Some Common Car Problems and Solutions

Our cars give us the freedom we need to get from place to place. And while they make our lives a lot easier, they are not without their problems.  All car owners will face minor issues from time to time that will need action:  scratch repair, tire changes and windshield repair and replacement. These are just some of the conditions that come with owning an automobile.

 To help, we’ve addressed these common car problems and offered tips on how to solve them. Thankfully, most can be fixed without too much hassle once you know what to do next.

Scratches

This is something that’s almost unavoidable if you are a car owner. Driving outside means your paint has to fend off gravel, tree branches and the elements as well as vandalism. There’s only so much you paint job can handle before it starts to give. Depending on the depth of the scratch, this could be touched up with a polishing pad or pen, especially if it has just penetrated the clear layer of gloss paint. However, if the metal frame of the car is being exposed it may need a respray. Either way, there is a simple solution to get your car looking as good as new again.

Flat Tires

Your car’s tires are one of its hardest working parts so it’s not surprising that every now and then you will come across a puncture, no matter how tough they are. It’s important to keep a repair kit in your trunk and a spare, if possible, too.

When you notice your wheel deflating, get it off the road as soon as possible. If you’ve caught it early and the tear is small, you may be able to plug it with your kit in order to allow you to continue on driving until you are able to replace it. Your kit’s instructions will show you how to do this.

If it is particularly bad, you could have to replace the tire on the spot. This is why having a spare is a wise choice. If this isn’t an option you will need to call roadside assistance to do it for you. Always keep a 24/7 roadside assistance number stored in your cell and somewhere in your car for these types of emergencies.

Chipped, Cracked or Shattered windshield

A chip or crack in your windshield could be caused by a crash, something hitting it, or even the weather. Sometimes they start off small but they will get bigger in time. It is simply not safe to drive around with this problem. As a small crack grows it not only obstructs the drivers vision, it can eventually shatter putting the driver and others on the road at risk.

If you see a chip or a crack, take your car to a windshield repair and replacement service. There, the problem can be assessed by a windshield repair and replacement professional who can fill it to stop it from spreading, or provide you with new glass. By choosing a high-quality windshield repair and replacement firm like Rapid Auto Glass, you can ensure that your problem will be solved and you can continue to drive safely.

Replacement & Repair of Your windshield-

The windshield of your car or any other vehicle may suffer from unexpected damages. You may get a hit from a leather ball or a stone or anything else that is capable of disturbing the state of your windshield. That smaller element will soon get removed away, but it poses heavy expense upon your pocket. A crack or a chip is likely to develop on the front side of the windshield which needs immediate repairs or in worst cases, a replacement as well. No wait should be done to let the crack develop into a major damage. In all such cases, there is a dilemma of whether you should opt for a repair or a replacement.

Some of the advices are given below to facilitate an easy solution to this problem:

• A window with a chip or a crack is generally taken for repairs, but depending on the depth to which the damage has been caused, a replacement may be needed. Also, if the age of the window is considerable enough, it will also affect the solution needed.

• Size of damage is also significant for a better solution choice. Deep Chips & long cracks may be difficult to handle & repair. However, it also depends on the technology taken in use for this purpose. Some Glass repair service provider uses latest tools & technology that can even deal with large chips & longer cracks & repair it pretty easily. But, before application of such technological advancements, it should be evaluated whether the damaged window can withstand it or not.

• Type of Damage should also be considered. Amongst those that can be easily repaired are Pits, dings, partial bullseye crack, bullseye crack.

• A repair can be opted if the cracks & chips developed is less than one-fourth of the size.

• Even in the case of a repair, if the resultant windshield acquires blurred appearance & lacks in clarity, replacement would then be a better option.

The Various Services of an Auto Glass Repair and Replacement Centre

When you think of an auto glass repair and replacement centre, you think that’s about all they offer. If such a company were to offer more than that, wouldn’t it say right there in the title and description? Believe it or not, but such a centre usually offers far more than simply auto glass repair and replacement. Let’s go over some of the other services they offer...

First, you have the obvious service: auto glass repair and replacement. Driving with chips, cracks, and other damage on your windows can be distracting, dangerous, and illegal. Having your windshield repaired can solve the problem, however it is possible that the damage is simply too great to be repaired. If this is the case, you will have to have your entire window replaced. This is more difficult than it sounds as cars use special tempered glass and each model has its own specific measurements. What fits one car model likely won’t fit another. Even the same models can run into compatibility issues if the years of manufacture are different.   Installation is also complex and must be done correctly to prevent leaks and fogging.  Simply put, it’s not something you can easily do yourself and it does take a trained hand to get it done right.

Next, there is window tinting. This is a valuable service, as window tint can sometimes result in reduced damage to a window and the car. Having tinted windows can reduce the glare from the sun, mitigate the too-hot-to-touch seats problem during the summer months, reduce UV ray exposure, and possibly reduce danger from broken glass during an accident. Window tinting can also provide other benefits, like additional privacy in your vehicle, masking the contents from a potential thief, and preserving the longevity of the seats if they are made of leather. They are much more than a simple gimmick.

As a follow up, these same centres offer tint removal. If they can put it on, they can tear it off. Removing the tint from your windows can be a difficult task that requires an immense amount of effort and proper training to do it well. Besides requiring the use dangerous ammonia, it is easy to mess up and cause damage to your vehicle, or turn the process into a several-hour affair. There are many vehicles that have their radio antennas right where your tinting is, along with the defroster lines. Furthermore, improper removal of the tint can result in scratches on the window. You can certainly do it yourself, but the risks outweigh the benefits when there are professionals who can do it much better than you can.

Lastly, you can expect any auto glass repair and replacement centre to also offer headlight restoration. While purchasing an entirely new headlight system will certainly fix the issue, you can save a lot of money simply restoring your headlights. It’s a common issue that affects many car owners who believe the light system itself is failing when it is often a case of a clouded or dirty lens. Simply going at it with a rag and some cleaner usually doesn’t work, so these centres can get the job done for you at a much cheaper cost than you originally expected.