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World Class Certification

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 21:24:40 GMT

Summer is around the corner which means we will start to use the air conditioning in our cars more often. Before you start to use your AC, you should consider getting your cabin air filter checked and receiving an EVAP service.

It is important to get these things done before summer because it can affect your vehicle's performance. The EVAP system a closed system in your vehicle that is designed to capture vapors from the fuel tank and keep them from leaking out into the atmosphere. In the summer you could experience an evaporative leak because a rise in outside temperature can cause an increase in pressure in your gas tank, which must be vented to prevent the gas tank from deforming.

You will also help the environment by getting your EVAP system checked often because it capture vapors in the fuel tank and prevents the vapor from escaping into the environment. Gasoline vapors are very dangerous to humans and are one of the leading causes of smog and air pollution.

If your cabin air filter is clogged from debris and dirt, your air conditioner has to work harder to push cool air through the filter. Your engine would also have to work hard to power the air conditioner if your cabin air filter is clogged which can impact your fuel efficiency because the engine is producing more energy.The cabin air filter and EVAP system are often overlooked by vehicle owners but we're here to help you keep them maintained. Don't allow your vehicle's performance to be affected, have our automotive experts perform an evaporator cleaning service and replace your cabin air filter.

Catalytic Converter Theft on Dramatic Rise

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:33:12 GMT

Along with the many other unanticipated things this last year has brought, we have seen a rise in cars coming into the shop due to catalytic converter theft. In Denver alone, the rate has risen by 1,600% from just 15 reports of theft in 2019 to 257 in 2020, a trend that is likely to continue (The Denver Post, published 2/18/21).

A catalytic converter (pictured below) is a required part of any gas-powered vehicle’s exhaust system. Its purpose is to break down harmful pollutants from your vehicle’s engine. The catalytic converter functions by running engine exhaust through high temperatures and contact with rare earth metals, prompting chemical reactions that break down (and make safer) the pollutants that are released into the air.

To steal a catalytic converter it requires getting under a car and sawing the part off (admittedly, no easy task). So why are these parts being stolen with such frequency? Well, worldwide, as tighter emission regulations seek to improve air quality, the demand for catalytic converters (and the finite precious metals essential to their function) has skyrocketed. The precious metals inside the converters include platinum, palladium, and rhodium, among others. The cost of palladium has surged in recent years- up 500% from $500/oz five years ago to a high of nearly $2,500/oz earlier this year. For reference, the price of gold is currently <$1800/oz.

So, how will you know if your catalytic has been stolen? Unfortunately, you can’t miss it: with your engine’s exhaust unrestrained, it will make a loud roaring sound that will get louder each time you push the pedal. Hopefully, this doesn’t happen to you, but if it does, know you are not alone.

Theft of catalytic converters is a costly and time-consuming problem to remedy because finding the part can be difficult. The most sought-after catalytic converters are those on the Toyota Prius (due to their slightly higher concentration of precious metals). This has created a backorder of over 9000 Prius catalytic converters nationally. This means, if you have your catalytic converter stolen, it will likely sit in the shop for some time as the rare part is hunted down.

Tips for deterring converter theft include parking in a garage (if you have one), making sure to park in well-lit areas or utilize a motion detection floodlight, and if your car has to sit for a very extended time, consider deflating the tires to prevent thieves from being able to climb under the vehicle. Try as you might, you can never prevent a determined thief; one of our customers had their catalytic converter stolen in broad daylight while parked at their busy work parking lot.

If you want to learn more about this national trend, click here .

Your team at Addison is wishing you (and your catalytic converter) well.

What You Need to Know About Colorado's Chain and Traction Laws

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 21:16:42 GMT

This might be repetitive but we just want to make sure everyone is well informed about the Colorado Traction Law.

It's important to be aware of where traction laws are active as you're traveling, as this can vary from road to road. Each year the state's traction law goes into effect on a 126-mile stretch of I-70 from September 1 to May 31st . The nine-month mandatory traction law extends from Dotsero to Morrison, requiring all vehicles to carry proper winter traction throughout the season, regardless of weather. All other roads and highways are subject to traction laws during severe wintry weather.

In Colorado, it remains that the minimum tread requirement for dry roads is 4/32" (1/8"). Interestingly 1/8" doesn't even meet the classic "penny test" (which detects when your tread is less than 2/32").

Because winter is here, we want to make sure our customers are well informed about the Colorado Traction Law .

The Traction Law minimum requirements are:

1) Four-wheel-drive vehicles: may have standard (all-season) or snow tires with a minimum tread depth of 3/16".

2) Two-wheel-drive vehicles: must have specialized tires for snow with a minimum tread depth of 3/16" (or have standard tires, but carry chains or auto socks that must be installed during snowy or icy conditions).

Fines for driving with inadequate tires when the traction law is in effect begin at $130 . If a motorist blocks the roadway while driving with inadequate tires, fines begin at $650 .

Chains are hard to install, especially in a snowstorm. Tire socks are easier but have limitations; in snow, you can only drive 30mph or less, and running on dry pavement will wear them out fast. The price range for a set of auto socks is $70-$140. The best way to measure tire tread depth is with a tire tread depth gauge. These cost between $3 and $8.

Now that the Traction Law requirement is 3/16", we need a system other than the penny or quarter test (measuring 1/16" and 2/16" respectively), so I am proposing the Addison Eagle test. It goes like this, using a quarter with the eagle on the obverse side, insert the quarter into the tread with the eagle's head pointing to the center of the tire. If the eagle's head is fully visible above the tread, the depth is less than 3/16". If any portion of the eagle's head is covered by the tread then the depth is greater than 3/16".

Since winter tires are made of a soft compound, they wear more quickly on dry roads and in warmer weather. When it comes to snow or ice on the ground, all-season tires simply don't compare to winter tires, which can stop more quickly. It is great to invest in winter tires, but make sure to take them off when the winter season is over.

Enjoy the season and stay safe!

- Jim Addison and your friends at Addison Auto Repair and Body Shop

Employee Spotlight: Dan Solis, Professional Automotive Service Advisor

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 21:44:10 GMT

Automotive Service Advisors are crucial to the car repair and service process. As a Service Manager and Advisor, Dan Solis, communicates your concerns and service requests to our technicians, translates technical terms and advises on the best steps to address the needs of our customers. Working hand in hand with our expert technicians, Dan helps to ensure you and your vehicle get the best care in Denver.

Addison Auto is grateful for the character and expertise Dan brings to his role.

Decreasing Safety: The Effect a Trailer Hitch Has on a Rear-End Collision

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 20:46:15 GMT

Article adapted from The National Safety Commission’s Article titled How Receiver Hitches Affect Rear End Collision Injuries

As you have no doubt noticed in Colorado, more people are towing boats, trailers, and campers as we continue to weather the pandemic and its dramatic effects on our lives. But did you know that the receiver hitch can actually make you less safe in the event you are involved in a rear-end collision?

The receiver hitch is the part of the towing package that bolts to the rear frame of the vehicle. While 40% of us have this towing package installed on our vehicles, in pre-pandemic times, the average person towed something less than 1% of the time.

The trailer hitch (and ball joint, if attached) act as fixed, non-impact absorbing hardware that transfers the energy of a rear-end collision more intensely to the vehicle occupants, resulting in a 22% increase in whiplash- with women and children being most adversely affected.

As you see from this video, the damage sustained by the Nissan Frontier was mostly to the frame . You might think that the reduction of damage is a good thing, but it means that the vehicle occupants received a greater share of the force. For years manufacturers have developed ways for the vehicle to absorb the force of the collision and reduce the impact on the occupant; trailer hitches counteract these advances.

So, what can you do to increase safety if there is a receiver hitch on your vehicle? First, make sure to remove your ball mount or any fixed non-energy absorbing receiver hitch product after use. Additionally, there are energy-absorbing products that you can install on your receiver hitch, such as this one, to lower the risk of a whiplash injury.

Stay safe and healthy,

Your friends at Addison Auto Repair & Body Shop

The Importance of Having Your Cabin Air Filter and EVAP System Checked

Thu, 28 May 2020 21:07:56 GMT

Changes to Colorado Traction Law for the Winter Driving Season

Sat, 09 Nov 2019 20:52:11 GMT

It’s October and you are probably saying to yourself, “Here’s Jim again telling me about tires and the Colorado Traction Law .” Well, you are mostly right, but effective August 2, 2019 the law changed as a result of HB1207 by the Colorado Legislature.

In Colorado, it remains that the minimum tread requirement for dry roads is 4/32” (1/8”). Interestingly 1/8” doesn’t even meet the classic “penny test” (which detects when your tread is less than 2/32”).

The major changes to the Colorado Traction Law are that, when the Traction Law is in effect, the amount of tread required to be adequate increased from 4/32” (1/8”) to 6/32” (3/16”). The current requirements for winter driving when the traction law is in effect are: 1) Four- or all-wheel drive with adequate all season or snow tire tread, chains, or auto socks 2) Two wheel drive with adequate tire tread all season or snow tires tread, chains, or auto socks . Fines for driving with inadequate tires when the traction law is in effect begin at $130. If a motorist blocks the roadway while driving with inadequate tires, fines begin at $650.

Chains are hard to install, especially in a snowstorm. Tire socks are easier but have limitations; in snow you can only drive 30mph or less and running on dry pavement will wear them out fast. The price range for a set of auto socks is $70-$140. The best way to measure tire tread depth is with a tire tread depth gauge. These cost between $3 and $8.

Now that Traction Law requirement is 3/16”, we need a system other than the penny or quarter test (measuring 1/16” and 2/16” respectively) so I am proposing the Addison Eagle test . It goes like this:

Using a quarter with the eagle on the obverse side, insert the quarter into the tread with the eagle’s head pointing to the center of the tire. If the eagle’s head is fully visible above the tread, the depth is less than 3/16”. If any portion of the eagle’s head is covered by the tread then the depth is greater than 3/16”.

Since we do a fair amount of mountain driving to Grand County in the winter, I have always used winter tires; however, last year I didn’t remove them as soon as the season was over and consequently wore them out in just one season. Since winter tires are made of a soft compound, they wear more quickly on dry roads and in warmer weather. When it comes to snow or ice on the ground, all-season tires simply don't compare to winter tires which can stop more quickly. It is great to make the investment of winter tires, but make sure to take them off when the winter season is over.

Enjoy the season and stay safe! Schedule your next service visit and we can help with you prepare for winter driving.

-Jim Addison and your friends at Addison Auto Repair and Body Shop

TOP TIER™ Gasoline Prevents Carbon Deposits That Decrease Your Vehicle's Performance

Mon, 29 Apr 2019 21:31:34 GMT

Recently AAA did a study of gasoline and concluded that in the long run, it is less expensive to buy TOP TIER™ gasoline than nonrated fuel especially since the price differential is only about three cents. First of all, what is TOP TIER™ gasoline? In 1995 the EPA developed a standard for detergent additives and cleaners that must be in all gasoline, but as engines advanced, automakers saw the need for a better additive package. In 2004 six automakers (General Motors (GM), BMW, Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen, and Audi) got together to create a new standard requiring significantly higher levels of cleaners, because the existing standard did not ensure optimal engine performance. If a retailer is selling TOP TIER™ gasoline, the enhanced additive package will be in all of the grades (octane levels). AAA found in the study that non-TOP TIER™ gasoline caused 19 times as many carbon deposits as TOP TIER™ gasoline. These carbon deposits will reduce fuel economy, increase emissions and degrade vehicle performance, especially on newer vehicles.

To illustrate the consequences of using gasoline with low or no detergents, I’ll have to date myself. In the mid-’70s, I was working for a Saab specialist. It was right after the ‘73 Arab oil embargo and the gas companies were trying to keep prices down, which they did by eliminating the additives. Saab 99s had electronic fuel injection through 1974. One of the most common problems we experienced was the injected 99s missing, jerking and generally being low on power. At first we tried to compensate by enriching the fuel mixture by computer and sensor adjustments, but in the end, it turned out to be clogged fuel injectors that were the cause. We cleaned them with spray carburetor cleaner and a toothbrush.

Finally, GM (who also used fuel injection on some models) warned the gasoline companies that if they didn’t put the detergent additives back in the fuel, GM would tell all their customers to use only Chevron gasoline. At the time, Chevron was one of the only companies using the additives. The gasoline companies heeded GM’s warning and in a matter of four to six months, the clogged injector problem was gone.

Octane level is not the same as the additive package. Octane determines the temperature/pressure at which the fuel will ignite. For example, 85 octane gasoline ignites at a lower temperature than 91 octane. Usually higher compression engines need higher octane to prevent premature ignition that can damage engine components. Be sure to use the octane recommended in your owner manual. Also remember, if you use a higher-than-recommended octane the only difference will be a higher charge on your credit card.

Considering the small cost differential between TOP TIER™ and non, I fully agree with AAA that TOP TIER™ should always be purchased. To illustrate the point, engine decarbonization runs around $125 or better. At three cents per gallon, it would take 4167 gallons to pay for it.

For a list of TOP TIER™ brands and retailers click here .

Time Lapse Of A Full Frame Swap On A 2015 Chevy Suburban

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 20:58:32 GMT

Watch the Addison Auto Team perform complete vehicle frame replacement on a 2015 Chevy Suburban. A vehicle's frame is critical to the entire vehicle's safety and reliability. In a uni-body vehicle, the frame or chassis is integrated into the body. Most passenger cars are uni-body. In frame on body construction, the chassis and body are separated. Most trucks and some large SUV's are frame on body.

A frame replacement can be required when:

It has been bent beyond repairable limits and there are no approved procedures to replace the smaller affected section of the frame.
The original manufacturer says frame should not be repaired.

"One of my favorite jobs to plan and watch is a full frame replacement on a pickup or large SUV. It’s somewhat like the original assembly line. First, everything necessary is disconnected and the body is lifted off the frame, leaving the engine, transmission, suspension, exhaust, and gas tank on the old frame. Next, all these components are transferred to the new frame. Finally, the body is lowered back down onto the new frame assembly and everything is reconnected. It is normally 3 or 4 days of work, but we condensed this down to 5 minutes. We hope you enjoy the video." - Jim Addison

Learn More About Uni-body and Frame on body construction here . We also have a great article and video covering how a trailer hitch can affect the safety of your vehicle in the event of a rear end collision.

What’s That Awful Smell Coming From My A/C Vents?

Tue, 24 Apr 2018 21:38:50 GMT

Now that it’s spring time in Denver you’re likely using your car’s air conditioning more often on the average day. When you turn on the A/C, are you overwhelmed by a foul smell - similar to dirty socks? This is a common situation in most vehicles, there’s no need to feel self conscious. The odors invading your car are due to fungus, mold and/or bacteria growing in your car’s A/C system. Mold and bacteria thrive in dark and damp spaces, making your A/C system a prime target. Don’t despair! There are a few things you can do to control or eliminate these odors:

Always turn off the A/C about two to five minutes before shutting down your engine. Leave the fan blowing, but switch the A/C off. This helps dry out some of the moisture that collects in the system and will help avoid mold and bacteria in the first place.
When using your A/C system, make sure the “re-circulate” air button is occasionally switched off. Using re-circulated air helps cool your car faster, but keeping in on constantly will cause moisture to collect in the system.
Try spraying Lysol (or any other anti-bacterial spray) into the vents between the hood and the windshield. With your car running, switch the A/C on full blast and be sure to switch off the “re-circulate” air button. Do this for approximately ten minutes, spraying for 10-20 seconds and then waiting a minute or so.

If all else fails, please come see us at Addison Auto Repair and Body Shop. Through May we’re offering a FREE A/C system health check on your vehicle. So whether your car is in need of a cabin air filter change, or your A/C isn’t running cool, we’re here to help!

What Substances Can Damage Car Paint

Tue, 03 Oct 2017 21:10:24 GMT

Automotive car paint continues to improve but there are still some substances that can harm your vehicle’s paint.

Magnesium Chloride – This compound is critical in keeping our roads and bridges safer during cold and snowy weather but it should be washed off from both your paint and undercarriage soon after it splashes onto your vehicle. Magnesium chloride can only be removed with warm soapy water. Many Denver car washes do not heat their water so it is useless in removing magnesium chloride from your vehicle.
DIY Car Washers – Use a clean sponge, shammy and cloth. Dirty cleaning tools can leave small scratches in your paint.
Acidic compounds – Coffee or bird droppings can stain the surface of your vehicle.
Chemicals – If gasoline drips onto your car paint at fill up, clean it off quickly or discoloration and/or permanent stains can happen. Brake fluid can also cause paint damage.
Eggs – If some egghead throws an egg at your car wash it off immediately. There’s a protein in eggs that will cause the paint to look foggy or faded if you don’t wash it off immediately.
Household items – Shaving cream, shoe polish, silly string and mustard are other household items that can stain paint.
Scratches – Especially annoying are hairline scratches caused by any number of metal or sharp objects that can make your car look old before its time.

Do yourself and your car a favor, wash your vehicle on a schedule, don’t wait until so much dirt and grime collects on the surface that it takes 2 washes before it’s clean. Happy and clean motoring!

Feel Good Recycling

Thu, 31 Aug 2017 21:27:37 GMT

As I was pulling plastic out of our cardboard recycle bin here at the shop, it occurred to me that possibly most of us don’t really know how to recycle. Then someone stopped in and asked us if we would recycle their empty engine oil bottles. I’m still trying to get my wife to look at the pictures on top of our recycle bin at home that shows pictures of what you can and can’t recycle. Then whenever our extended family is over for dinner, I find myself pulling all the napkins out of the recycle bin. I apologize this article doesn’t have anything to do with cars but I need to vent.

Anyway, I decided to do some studying to find out what items are okay to recycle and which aren’t. Most recycling in Denver is single stream which means you don’t have to separate the recyclable materials but rather put them into a single bin. Then when the material gets to the recycling facility it’s separated by humans and machinery. Two of the most common recycling mistakes are recyclables placed in a plastic bags and food contamination of recyclables. If the recyclable material is in a plastic bag, it will go straight to the landfill because it is unsafe for the staff on the conveyor to open. Bags can get caught in the cogs and wheels of the sorting machinery possibly causing serious damage to the machinery. Pizza boxes containing food waste are one example of food contamination. The grease and cheese will contaminate recycled paper. Another example is food containers that have not been emptied and rinsed …forget peanut butter jars. Containers containing food will likely be sent to the landfill.

Items okay to recycle per Waste Management are:

Corrugated cardboard and paperboard (cereal boxes)
Cardboard dairy and juice containers
Newspapers, magazines, office paper, phone books and junk mail
Aluminum and steel cans including empty aerosol cans, aluminum foil and bakeware
Wire coat hangers
Plastic bottles, jars and jugs
Clear glass, amber and green glass bottles

Things that are not acceptable for recycling are:

Waxed paper
Food contaminated paper like napkins
Food contaminated cans
Auto and plumbing parts
Electronics
Glass contaminated with dirt or food waste
Ceramics, pyrex, mirrors or auto glass
Plastic or metal caps or lids
Plastic lids or cups
Plastic bags

This list is only general. Each municipality has its own criteria for what can and can't be recycled. Check with your local recycler.

Keep it clean.

Cleanliness is the top priority. According to Waste Management, one dirty product or one with food waste can contaminate an entire bale weighing thousands of pounds possibly requiring all the material to go to a landfill. Recycling could be more beneficial if we all do it right.

Why You Should Check Your Gas Cap

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 21:02:32 GMT

While reviewing customer vehicle repair paperwork recently, I came across a recurring problem. I found a number of check engine light codes for “Large Evaporative System Leak”. The gas tank is a sealed system that prevents fumes from escaping. The fuel in the tank needs room to expand as temperatures rise and so it is circulated through a charcoal filter and is burned in the engine. Gas fumes create ozone pollution when combined with sunlight. Before the 1980s, the fumes were vented to the air by a vent hole in the gas cap.

The system that controls the gas fumes is known as the evaporative control system. It also monitors itself by periodically checking for leaks. When a leak is found the check engine light comes on. The code for a large evaporative leak is P0455. While certainly not the only cause of an evaporative leak, a common one is the gas cap. There are three main faults with a gas cap:

Gas cap seal may be worn and cracked.
The cap may not tighten sufficiently. This is evident by the fact that it doesn’t take much pressure to get to the click.
Even a good gas cap sometimes doesn’t get tightened all the way to the click (operator error).

You would think that if you didn’t tighten your gas cap when you filled up that the light would come on right away, but the system only tests itself between ¼ and ¾ of a tank. By the time the light comes on you probably forgot about filling up.

When filling up periodically check these items:

Look at the rubber seal on the gas cap. If it has any cracks, it’s time to replace it.
Be sure it takes pressure to make the gas cap click. If it turns easily before clicking, it is probably not tightening up enough and time to replace.
Be sure the cap threads on correctly and you hear it click before you stop tightening.

When replacing the cap, we always replace with the original equipment part from the dealer. The ones from the parts store don’t always fit correctly.

If the gas cap is the cause of the check engine light coming on, installing a new cap won’t make the light go off immediately. It takes at least 2 drive cycles of 20-40 minutes before the system runs enough tests to shut off the light.

The First Air Conditioning Refrigerant Replacement Mandate Since The Early 90's

Thu, 15 Jun 2017 21:06:14 GMT

A new automotive refrigerant R1234yf is being used in many late model 2015 and newer vehicles. The United States EPA has mandated that all new vehicles use R1234yf by 2021. The reason is that the new refrigerant R1234yf has a much lower global warming potential (GWP) than the refrigerant that has been in use ( R134a ) for the last 24 years. In fact the GWP of R1234 is 1 according to its maker Honeywell and it is 4 according to the EPA, while the GWP of R134 is 1430. The EU has mandated that all new vehicles sold there must have a refrigerant with a GWP of below 150 beginning January 1, 2017. Many vehicles sold here are already using R1234yf because the car makers receive tradable emission credits from the EPA.

Back in the early 90s, R134a was mandated as a replacement for R12 which was a contributor to causing damage to the earth’s ozone layer. Previous to that change, recovery and recycling equipment was required to be used by any entity that serviced air conditioning systems. Technicians were required to be certified to work on AC Systems and it became illegal to charge an AC system that has a known leak. Air conditioning operates in a closed system and the refrigerant does not get into the atmosphere unless a leak develops due to age of the system or a collision. Even junk yards have to recover the refrigerant before the vehicle is parted out.

I believe a large contributing factor to R134a in the atmosphere is a loophole in the law that allows do-it-yourselfers to buy one pound cans to top up leaky AC systems. Though it is still illegal to vent the refrigerant into the atmosphere, it is not prohibited to charge a leaking system or to sell 1 pound cans. If you Google “charging ac system with a 1 pound can”, there are 12,700,000 results.

R1234yf is not without some problems. First, it is considerably more expensive than R134a. Amazon lists R1234yf at $775 for 10 pounds versus R134a at $137 for 30 pounds. It will require shops to purchase new equipment and that will increase the cost of servicing AC systems some. Also even though it degrades faster in the atmosphere, it decomposes into a harmful substance that does not degrade any further. This compound is trifluoroacetic acid . Trifluoroacetic acid accumulates in water and living organisms and is also toxic to certain plants especially certain types of algae.

Finally, the one certain thing about the auto industry is change and we have seen plenty, especially in the last 10 years both in the body and mechanical areas. We are committed to keeping current in equipment and training to be able to service even the latest models. We strive to keep almost every aspect of service “in house” in order to assure the quality of your repairs.

Paint Matching Plastic Bumpers to Metal Body Parts

Thu, 18 May 2017 20:40:09 GMT

Last month’s newsletter addressed 3 stage paint challenges . This month we will tackle paint matching a plastic bumper to the metal body of the vehicle.

Most vehicles come from the factory with plastic bumper covers. If you take a minute to look at your vehicle in the sunlight, you will likely see a slight color difference. The difference in color between the plastic bumper and metal body is due to finely ground reflective metallic flakes . Depending on the light or angle at which you are looking at the vehicle, the color may look different. These metallic flakes lay differently on plastic than they do on metal. Once the bumper is attached to the vehicle the color match may look perfectly matched at one angle but different from different angles you see color variances.

When a panel like a door or fender on a vehicle is replaced, it is industry standard to blend the adjacent panels. Blending involves painting the adjacent panel in such a way as to taper off the color beginning at the adjacent edge until it blends with the existing paint. In view of the fact that bumpers are not a perfect match to begin with, it is not industry standard to blend into the fenders. A slight variation is acceptable.

Consumers are often unaware of color variation between the bumper and adjacent metal until they are in need of a bumper replacement. To insure customer satisfaction, our estimators point out that the damaged bumper color variance exists from the factory.

Our I-CAR certified painter and paint team uses industry approved processes and high quality paint products to insure your color match satisfaction.

What Are Pearl 3 Stage Paints?

Wed, 26 Apr 2017 21:00:27 GMT

Every year, more and more cars are made with pearl finishes. These are known as 3 stage finishes. The first coat is a basecoat color, then a translucent pearl is applied and finally a clear coat finish. Pearl colors have been around since at least the sixties. They used to be created by mixing ground up fish scales with the paint. Elvis Presley’s 1960 Cadillac went one step further by adding ground up diamonds to the paint. Now the most widely used pearl additive is titanium dioxide coated transparent mica flakes.

These colors look great in the showroom, but take a great deal of skill and experience to match in the shop. The key is getting the base coat right. You can’t directly see it because it has the translucent pearl coat covers the base coat. The process entails making a number of test panels and comparing the test panel to an undamaged section of the car. A match involves not only the color but also the angle at which the mica flakes lay, known as flop. If the applied finish has a different angle, it will reflect light differently from the original finish and the color will appear to be different.

At Addison Auto Repair Body Shop, our pledge is to stay familiar with the most recent methods and materials to restore your vehicle to the appearance it had before the accident occurred.

Why And When You Should Replace A Timing Belt

Wed, 26 Apr 2017 20:55:17 GMT

Most light duty vehicle engines have a timing belt , though some have timing chains. The purpose of the timing belt is to time the movement of the valves with the pistons. For instance; on the intake stroke the intake valve opens while the piston moves down, sucking in an air/fuel mixture. Next the compression stroke as the piston moves up with all valves on that cylinder closed, compressing the air fuel mixture to about 1/10 of its original volume. Next the spark plug ignites the mixture creating the power stroke and pushing the piston downward. On its next trip back up, the exhaust valve opens, letting the burned gas be pushed into the exhaust system. In a 6 cylinder engine, this happens 6 times for every RPM.

If the timing belt were to break, the valves would stop moving with some in the open position and the momentum of the engine would keep the pistons moving up and down. This would in turn cause the valves to bend when they were hit by the pistons. Now instead of having to just replace the belt and some hardware, the cylinder head needs to be removed and a number of valves replaced, adding megabucks to the repair bill.

Not all engines will sustain this damage if the timing belt breaks. An engine that has no clearance between pistons and valves is an interference engine and one that does have clearance is a non-interference engine. Your vehicle owner's manual will recommend at what mileage the timing belt must be replaced. These intervals range from every 60,000 miles to every 105,000 miles . Our service department will be happy to look up your service history and your manufacturer’s recommendation for this service, Contact us here or call 303-691-9484 .

The bottom line is if your car has an interference engine, get the timing belt replaced on time because it is not worth the risk of major engine damage as a result of waiting too long.

Be Aware Of Potential Vehicle Wiring Damage From Rodents

Thu, 17 Mar 2016 21:34:51 GMT

Squirrel Eating Your Car Wiring!

We had a car in the shop that was towed in due to overheating. We discovered an animal had chewed up the wiring in the right front corner of the engine compartment, including the wiring to the auxiliary coolant pump. In addition the wiring for the air bag, ABS brakes, fog light and mass air flow sensor were chewed, damaged and broken.

The cost of the repair was over $800.00 !

You might be thinking this person must live in the country. Nope, t his car lives in the city near downtown Denver.

I was intrigued. So I decided to do some research on why animals eat wiring and how to prevent it. I found out that the most common wire eaters are squirrels and they're probably not eating the wiring but just chewing on them because they need to keep their teeth trimmed.

They must also enjoy the underhood solitude because they tend to return again to cause damage.

There are a number of articles written about how to keep rodents out of your vehicle floating around on the internet but if this does happen and you carry full auto insurance coverage the comprehensive portion will usually cover this type of damage.

Something to chew on.