Shop Talk

Welcome to the Gold Coast Auto Body “Answer Blog,” where we periodically post news updates, technical articles, and other items of interest to our customers and friends in the luxury car community.

Winterizing your car, Chicago style

Chicago is a city with its own style. We’ve got Chicago style pizza. We’ve got Chicago style hot dogs. And Lord knows, we have Chicago style weather – especially in the wintertime.

Yes, from blinding blizzards to bone-chilling cold, the severity of winter in Chicago is legendary. Which means if you want to keep your car not only running, but also healthy for the long term, you’ve got to winterize your vehicle, Chicago style.

Of course, in the event of an accident, Gold Coast Auto Body is equipped to get you back on the road in like-new condition. But wouldn’t it be better to avoid the accident all together?

One thing to keep in mind as you debate how detailed you want to get in your winterization of your vehicle is that many winter collisions that could result in damage to your automobile are easily preventable if your car is truly road worthy for winter driving.

Fluids
The first thing you should do in winterizing your car is to be sure to fill your windshield wiper fluid with a winter blend. These blends contain a heavier balance of alcohol to water, translating to a lower freezing temperature.

If you can’t see the road clearly, you’re inviting an accident. Making sure your windshield wiper fluid is working properly despite winter temperatures and conditions is vital to preventing auto collisions that could find you bringing your vehicle to GCAB for repair.

According to an article in The Columbus Dispatch, the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration lists the inability to see the road clearly is a leading cause of automotive accidents.

As its name suggests, antifreeze is specifically formulated to regulate your engine during extreme temperatures. Whether you are talking about extreme heat in the summer, or extreme cold in the winter, it ensures that the engine block stays at an even operating temperature.

You should check your antifreeze (more commonly referred to as “coolant) at least twice a year – at the start of summer and at the start of winter. And be sure to flush the radiator on a regular basis. As a general rule of thumb, flush and fill service is recommended every 30,000 miles or 5 years, whichever comes first. For more information on engine coolant and considerations you should check out this article from Cars.com.

Your gas line can also benefit from its own type of antifreeze. Putting special fuel-line antifreeze in the gas tank during winter will help eliminate water from the fuel line to prevent freezing. It’s also a good idea to keep your tank at least half full during the winter months to prevent a fuel line freeze.

Finally, don’t forget to change the oil. For Chicago winters, you’ll want to use an oil with a lower viscosity – that is, the relative thickness. A lower viscosity oil will be more fluid and flow better at lower temperatures. For information on oil types and viscosity read this FAQ from Valvoline.

Rubber Belts and Wipers
Like fluids, rubber products can be adversely affected by cold weather. Your serpentine belt (also referred to as the “S belt”) has grooves like a tire. If these grooves are worn out and cracked it’s a good idea to have the belt changed to avoid having it snap in the winter. Older neoprene rubber belts typically last about 50,000 miles. By contrast, newer ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber belts can last up to 100,000 miles.

Windshield wiper blades also feature a partial rubber construction. Properly functioning wiper blades are just as important as having the right windshield wiper fluid. According to the Federal Highway Administration, visibility is associated with almost 50% of fatal crashes.

You may want to consider installing winter wiper blades, which are generally bigger and have a sturdier frame. The rubber is typically constructed of synthetic materials such as Teflon and silicone to stand up to the harshest temperatures. For information on the difference between summer and winter wiper blades, read this article from Blain’s Farm & Fleet.

Tires
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, tire problems are associated with 35% of accidents studied for the administration’s Traffic Safety Facts Crash Stats report. While Gold Coast Auto Body will always be ready to repair any collision damage to your car, obviously you are going to want to avoid collisions whenever possible.

Some people change their entire wardrobe from summer to winter; it can be a good idea for your tires, too. Don’t be misled by the term “all-season tires.” The truth is, such tires generally don’t measure up in snow and ice. Winter tires are constructed of a softer rubber to enhance grip, and feature superior tread patterns that are specifically designed to achieve better traction on ice and snow. For a more detailed explanation of the advantages of winter tires consider this article from AutoBlog.com.

Tire pressure is another important point. When the temperature drops by as little as 10 degrees, it can cause a 10 percent loss of tire pressure. Since having the correct tire pressure is vital to ensure proper handling, it is very important that you check your tire pressure frequently during the winter and adjust accordingly.

Battery
Typically, it is recommended that you replace your battery every three years. While you can push that timetable to up to five years in some parts of the country, in Chicago three years is the safe way to go.

Even if it’s not time to replace it, you’ll still want to inspect the battery for corrosion, which usually shows up as a white powder around the nodes and clamps. While this can be cleaned with baking soda and water (usually with a toothbrush or similar soft bristled device), you may want to just replace the battery early and give yourself peace of mind that you’re not going to get stranded in the middle of a Chicago severe weather situation.

While checking your battery, make sure you ensure the cables are nice and tight. You should also take the opportunity to replace your spark plugs.

Of course, even a brand new battery can fail you in the face of a subzero cold snap. So while you are winterizing, make sure you have a working set of jumper cables in your car. You can never be too cautious. Other winter items to have onboard include a first aid kit, kitty litter or rock salt, emergency flares, gloves and hat, a blanket, possibly a shovel if you have space, extra windshield washer fluid, and a sturdy ice scraper and snow brush.

In summary, even “mild” Chicago winters can be brutal for your car. Make sure you take all of the proper steps to winterize your car in advance. If you don’t have the time or know-how to do it yourself, take your vehicle to a trusted mechanic to handle winterization for you. Just make sure you do it. Better safe than sorry!

For more information on the specifics of winterizing in the Windy City, take a look at this Chicago Tribune article.

Beware of Hidden Collision Damage

When you’re in a full-blown accident, obviously you’re going to bring your vehicle to a trusted body shop like Gold Coast Auto Body in Chicago. But even if your car, truck, or SUV is in a low-speed collision it is still advisable to bring it in because there could be damage beyond what’s detectible with the naked eye.

Even low-speed accidents like backing into another car or bumping into a pole in the parking lot can cause unseen damage to your car. A trained collision repair specialist can give you peace of mind if the damage is just cosmetic, or advise you of internal problems that could be costly if not attended to.

Examples of potential problem areas:

Cooling Hose/Transmission
That “little bump” may not affect your transmission directly, but it could damage the cooler hose. And if the hose is restricted, it will interfere with the flow of essential fluids necessary to cool the transmission. Driving without a functioning cooling hose can lead to a total transmission failure – a very costly and potentially dangerous scenario.

Wheel Alignment
You wouldn’t know it by looking, but wheel misalignment can come from just about any impact, including at extremely low speed. Misaligned wheels lead to tires wearing unevenly, which in turn will require you to replace them earlier than under normal circumstances. That’s money out of your pocket you didn’t have to spend.

Diagnostic Codes
As you probably know, virtually everything in your car is computerized. Modern vehicles have up to 100 sensors onboard; soon that number could top 200. Even with a small fender-bender, these systems can become damaged. A quality body shop like GCAB has specialized equipment that allows us to check your vehicle’s diagnostic codes. This is important even if your check engine light isn’t on because you may have pending codes. It’s worth the trip to the shop to be sure.

Body Frame
Damage to the frame of your vehicle can be serious, even if you can’t see it or feel it. If the frame of your vehicle is bent, the car won’t operate properly. Frame damage can lead to wheel alignment issues, and worse, may interfere with airbag deployment. Again, it’s worth your while to have an expert take a look.

Bumpers
Gone are the days of bumpers being little more than welded-on slabs of metal absorbing the impact of a bump. Modern bumpers often are filled with energy-absorbing materials like plastic or Styrofoam. When the bumper is hit with enough force to trigger its energy absorption characteristics, it needs to be replaced because it has served its purpose; it won’t work a second time. Of course, this wouldn’t be evident to a casual observer. An expert assessment is essential.

Vehicle Monitoring Systems
Bumpers also often house components for vehicle monitoring systems. As such, impact to the bumper can affect blind spot monitoring, parking and back-up cameras, and airbag deployment.

Trunk Malfunctions
According to this article from the Carwise.com website, rear-end collisions, even minor ones, can cause a litany of potential problems particular to that kind of impact. These problems can include trunk malfunctions such as water seepage during inclement weather or even the trunk popping open while driving.

Electrical
The article cited above also notes that electrical problems can happen long after a seemingly innocent bump. This is due to the impact loosening wires that can then eventually come detached. Loose wires can cause brake lights to go out unexpectedly, or result in a dead battery.

So that’s the pitch. For your safety, for your wallet, and for your peace of mind, have those minor fender-benders checked out by a qualified auto body shop like GCAB. And if you have cosmetic damage, you know we handle that too.

For more information on hidden damage, read this report from MotorWeek automotive magazine.

Our Customers Weigh In

We take great pride in the work we do here at Gold Coast Auto Body, and we’re not the only ones. Read a few of the recent endorsements we’ve received from thousands of satisfied customers who know first-hand the quality and commitment we bring to every job we do.