Car Care Tips

The best way to protect your vehicle is to keep it in the garage and wash it regularly.

Winter

Protect your vehicle by keeping a safe distance from the car ahead. Sand and gravel can be flung up from the street, scratching paint and chipping glass. Windshield cracks spread with temperature changes, and when they are near the edge, they can be hard to see. As soon as you spot a crack in your windshield, repair it immediately.
Ice scrapers should be used for your exterior windows ONLY. Ice scrapers can scratch the paint, window tint and rear view mirrors.
Install your ski racks carefully. Scratches and dents to roofs can occur if not properly installed.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when installing tire chains. Broken chains can damage fenders and wheel wells and needs to be removed. When using chains, drive slow and avoid driving on dry roads.
Be careful when loading your Christmas tree to the roof of your car. Your Christmas tree can cause scratches and scruffs and needs to be removed immediately when you get home.

Spring

As the weather starts to warm up, cover all your chips with touchup to prevent water from getting under the paint, in turn, causing more damage. This is the time to replace or repair cracked windshields.
It’s time for yard work! Hedges and bushes along driveways can scratch your vehicle. Keep your bushes trimmed or avoid driving next to them.
When removing old parking passes and other stickers, use bug and tar removers specifically designed for vehicles. Avoid razor blades and commercial solvents.
Use your manufacturer’s recommended bug and tar remover when removing tree pitch, and remember to clean it off as soon as you can.

Summer

Avoid driving on new asphalt. If you get fresh asphalt on your car, get it off immediately using cleansers found in your manual.
Do not park downwind of where paint is being sprayed.
Small white spots on sun-heated finishes are often caused by sprinkler spray. As the water dries, it leaves mineral deposits that can adhere to your paint and glass. Avoid parking near sprinklers and direct the ones in your yard away from your car. In most cases, the spots can be rubbed out with a paint cleaning compound. Consult a detail shop for more information, or, contact us and we’ll show you how to do it yourself.
If possible, avoid parking near sprinklers. Sprinkler spray often causes small white spots on sun-heated finishes.

Fall

Clean drains regularly, because leaves and pine needles clog rain drains, causing water to back up into the passenger compartment. .
Be careful when removing bird droppings but do so immediately. They can damage the paint if not taken care of right away.

Throughout the Year

Remember to regularly check the passenger side of your car for damaged trim that needs to be repaired. You’ll likely notice damage on the driver’s side.
If you get a gas stain around the fuel filler door, wash it immediately. Wash gas stains from around the fuel.
Pay attention to where and how you park. When parking, get in between the lines as best you can, allowing others to have ample room to open their door and not hit your car.