Keeping Little Chips & Cracks from becoming Big Repairs
Here in Kansas, we are at risk of suffering a crack or ding to our windshield during any time of year. From being parked outside during a large hailstorm in the spring to just following a construction vehicle along Kellogg in Wichita, people come into our Andover auto shop all year round with a variety of auto glass damage.
When to get a windshield chip repaired?
A little chip or crack on your windshield may be annoying, but not an impairment to your driving. You may be tempted to delay getting your vehicle’s glass repaired later. But how long can you safely wait to fix a little chip in your window before getting it fixed? There really is no good length of time to wait to repair a broken windshield, no matter how minor the damage is. The fact is, the smallest ding in your window or windshield is at risk of turning into a large crack at any time. Waiting to fix a little windshield chip could cost you more in the long run.
What’s the cost of fixing a chipped windshield?
If you have a chip less than a half inch big or a crack that can be completely covered by your hand, these damages probably require minor repairs and will not be very expensive. Here at our auto shop in Andover just minutes from Wichita, we often can repair minor chips and cracks in less than an hour.
The cost and repair time increase if the damage is not as minor as you think. If there are 4 or more chips or cracks on the glass, if the damage is located at the ends of the windshield, or if your windshield is covered with tiny divots, then you may need to have the entire windshield replaced.
Finding out if we can fix it and how much it will cost is free. Here at Collision Center of Andover, we do not charge for a repair quote. Feel free to bring your vehicle to our auto shop at 948 N. Andover Rd, just a few minutes outside of Wichita. Or you can use our online repair quote form to submit a description and a photo of your car’s damage to help us get started on your repair quote.
What could cause a small windshield chip to become worse?
Think you can just try to drive more carefully to keep the little crack from getting worse? You are taking a big gamble. The truth is, there is really no way for you to avoid a little chip in your glass before that minor damage becomes a crack that reaches across your whole windshield.
What can cause a chip or small crack to spread?
- Pothole
- A bumpy road
- An aggressive turn
Beyond those above situations that could occur while you’re on the road, elements in nature could also contribute to making a little problem much bigger and more expensive for you. Your windshield experiencing sudden temperature changes could cause the chip or crack to get worse. Some ways to avoid these big temperature swings affecting your windshield, do not park in direct sunlight and avoid using your window defroster until you get the damage fixed. In addition to temperature, leaving a window chip exposed can cause dirt to get into the tiny cracks, making it possibly harder to repair later. Even something relatively small that drops from a tree like an acorn or nut could be enough of an impact to make your small chip become a large crack in your windshield.
How to stop a windshield crack from spreading
The best thing to do is to get the damage fixed right away. But if you can’t get it into a shop immediately, there are some simply DIY steps you can take to prevent the damage from getting worse. One easy measure is to apply superglue or clear nail polish to the chip. You will first want to completely clean the windshield and damaged area. Then fill the crack with the glue or polish. Once it’s dry, put a piece of clear packing tape over it to keep dirt from getting into the crack.
Are there laws against windshield damage?
While we’ve already explained the very practical and financial reasons why it is best to not wait on getting a windshield chip repaired, there is also a legal reason.
Kansas law states that you cannot have damage to your front windshield or windows that present a substantial obstruction to the driver’s view of the roads. What size of damage is considered substantial? The law isn’t exact, but it’s probably not something you want to leave up to the officer who decided to pull you over. It will be up to that officer’s judgement on whether the chips or cracks in any of your vehicle’s glass are in violation of state law.
Federal law is a bit more specific on how much windshield damage is illegal to have on an operating vehicle. It’s against the law to have cracks that intersect with each other. And it’s illegal to have glass chips ¾ of an inch wide or larger within 3 inches of any other damage.
Breaking the Kansas state laws on vehicle window and windshield damage could result in a fine of $45.00. Although subsequent offenses within a couple years’ time will increase the amount you are fined.
Can you fix your car’s window yourself?
Possibly. There are DIY windshield kits available for consumers to use. Before deciding to take on this job yourself, you will want to consider a few things:
- Is the crack or divot very small, or could it be large enough to require more extensive repair than what a DIY window repair kit can handle?
- Is the chip or crack located in your field of vision while driving? Your repair job could leave a mark or blemish that will obstruct your view while driving.
Letting a professional handle your windshield damage is always the best idea. Our skilled technicians at our Andover auto shop have an incredible amount of experience handling all the variety of chips, dings and cracks vehicles suffer in Kansas. From construction to hail, our cars and trucks face a lot of punishment on roads in and around Wichita. Our auto technicians know immediately whether the chip or small crack is easily fixable, or if you will need an entire windshield replacement. Attempting to fix the issue yourself when the problem is actually large enough to need more professional repair, could end up costing you more money when the damage becomes worse or if your repair job doesn’t hold.
Beyond windshield, Collision Center of Andover can handle all your auto glass repair & replacement, including rear windshield and door windows. Minor cracks and chips can be fixed very quickly, often in less than an hour. And depending on your insurance coverage, the window chip repair may be at no cost to you. Call us today and let us know how we can help – (316) 733-9310.
Overcharging a Car Battery
/0 Comments/in Blog /by admin5 Causes That Can Make it Overcharge
While many of us have had to deal with the occurrence of a dead battery and the resulting problems of a car not starting, the opposite situation – having a battery with TOO MUCH charge – can result in big issues of its own and even lead to bigger problems then when dealing with a dead battery.
Not understanding much about a car’s battery and attempting to charge it by yourself is one reason why a vehicle’s battery could be damaged from being overcharged. Fortunately, this is a problem that is easy to prevent. And even if costs are involved, they are typically minor, especially if you’re able to prevent a slightly overcharged battery from getting worse.
5 Reasons Why a Car’s Battery Can Become Overcharged
1. Not Knowing how to use a Vehicle Charger
When you find out that your car won’t start and suspect it’s because of a dead battery, deciding to charge it seems like an obvious solution. Whether you have a charger yourself or you are relying upon a neighbor or friend to help you out, you will want to make sure that whoever is doing the charging knows what they are doing. It is a relatively simple fix that anyone can do as long as they have the basic information on how to properly do it. Leaving the battery on a charger for too long can overcharge it.
2. Faulty Battery Chargers
Even if the person who is charging your vehicle is knowledgeable and experienced, if you’re dealing with a defective battery charger, this itself could cause your vehicle to overcharge. Problems from a faulty battery charger is an easy thing to avoid. Testing your battery charger before using it to charge your car’s battery will let you know if it’s not working properly.
To test your car battery charger, plug it in without a battery in it. Put a multimeter across it that is set to the 20V DC range. A working charger should measure at about 13V.
3. A Faulty Alternator
The problem might actually be with your vehicle’s alternator. A broken alternator will stop creating electricity for the battery. But if a wrong or faulty alternator is placed into your vehicle, it could create too much charge for your car’s battery and cause it to be overcharged.
Some signs you are dealing with a bad alternator include:
4. Problems with the Voltage Regulator
A voltage regulator is a part that works with your alternator to regulate the amount of voltage the alternator produces. It works to keep a steady flow of voltage to the battery, and so you can imagine that if it isn’t working as it should and is sending too much voltage, that could cause your car’s battery to overcharge. Replacing your voltage regular is relatively easy and inexpensive.
5. Heat
Hot weather can make overcharged battery issues worse. The time of year when your battery is getting overcharged could determine how much damage that could cause. An overcharged battery in the summer may result in bigger and more costly problems.
What Happens when you Overcharge a Battery?
A problem worse than that, but still not an expensive nor hard one to solve, is when overcharging causes your battery to completely stop working. While this is, of course, not a great situation to be in, it is still something relatively easy and affordable to fix.
The biggest danger from overcharged batteries comes from the gases and substances inside the battery, commonly known as battery acid. Overcharging the battery could cause the internal water and sulfuric acid to mix and boil. The result of this could be a battery melting, swelling up and/or leaking. And depending on the age of your battery, this could even result in your battery exploding. This risk is greater for newer batteries because they are sealed, compared to some of the older batteries that are vented.
Alternative Tool to a Battery Charger
Instead of using a battery charger, you could opt for a battery maintainer. These maintainers are devices similar to battery chargers, but they operate in a different way. Battery maintainers supply a small amount of electricity to your battery over a longer period. However these may not be feasible to use on a car you need to drive every day. These are ideal for vehicles that you do not use regularly, such as one that is kept in storage over the long Kansas winters.
What Happens When You Can’t Fix Your Car’s Battery Problem?
Call us at (316) 733-9310! At Collision Center of Andover, we can accurately diagnose whatever problem your car is having and make sure whatever is needed – a new battery, alternator, voltage regulator – will be quickly installed by our team of skilled car technicians. We are conveniently located on Andover Road just minutes outside of Wichita.
Windshield Chip Repair
/0 Comments/in General /by adminKeeping Little Chips & Cracks from becoming Big Repairs
Here in Kansas, we are at risk of suffering a crack or ding to our windshield during any time of year. From being parked outside during a large hailstorm in the spring to just following a construction vehicle along Kellogg in Wichita, people come into our Andover auto shop all year round with a variety of auto glass damage.
When to get a windshield chip repaired?
A little chip or crack on your windshield may be annoying, but not an impairment to your driving. You may be tempted to delay getting your vehicle’s glass repaired later. But how long can you safely wait to fix a little chip in your window before getting it fixed? There really is no good length of time to wait to repair a broken windshield, no matter how minor the damage is. The fact is, the smallest ding in your window or windshield is at risk of turning into a large crack at any time. Waiting to fix a little windshield chip could cost you more in the long run.
What’s the cost of fixing a chipped windshield?
If you have a chip less than a half inch big or a crack that can be completely covered by your hand, these damages probably require minor repairs and will not be very expensive. Here at our auto shop in Andover just minutes from Wichita, we often can repair minor chips and cracks in less than an hour.
The cost and repair time increase if the damage is not as minor as you think. If there are 4 or more chips or cracks on the glass, if the damage is located at the ends of the windshield, or if your windshield is covered with tiny divots, then you may need to have the entire windshield replaced.
Finding out if we can fix it and how much it will cost is free. Here at Collision Center of Andover, we do not charge for a repair quote. Feel free to bring your vehicle to our auto shop at 948 N. Andover Rd, just a few minutes outside of Wichita. Or you can use our online repair quote form to submit a description and a photo of your car’s damage to help us get started on your repair quote.
What could cause a small windshield chip to become worse?
Think you can just try to drive more carefully to keep the little crack from getting worse? You are taking a big gamble. The truth is, there is really no way for you to avoid a little chip in your glass before that minor damage becomes a crack that reaches across your whole windshield.
What can cause a chip or small crack to spread?
Beyond those above situations that could occur while you’re on the road, elements in nature could also contribute to making a little problem much bigger and more expensive for you. Your windshield experiencing sudden temperature changes could cause the chip or crack to get worse. Some ways to avoid these big temperature swings affecting your windshield, do not park in direct sunlight and avoid using your window defroster until you get the damage fixed. In addition to temperature, leaving a window chip exposed can cause dirt to get into the tiny cracks, making it possibly harder to repair later. Even something relatively small that drops from a tree like an acorn or nut could be enough of an impact to make your small chip become a large crack in your windshield.
How to stop a windshield crack from spreading
The best thing to do is to get the damage fixed right away. But if you can’t get it into a shop immediately, there are some simply DIY steps you can take to prevent the damage from getting worse. One easy measure is to apply superglue or clear nail polish to the chip. You will first want to completely clean the windshield and damaged area. Then fill the crack with the glue or polish. Once it’s dry, put a piece of clear packing tape over it to keep dirt from getting into the crack.
Are there laws against windshield damage?
Kansas law states that you cannot have damage to your front windshield or windows that present a substantial obstruction to the driver’s view of the roads. What size of damage is considered substantial? The law isn’t exact, but it’s probably not something you want to leave up to the officer who decided to pull you over. It will be up to that officer’s judgement on whether the chips or cracks in any of your vehicle’s glass are in violation of state law.
Federal law is a bit more specific on how much windshield damage is illegal to have on an operating vehicle. It’s against the law to have cracks that intersect with each other. And it’s illegal to have glass chips ¾ of an inch wide or larger within 3 inches of any other damage.
Breaking the Kansas state laws on vehicle window and windshield damage could result in a fine of $45.00. Although subsequent offenses within a couple years’ time will increase the amount you are fined.
Can you fix your car’s window yourself?
Possibly. There are DIY windshield kits available for consumers to use. Before deciding to take on this job yourself, you will want to consider a few things:
Beyond windshield, Collision Center of Andover can handle all your auto glass repair & replacement, including rear windshield and door windows. Minor cracks and chips can be fixed very quickly, often in less than an hour. And depending on your insurance coverage, the window chip repair may be at no cost to you. Call us today and let us know how we can help – (316) 733-9310.
When Will My Car be Ready? 9 Things that Can Slow Down Repairs
/0 Comments/in General /by adminFrom Estimate to Fixed: Factors determining how long your car will be in the shop
Having been the premiere auto body shop for Andover and Wichita since 2006, Collision Center of Andover are experts at putting your damaged car back to the way it was. Not only do our experienced car technicians know how to get the job done, we know how long this process can be expected to take AND all the factors that cause delays in getting your vehicle fixed as soon as possible.
The 1 question our customers ask the most: When will my car be ready?
So, what’s the answer? When will we get your vehicle done?
We wish we could give you an exact answer. But the fact is, we can’t. And believe us, we really, really wish we could. The simple fact is we just don’t know. It almost pains us to tell you that. With a team of car guys with decades of experience fixing cars day in and day out (heck, Jeff alone has nearly 30 years’ experience!), you would think we would be the local auto body shop to know this answer.
There is a good reason why we can’t predict with 100% accuracy how long it will take for us to repair your car. Actually, there are 9 reasons. And many of those reasons are outside the control of our technicians and repair shop, at least until we learn how to control mother nature.
9 Factors that Determine Auto Repair Time
Is it a nice spring day, or is it the day after central Kansas’ first ice storm of the winter season? If our area’s first mix of ice and sleet covered roads from Andover to Goddard, there are likely hundreds (or more) of other people across the Wichita area who are taking their car or truck to the repair shop at the same time as you. While we want to get to work on your car right away, you may be waiting in line… at ANY repair shop across the area.
Depending on your answer, this could be the most substantial delay to work getting done. We have great experience in the entire process, and that includes working with insurance companies to avoid delays. But the truth is, each insurance company operates differently. While Collision Center technicians can get started without any delay when certain insurance companies are involved, other insurance companies may require an extensive approval process, taking days or every several weeks! While we can’t control how long some insurance companies will take to allow us to get your car repair started, you can trust Collision Center of Andover to do what it takes to help insurance companies expedite their process whenever we can.
Once we get the insurance approval, we can get straight to work on repairing your vehicle. That often starts with us tearing down your vehicle. This is where new issues can arise. It’s very possible that while we are getting a closer look inside your vehicle, we will find additional damage that wasn’t visible until AFTER we took it apart. If that happens, we will work quick to handle any new orders for parts or any further coordination with the insurance company.
There are times when a repair job will require work to be done by the dealership. This may be because of insurance requirements or warranty specifications. In any case, taking your car to a dealership means the repair is temporarily out of our hands. Just as we effort to expedite work with insurance companies, we are quick to work closely with your dealership to avoid any unnecessary delays. Once they can get their part of the work done, we are ready to take over.
Even if Kansas isn’t currently dealing with bad weather, a storm in our neighboring states could still affect how long it will take your car to get done. Fortunately, many parts are available here in the Wichita area. But sometimes parts needed for repairs come from outside Kansas, such as from Denver, Oklahoma or Texas. Usually when we need to order parts, we can have them on hand in a day. But as we’ve seen happen, roads like I-70 are prone to be shut down during and after a big snow storm and can delay how soon your parts get to us.
If you’re driving a foreign car or some other less common vehicle, we may need to order parts that could take a while to get delivered to us. But if you drive a Ford, Chevy, Honda or other common vehicle on our roads, delays for parts are usually minimal, if at all. Also, if your car is rather old (more than 10 years), it may require parts that aren’t as common and quick to receive. And having a vehicle that isn’t being manufactured anymore (like an Oldsmobile or Saturn) could also mean a delay in getting your car’s parts.
The more technology your vehicle has, the more there is for us to fix. Nowadays, there are some cars with sensors everywhere. So that little dent on your bumper that used to be a quick fix to smooth out, now comes with the complication of us needing to address all the technology that has been installed into that bumper.
If it has, and your vehicle’s repair job is going to require painting, that could add time. Paint dries slowly in humid conditions. Although we are so close to being done at this point, it is possible rainy conditions mean one more day of waiting for you.
Because we are going to make sure that your car is put back to the way it was before the accident, we take care of all the details. From the air bag light to the trim pieces – for every little issue that could be broken or affected by the wreck, we check it and we fix it.
When can we Guarantee a Delivery Date?
While we may not be able to give you an exact answer when you first bring your vehicle in for repairs, after the vehicle is inspected and parts are sourced, we can give you a delivery date. We will contact you immediately after repairs are done and our quality inspection is complete. Preference of being contacted by phone, email or text communication can be requested when you drop off your vehicle.
We Have a Habit of Delivering on Time
We pride ourselves on excellent customer service, and that is why you will see on Google that we are filled with 5-star reviews! In fact, many of those glowing reviews thank us for doing excellent work in the time we estimated it would take. Here are just a sample of recent reviews from Collision Center of Andover customers extremely satisfied with their wait time and repair work.
How to Keep Your Car Clean During a Family Road Trip
/0 Comments/in General /by adminKeeping your vehicle from becoming a disaster while traveling with kids
Taking a road trip for a long vacation or even a weekend getaway is as American as apple pie. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, people took more than 220 billion vehicle trips in 2017. And all those car rides can take a toll on your vehicle While all of us at Collision Center of Andover know what such things like weather, pollen and vehicle accidents can do to the outside of your car, we know there’s another force of nature that regular keeps many of you from maintaining a nice interior.
Children
Working to keep your car clean on a regular basis is challenging enough. A road trip with the whole family packed in the vehicle for many hours over many days means your car may resemble the inside of a trash can before returning home.
Whether you’re headed across Kansas or across the country, here are some tips to prevent the inside of your car looking like a disaster on your next family road trip.
The 2 items that can make car clean-up easy (or at least easier)
Or several! Make sure you have enough small bags (grocery bags work well) to last the duration of your trip. You’ll want to be sure there is one in reach of each person in the vehicle. This way, all the cups, receipts, wrappers and miscellaneous trash that gets accumulated along the road trip have a place to go.
You might consider this a miscellaneous bag. Fill a bag (backpacks work great for this) for each kid with items that will help keep them entertained along the way. Some great things to put in an activity bag include:
Beyond this bag serving the purpose of bringing the items along that will help keep kids entertained in the car, it will also serve as the holding place for those items to return to. After all, crayons and notebooks that get taken out will need a place to go when your child discards them for another activity. Using a separate and designated activity bag, instead of putting these items in the luggage with your clothes, means that those luggage bags can remain tucked away in your trunk.
The right cleaning supplies for a family road trip
The basics of being ready to handle quick little messes include just two items:
1. Wipes
2. Paper towels
Put your stops to use
Want to make sure your vehicle is travel ready before your trip? Whether it’s a day trip exploring new towns across Kansas or you’re heading across the country, it’s always good to make sure your vehicle is well-equipped to handle the trip. Schedule an appointment with us at Collision Center of Andover for us to make sure your car is ready for your next road trip.
The 7 Sins: Winter Driving Mistakes
/0 Comments/in General /by adminAre you guilty of making these winter driving mistakes?
The winter season for us in the Wichita area and across the Midwest poses different challenges and issues for you on the road. But staying safe in the winter is more than just making sure your vehicle is ready for Wichita’s next winter of harsh weather. Drivers need to be prepared as well. From how you maintain your vehicle to how you handle it on the road, there are common mistakes many drivers make during the winter.
Here is the checklist of the 7 things NOT to do as well as the tips to prevent avoidable problems.
For more information on the best ways to protect you and your vehicle over the next Wichita winter, check out the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Winter Driving Tips.
Collision Center of Andover provides fast, reliable collision repair in and around the Wichita area. Check out our before-and-after examples to see how we can completely fix your dented car. From collision repair, paintless dent repair to mechanical repairs and more, count on the repair experts to get your vehicle running and back in shape. Give us a call at (316) 733-9310 or come by to our state-of-the-art auto body facility. We are just a few miles east of Wichita!