A crack in your windshield or any window in your car can be extremely frustrating, as it is not a problem you can avoid fixing right away.  Many small cracks in vehicle windows can easily grow into large, unrepairable cracks very quickly if not repaired quickly and properly.   If you do have a small crack, or a crack that is less than 6 inches in length, it is likely you will not need to get a full windshield replacement.  Many collision repair shops offer glass repair services and will be able to assess the crack damage to your window or windshield to quickly determine if it will require repair or total replacement.   There are many at home auto glass repair options, as well, if you fancy yourself to be handy with repairs.  It is recommended that you use these kits on very minor cracks that are not deep in order to ensure complete repair.

Windshield glass repair is a fairly simple process.  The collision repair shop technician will first assess the total crack damage in the glass, taking into account the age of the windshield, depth, and length of the crack, and placement.  Many times, if the damage is in the line of sight of the driver shops will recommend that a full replacement take place.  Likewise if a crack is deep enough to penetrate the clear layer of plastic that prevents windshield glass from shattering.  If they determine that the windshield can be repaired, they will clean the surface entirely before applying a sturdy glue that will dry clear.   If done properly, windshield crack repair is a safe and permanent solution to a damaged piece of glass.

Consumers will also be happy to know that windshield glass repair is an affordable option.  Most times, full auto glass replacement is also not an extremely pricey fix, either.  Search Carwise.com today to find a collision repair shop near you that can perform auto glass replacement and repair.

Paintless Dent Repair is a popular and usually more cost-effective alternative to full replacement repairs at auto body shops.  Paintless dent repair, or PDR, is a technique used to remove minor dents and dings from car panels, doors, and roofs while leaving the original paint intact.   To do this, technicians will access the back side of the damaged panel and then massage and shrink the dent with unique and specialized rods and tools.  Eliminating the time spent on ordering replacement parts, PDR is faster than conventional repairs and does not use traditional auto body methods like sanding, body fillers in order to maintain your car’s original finish.

Are you unsure if paintless dent repair is an option for you?  

Dents in areas that suffered paint damage or, similarly, dents that have caused your vehicle’s paint to chip or crack are not eligible for paintless dent repair.  It is possible that the process could still be completed, but the cost benefit of PDR may be nominal with the added expense of paint repair.  These are important questions to ask a technician during your estimating process, as it can vary per repair. This method tends to work best when the affected area is on an original panel (has not been previously replaced), when the damage is not near the edge of a panel, and on newer cars, typically with model years of 1990 or later.

As many as 35% of online appointments are now made online after hours.  This is why we have updated Carwise.com to include appointment booking, allowing you to complete the entire process of finding and making an appointment with a body shop in your area in one place.  All open appointment slots at participating repair facilities will show up directly within the search results, so you can easily find both a shop and appointment time that work best for you, no need to pick up the phone or wait on hold with the shop.

Online booking gives you the flexibility to make an appointment online at the shop you choose, at any time of day.  Plus, all appointment slots are updated in real-time, providing a smooth end-to-end experience for you.

Are you thinking about getting a fresh color on your car, or just looking to patch up an area of rust or scratch on your hood?   It’s hard to know what to expect in terms of cost, as this is not something we often do.  Good news is many auto body and collision repair shops offer free estimates on paint jobs.   We recommend getting quotes from a couple shops before making a decision, as costs can vary greatly.

So, you might be wondering, what all is involved in painting a car anyway?  There are a few steps to the process.  First, the car must be prepped for a new coat of paint.  This includes a power wash, a layer of grease remover, and the car is sanded down completely. Then, the car is prepped with plastic covering to protect all areas that should not be painted; including: tires, windows, headlights, etc.  Once complete, the car is ready for paint.  The color paint is applied in even coats, then a clear coat is applied at the end.  The clear coat is what gives cars a shiny finish, the color alone is a matte finish.  Finally, the cars are parked in huge dryers, allowing the paint to set and dry completely.

A fresh paint job might be just what your car needs to make it feel new again either for your personal use or to help you spruce it up to sell.

Sources:

http://www.carsdirect.com/car-maintenance/how-to-properly-spray-paint-a-car-for-a-professional-look

Car won’t start? This could be caused by a variety of things, so we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common reasons and tips for troubleshooting the cause. Typically, there are subtle distinctions between the causes, as listed below, and it can save you some time at a repair shop if you know what the issue is upfront.
Here are the most common reasons your car may not start:

The battery is dead

If your car makes a clicking noise but won’t start, it is likely that your battery is dead. This is an easy fix, regardless if you need a new one, or to charge your existing battery.

The alternator is bad

The alternator is responsible for charging your battery while the car engine is running. There are a few signs of a bad alternator; including, dimmed headlights, illuminated dash lights, or a growling sound. If left untreated, you may find yourself with a car that won’t start, because the battery has not been charging properly.

Fuel system issues

If the engine cranks but won’t start it possibly caused by a blocked fuel filter or a fuel pump failure.

The ignition switch is bad

This switch is what sends energy from the battery to spark the starter and begin burning gas. If this switch goes bad, none of this process can start. This issue is typically characterized by flickering dash lights, and difficulty turning the key.

The starter is faulty

A faulty starter causes a high-pitched screeching sound, similar to that of when a car is running and the starter is accidentally hit again.

A repair shop in your area will be able to fully diagnose the issue and provide the solutions to get your vehicle up-and-running again. Be sure to browse reviews written by real customers on Carwise to find a shop that is best for your needs.

Finding small dents in your car can be incredibly frustrating. Taking it in for a repair at an auto body shop and contacting your insurance company seems like a hassle since you can still operate the vehicle.

what is paintless dent repair?

You may be concerned about repair costs, or increases in your insurance premiums. However, there is an inexpensive option known as paintless dent repair (PDR). While PDR is often used for hail damage, it can also be used for large and small dents anywhere on your car’s paint surface. Furthermore, it leaves the paint job on your car intact, so you don’t have to worry about panels appearing mismatched after the repair. This process maintains the original paint and parts which, in turn, minimizes costs while helping your car retain its value for potential resale.

Paintless Dent Repair or Paintless Dent Removal (PDR) is a technique used by auto body shops that remove dents and dings, leaving the original paint in place.

To ensure that your car dent is repaired properly, you should leave it to the professionals. With Paintless Dent Repair (PDR), auto body shops can remove many types of dent damage including hail or door dings.

Paintless Dent Repair is a process of accessing the back side of the damaged panel and then massaging and shrinking the dent with unique and specialized rods that have different configurations. PDR is faster than conventional repairs and does not use traditional auto body methods like sanding, body fillers in order to maintain your car’s original finish.

WHAT CAN PAINTLESS DENT REPAIR FIX?

Paintless dent repair can work well in the following situations:

• From small to large dents

• On newer cars, typically with model years of 1990 or later

• When cracked or broken paint is not present

• When the dent isn’t close to a panel ‘s edge

• When the panel has not had previous auto body repair

PDR is so effective for hail damage that insurance companies will setup temporary facilities to rapidly assess and repair damage.

ADVANTAGES OF PAINTLESS DENT REPAIR

Paintless Dent Repair advantages include:

• No repainting or body filler needed

• Does not cost as much as a traditional body repair

• Can be quickly fixed in most cases

• No possibility of paint overspray on other parts of the vehicle

• No risk of incorrect color matching

• Vehicle retains original paint

A vehicle with original paint retains a higher value than a car that has been repainted. No matter where the damage is located, it is always best to keep the original paint on a vehicle for as long as possible.

Paintless Dent repair and Hail damage

The calm after a storm is not so smooth when it has resulted in hail damage to your vehicle. In many cases though, getting the damage fixed is not so difficult.

CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY AFTER YOU GET AN AUTO SHOP QUOTE

The first thing you should do after the storm is get in contact with both an auto body shop and your insurance company. An auto body shop will help you figure out your hail damage repair options; your insurance company is likely aware that a hailstorm went through your area and can let you know your insurance coverage, as well as repair options.

GET YOUR CAR FIXED WITH PAINTLESS DENT REPAIR

More often than not, your car can be fixed using a technique called paintless dent repair (PDR). This is used when there are dents in the metal, but the paint job has not been damaged, which is often the case with hail damage. PDR is relatively inexpensive, as many auto body shops offer this service in-house, work with insurance companies after a storm to ship cars to PDR companies, or can refer you to a specialized PDR technician. In areas where hailstorms are common, many insurance companies and collision repair shops will set up temporary PDR spaces to provide quick repairs at minimal cost.

WHERE CAN I FIND AN AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP THAT DOES PAINTLESS DENT REPAIR?

If you want to ensure that you have a flawless Paintless Dent Repair, find a good auto body shop to get your car back to pre-damaged condition. A quick search on Carwise.com will help you find the right shop.

Not all shops offer PDR in-house, as it is a specialized repair process and requires technical training. At Carwise, we can help you locate an auto body shop that offers PDR near you. If you live in an area prone to hailstorms, use Carwise to find a shop near you before a storm hits.

Sources:

MSN Autos

The calm after a storm is not so smooth when it has resulted in hail damage to your vehicle. In many cases though, getting the damage fixed is not so difficult.

Call your insurance company after you get an auto shop quote

The first thing you should do after the storm is get in contact with both an auto body shop and your insurance company. An auto body shop will help you figure out your hail damage repair options; your insurance company is likely aware that a hailstorm went through your area and can let you know your insurance coverage, as well as repair options.

Get your car fixed with paintless dent repair

More often than not, your car can be fixed using a technique called paintless dent repair (PDR). This is used when there are dents in the metal, but the paint job has not been damaged, which is often the case with hail damage. PDR is relatively inexpensive, as many auto body shops offer this service in-house, work with insurance companies after a storm to ship cars to PDR companies, or can refer you to a specialized PDR technician. In areas where hailstorms are common, many insurance companies and collision repair shops will set up temporary PDR spaces to provide quick repairs at minimal cost.

At Carwise, we can help you locate a body shop that offers PDR near you, and help eliminate the hassle in locating the right PDR technician for your needs. Finding car repair technicians specialized in PDR and other specialties is a breeze with Carwise.

Paintless dent repair is a repair option worth considering for auto body shop managers. Whether or not your shop is in an area that gets hit regularly by hailstorms, PDR is a relatively inexpensive way of repairing dents in vehicles. While it is likely that your future and existing customers will appreciate a less expensive option to repair dents, it is important for collision repair shops to evaluate their own cost benefit of setting up PDR in-house.

Setting up for Paintless dent repair

The major factors in considering setting up PDR in a body shop include:

• Access to a PDR-trained technician
• Owning the correct PDR equipment
• Having a well-lit space specifically for PDR repairs in the shop
• The amount of jobs that could use PDR

In many cases, it boils down to the last point — demand. If hailstorms rarely occur in your area, your shop may specialize in other repairs. It may even make more sense to outsource PDR to another company, in which case will need to consider the cost of transporting cars offsite.

Overall, setting up PDR in your shop can attract a lot of customers. Here at Carwise, your body shop’s profile page can indicate whether or not you offer PDR to those in your area requiring PDR services. Weigh your options, and consider if PDR is right for your shop.

Fender Bender also has an article about setting up in-house PDR.

The explosion of mobile technology has made staying connected easier than ever. And as that technology continues to expand its reach, car manufacturers are working to meet consumer demands for connectivity inside the vehicle. Which features are important to consumers, and what impact will those features have on customer satisfaction and safety?

Connected Car Examples

Below are some popular connectivity options now available in many new vehicles:

• Vehicle-to-driver communication
• Voice-activated controls/features
• Internet-enabled navigation
• Personal assistant service
• Vehicle internet connectivity
• Vehicle mobile applications

According to Nielsen research, approximately nine in 10 are satisfied with their drivable tech. And when it comes to shopping for a new car, the majority of consumers who plan to purchase a new car in the next two years say they’re very likely to purchase a connected car with built-in features. Most drivers of connected cars say it makes driving fun and feels “revolutionary”. Many also felt it improves safety on the road and makes them drive better.

While connectivity features can help in some cases with accident avoidance, they are not a replacement for safe driving and cannot guarantee your safety. In some cases, connectivity features can even create a distraction for the driver, increasing the risk of an accident. As always, it’s important to practice safe driving and only use connectivity features like internet and navigation while the vehicle is parked.

In the event of an accident, your connected car will need the attention of a high-quality collision repair shop. To learn more about finding a quality collision repair shop, visit carwise.com

Sources:

Staying Connected Behind the Wheel

Technology puts Consumers in the Driver’s seat with Connected cars

Online auto body shop review websites like Carwise.com are important for your business. They not only help you communicate with your existing customers, but they can be a key component of a successful auto body shop’s marketing strategy. An online auto body shop review is a reflection of your reputation, plus online reviews can draw in new business to your shop.

Review websites are the next best referral tool to word of mouth.

Here are the top reasons why auto body shop review websites are important:

1) Reputation. 88% of consumers read online reviews to determine if a local business is a good business.

2) Referral business. Personal recommendations are the only other referral process more trusted than auto body shop review websites.

3) Reviews help you in the search engines. Reviews give you a huge boost on SEO, improving your online presence and search engine rankings in Google, Yahoo, Bing and other search engines. If you want better exposure in the search engines, auto body shop reviews matter a lot!

4) Stay ahead of the competition. 90% of auto body shops don’t share reviews. There is a huge opportunity for your shop to improve your sales and referral business if your competition is not participating in online reviews.

5) Carwise vs. auto body reviews on other websites. The subject of fake reviews has had a lot of news coverage and is on the mind of the average consumer. However, Carwise.com is different than other online review sites, because all auto body shop reviews are 100% REAL. They are the opinions of verified customers who’ve had their vehicles repaired at the shop they reviewed. Unlike other online review sites that allow anyone to write a review, Carwise.com eliminates the possibilities of fake auto body shop reviews up front by requiring reviewers to complete a verification process to ensure they are actual customers of the auto body repair shop that is receiving the repair review.

Check out Carwise.com today to see the opinions of real people who have had their vehicles repaired at these facilities. They rate these shops on a number of factors that make a difference to the customer experience.

Sources:
SearchEngineLand