Save money without compromising your safety or your car’s well-being

Food on the table or new tires for the family jalopy? An easy answer for most people. But driving on worn tires poses a safety risk. So, too, can a mechanical breakdown that leaves a car and its passengers stranded on the freeway.
Tough times can mean tough choices for folks struggling to make ends meet. Auto Club data suggest that Southern Californians are skimping on car maintenance, leading to a variety of mechanical failures and breakdowns. During the first half of this year, roadside assistance calls increased by 7 percent, an unusually high number.
Moreover, Southern Californians are keeping their cars longer. In just one year, the average age of the nation’s cars has risen from 10 years to 11 years, an extraordinary increase, says John Nielsen, AAA national director of auto repair.
Unfortunately, older cars require a higher level of maintenance to keep them running. The upshot? More motorists are experiencing firsthand the finite life of automotive parts.
Now or Later
Skimping on basic maintenance is false economizing, because if you keep up with low-cost minor adjustments to your car, you likely won’t have to pay for high-cost major repairs later. Or, as the mechanic in an old TV commercial for oil filters said, “You can pay me now, or pay me later.” For instance, if you replace a car’s dirty fuel filter for $50, you could avoid the $500 bill you’d have to pay for replacing a ruined fuel pump. Spending several hundred dollars to change an engine’s timing belt is far less costly than spending thousands for an engine rebuild. And the list goes on.
If you find penny-pinching to be a necessity these days, be assured there are ways to pinch those pennies while still being car smart. Based on feedback from the Auto Club’s Roadside Assistance and Approved Auto Repair programs, as well as test data from the Auto Club’s Automotive Research Center, here are 12 suggestions that can save you money by helping to prevent common breakdowns.
1. Open the good book.
Buried in your car’s glove box is the owner’s manual, which outlines the appropriate maintenance procedures and intervals to keep your car in top condition. Becoming familiar with the factory-recommended maintenance schedules in the manual is the first, and perhaps most important, step to cost-effective car care. If you can’t find the manual, buy one from your car dealer or download it from the automaker’s website.
2. Stay on schedule.
Automakers typically offer owners a choice of “normal” or “severe duty” service schedules, the latter requiring more frequent oil and fluid changes. Carefully consider how you use your car, and decide for yourself what’s best. But remember that given all the stop-and-go driving in Southern California, many cars fall into the severe-duty cycle, says Dave Skaien, program development manager of the Approved Auto Repair program.
3. Stay informed.
You may still be holding on to some outdated notions about car repair. For example, the traditional three-month/3,000-mile oil change has generally gone by the wayside, even for some severe-duty schedules. Follow the automaker’s maintenance schedule.
4. Dip the stick monthly.
Auto-maker-recommended service intervals of 5,000, 7,500, or even more miles don’t excuse you from checking your car’s oil level between changes. Approved Auto Repair shops are seeing more cars coming in for oil changes that are several quarts low, a recipe for catastrophic engine failure. But it’s normal for a car to use more oil as it ages—up to a quart per 1,000 miles.
5. Keep it cool.
When you check the engine’s oil level, note whether there’s enough coolant in the cooling system’s reservoir. The owner’s manual will show you where the reservoir is. Look for any signs of seepage around the radiator and for cracks or strange bulges in the radiator hoses that could be a tip-off to imminent failure.
6. Keep on chargin’.
Typically, a car’s battery life is three to five years, says Steve Mazor, manager of the Auto Club’s Automotive Research Center. Your battery may have a charge-indicator “eye.” If it’s charged, the eye should be green—although the eyes are notoriously inaccurate. Most batteries are sealed but not entirely maintenance-free. If the terminals look as if they’ve grown moss, gently scrub them with an old toothbrush and a 50-50 mix of water and baking soda. Be sure the cables are tight. And look for any cracks or fraying on belts that drive the alternator and other engine components.
7. Look down.
Your car holds a half-dozen or more fluids of one sort or another, and all of them should remain in your car, not on the driveway. An occasional drop of engine oil or a trickle of condensed water from the air conditioner is no cause for alarm. But puddles of fluids—especially those that are yellow, green, red, or pink—signal potentially serious issues with components, such as the brakes, transmission, or cooling system.
8. Avoid additives.
Be wary of any gas-saving claims for automotive devices or oil and gas additives, warns the Federal Trade Commission. Even for the few gas-saving products that have been found to work, the savings have been small. Much the same goes for other engine elixirs, Mazor says. Any benefit they might provide probably isn’t worth their cost.
9. Change filters.
Recent Roadside Assistance tow data show a spike in fuel pump failures. Mazor speculates that the cause may be the additional ethanol in gasoline or cash-strapped motorists running too low on fuel before refilling. Avoid running on empty, and be sure to follow prescribed fuel filter changes. By comparison, engine air filter changes aren’t as critical; the research center’s tests show that if anything, a slightly dirty filter may increase fuel economy, contrary to popular wisdom.
10. Buy a gauge.
Keeping your car’s tires at their proper pressure (as listed in the owner’s manual or on a plaque in the car, not on the tire’s sidewall) prevents premature tire wear and preserves your car’s handling and braking capabilities. Don’t rely on the beat-up gauge on the air hose at the gas station. You can buy one at an auto parts store for less than $5.
If your car doesn’t have a tire-pressure monitoring system, consider replacing the valve stem caps with caps that warn when tire pressures are dangerously low (less than $20 a set).
11. Keep shining.
Frequent washes and twice-yearly waxes enhance the resale value of your car. And you’ll also feel better about driving your older but spiffy-looking car. Touch-up paint from a new-car dealer will hide little chips and parking-lot “rash.” And if an errant rock dings your windshield, have the crack filled immediately by a windshield repair specialist before it spreads and makes a costly windshield replacement necessary.
12. Build a relationship.
Repair shops may charge differing labor rates—even the shops of new-car dealers for the same make in the same area. But once you find a shop that you believe to be fair, stick with it. The service personnel will come to know you and your car. When your budget is limited, they’ll help you prioritize maintenance and repair tasks, allowing you to safely put off less pressing ones.

Why Rotate Your Tires

Rotation means you are changing where the individual tires are mounted
on the vehicle. Let's assume you have a front-drive car with all four
tires the same size. Each tire will carry a different load and be faced
with different situations. The front tires will carry over 60 percent
of the car's weight. They are also responsible for putting the power of
the engine to the road, and for all the steering. Finally, they are
responsible for about 80 percent of the braking.


It stands to reason, then, that the front tires will wear much more
quickly than the rears. Not only that, but the right front tire might
tend to wear out more quickly than the left front because the nature of
American traffic means that left-hand turns (which load the right-front
tire) tend to be taken at higher speeds, and under higher loads, than
right-hand turns (which load the left-front tire). And, right-side
tires are more likely to be faced with road hazards and hitting curbs.
The result of all this is tires wearing out at different rates.

Rotation Schedule
To make the entire set wear at the same rate, that is, to equalize tire
wear and thus maximize tire life, you can rotate them. With some
vehicles, the owner's manual will have a recommended tire rotation
schedule and a diagram of the rotation. A typical schedule may call for
rotation every 5,000 miles with a pattern that's sometimes called
"cross-rotation." For example, the front tires will be moved to the
opposite sides of the rear, right-front to left-rear and left-front to
right-rear, and the rears moved straight forward. If you follow this
through, you will see that, eventually, every tire will have been to
every spot on the car, and then it starts all over again.

Keeping Your Teenager Safe

Car crashes are the leading cause of death among 16- to 20-year-olds. In fact, one of five teen drivers will be in a crash during the first year of driving. The Auto Club is working to improve teen driver safety by raising awareness of the problem.
At Holmes Body Shop collision repair is a family affair. We've been around for over 36 years, so we're seeing the next generation (and the one after that) of drivers (and accidents) come into our shops. No one wants to be in an accident, but it's especially hard when your teen driver experiences one. If it happens, We're here to help! Auto Club has some sound advice to start your teen's driving career off right.


The Auto Club urges parents of teen drivers to learn and follow California’s graduated driver license law and help improve their teen’s safety by following:
AAA’s list of 10 Things Parents Can Do to Keep Their Teen Driver Safe.
1. Know and understand your teen
Not all teens are mature and responsible enough to drive at age 16.
2. Be a positive and responsible role model
AAA research shows that teen drivers with collisions and citations often have parents with similar driving records. Familiarize yourself and your teen driver with all of the state driving laws and rules of the road, with the California Driver’s Handbook.
3. Locate a quality driving school
Driving schools with significant amounts of interaction and highly trained instructors are best. Parents should select a driving school that encourages parental involvement and progress reports.
4. Create a parent-teen driving agreement
Agreeing to rules, conditions, restrictions and consequences of teens’ driving behavior written down in advance establishes driving as a privilege and not a right.
5. Make a smart vehicle and insurance choice for teens
As the family member most likely to crash, a teen should drive the safest vehicle the family owns. Make sure your teen is properly insured and ask if your teen is eligible for the new driver and/or good student auto insurance discounts.
6. Practice might not make perfect but it can make for a better teen driver
Supervised practice with parents obtaining a license provides teens with opportunities to reinforce proper driving skills and receive feedback from those who care the most about their safety.
7. Set a time each week to discuss safe driving
Parental communication is critical in the prevention of teen-related crashes, injuries and fatalities. Teens who might be tempted to race can find a safe and fun outlet through the NHRA Street Legal Program oval tracks.
8. Keep teen drivers free of passengers and off the road at night
AAA research shows that a teen driver’s chances of crashing increase two-fold with additional passengers. Research also shows teen crash rates spike at night and that most crashes occur between 9 p.m. and midnight.
9. Encourage teens to get enough sleep
Teens need about nine hours of sleep every night. Drowsy driving can be as risky as drunk driving and impacts perception, judgment and reflexes.
10. Eliminate distractions
Cell phones and text messaging are hazardous distractions while driving, and are illegal for teen drivers to use.

Preparing for a road trip

Preparing for a road trip

It's Summer, and gas prices seem to be cooperating. Let's hit the road! Safely, of course. At Holmes Body Shop we're all about being safe on the road. If an accident happens, we're here to help. But here are some steps you can take to avoid automotive avoid on your Summer road trip:

Check the fluids in your car. Checking the oil, coolant and brake fluid levels may help you avoid an accident or an unnecessary breakdown.

Check your air pressure. These should be printed in the owners manual or a sticker on the body where the drivers door shuts. The pressure marked on the side of the tire is the max which must not be exceeded. Also, don't forget to check your spare tire pressure. Often neglected, not doing so will turn a bad time into a worse one if unusable.

Get your oil changed. If your car is getting close to due for an oil change get it changed right away. A long trip can put additional stress on your motor.

Check your tire wear by using a penny or tread gauge. Tires heat up on long trips which can cause blowouts on worn out tires.

Check your car's air filter.A plentiful supply of clean air to your engine improves it performance.

Wash your car. At the minimum, clean the windows of your car for the best visibility.

Check to be certain that all lights and signals are functional on your car. You will need the help of another person for this. Sit in the car, turn on each light or signal and ask your friend to tell you if it is working or not. Replace bulbs as necessary. Note: occasionally, lights may not work because a fuse needs replacing.

Ensure that you have all emergency equipment inside your car, and that everything works properly. Emergency equipment includes, an up-to-date map, cell phone, spare tires and emergency tools. Though usually absent; flares, flashlights, medical kits and fire extinguishers may come in handy in worse-case scenarios.

Recommended : Clear out trash or unnecessary "junk" from your car. Nothing spoils a road trip like the smell of stale french fries (fries if you're lucky) that fell under the seat.

Happy Travels from Holmes Body Shop!

Accident Avoidance

Of course Holmes Body Shop is interested in repairing vehicles that have been involved in an accident. That's what we do. We also care about accident avoidance, and keeping drivers and passengers safe. With the recent focus on Toyota's problems with unintended acceleration, we thought it would be a good idea to talk about what to do should this happen to you while driving. What follows is an excerpt of an article in Westways Magazine:

Dealing With Unintended Acceleration
In the unlikely event that your car accelerates unexpectedly, do the following:

• Stay calm, but act quickly. Keep your eyes on the road so you can maintain control of your car.
• Be sure your foot is off the accelerator. Apply the brakes firmly, with strong, steady pressure. Don’t pump the brakes.
• Shift into neutral. On a car with a standard transmission, depress the clutch.
• Steer the car to the side of the road, come to a full stop, and turn off the engine. Don’t turn off the engine until the car has slowed down or is stopped; otherwise, you’ll lose the power steering and power brakes, and the steering may lock. (If you have a push-button start/stop mechanism, you need to know the proper procedure to turn off the car while it’s moving. In Toyotas, for example, you must hold the button in for three seconds.) Check your owner’s manual to find out the proper procedure for your car.
• Turn on your emergency flashers. Call the Auto Club or your dealer to pick up the vehicle. Don’t restart the car.

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Vehicle Maitenance

If you have an accident, We're here to help. But we'd like to help you avoid one on the first place. One simple way is to keep your vehicle in good condition, from the ground up. Let's start with your tires. Are they in good shape?

Look at the tread pattern. All tires have what are called "tread wear bars". These are small bridges that form between your treads. Look at the tread pattern and you will see the beginnings of these bars start to form between the treads, or running across the tires. As the tires wear, these bars will become flush with the tire's tread. At this point it is time to replace the tires.

• Check the tread by using the "penny test." Take a penny, and place it upside down with Lincoln facing you in the center of the tread (at the thickest part of the tire).
  
  • If you can see the very top of Lincoln's head or the copper above it, replace the tires immediately.
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  • If Lincoln's hair on the top of his head is partially visible, it is time to go shopping for tires.
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  • If you cannot see the hair on the top of his head (if the coin is inserted enough that the tire tread is at least as deep as Lincoln's forehead), your tires do not need replacing yet

Child Passenger Car Safety Tips:

1. Always inspect behind and beside the car before backing out, even if little Johnny is buckled in, his friend may be back there to see him off.
2. If you have a removable baby seat , check on top and behind the car before leaving...also, double check to see to it the baby seat is buckled in.
3. Never allow a child under 12 in the front seat (your laws may be different) because of possible injury from air bags.
4. When using Child Car Safety Seats, be familiar with the laws in your area and with all manufacturer's recommendations. Used wrongly, these things can be more harmful than not using them.
5. Never allow breakable glass items, sharp objects or flammable materials in the passenger area of the car.
6. Secure all heavy items with cargo nets or straps so they won't fly around in an accident.
7. Make sure your car is equipped with driver-controlled windows and door locks so children can't open them even if they want to.
8. No matter how much fun it is, never allow children to stick anything out the window while the car is moving.
9. Never leave children unattended in the car, particularly in the sun. They can be killed by the heat, abducted by a pedophile or car jacker, accidentally release the brakes or can get out and be run over in the parking lot.
10. Feel under seats and handles...anywhere a child can get to...for sharp objects or staples, etc. and fix anything you find.
11. Never leave a gun, knife or other weapon under the seat or in the glove box or anywhere else a child may be able to get to.
12. If your car came with an electric lighter, remove it.

Welcome to Holmes Body Shop's Blog!

Holmes Body Shop has been the premier auto collision repair specialist in Southern California for more than 35 years. From the original body shop in Pasadena, Holmes Body Shop has grown to seven collision repair centers throughout the Los Angeles area. Our I-CAR Certified technicians and professional advisors are committed to quality repairs and great customer service.

Our mission is simple: “We're here to help.” Each of our locations has a friendly, knowledgeable staff to assist you through the repair process. We understand it's not fun to have an accident and have to get your vehicle repaired. Our goal is to make it as easy as possible.

Why choose Holmes Body Shop when you need collision repair?

• Proven history with 35 years experience
• High standards of customer service
• I-CAR Certified Technicians
• Sikkens brand paint for a great finish
• Lifetime Warranty on all repairs
• Payment Plans available