RAINY DAY BENEFITS FOR YOUR CAR AND PERSONAL SAFETY

Everybody likes to avoid wasting money when they can, especially when it comes to car upkeep. Driving on a rainy day can be a costly and dangerous idea unless you and your vehicle are well prepared.

Many drivers disregard the impact rainy weather can have until its too late, but a couple of smart driving tips from the experts at Jungerman CARSTAR Auto Body Repair in St. Peter's MO, part of the nations largest chain of collision repair shops, can keep you out of trouble. Knowing how to drive defensively in the rain is a good investment in you and your car or truck.

Here are a few ideas from Jungerman CARSTAR Auto Body Repair in St. Peter's MO, also serving St. Peters, St. Charles, O'Fallon and Lake St. Louis MO, that make both sense and cents.

• Before it starts to rain, change out old or brittle wiper blades.
  
• Check all of the vehicles light bulbs to make sure they are working.
  
• Stay toward the middle lanes – water has a tendency to pool in outside lanes.
  
• Maintain proper following distance (3 second rule). This needs to be greater in wet weather.
  
• Drive in the tracks of a vehicle ahead of you.
  
• Don not follow large trucks too closely, because the spray created by their large tires can reduce vision.
  
• Be more alert watching for brake lights in front of you.
  
• Avoid using your brakes; if possible, take your foot off the accelerator to slow down.
  
• Turn your headlights on anytime you feel a need to use your wipers, in a light rain and in gloomy, foggy, or overcast conditions to help you see the road and help other drivers see you.
  
• Do not use cruise control on rain soaked roadways – you will have better control in wet weather without it.
  
• Never drive through moving water if you can not see the ground through it; your vehicle could be swept off the road.
  
• Watch out for places where floodwater builds up, particularly low-lying roads adjacent to streams, and dips under rail or highway bridges.
  
• Avoid driving through deep water, because it can cause serious damage to a modern vehicles electrical system.
  
• If possible, stay off the road during heavy thunderstorms. Large flashes of lightning can temporarily blind and disorient drivers, and the accompanying high winds and heavy rain can create deadly driving conditions.
  
• When you need to stop or slow, do not brake hard or lock the wheels and risk a skid. Maintain gentle pressure on the brake pedal.
  

Jungerman CARSTAR Auto Body Repair in St. Peter's MO also knows a most unwelcome situation – hydroplaning – may develop when conditions are wet. Vehicle speed, tire tread depth and water depth all factor into hydroplaning.

As speed increases, wet traction is considerably reduced. Maintaining sufficient treading on tires and replacing them when necessary can help prevent hydroplaning. The deeper the water, the sooner you will lose traction, although even thin water layers can cause a loss of traction, including at low speeds.

If you find yourself hydroplaning or skidding, Jungerman CARSTAR Auto Body Repair in St. Peter's MO offers the following advice:

• Do not brake or turn suddenly.
  
• Ease your foot off the gas until the automobile slows and you can feel traction on the road again.
  
• Turn your steering wheel in the direction of the skid. As you regain control, gently straighten the wheels.
  
• If you need to brake, do it gently with light pumping action. If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, then brake normally because the car or truck’s computer will mimic a pumping action.
  

HIGH WATERS LEAVE HIGH AUTO REPAIR BILLS IN THEIR WAKE

Water is welcome in many forms, but when Mother Nature will not turn her faucet off the damage toll can be seen in many different circumstances – including damage to your car.

Among the most regularly damaged items in some flooding scenarios are automobiles. Even a little bit of water goes a long way in causing serious problems both inside and out. Jungerman CARSTAR Auto Body Repair in St. Peter's MO can help you understand what shape your car or truck is in and ensure you do not get sunk by buying a water-damaged vehicle.

Jungerman CARSTAR Auto Body Repair in St. Peter's MO, part of the nations largest family of auto body experts, knows the warning signs of an excessive soaking. Here are some key points to consider.

• Examine upholstery and carpeting closely; if it doesn't match the interior or fits loosely, it may have been replaced. Discolored, faded or stained materials could indicate water damage.
• Smell for musty odors – this could mean mildew.
• Check the trunk, glove compartment, the dashboard and under the seats for evidence of water problems such as silt, mud or rust.
• Turn the ignition key and make sure that accessory and warning lights and gauges come on and work properly. Make sure the airbag and ABS lights come on.
• Test lights (interior and exterior), windshield wipers, turn signals, cigarette lighter, radio, heater and air conditioner several times to make sure they work.
• Bend some of the wires beneath the dashboard. Wet wires will become fragile upon drying and may crack
• Look for corrosion in the wheel wells, under the hood and under the rear of the car.
• Go to a respected mechanic for an inspection. Always get your automobiles checked BEFORE handing over any money.

And just because a driver may not live near any major bodies of water, auto industry experts caution that the risk of buying a water-damaged automobile is not confined to storm and flood-ravaged areas. Jungerman CARSTAR Auto Body Repair in St. Peter's MO, also serving St. Charles, O'Fallon and Lake St. Louis MO, can help you find automotive peace of mind.

Destroyed cars are often restored cosmetically and relocated to adjacent states or other areas of the country where many are sold to unsuspecting customers. These floodwaters can cause damage to a automobile's computer and electrical systems, as well as possibly causing anti-lock braking and airbag systems to fail.

Headlight Hazing a Major Hazard for Drivers:

Headlight Restoration Service from Jungerman CARSTAR Gives Vehicles an Easy Facelift and Improve Visibility and Safety on the Road

Today, many of St.Peters drivers are on the road with a safety problem they may never see – hazed or cloudy plastic headlights that reduce visibility and make it very hard to see obstacles and other vehicles. These cloudy headlights also give the vehicle an unsightly appearance and lower its value.

The good news is these plastic headlight lens can be restored to like-new clarity with Jungerman CARSTAR’s Headlight Lens Restoration Service and 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System, which is a cost-effective remedy for removing the yellowing and hazing that reduces headlight performance and visibility.

Plastic headlights help reduce vehicle weight and withstand impact, oxidation and sunlight can dull the surface, turn it yellow or leave it cloudy and hazy. This means the light from the headlights is diffused and not focused correctly on the roadway, which limits visibility in dark, rainy or foggy conditions. This is a problem because not only can the driver of the vehicle not see the roadway, the vehicle also is less visible to other cars.

With the average age of vehicles on U.S. streets today nearing nine years, the safety problem is growing in St. Peters, St. Charles, O'Fallon and Lake St. Louis Missouri.

 "This is a problem that a lot of cars have but few owners actually know how to repair," said the owner of Jungerman CARSTAR "By partnering with 3M, we can offer a reliable solution that delivers excellent results and improved vehicle safety -- at a very affordable price."

For more tips on dealing with an accident or having your car repaired after a collision, visit www.auto-body-st-peters-mo.com. Our CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts offers high-quality, reliable repair service in 30 states and 10 Canadian provinces. Visit www.stlcarstar.com when you need a vehicle repair and they will send the tow truck, contact your insurance company, arrange for a rental car and repair your car.