It may not seem obvious at first, but the adjustment on your headlights might be all wrong. How do you know for sure? Among obvious signs that your headlamps aren’t properly aimed are oncoming drivers flashing their lights at you because your lights are blinding them even without your high beams turned on, or the road ahead is brightly illuminated for only 20 feet or so, meaning the headlights are aimed too low. Proper alignment is important when installing new headlights. Each headlight must be securely mounted and properly aimed so the beam pattern “cut off line” complies with all applicable regulations. It is recommended that headlights are aimed with a headlight aiming system for proper alignment. If you are not familiar with the legal requirements for aiming your headlights, please see a professional service provider.

When your headlights aren’t shining in the right direction, you know it. It’s tough to see and be seen on the road. Or you’re inadvertently blinding other drivers, which isn’t very neighborly of you. Headlight alignment can change after an accident, when new lights are installed, and as driving miles accumulate. Checking and aligning headlights only requires a couple tools, and is a straightforward fix. It is recommended to kill two birds with one stone by changing headlight bulbs at the same time. Here is how you adjust the headlights:

1. Check under the hood to see if your lights have levels. If they do you just need to align them if they are out of alignment.

2. Remove all contents from your car or at least anything throwing the vehicle off-balance, like junk in the trunk, passengers, and any excess baggage in the backseat.

3. If your driveway is not flat, find a family member or friend, preferably with a flat 25-foot driveway and a garage, who does not mind if you borrow theirs for a few minutes.

4. Gather tape and necessary tools.

Suspension problems or a heavy cargo load can change your vehicle’s ride height and shift one or both headlights subtly. A collision or hitting a road hazard also can move a light assembly and misalign your lights. One way to tell if headlights are correctly aimed is to park the vehicle on a level surface and shine the headlights on a garage door or wall 25 feet ahead (some cars may require a different distance). The top of the low beam shining on the wall should be at or slightly below the height of the center of the headlight lens for most vehicles. You should expect the light pattern to be higher on the right side (passenger side) to illuminate road signs and lower on the driver’s side to prevent blinding other drivers. This should give you a good idea of whether the beams on both sides are aimed correctly.

Another method is to pull the vehicle within 5 feet of the wall and then use masking tape to mark the vertical and horizontal centers of the light beams on the wall. Move the vehicle back 25 feet. With the aid of the tape line, the light beams should be roughly the same height vertically and horizontally. Vehicles have an adjustment screw or bolt on the headlight assembly for adjusting headlight height, and some also have a screw for horizontal aim. Some vehicles also have a bubble level to help with adjustments.

On some vehicles, you might have little or no space to reach the adjusters without removing parts, such as the battery. Additionally, to get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be on truly level ground, the ride height shouldn’t be affected by damaged suspension parts, flat tires or cargo, and the vehicle needs to be perpendicular to the surface on which you’re shining the headlights. Many vehicle owner’s manuals give little or no guidance on headlight aiming. When in doubt, ask a repair shop to check. If a vehicle is still covered by the basic warranty, a dealership may check the headlight aim and align it at no cost.s

Things happen fast on the road (unless you are stuck in traffic). And one mistake can cost a huge accident that might cost you your car and even your life. Because of that, we need to be good defensive drivers to prevent accidents.

Having a faulty or damaged headlight not only looks bad physically. It can also put you at risk of any possible accidents that may be brought about. One cannot settle down for an ‘okay’ headlight—your life may be put at stake for that. It poses a grave threat to one’s safety as it compromises night visions and reduces effectiveness by up to 80%.

A probable reason for the problem is the presence of ultraviolet rays. It becomes more serious as the heat is compounded with environmental factors. In addition, if the place has a sunny climate, then it becomes more susceptible to the effects. Places such as the Concord Area may be considered as such.

A lot of headlights nowadays have an aged, cloudy, or hazy look. As the age of a car on the road continues to rise, the more it becomes prone to faults. In addition, most modern vehicles use replaceable bulbs with plastic lenses that re more prone to discoloration rather than sealed-beam units which are a lot more durable.

Plastic lenses are lightweight and are also composed of durable components, as compared to sealed-beam units. But plastic light covers can yellow, haze and suffer damage over time, limiting visibility and diminishing the appearance of the vehicle. That can indeed by quite hazardous and unsightly for the part of the owner. To repair the lenses in the past may cost quite an amount of money.

It is advisable to acquire restoration kits or deliver the car to an auto collision repair store that provides excellent headlight repair or restoration services without a run for the money. There are repair kits and stores that shoulder various services that may be greatly beneficial. For instance, there is a repair service that protects the headlight from stones. It reduces the risk of the headlight getting broken and faulty.

Remember: headlights are very much important to cars as eyes are to men. Protecting that specific part can not only serve to provide aesthetic effects to your vehicle. It can also give you significant aid in ensuring your own protection. Choose wisely the auto repair kit/centre you seek such service from.

The car windshield is a critical feature to protect the passengers from being ejected from possible accident. A broken windshield with cracks or spiderweb damage is a major pain for a lot of car owners. That’s why if there are splits and dings found on the windshield, it is much considerable to take the car to an auto shop for examination.

Initially, the car will be assessed to identify the damage. Each crack and chip will be measured according to their deepness, size, and position to determine whether it needs repair or replacement. This means that windshield repair and windshield replacement differs from each other.

Whatever your concern is, to choose the right automotive company for this particular car issue will ensure clients a good service with the company’s certified auto technicians. These specialists have a proper knowledge about the quirks what this job comes with. They are also clued-up on what type of glass to order to use for the replacement according to your car model and make.

Reminder: In terms of the cost, repair is much affordable than the replacement. However if required, don’t hesitate to consider the replacement service especially if the damage of the windshield is severe that can’t be managed merely by repair.

Winter passed us by which seemed to be like an eternity, and we are all planning to hit the road for a spring or summer road trip.

Often times, drivers overlook their cars when it is spring cleaning time and this article will be beneficial to all car owners out here that may take time to read and care to take on our Car Care Tips for the spring season.

Some road service shared that they were helping out more stranded motorists during summer, all because car owners neglected the essential checklists after winter season. There are several types of steps to spruce up your vehicle that may help avoid costly repairs and being part of the toll of being stranded during your road trip.

Using this spring maintenance checklist ensures that your car is reliable and running efficiently.

Battery Check: Winter is a little tough on starting components in your car like the starter and alternator. The battery works double during winter so the tendency will be, your battery may get drained. And you literally cannot go anywhere if your car won’t start.

Check the signs for a weak battery: Dimming headlights/ interior lights and power windows may take longer than usual to go up or down.

Brake Check: Winter conditions brings salt on the roads that can lead to corrosion of brake parts. When the car uses the anti-lock braking system enables the car to work harder in the winter’s slick conditions. Safety of your brakes is the most crucial part of your car, so getting them checked out is very important.

Know the Trouble Signs: When hitting the breaks, the car is pulling to one side, creating squeaking or grinding noises and or when the brake pedal feels too soft.

Tire Inspecting: Tires that were worn-down make it hard to stop, even if the car’s brakes are in tip-top condition. We suggest you to try on the coin test by inserting a quarter into several grooves into each tire. What happens is that when part of the coin is covering , you might still have 4/32 inch of tread left and is probably safe to drive. When you have less tread, replacements is important.

Keeping the tires inflated is also a good sign to check on. Making sure to keep the tires inflated can boost your gas mileage by 3% or more and make the car safer as well.

Belts and Hoses Check: Belts and Hoses that are in no good shape may cause problems specifically loss of power steering to an overheated engine and these parts are easily overlooks. Look for cracks and peeling on the belts, the softening of the hoses. Broken belts are one of the motorists’ worst summer breakdown.

Air Conditioning Testing: A way to test is to turn on the cooler on full blast and making sure it reaches that max chill in a short span of time. If you suspect some problems, have a mechanic check it out soon.

Winter passed us by which seemed to be like an eternity, and we are all planning to hit the road for a spring or summer road trip.

Often times, drivers overlook their cars when it is spring cleaning time and this article will be beneficial to all car owners out here that may take time to read and care to take on our Car Care Tips for the spring season.

Some road service shared that they were helping out more stranded motorists during summer, all because car owners neglected the essential checklists after winter season. There are several types of steps to spruce up your vehicle that may help avoid costly repairs and being part of the toll of being stranded during your road trip.

Using this spring maintenance checklist ensures that your car is reliable and running efficiently.

Battery Check: Winter is a little tough on starting components in your car like the starter and alternator. The battery works double during winter so the tendency will be, your battery may get drained. And you literally cannot go anywhere if your car won’t start.

Check the signs for a weak battery: Dimming headlights/ interior lights and power windows may take longer than usual to go up or down.

Brake Check: Winter conditions brings salt on the roads that can lead to corrosion of brake parts. When the car uses the anti-lock braking system enables the car to work harder in the winter’s slick conditions. Safety of your brakes is the most crucial part of your car, so getting them checked out is very important.

Know the Trouble Signs: When hitting the breaks, the car is pulling to one side, creating squeaking or grinding noises and or when the brake pedal feels too soft.

Tire Inspecting: Tires that were worn-down make it hard to stop, even if the car’s brakes are in tip-top condition. We suggest you to try on the coin test by inserting a quarter into several grooves into each tire. What happens is that when part of the coin is covering , you might still have 4/32 inch of tread left and is probably safe to drive. When you have less tread, replacements is important.

Keeping the tires inflated is also a good sign to check on. Making sure to keep the tires inflated can boost your gas mileage by 3% or more and make the car safer as well.

Belts and Hoses Check: Belts and Hoses that are in no good shape may cause problems specifically loss of power steering to an overheated engine and these parts are easily overlooks. Look for cracks and peeling on the belts, the softening of the hoses. Broken belts are one of the motorists’ worst summer breakdown.

Air Conditioning Testing: A way to test is to turn on the cooler on full blast and making sure it reaches that max chill in a short span of time. If you suspect some problems, have a mechanic check it out soon.

The exterior of your car’s finish is one of the most important lessons to learn about ownerships, despite the make and type. Your car’s paint job is one of the most obvious features. This is also one of the expensive repairs/ replacements. Adding years to the life and luster of your car’s paint should be absolutely certain that taking the time to learn which products to use and when to use them in taking care of your car’s paint job.

Some of our Tips:

1. Always start by properly washing your car using the proper tools. Using a cotton or paint-safe microfiber washing mitt, a 5 gallon bucket and good cleaning products specifically designed for automotive use. These companies offer products that are pH balanced, non-detergent formulas that won’t strip off wax, and combine them with lubrication to prevent scratching and conditioners to maintain the shine protection. The materials should usually be gentle on all painted finishes as well as rubber, vinyl, and plastic components.
2. Do not skip drying the washed areas of the entire car. Drying your vehicle after washing is necessary to prevent water spots – those pesky mineral deposits that etch the outline of a drop of water into your vehicle’s paint. Auto detailing professionals advise using 100% cotton detailing cloths. Take note that polyester and microfiber can scratch your paint surface. If you want to get more high-tech, many car care product lines have “paint safe” drying towels that are super absorbent and claim to be lint and scratch free.
3. If a good wash wasn’t enough to get off all the road grime, bug residue, pollution or tree sap, the next recommendation would be to use a clay bar because it “pulls” contamination off the surface without abrasion or scratching. Detailing clay usually comes in a kit with a lubricating spray to protect your paint. You just spray the area to be cleaned, and then glide the clay along the surface of your paint – it will grab anything that protrudes from the surface. Detailing clay is not designed to remove paint scratches or swirl marks. Heavy tar or insect deposits may need to be removed using a specialty solvent.
4. The paint looks dull- the problem is old oxidized paint. At this point, you have one problem with three solution: This is to either car polish, cleaner or rubbing compound. All three remove unwanted dull paint, but in varying degrees of aggressiveness. Polish removes the least amount of paint for a given application, while rubbing compounds remove the most and cleaners are somewhere in the middle. We recommend starting with an application of polish first before moving on to a cleaner. Rubbing compound is a very aggressive abrasive and you should talk to a professional before giving that a try.
5. Car Waxing. Waxing is the most important thing you can do to protect your car’s paint and an absolute must if you have just used a polish or cleaner. Paint sealants give you longer lasting protection and will not melt, wash off or wear away for about six months.

To watch out for:

1. Always start your project with the car out of direct sunlight. Make sure the paint is cool to the touch before applying any cleaning product or wax.
2. Spray your car with ample amounts of water before washing. Use the water to spray off dirt and other contaminates that will scratch your car if you immediately start using a sponge and water first.
3. Be sure to wash and rinse in sections so the car wash soap doesn’t dry before being washed off.
4. Read the manufacturer’s directions on all car care products prior to use.

Have you ever been able to see a small, minor dent on your car? Panicking of making the long list of expensive paint jobs and scheduling this in with your auto collision center. Don’t fret. Small and minor dents can be solved with  Paintless Dent Repairs. This is also known as Paintless Dent Removals, where this describes a method of removing minor dents from the body of a motor vehicle. A wide range of damage can be repaired using PDR is applicable as long as the paint exterior surface is intact. PDR may be used on both aluminum and steel panels.

Hail damage, door dings, minor creases, large dents and bodylines damage are the most common practical use for PDRs.

The method can also be utilized to prepare a damaged panel for repainting by minimizing the use of body filler. This technique is currently known as “push to paint” or “push for paint”. This can save insurance companies and consumers thousands of dollars.

Limiting factors for a successful repair using PDR include the flexibility of the paint and the extent to which the metal has been stretched by the damage, which depends on the thickness of the metal, the flatness where the damage occurred and the intensity of the impact. Generally speaking, the shallower the dent, the greater the likelihood of paintless dent repair being a suitable option. Even dents several inches in diameter can be repaired by this method as long as the metal and paint are not stretched. Most experienced technicians can repair a shallow large dent or crease to an acceptable level, but very sharp dents and creases may not be suitable for PDR.

Some insurance companies will try to manipulate you to use a specific repair shop. They say carefully worded phrases to avoid conflict and to scare customers into thinking they won’t receive payment for their claim.

Sometimes, some insurance companies may have ownership in the repair shop they recommend. Some pay bonuses to employees for sending customers to specific repair shops and sometimes, commissions whenever these insurance companies were able to send in.

For you to know, according to the law, insurance companies cannot tell customers where to go for repairs. A customer have the right to select where their motor vehicle is being repaired and the parts used for repairs. However, an insurance company is not required to pay more than a reasonable amount for such repairs and parts.

Important Facts Regarding Vehicle Repair

1. You choose where you want your vehicle towed and repaired. It’s the law.
2. You only need one estimate to determine the amount of damage.
3. Review your car insurance policy especially regarding car rentals.
4. Verify the insurance company pays for all covered repairs.
5. Take care in choosing the right repair shop because your safety depends on it.
6. Insurance companies have deadlines they must follow regarding the claims process.

This is a step toward picking the right body shop is to ask questions until you get all of them answered.

Consult with a professional if there are still questions hanging and need sorting out.

A dent is probably one of the most irritating flaws a vehicle can be seen with. Such hollow engravings brought about by a collision or something else may be considered rather unsightly. To have a car dent fixed may cost quite an amount. It will require all the necessary equipments, skills, and facilities in order to return the vehicle back to its usual marvelous state.

There are several methods in order to remove car dents. It is essential to choose one that may be financially advantageous to you. At the same time, it ought to provide you with everything your car needs to be in better shape. Toronto has an abundance of service providers that make use of Paintless Dent Repair.

Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is a rather new process of removing minor, and even some major car dents. In contrast to body shop repairs, it does not repaint and remove the factory finish of the vehicle. It is done through pushing the dents from inside the vehicle.

The following are the advantages of the implementation of PDR on car dents:

1. Cost-Effective. Paintless Dent Repairs are 80% less expensive compared to body shop repairs.Nevertheless, it still seeks to provide a significant repair as if a collision never happened in the first place.
2. Maintenance. 100% of the vehicle’s factory paint goes unscathed and preserved. Since it does not repaint, it does not grind the car’s paint.
3. Environment-Friendly. Fillings such as bondo, primers, sealers, and other harmful chemicals which are usually used in body shop repairs are not used in the process.
4. Fast. Since PDR does not use paint, the process of repairing the vehicle becomes faster. Less time is required to repair a dent.

In conclusion, Paintless Dent Repairs is one of the most preferred methods to fix up your dented vehicle. It combines monetary, quality, and eco-friendly benefits to safekeep the state that your vehicle had way before it was dented.