G&R Body Shop

Paint isn’t just for style, or to be aesthetically pleasing, it is also applied to your car to protect the plastics and metals beneath it. Without the paint, undercoats, and overcoats, bare sheet metal would begin to rust and deteriorate much quicker.

Keeping your paint scratch free is not just to keep your car looking nice, but can also help it last longer. Depending on the quality of the car and the paint used, 4-10 coats is average. This includes the base primer, finishing color, and clear coat.

When your car needs a touch up, or slight scratch or dent to be fixed, we recommend doing it as soon as possible to avoid rust and deterioration. For any and all auto body needs contact G & R Body & Paint at

PH: 916-731-8203

4220 Stockton Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95820
FX: 916.731.4736
info@grbodyshop.com

There are plenty of myths and old wives tales related to the cold. Since its winter and it has been getting pretty cold these last few days, let’s take a look at some common ones.

On a cold morning why does the car’s engine act up?

The engine isn’t the problem usually, it is usually caused by a battery that is close to being dead cell, if the battery is older this is especially common as the cold weather tends to drain it.

Does cold weather affect a car’s tire pressure?

Tire pressure often drops in the cold and the best way to prevent an accident is to check it often and keep it properly inflated. Low tire pressure also effects your fuel economy, and with gas prices the way they are it is an added reason to keep your tires and wallet a little more full.

Is it smart to put hot water on your car’s windshield if there’s frost on it?

No, especially if there’s already a crack in the windshield, the drastic temperature change will most likely crack it more, your best answer is to use the defroster and an ice scraper.

Should a person run their car for a few minutes before driving on a cold day?

Yes, when your car is parked all the oil has dropped to the bottom of the oil pan leaving the top side of your motor without any oil. Let your engine warm up and save wear and tear on your vehicle.

Remember to keep these tips in mind and your car will last longer. If you have an unfortunate accident due to icy roads or any other reason and need auto body or paint work remember to contact G&R Body & Paint at

4220 Stockton Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95820
FX: 916.731.4736
info@grbodyshop.com

Trying to safely drive with crazed drivers, road rage and drunks is difficult enough, almost a real life game of frogger. Another threat we forget about is debris falling out of the sky, well off the back of trucks, seems like they come out of nowhere though. Debris falling off trucks are cause for about 3 million accidents every year.

Whether its trash, product, furniture or a blown out tire road debris present serious danger. According to CHP the problem would be lessened if drivers used more common sense. If you are transporting items make sure to double and triple check that they are properly secured. In most states the penalty for driving an unsecured load in a commercial vehicle is a slap on the wrist compared to the cost driver’s end up paying for the damage caused. If you find yourself behind a vehicle with a loose load, back off and pass as soon as possible.

If you spot debris in your lane slow down and merge when safe, if it is in another lane beware that drivers in those lanes may be swerving into your lane to avoid the debris.

If you’ve become the unlucky recipient of a damaged bumper or car hood due to road debris, remember to contact G & R Body & Paint at

4220 Stockton Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95820
FX: 916.731.4736
info@grbodyshop.com

Cash strapped motorists are delaying auto maintenance at the risk of their safety due to the slow economy. Many are delaying maintenance on brakes, tires, light bulbs, and other internal parts vital to the longevity of their primary vehicle. Failure to fix these problems has led consumers to admit they felt the value, safety, or reliability of the vehicle would suffer, while some mentioned the car had become an embarrassment. Failure to fix small problems early on often times leads to more expensive repairs down the road.

People in lower income households are more likely to delay repairs, and the younger drivers are more likely to do repairs themselves. Maintaining vehicles has become more difficult due to the economy; people have also been buying used vehicles in higher rates and holding onto their vehicles longer than in the past.

With a car being the second largest purchase a consumer makes, it is a wonder why it is often the most abused. We expect our cars to perform reliably in all conditions, this only happens with proper maintenance, which is a priority because it often times is a safety issue. On average owners have 78,000 miles on their vehicles which means they are approaching major maintenance marks.

Car owners put a lot of faith into independent repair shops, about 83% percent of people say they are confident they will receive the right repair and maintenance at the right price. More than half of people say they completely trust their chosen shop. Knowing how components work and helping drivers understand problems can lead to higher satisfaction.

The average age of vehicles on the road today is about 9 years old, and given the slow economy drivers are replacing vehicles primarily out of poor reliability, safety concerns, and repair costs. Not as many people are able to afford a new car because their current one is uncomfortable, outdated technology, or because of being bored with styling.

New plan will reduce smog, promote zero emission technology, and support federal efforts to curb global warming pollution.

The California Air Resources Board has released a detailed proposal for new set of vehicle and fuel policies that will reduce pollution, grant consumers access to clean fuels, and develop zero-emission technology. These changes will apply to new cars sold through 2025.

California has led the nation in clean car standards for over 50 years, and over the next 14 years this will continue with the new zero emission policies and set the pace for the next 50 years.

According to ARB, the advanced clean car program would save the state of California $22 Billion through 2025. It would also create about 21,000 new jobs across the state as people spend less money on fuel and start spending on more productive parts of the economy. As an individual you could save $4000 over the life of the vehicle from saving on fuel costs and applying that to the car loan and. On top of saving the state and individual consumer money, the program would cut emissions by 52 million metric tons.

The new plan would keep money in the pockets of Californians while reducing emissions and smog in the air.  With more than 30 models of electric vehicles expected to be released in the next few years from a wide range of manufacturers, there will be plenty of models to choose from.

Maintenance Tips To Help Your Car Survive Winter

With winter here, we’re preparing our closets by packing away summer clothes and unpacking warm, winter ones. This is the best time to start getting your vehicle ready for the winter months ahead.

If you live where it snows, you know what rain, snow, ice, loose gravel and salt can do to your car. With easy, regular maintenance, you can save money, time, and prevent becoming stranded, or even worse, an accident.

Winter Windshield and Window Safety

A small ding or crack in your windshield can quickly expand in these cold months. What could have been a quick $50-$60 dollar fix with a windshield repair kit can turn into a several hundred dollar windshield replacement. Fix your windshield now to avoid unnecessary holiday spending!

Even if your windshield and windows do not have cracks in them, there are products and treatments available that are easy to apply and improve wet weather driving visibility.

Fluids

As any mechanic will tell you, checking your vehicles fluids is the easiest and least expensive way to maintain your vehicle and to make sure you don’t become stranded. Checking oil and getting routine changes every 3000 miles is essential to optimal performance, along with checking antifreeze, transmission fluid, and windshield wiper fluid.

Batteries and Corroded Cables

Batteries usually last for 3-3 ½ years, cold winter mornings can wreak havoc on older batteries, have your battery checked to make sure you don’t become stranded in the cold.

Anything Made of Rubber

Older, worn, balding, or misaligned tires can quickly lead to accident in the snow. Make sure tires are properly inflated and have the appropriate tread for the conditions in which you live. If you live or travel frequently to a snowy area, tires with snow tread and keeping chains in the car is a good idea.

Rubber hoses under the hood also need regular checking and maintenance, radiator, vacuum and heater hoses amongst others should be checked regular for cracking and wear due to winter temperatures.

Rust, Minor Scratches and Nicks

Road salt and sand can quickly turn a small scratch or nick into a large rust area, turning an inexpensive fix into a large, costly spot of rust that can permanently damage

Brakes

Don’t postpone brake work, driving with poorly performing brakes especially in snowy weather is dangerous. Also, remember to keep your speed as low as practically possible, increase the distance between cars, corners, and any other hazards. Try to maximize your braking on straight sections of road and minimize or completely avoid braking during a corner.

Lights

Check your lights! As the days get shorter, more of your driving is done in dark conditions. Cloudy or dirty lenses, worn and under performing bulbs can make the difference between arriving safely and not. If your lenses are cloudy or dirty there are products and treatments available to brighten them up.

Regular maintenance of your vehicle provide years of service with better performance and safety.

A new way to help the environment! As you know, G&R Body & Paint participates in the Certified Green Investment program to help reduce pollution and reduce its carbon footprint. Now, when you need tire service or mechanical repairs, a new application called www.FindGreenGarage.com lets you find a “green” automotive service provider near you!

Of course, if you’re looking for top quality autobody or collision repair services, we hope you’ll look no further than G&R Body & Paint—we’re listed on www.FindGreenGarage.com, too.

To find a qualified “green” shop, just type in a zip code, then select the shop type and radius of your search area in miles from the pull-down menu. Hit enter, and a Google map will appear with certified green icons. As you click on each icon, an info bubble will pop up with information about the shop: type of service provided, name, location, phone number, the certifying authority, and the amount of Greenhouse Gas savings achieved to date. Hyperlinks take you to the shop’s website, the certifying authority website, and additional information about how green savings are calculated. The FindGreenGarage map contains all the functionality of Google Maps, including zoom features, terrain and satellite views, and driving directions.

Now it’s easy to reduce your carbon footprint and support businesses in your community that are doing the right thing for the environment—like G&R Body & Paint—with http://www.findgreengarage.com/.

It’s raining! It’s pouring! The collision rates are soaring!

Sacramento-area traffic becomes incredibly chaotic when water begins to fall from the sky.  Thousands of vehicle accidents happen to reckless drivers as well as overly cautious drivers when it rains, and with storms coming in short sporadic bursts throughout the year, rain is without a doubt a major driving hazard.  Slick roads and decreased visibility are the two major factors in what causes collisions during the Sacramento rainy season.  Short of wiping down the road ways, there’s not much motorists can do to stop the roads from becoming slippery when wet.  However, we can do something to improve visibility and road safety.

Maintaining windshield wipers is a crucial part of vehicle maintenance for anyone driving in the rain.  Wiper blades are made of thin strips of rubber that work as squeegees to remove water from the driver’s line of vision, adjustable to various speeds to keep the windshield free of rain and debris.

But windshield wipers deteriorate and wear out, and as they degrade they become less and less effective. It’s not the use of wipers that causes them to break down.  In fact, it’s the off-season that the driver must worry about.  Hot California summers are extremely hard on the thin rubber strips that coat the blades.  Heat can cause the rubber to dry up and crack, resulting in breaks in the blade when it’s time to perform.  UV rays also affect flexibility of the blade, which can result in stuttered lines across a rain soaked windshield.  Then when the rains begin and you need your wipers,  they’re not ready for you. 

As summer ends and winter rains, it’s a good idea to check, replace, or even upgrade your windshield wipers.  Most auto parts stores offer guides to assist you in looking up replacement blades specific to the make and model of your vehicle.  Many blades are designed for easy replacement with snap clips or small push tabs to release the old blades.  Always consult your vehicle maintenance manual to find the correct wiper blade replacement strategy.  Changing blades before you need them will give you the confidence needed to face the hazards of a rainy commute. 

The professionals at our Sacramento body shop are always available to answer your questions about your vehicle and vehicle safety.  If the worst happens, and you find yourself involved in a rain-aggravated fender-bender, our expert team of collision repair technicians will get you back on the road looking great.  Seasons change here in Sac, but our dedication to customer service at G&R Body & Paint is year-round.  Call us at 916-731-8203 or e-mail to info@grbodyshop.com.

We guess it was just a matter of time…. California DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) is getting its own reality show! Now, if you love going to DMV as much as we at Sacramento’s G&R Body & Paint do, you might be wondering—why would I spend my time watching this on television?

The truTV show, “California DMV: Field Offices” will be co-produced by Ashton Kutcher and promises to be “fun and fast-paced.” Something like A&E’s hit show, “Parking Wars,” featuring the men and women of the Philadelphia Parking Authority and Detroit Municipal Parking Department and the high drama that occurs as they ticket, boot and tow. No premiere date has been announced for California DMV, but truTV reportedly has committed to four episodes. Read more from Autobody News…

A candy-apple red convertible turns heads, while a taupe sedan barely rates a glance. It’s no secret that we Californians are emotionally attached to our vehicles, way beyond simply a means of getting from one place to another. It makes a difference to us whether we’re driving a little blue truck or a big black coupe. But did you know there’s a psychology behind the color of the cars we choose? This entertaining Website contains insightful info about what the color of your vehicle says about you!