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Body Panels
Description: Individually, these may carry specific names such
as rear quarter panel, front fender, and rocker panel, among others.
Purpose: Body panels are the exterior "shell" of the vehicle and
serve cosmetic as well as functional purposes. Everyone admires a clean-looking
car, but body panels go beyond aesthetics and also contribute to your protection
in the event of a collision. Body panels also hold and protect all sorts of
other components that may be located underneath the panel. Usually made from
stamped steel, body panels may also be made of aluminium, composite materials or
even fibreglass. These materials are usually used for weight savings, but
composite panels also have additional dent-resistant abilities.
Maintenance Tips/Suggestions: Frequent washing and vehicle polishing
go a long ways towards protecting your investment. Keeping your vehicle
consistently clean clears away the build-up of damaging chemicals and dirt that
may attack your car's finish. In the majority of areas in Canada road salt is
used in winter months, frequent washing can also reduce the corrosive effects of
salt that cause body rust-through. If your car is involved in an accident, no
matter how minor, have the damage immediately inspected and evaluated by a
collision professional. Neglecting body damage could jeopardize your safety and
eventually contribute to even more expensive repairs.
Convertible Tops
Like tires, soft tops need period replacements, but effective life can be
increased considerably by proper care and maintenance. Careless operation can
damage the top. The only true safeguard is to get out of the car and manually
help the folding or unfolding process. Cuts in the material can be prevented by
pulling the folding material clear of any scissor action mechanism within the
frame assembly.
Similarly, punctures and abrasion can be prevented by making sure that the
top material does not slide or drag against the rough or sharp edges of the
frame. Do not rest heavy objects (like surfboards or skis) on the folded top.
Never put beach towels, tennis shoes, or any other object in the top well and do
not fold the top when it is wet.
Cleaning convertible tops varies by the type of material used. There are
basically two types of material, a vinyl exterior bonded to a cotton interior,
or a woven acrylic bonded to cotton or nylon.Car washes will not harm either
material, but Car Care Canada recommends hand washing, because of the risk of
plastic windows being scratched. Never allow a spray wax to be applied.
Vinyl tops can be cleaned with mild vinyl spray cleaners or detergent in
lukewarm water. Fabric tops require more gentle treatment and a mild soap is
recommended. Above all do not use harsh cleaners, bleach or abrasives. Plastic
windows should be cleaned frequently. Be sure to hose or blow loose dirt
particles from the surface and then use either plain water or a mild soap and
water solution. Apply a soft cloth or tissue to clean gently. Never use brushes
or abrasives - these can scratch the surface.
Replacement: Trim and upholstery shops specialize in
repairing and enhancing the interior, and certain exterior features of cars,
trucks, sport utility vehicles, vans, RVs, boats - even aircraft. These shops
can repair or recover leather, cloth and vinyl seats; replace and upgrade worn
or soiled carpeting; replace torn or falling headliners (ceiling fabric); and
repair, replace or install convertible tops and sunroofs.
To locate a quality trim shop, look in the yellow pages under headings such
as: "auto upholstery repair," "seat covers," or "convertible auto tops" to find
a shop in your area. You may also want to try the Find a Store feature
on this website. The same key words can be used to find shops using Internet
search engines.
Once you have located a few shops, use these tips to select the right one
for you:
- Explain the problem. Tell the shop the type of vehicle you have and what the
problem is. A good shop should be able to clearly explain the options available
to fix your vehicle or the upgrades that may enhance its value.
- Don't be afraid to ask questions. You can never ask too many questions, and
a good trim shop is trained to help you fully understand your interior
maintenance needs.
- Obtain a written estimate of the work to be performed. The estimate should
include parts, cost of parts, cost of labor and an expected delivery date. Many
people are surprised at the affordable cost when balanced against the value the
repair or upgrade has added to the vehicle.
- To protect your investment, make sure the shop is insured.
- Does the shop have a warranty program? You can be confident in the service
you receive from a business that is willing to warranty both parts and labour.
- Ask to see examples of past work completed. A good trim shop will have a
photo book that includes different types of services performed and the results,
which are often spectacular.
- Visit the facility. A clean, well-run shop will bolster your confidence that
the trim shop you have chosen can do the work specified.
Exterior Care
Description: Over the past decade, car manufacturers have
developed different paint systems to improve durability. In the 1980s domestic
cars had conventional finishes, that is, a pigmented enamel coat on top of the
primer. Today, 96% of all new cars have a base coat/clear coat finish, which is
comprised of a thin color coat covered by a clear acrylic or enamel urethane
coat. This clear coat finish is only 2 mils thick -- about the thickness of an
ordinary plastic trash bag. Daily wear and tear on a car's clear coat finish may
leave it with swirl marks or signs of oxidation. To the eye, it means a dull and
hazy looking appearance. This is sometimes referred to as "clear coat
haze."
Purpose: Your car's finish provides more than beauty. Over
time, a car's paint erodes due to the effects of sunlight, UV radiation, acid
rain, salt, dirt, and air pollution. Wax your car every six months with a
quality wax or polish. More frequent waxes are needed if your car is red, black
or white because these colors are more susceptible to acid rain and UV rays.
Maintenance: Frequent washing (once a week) and vehicle
polishing (once every 6 months) go a long ways towards protecting your
investment. Keeping your vehicle consistently clean clears away the build-up of
damaging chemicals and dirt that may attack your car's finish. In areas of the
country that experience the use of road salt in winter months, frequent washing
can also reduce the corrosive effects of salt that cause body rust-through.
If your car is involved in an accident, no matter how minor, have the
damage immediately inspected and evaluated by a collision professional.
Neglecting body damage could jeopardize your safety and eventually contribute to
even more expensive repairs.
One of the most critical times to wash your vehicle is immediately after a
rainfall because of the ill effects of acid rain. Even though the water
evaporates, the acid stays behind and can eat into your vehicle's finish. While
you may not be able to prevent acid rain, you can prevent it from ruining your
vehicle's finish by frequent washing and polishing.
If you drive on muddy roads, consider an undercarriage treatment every time
you wash your car. Undercarriage treatments, offered by most car washes, remove
caked-on mud that holds moisture to metal and causes rust and body rot around
wheel wells and door sills.
Driving in snow and sleet can compound the effects of acid rain because of
the corrosive nature of road salt. To prevent this damage, washing your car
during the winter is highly recommended, provided the temperature is above
freezing.
Foreign materials like tar, tree sap, and acid rain can stain newer paint
finishes. The longer these sit on the car's surface, the more difficult they
become to remove and the more likely they are to cause damage.
Waxes and polishes (these two terms are used interchangeably) serve three
primary purposes:
- cleaning a car's finish
- improving the shine, and
- protecting the surface against the offensive effects of foreign materials.
Most waxes/polishes contain very mild cleaning agents, along with shine
ingredients, lubricants and waxes. All of the ingredients work together to renew
that showroom-new look. And, since regular waxing and polishing also sets up a
protective barrier against hostile attacks from the environment, your vehicle's
appearance will be protected for years to come.
Landau Tops
Description: Usually found on luxury cars, a landau roof enhances
the outside appearance by adding an element of formality to a car's roofline.
Instead of a full covering of the roof area, a landau roof usually covers the
rear section. Landau roofs most commonly use vinyl as a covering material, but
sometimes can be found covered with a durable cloth.
Since the landau roof covering is different from the painted surfaces of
the remainder of the roof and body, it requires different upkeep. Regular care
will extend the life of your landau roof, by protecting it from the elements and
the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays.
Purpose: Landau tops enhance vehicle appearance.
Maintenance Tips/Suggestions: Inspect the roof regularly for signs
of damage, loosening and debris. If the roof shows signs of looseness, damage or
pulling from the corners, have a professional evaluate the damage right away.
Catching a minor problem early may mean that the roof can be repaired easily now
rather than confronting the cost of a major repair later. Bird droppings and
chemicals used on roadways can discolour the roof, so they need to be removed
right away. That's why it's always best to precede roof cleaning with a thorough
washing of your car's exterior. So you don't have to fight the sun and its
effects, always wash your car and perform roof cleaning in the shade.
To clean a vinyl roof, apply quality vinyl roof cleaner with a white,
all-cotton, terrycloth towel to entire vinyl roof. Do not "spot clean" just a
given section as it may result in uneven coloration of the roof at a later
point. Make sure to follow the instructions on the label of the cleaner for best
results. For areas with stubborn dirt imbedded into the texture of the vinyl,
apply the cleaner to a soft, nylon-bristled brush and scrub gently. Once you're
finished applying the cleaner, wait a few minutes and then wipe the treated area
with a second towel.
Never use harsh chemicals like solvents or bleach as they may damage or
discolour the roof. Also, avoid using abrasive cleaning pads as they can scratch
and "open up" the vinyl, accelerating wear and creating a more porous surface
for dirt to stick. If needed, repeat the cleaning cycle if the vinyl top is
extremely dirty. Apply a vinyl protector when finished.
Cleaning a cloth landau roof requires some extra precautions over vinyl.
Wash the top in the shade with car wash soap and water, or soap specifically
designed for cloth roofs and tops. Apply the soap with a sponge, or a cleaning
brush, with soft, nylon bristles. Never use a brush with stiff (especially
metal) bristles as it may damage the roof. Also, steer clear of towels, a
chamois or a cleaning cloth at this point, because it can leave lint or push
dirt into the top. If you encounter tough stains in the cloth, use a dedicated
cleaner specifically made for this purpose. After the top dries, apply a cloth
roof/top protectant to guard against the sun's UV rays and to repel dirt.
Tonneau Covers
Description: A tonneau cover can be either flexible or
stiff and is usually used to cover the bed of pickup trucks and open areas on
other types of utility vehicles. Some covers roll up, some fold up, some slide
and yet others lift off the area they cover.
Purpose: Tonneau covers enhance vehicle appearance;
they may reduce wind resistance and can provide some level of security to open
areas, depending on design.
Maintenance Tips/Suggestions: Although it's best to
check with the manufacturer of the tonneau cover for specifics since designs
vary, here are some general guidelines.
Inspect the cover regularly for signs of damage, loosening and
debris. If the cover shows signs of looseness, damage or pulling, some basic
adjustments may correct this before the problem gets worse and results in major
damage.
Regular cleaning of your tonneau cover is important to its
longevity, that's why it's always best to start with a thorough washing of your
vehicle's exterior. To avoid the effects of the sun, always clean your vehicle
and your tonneau cover in the shade.
To clean a vinyl cover, apply quality vinyl cleaner with a
white, all-cotton, terrycloth towel to the entire cover. Make sure to follow the
instructions on the label of the cleaner for best results. For areas with
stubborn dirt imbedded into the texture of the vinyl, apply the cleaner to a
soft, nylon-bristled brush and scrub gently. Once you're finished applying the
cleaner, wait a few minutes and then wipe the treated area with a second towel.
Never use strong chemicals like solvents or bleach as they may
damage or discolour the cover. Also, avoid using abrasive cleaning pads as they
can scratch and “open up” the vinyl, accelerating wear and creating a more
porous surface for dirt to stick. If needed, clean the cover a second time if
it's extremely dirty. Apply a vinyl protector when finished.
Windshield
Description: In the early days of the automobile, the
front-mounted piece of glass known as the windshield did little more than its
name suggests. Today, the windshield is a critical and inherent safety component
of your car. The windshield is made of laminated safety glass, a special type of
glass made by sandwiching a sheet of plastic between two or more layers of
glass. Because safety is so important, the federal government developed and
enacted four different standards for windshield design, manufacturing and
performance.
Purpose: The windshield performs several safety-related
tasks:
- Safety glass construction greatly reduces the size and number
of flying glass pieces during an accident, lessening the chance of injury to
those inside the car.
- Keeps occupants inside the car during an accident.
- Serves as a deflection panel when the passenger side airbag
deploys.
- Provides structural support for the roof in the vent of a
rollover accident.
- Some windshields have a metallic film that quickly defrosts or
de-ices the windshield in cold temperatures.
Maintenance Tips/Suggestions: Keep the windshield clean
at all times. Insects and other debris can be removed with the use of a “bug
sponge” and a proper cleaner, but be careful not to use strong abrasives that
may scratch the glass.
Make sure that the windshield washer solvent reservoir is full
so you can use your windshield wipers to clear your view when driving. This is
critical during the winter months. Inspect your wiper blades frequently. If worn
or damaged, bad wipers can damage the windshield. To help improve visibility
further, consider a dirt and water repellent that you apply directly to the
windshield.
Minor windshield damage such as chips and cracks can be
repaired using methods now accepted by insurance companies. If complete
windshield replacement is needed, it must be installed properly to yield all its
safety capabilities. Choose an installation company that uses the proper tools,
materials and techniques.
Interior
Description: The inside "living" area of your
car is known as the interior. This generally includes the seats, seat belts and
harnesses, inside door panels, carpeting, mats, dashboard, rear "package" tray
(if equipped), and cargo area.
Purpose: Your car’s interior provides
comfort, safety and convenience for all the occupants, as well as various
features to control many of the car’s systems. For instance, the Climate Control
System keeps your car’s interior comfortable regardless of the time of year or
driving conditions.
Your car's interior can be likened to the living room of your
house, since you spend so much time there. Keeping your car's interior clean and
protected guards your investment, provides longer interior life, and makes
clean-up a lot easier the next time around.
It's also wise to prevent any loose articles from moving
around within the interior, because they can interfere with operation of the
brake, accelerator and clutch pedals and may even be dangerous when a sudden jar
of the car takes place during an accident. Remove all unnecessary items and
locate those that must stay in a secure place like a compartment, cup holder, or
other storage place.
Maintenance Tips/Suggestions: It's important
to keep your car's interior clean and well maintained. Frequent vacuuming
removes much of the dirt that can contribute to wear and tear of the fabric and
carpet. Periodic cleaning of carpet and fabric removes dirt that is more
imbedded and can minimize the likelihood of stains.
To protect interior surfaces such as panels, clean with a
suitable interior cleaner and apply a protectant to prevent damage from the
sun’s ultraviolet rays. If your car has a leather interior, clean the leather
periodically and apply a leather treatment to keep the leather conditioned for
longest life.
Spills and other mishaps should be cleaned up as soon as
possible to reduce the possibility of stains. Use a carpet or upholstery spot
cleaner according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Test all cleaners for
color-fastness in a hard-to-see spot first before using in a more conspicuous
place.
A great way of removing dust, pollen and common allergens from
interior surfaces is with shop cloths. These disposable cleaning cloths capture
dirt rather than moving it around. To make sure they're handy when you need one,
keep some in the glove compartment.
Always vacuum the car's upholstery and floor mats each time
you wash your car. Afterwards, spray some odour-eater to freshen the car's
interior and remove any lingering odours. Once clean, protect your car's fabric
upholstery and carpeting with an application of a fabric guard. This type of
product repels both water and stains, making clean-up the next time around much
easier.
Frame/Uni-Body
Description: The frame or unibody is the main structural piece of
the vehicle. Though they provide similar functions, they have different designs
and purposes. When combined with all the braking, steering and suspension
systems, this is commonly referred to as the chassis, or undercarriage, of the
vehicle.
Purpose: The frame or unibody provides the structural strength of
the vehicle and also a location and mounting points for other systems that make
the total chassis. The frame design is the oldest, made of steel and designed so
that the body of the vehicle is mounted on top. The unibody, on the other hand,
differs from the frame in that it is actually stamped out as part of the body
structure. Also referred to sometimes as unitized construction, today’s
automobiles most commonly use the unibody design because its inherent ability to
absorb energy during a collision.
Most light trucks continue to use body-on-frame construction. Even though a
car or light truck is usually built one way or the other, there are some
vehicles that use a partial frame (sometimes called a sub-frame) along with
unibody construction.
Maintenance Tips/Suggestions: The frame or unibody is not a
separately serviceable item, so it does not require regular maintenance.
Nevertheless, it is a good idea to periodically clean the undercarriage of the
vehicle, especially in parts of the country where road salt is used during the
winter months.
Should your vehicle be involved in an accident, have the damage inspected
immediately by a collision professional. Sometimes damage that appears to be
merely cosmetic may wind up being more severe and affect your vehicle’s
structural integrity, which could impact your car’s safety. Such damage may also
affect wheel alignment, since proper alignment relies on a frame or unibody
that’s within manufacturer’s specifications.
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