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.

COVID 19 OPERATING PROCEDURES

Effective Monday 3/23/20

As the Pandemic continues, we’d like to reassure you that Gold Coast Auto Body is committed to remaining open and available to serve your collision repair needs.

In order to do so safely and effectively, we’ve instituted sweeping changes to our operating procedures designed to safeguard the health of our customers and staff members.

ABBREVIATED HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm, Saturday and Sunday closed

VEHICLE PICK-UP & DELIVERY
In order to minimize unnecessary customer visits, a valet pickup and delivery service will be available for pre-scheduled repairs at the start of service, and upon completion of repairs.

PHOTO CONSULTATION/INSPECTION
To facilitate a contactless preliminary inspection and consultation, a unique secure link will be provided for customers to upload their own photos of vehicle damage.

TOUCH-FREE PAYMENT PROCEDURES
Pre-payment by credit card is available.

PROTOCOL FOR SHOP VISITS
In the event an in-person visit to our shop is necessary, we ask everyone to adhere to the following safety guidelines (a pre-scheduled appointment is advised):

Consultation/Inspection – Customers are encouraged to remain inside their vehicles throughout the inspection/consultation process. If you need to use the restroom, please ask before exiting your car.
Vehicle Dropoff – If you would like to drop your vehicle off in person, please pre-arrange return transportation to minimize your time inside the facility.
Vehicle Pickup – Our waiting room is reserved for customers picking up their vehicles, and we ask that you remain there until you leave.

These emergency procedures will remain in effect until further notice. We regret any inconvenience and ask for your patience as we all work together to get through this most difficult time. Thanks for your understanding and continued patronage.

Dominic & Mario Martino
Gold Coast Auto Body

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.

Sun Damage: Prevention and Restoration Tips

Who doesn’t love the summer sun? Well, for one, your car.

Oxidation is the chemical reaction that occurs when heat and oxygen combine. This results in a breakdown of the molecular structure of paint.

While we love basking in the sun at the beach or the ballpark, that beautiful ball of fire in the sky oxidizes the paint on your car, leaving it with a faded or whitewashed appearance over time.

Can you prevent it? Sadly, no; there is no absolute when it comes to preventing sun damage to your vehicle’s paint job. However, by using a UV-resistant clear protective coating at the time of the paint job, it can slow oxidation. In terms of the original factory paint job, different automotive manufacturers have exhibited different levels of success with UV clear coat. And that’s out of your hands.

So quite frankly, the best way to avoid sun damage to your car is to keep it out of the sun whenever possible. Not only should you store your vehicle in a garage or other sheltered area, but you might also consider using a car cover when it is going to be parked in the sun for any length of time.

But some oxidation is inevitable. So what can you do when it does occur?

Well, you always have the option of living with the faded, hazy paint. But when you are someone who invests in a higher-end vehicle, chances are you want your ride looking as cherry as possible.

As a preventative measure you should regularly wash and wax your auto. Use a wax that incorporates a UV protectant. Washing and drying regularly will also remove pollutants such as bird droppings and dirt that can also harm the car’s paint.

Depending on the level of sun damage, hand or machine buffing with a rubbing compound may improve the look of oxidized paint to a degree. But this DIY approach isn’t going to completely solve those trouble spots on your hood, roof, and trunk.

The one true way to really renew your car’s finish is to invest in repainting.

For flawless results, auto painting requires professional equipment and specialized training. This is the appearance of your prized baby’s paint we are talking about, so you don’t want to take it to some fly-by-night, coupon-in-the-mail shop.

Your friends at Gold Coast Auto Body are experts in restoration and painting. What’s more, we use BASF paints and coatings, the highest quality money can buy. So when the time comes to repaint, do yourself a favor and bring your vehicle to GCAB, a shop you can trust.
You want your vehicle looking like new. So do we.

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.