Do Your Research

Looking online for reviews of auto body shops is a smart first step. Even if you’ve gotten recommendations from friends on where to take your vehicle for repair, it’s wise to check the reviews to see if the majority of customers agree. Look for recent, detailed reviews and keep in mind that even reputable companies will receive an occasional bad review. Your car is a big investment, and likely the way you get just about anywhere you need to go – take the time to choose am auto body repair company that you can trust.

Know Before You Commit

You should receive a signed copy of the written repair estimate for your vehicle. The estimate should clearly describe the condition and repair needs of the vehicle. In addition, it should state what parts will be affected by the repair and the estimated charges for labor. A repair estimate should always state that the repair shop will contact you to approve any additional work that is outside the time or cost estimate provided on your written estimate, and that no additional work will be done without that approval.

What to Expect Afterwards

When you receive the bill for your repair, it should detail all of the work that was done on your vehicle. This includes the parts used and all labor charges. Check your itemized bill for any discrepancies between it and the estimate you received. If there is a difference, make sure you discuss it with the auto body shop and that the issue is resolved to your satisfaction before you pay your bill.

Note any issues that you may experience with your car in the weeks after your repair. If you notice issues that could be related to the repair, like uneven wear on your tires (potentially a result of misaligned suspension), contact the auto body repair shop. A reputable company will offer a warranty and should fix any repair-related issues under that warranty. Of course, you should keep all paperwork, including receipts, related to your repair in case a problem does come up.

Contact us today for all of your auto body repair needs!

The post Top Auto Body Repair Tips for Consumers appeared first on Billings Collision Repair.

Ready for the Showroom

If you want your car to look as though it is being driven off of the lot for the first time, you will certainly pay for that expectation. This type of job may involve a sanding down of the bodywork, as well dent and rust removal. The car might undergo several coats of paint before it meets your vision of what you want (in some cases, more than 20 coats may be needed). If you’re willing to spend up to $15,000 or $20,000, then you may be able to get a showroom-quality paint job.

Middle of the Road

A standard car paint job should be much more affordable than a high-end performance. Rust removal and some sanding may be included; these steps may be taken to ensure a finish that looks appealing. The price for this type of paint job should run between $1,000 and $4,000.

The Bare Minimum

To achieve a paint job that involves minimal cost, a technician will likely use paint made from synthetic enamel. Some parts of the car may not be included, such as areas that are not readily visible. This kind of paint job may cost you from a few hundred dollars to just under $1,000.

The level of quality you want will largely determine the price of your car’s paint job. If you want your vehicle to look perfect, you should be prepared to spend several thousand dollars. A standard paint job will cost much less than that. You can also opt for a relatively inexpensive car paint job, but you may need to lower your expectations in order to save money. Regardless of which paint job you choose, you’ll probably be happier with your car once the job is done.

The post How much does a car paint job cost? appeared first on Billings Collision Repair.

When fluids leak from the underside of your vehicle, it could be a sign of several problems. First, the pool of oil, which should appear brown and kind of greasy. The fluids could also be pink, which could indicate a leak of transmission fluids; or, blue and/or green, which likely indicate a coolant leak. Oil leaking from the engine is usually caused by a damaged or degraded gasket or seal. Engine components, like everything, do degrade and wear away and require replacement; it’s also possible that the components are worn out prematurely due to infrequent oil changes, and dirty, corroded oil. It’s also possible that a vehicle’s pan or gasket be damaged by road debris. These components do experience a ton of wear and tear, especially when a vehicle is routinely driven down rough, gravelly roads. The final likely problem (although there are a few more uncommon reasons why a vehicle leaks oil) is a bad ring or valve seal. This scenario can present a tricky situation, because if there isn’t any damage done to the gasket, the oil won’t leak from the engine and instead will be consumed through the combustion processes within the engine.

Regardless of the reason, oil leaks shouldn’t be ignored. And if you do ever find yourself stranded and in need of tow services twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, rain, snow, or shine, then call the towing professionals at City Towing.

The post Is it Common to Leak Engine Oil While Parked…? Why Does It Happen? appeared first on Billings Collision Repair.

Another problem commonly found in cars, is after you change all of the bulbs, the check light remains on. That could be caused by the wire harness cable that connects to the light housing; one of the pins could be burned and melted. This causes a slight voltage irregularity thrown to the computer telling it there is a fault even though the lights still work. So check all your wire connections very closely and see if you have any abnormalities or burned out pins.

Having problems with your turn signal?

If your turn signal stops working or isn’t working all of the time, use hand signals until you can get it fixed to avoid a huge fine! A turn signal is also known as the electrical connection and switching, there are two types of dashboard turn signal telltale indicators, left and right green indicator lights on the vehicle’s instrument cluster, and a cyclical “tick-tock” noise generated electromechanically or electronically.

And did you know that International regulations mandates that turn signals are required to blink on and off, or “flash”, at a steady rate of between 60 and 120 blinks per minute.

If you’re having problems with your turn signal, it’s best to have a certified technician check your vehicle to see what’s causing the problem, to correct it and to reset all lights and warnings.

Take good care of your vehicle to help prevent common tail light, turn signal and brake light failures. Visit Billings Collision Repair today for all of your car needs!

The post Common Tail Light, Turn Signal and Brake Light Failures appeared first on Billings Collision Repair.

When you store the vehicle, remember to clean it prior to storage, and clean it periodically throughout its periods of downtime. Dirt can deteriorate your vehicles paintjob, and any potential damage/moisture could even cause metal surfaces to rust.

The tires should be a primary concern. When you park the vehicle, ensure that the tires are filled to optimum PSI. When the tires are deflated unevenly, it’s possible for the tires to deteriorate unevenly and prematurely. And if you do ever need to use the vehicle, it’s unfortunate to discover an unexpected flat.

It’s also a good habit to store the vehicle with a full tank of fuel. When a vehicle is stored, it’s possible for moisture to build up in the tank.

The battery is another component that can unpredictably deteriorate over time; it’s possible to store a vehicle with a supposedly reliable battery in one month only to discover that the battery is completely drained of power the next month.

If you do ever find that your stored vehicle is grounded for any reason, and you need it towed, then remember the professional tow services at City Towing are ready, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, to help. Keep your professional tow services number in your phone’s contacts at all times; you never know when you’ll need it.

The post Keep up and Maintain a Vehicle in Storage appeared first on Billings Collision Repair.

And all those months the blades spend seldom used, the sun and dirt/grime stuck to the wiper’s rubber deteriorates the blades to the point of being ineffective. There are symptoms and tell-tale signs when the wipers need to be replaced. Initial performance issues include spots and streaks on the glass. The blade may also squeak or sound scratchy as it goes over the glass. And, when you inspect the blade, you notice that the rubber appears dull or it is worn/torn.

First, determine the type of wiper blade you need. The exact size and the type of wiper should be listed in your owner’s manual, but if you can find it there then check the wiper. Measure the length of the wiper. You will want to replace the old wiper with one of identical size.

Lift up the wiper arm. On the wiper, there should be a joint, made of plastic, and oftentimes there is an arrow indicating to which direction the wiper should be pulled free. Turn the wiper perpendicular to the wiper arm and detach the old wiper blade. Once the wiper blade is detached, you can clean the arm of dirt and grime and then attach the new wiper blade. The new wiper blade should have instructions on the packaging if you need assistance.

Once both wiper blades are in place, try them out. Use windshield cleaning fluid and make sure the wipers clear away the fluid effectively and efficiently.

Routine vehicle maintenance is absolutely important. It’s also important to know who to call for assistance. Remember to keep the phone number of your trusted tow professionals at City Towing in the contacts list in your phone, and remember that City Towing is ready to help twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

The post How to Replace Your Windshield Wiper Blades appeared first on Billings Collision Repair.

When you discover your buried vehicle, begin by clearing a path around the tires with a snow shovel. Clear away several feet of snow both in front of and behind the vehicle. If there is excessive snow on the ground, it’s likely you’re going to need to rock the vehicle back and forth to get the momentum to reach the driving lane. If you can, also clear out as much accumulated snow as possible beneath the vehicle. Then rock the vehicle back forth to get it clear of the snow. Light pressure on the gas pedal and switching back and forth between drive and reverse, always in control, until the vehicle has enough momentum to get unstuck. It’s tempting to want to floor the gas pedal, give it as much power as possible to unstick the car from the snow, but that extra power won’t help things, and, in some cases, could create a slick of ice on the pavement, making it more difficult to unstick. Momentum is the key.

Hopefully you don’t find yourself stuck or stranded this winter, but if you do remember that City Towing is always ready to help, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

The post What to Do if Your Car is Stuck in Snow appeared first on Billings Collision Repair.

In certain instances, the best shelter, and likely the only shelter, is inside the vehicle. If your vehicle isn’t smoking and there is any apparent danger to remaining, then stay inside. Other motorists can easily see your vehicle, but they won’t always notice you. This is also true if you are stranded in a parking lot or somewhere where you don’t feel safe. Inside the vehicle with the doors locked is safer than outside the vehicle, pacing.

In the event that you have a breakdown but still have the ability to get the vehicle to the side of the road, pull as far off on the shoulder of the road as possible. Yes, the shoulder is narrow on many Montana highways, but it’s still important to open up as much of that driving lane as possible.

If you do every find yourself stranded (Hopefully you never experience a vehicle breakdown), remember that you have the professional tow services at City Towing to help twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

The post Safest Places to Wait for Roadside Assistance appeared first on Billings Collision Repair.

First and foremost, it’s important to plan for the worst. No, that doesn’t mean you have to be nervous about your trip, worrying about everything, but it does mean that you should always be prepared. Have an emergency kit packed. You should also always have your City Towing professional’s phone number programmed into your phone and stored in the glovebox on a piece of paper. Make sure that your tool kit, specifically your jack, spare, etc., are in good working order. If you have never before changed a tire, or if you don’t know where these tools are hidden within your vehicle’s interior or exterior, then get to know how tools are stored and how they work before you need them.

It’s also important to keep your vehicle cleaned and maintained. If you’re due for an oil change or a tire rotation then make sure to get it done before you leave. It’s also a good idea to check the oil and tire pressure to ensure that everything is in good working order.

Plan your route. If you’re a person who prefers paper maps or atlases, then go through the route several times, taking note of the landmarks and distances. If you’re someone who prefers E-Maps and other technologies, then program everything before your leave.

Hopefully you never have an emergency on the road, but if you prepare then hopefully no emergency will completely ruin your trip. Remember that your towing professionals at City Towing are ready to help twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

The post Road Trip appeared first on Billings Collision Repair.

Once upon a time everyone drove vehicles with carburetors. A carburetor benefited from a prolonged idle because it took it time to supply to the vehicle the correct mixture of fuel. An engine could fail if the carburetor failed to do its job correctly.

Modern vehicles use electric fuel injectors. These injectors are monitored by the vehicle’s computer. Sensors detect the ambient temperature and adjust the mixture of the fuel to account for the cold weather. Which means that all the time you spend at idle, hoping to warm the engine of your vehicle, is both time wasted and unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle’s engine (Your vehicle’s engine is still working at idle) and the extra time burning fuel does put a strain on the environment.

It doesn’t take fifteen-to-twenty minutes to warm the vehicle’s interior and to defrost the windshield. A few minutes to get the processes working, and you should be ready to drive; a short time running your vehicle down the road and it will likely warm to the point that the interior is toasty comfortable.

Minimizing idling time will also help to better manage your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. And when it comes to wintertime driving efficiencies, it’s a good idea to always have the correct air pressure in your tires (If you are unsure what the optimal PSI is for your vehicle’s tires, check the sticker on the inside of the door panel or the owner’s manual.

The post Wintertime Vehicle Tips appeared first on Billings Collision Repair.