel in the direction you would like to drive toward.  Continue to steer out of the dangerous hydroplaning until your vehicle is straightened out.  Your first attempt to steer out of the slide might not work so keep at it and you will eventually return to the straight and narrow. 

Do not Fall Into the Trap of Cruise Control

Cruise control has its perks yet it also has the potential to make the road more dangerous than it should be, especially when it is raining.  You will put your vehicle, yourself and your passengers in harm’s way if you end up hydroplaning when cruise control is on.  Such a scenario will actually increase your vehicle’s rate of speed, making the situation that much more dangerous in all regards.

Reduce Your Speed

As mentioned above, there is no reason to drive at or above the posted speed limit when the rain is falling.  Do not drive faster than the conditions warrant.  There is no shame in driving 10 miles per hour less than the speed limit if it keeps you and your vehicle out of harm’s way.  Though reducing your speed will extend your driving time, it is better to make it safely to your destination rather than endure a potentially painful and costly accident.  Do the smart thing by leaving 10 minutes early and drive at a safe rate of speed.  However, if you get into an accident, our autobody repair shop will be here to get your vehicle back to its normal condition as quickly as possible.

Use Your Headlights, not Your Brights

Plenty of drivers make the mistake of forgetting to turn on their headlights when the rain falls.  Some drivers go to the opposite extreme and immediately turn on their brights.  The better approach is the happy medium of turning on your headlights to maximize visibility during the downpour.  Do not turn on your brights unless you are on the backroads and no vehicles are ahead of you.  Furthermore, there is even a chance your brights will reflect off the water-soaked road, bouncing right back up to your eyes, creating an even more dangerous situation resulting from temporary blindness.

Certified Collision Center has Your Autobody Repair Needs Covered

If you end up in an accident, we’ve got you covered.  Certified Collision Center will repair your vehicle so you can get back on the road as soon as possible.  Give us a call at (209) 836-4893 or fill out our convenient online contact form to schedule an appointment.