Safe Driving in Winter Conditions

With winter upon Chicagoland and icy and snowy conditions starting to show up on our motorways, now is the time to focus on safe driving. Remember, these aren't the same roads you've been used to the past fall and summer. These slushy, icy and snow-filled roads are simply a car accident waiting to happen.

The simplest steps to take during these wintry conditions, as provided by the American Safety Council, are to:

• Stay alert;
• Slow down; and
• Stay in control

Of course, if your car isn't prepared for the winter, none of these tips will be of any help. Have you winterized your car yet? West Loop Auto is proud to offer winterizing options and winter survival kits for your car for your automobile. Take your car in today for important maintenance to get you through these cold months. Making sure that your brakes, exhaust system, wipers, heater, battery, tire pressure, defroster and other vehicle parts and services is in working order is extremely important.

Even the best driver is going to struggle through the winter season if their car hasn't been properly maintained. With so much in the way of fluctuating temperatures in Chicago, your car requires a bit of TLC before it faces another harsh Chicago winter.

For all of your Chicago winter car care, contact West Loop Auto at 866-738-1975.

Chicago Winter Car Care with West Loop Auto Body

Hey Chicagoans, ready for another cold weather? While you have started bundling up in your every day life, and the heat is back on at home, have you considered how your car is going to get through these cold winter months? West Loop Auto Body has the services and experience that you can depend upon for your auto body repair Chicago needs.

Whether you park your car on the street or in a garage, the winter months are never easy on your automobile. Ensuring that everything runs well and you don't get stuck in a blizzard on Lake Shore Drive should be a priority. And with the amount that some of us commuters spend in our cars, it's a necessity to ensure that we're staying safe and warm.

Winter 2011 was quite the mild one, but there's no way we're going to be that lucky two years in a row. Make sure your car is prepared by taking your vehicle to West Loop Auto Body, the auto repair Chicago company that thousands depend upon.

Visit our website today to get in touch with the pros at West Loop Auto Body! http://www.chicagocollision.com/

North – 312.738.1975
South – 773.471.0801
Grossinger – 312.545.0799

Child Passenger Safety

Hey Everyone!!!

Tony "The Car Guy" Morice here. Sorry I have been gone for so long. Will not let that happen again. So last time I "blogged" I was talking about Winter Car Care. I am not sure about you but I am very glad that we are not still talking about that. As I look out my window from my office - the sun is shining, the birds chirping, and it is 71 degrees out with not one cloud in the sky. This is my type of weather!
As we enter this warm season - people start planing trips and vacations. Kids are almost out of school and the travel bug starts creeping up on us. I would like to review and remind you of the keys of child passenger safety. Our little ones and not so little ones are our most precious cargo so let's make sure we get them to the vacation spot safe (or in one piece like my mom would say).
Let's first talk about the reality.

• Motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death amoung children in the U.S.



• From 2000 through 2009, more than 3,000 children ages 4 through 7 were killed while riding in motor vehicles. Nearly 80 percent who died were unrestrained or in an adult seat belt.



• 8 out of 10 child safety seats are not properly installed, putting children at increased risk of serious injury or even death. To be protected, children must be properly restrained in seats appropriate for their age, height, and weight.



• Children exposed to deployed air bags are twice more likely to suffer significant injury that children not exposed.



• Once children outgrow their traditional safety seats (usually at about age 4), they need to ride in booster seats to age 8. Without a booster seat, the lap belt can ride over the child's stomach and the shoulder belt can cross a child's neck. As this position is uncomfortable, children frequently remove the shoulder portion of the adult seat belt, increasing their risk of head injury.

Effective actions to save the lives of youngsters:

• Children under age 13 should sit in the rear seat, if one is available; this reduces the risk of injury by 33 percent!



• Use a booster seat and seat belt rather than a seat belt alone for a 4-8 year old; this will reduce a child's risk of injury by 59 percent.



• Make sure you use the right restraint for your child and install it correctly.



• Infants, until they are at least 20 lbs and at least 1 year old, should be in a rear-facing child safety seat.



• Toddlers, until they are about age 4, should be in a child safety sear facing forward.



• Children, until they are about 4 feet, 9 inches tall or age 8, should be in booster seats.



• All children should use seat belts after they outgrow booster seats.

What can you do to protect young children riding in vehicles?

• Be sure all children in your vehicle are properly restrained for their age, height, and weight.
  


• Have your child safety seat inspected at a fitting station by a trained technician (see http://www.seatcheck.org/ for locations)



• Talk to or write to your state and local lawmakers and urge them to support the National Transportation Safety Board's recommendations for State laws.

Need more information?

Visit the following Web Sites:
NTSB: http://www.ntsb.gov/
Safe Kids World Wide: http://www.safekids.org/
American Academy of Pediatrics: www.aap.org/family/cps.htm
Seat Check: http://www.seatcheck.org/

West Loop Auto Body (http://www.westloopauto.com/) is a strong advocate of children's safety and if you have any questions or concerns about safety seats, seat belts, vehicular safety - please do not hesitate to call us at 866-738-1975 and we will be more than happy to help you with any of those questions that you might have.

As you plan your vacations and weekend trips - please make safety your #1 priority!

Until we collide again!
Tony "the car guy" Morice
General Manager
West Loop Auto Body

Winter Car Care - part IV

Hey Tony "the car guy" Morice is here to continue our conversation that we left off yesterday. Wintry conditions on the road reek havoc on vehicles and drivers. Below are some driving tips that you should put into practice so your vehicle won't become the "Sleigh-Ride" of destruction!

1. CLEAR SNOW & ICE FROM CAR - to improve visibility, remove all snow and ice from your hood, roof, truck, turn signals, tail lights, and headlights. Make sure you only use the ice scraper for glass. Use the brush portion for the other parts of your vehicle.

2. GO SLOW IN THE SNOW - "posted" speed limits are set for ideal road and weather conditions. SLOW DOWN when visibility and road conditions are impaired!

3. BRAKING TECHNIQUES - use "squeeze" or "threshold" braking when driving a car without anti-lock brakes. Apply the brakes to a point just short of lock-up, then ease off the brake pedal slightly. For vehicles with anti-lock brakes, continuous, firm braking is necessary.

4. ANTICIPATE DANGER - be READY for ice on bridges, hidden lane markings, stalled cars and poor visibility. Adjust your speed, increase the following distance between vehicles. Drive defensively.

5. PUT THE LID ON SKIDS - ease off the accelerator and don't lock up the brakes. Carefully steer in the direction you want your vehicle to go and straighten the wheel as soon as the car begins to go in the desired direction.

Putting these Driving Tips into practice will get you to your destination SAFELY!

In case your vehicle does become a Sleigh Ride of destruction - we are here to help you anyway we can. Please call us at 312-738-1975/866-738-1975 and West Loop Auto will be there within the hour.

Until we collide again!
Tony "the car guy" Morice
General Manager
West Loop Auto Body

Winter Car Care part III

Just walked outside and felt the "pelting" rain. Ah the mixture of liquid H2O and solid H2O makes the drive home from work ever so much better! uuugghhh! But don't you worry - Tony "the car guy" is here to prepare you for those ever so slushy days.

Monday we talked about the all important battery and yesterday we spoke of the SURVIVOR gear for your vehicle. If you missed those - please go back and read them - it is very important information that you should know to survive this winter.

Today we are going to talk about the checklist! He's making a list - checking it twice,,,gonna find out if your naughty or nice...... Most people like having the checklist to know how and when to maintain things - important things - especially your vehicle. So let's discuss the checklist and make sure you write it down or print this out and follow though with it. It could save your life someday.

Car Care Checklist:
1. BATTERY - I can not emphasize enough (just look at Monday's blog) that your battery has to be maintain. The battery is the heart of your car - if your battery is dead; you will not go anywhere. You need to make sure the terminals are tight and clean. If lights seem dim or vehicle starts are sluggish, have the electrical system, including the battery, checked by a certified technician. Here at West Loop Auto, we have many certified technicians at your disposal. Give us a call (312) 738-1975/ (866) 738-1975 and schedule an appointment.
2. RADIATOR - you should have your coolant strength checked with a hydrometer. That is a 5 min procedure. Recommended protection level is -36 degrees. Never check it hot. We can check that for you - give us a buzz.
3. BELTS/HOSES - Check your belts for cracks or fraying. Check hoses for leaks, bulges or cracks. Make sure clamps are secure!
4. WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPERS - Make sure your windshield washer reservoir is filled with proper washer solvent. Here in Chicago you have to have a solvent that can handle cold temperatures. Read the label on the solvent bottle and make sure it says the solvent can handle -20 degree temperatures. Check wiper blades for cracking and fraying and replace as needed.
5. FLUIDS - Check oil, brake, transmission, radiator coolant and power steering fluid levels. Make sure you follow the owner's manual directions.
6. AIR FILTER - Hold air filter up to a light. If you can't see through it, replace it!!
7. TIRES - Inspect wear. Check pressure with a gauge when tires are cold. Refer to owner's manual for recommended air pressure and tread depth specifications. Here is the old Lincoln head penny trick. *** Place a penny (upside down IE head first) into several tread grooves across the tire. If part of Lincoln's head is always covered by the tread, you have more than 2/32" of tread depth remaining.*** Once the head is not covered - your tires need to be replaced. The law states that if your tires are less than 2/32" of tread - you must replace them.
8. LIGHTS AND SIGNALS - Activate to make sure all work. Using a friend - press your brakes and make sure your brake lights work.

These 8 items should be check at every 3-6 months. Again following thru with this checklist may save your life one day. If you are concerned that you can not check any of these listed please call West Loop Auto Body at (312) 738-1975/ (866) 738-1975 and schedule an appointment. It is much better to be SAFE than sorry.

Tomorrow we are going to talk about Winter Driving Tips. It is very important to know how your vehicle handles in the winter and how you have to adjust your "normal" driving techniques.

Until we collide again!!!
Tony "the car guy" Morice
General Manager
West Loop Auto Body

Winter Car Care part 2

Hey it's Tony "the car guy" Morice here to continue our talk about the "wonderful" winter days that are upon us and how the extreme cold can reek havoc on your vehicle. Yesterday we discussed your all important vehicle battery - please read it if you missed it.

Today we are going to talk about the "Survival" gear that you should have in vehicle for those just in case times. We all know what those times mean and that we try to avoid them at all costs.

We all know the famous reality TV show - Survivor - right? Man I love that show! Nothing like putting a dozen or so people in the middle of no where and tell them - Good Luck!! I believe they should bring that show here to Chicago during middle January - Survivor "Chicago - dead of the winter - series" No one would make it out alive! but i digress.

Here at West Loop Auto Body, we want to make you and your vehicle a SURVIVOR!!! We suggest the following items - should be in your vehicle during the winter months (if not all year) for those "just in case - Survivor" moments.
1. Ice Scraper & Brush - nothing like having 2" of solid ice on your windshield with nothing but credit card or fingernail to scrap it off.
2. Boots, Gloves, and Hats - need to keep that largest organ covered from the freezing temperatures.
3. Tools & Flashlight - preferably a "Mag-lite" - 3 to 4 battery light would be best. Tools should be your basic toolbox tools (screwdriver, socket set, can opener, hammer and etc)
4. Tire traction material such as sand or cat litter - nothing like spinning those tires til death and getting nowhere.
5. Food & Blankets - remember we are trying to survive here - make sure you have enough food for 3 days - bags of jerky, can foods (stuff you can have for a long period of time without spoiling) - water (need to keep yourself hydrated) especially in the cold. Blankets should be thick and warm (cotton or wool)
6. Jumper Cables or Jump box - a must!
7. First Aid Kit - i do not know how many times i have seen first aid kits with expired medicine - make sure you check the expiration dates on the first aid kits every 6 months and replace medicine as needed.
8. Cell Phone - make sure it is charged! West Loop's toll free number is 866-738-1975. We can have help out to you within 30-60 mins.
9. Flares or Reflective Triangle - very important to let others know you are broken down and need help.
10. Shovel - i know it sounds silly - but you never know when you need to dig yourself out of a snowdrift. You can find portable/foldable shovels at your local hardware store - which are easy to store in your vehicle.

All the items above are important and need to be in your vehicle for those just in case moments. Also have our phone number 312-738-1975/866-738-1975 on you at all times - so we can help you in your time of need.

Tomorrow we are going to talk about your vehicle's check list!!! A checklist is very important to have so you know how and when to maintan your vehicle.

Until we collide again,
Tony "the car guy" Morice

Winter Car Care

Here comes the cold, here comes the cold, and I say it's all right -- NOT!!!!!! Ah yes - tis the season for pulling out the winter clothes and storing the summer ones. Tis the season for making sure your vehicle is READY for those cold winter days. Here at West Loop Auto Body, we want to make sure you always prepared (Boy Scout Motto) for those days.
First thing we need to check is your battery. As the temperture drops, so does the cranking power of your battery. At 32 degrees, your battery has 15% less starting power than it does at 80 degrees; at 0 degrees, it has 35% less power; at -20 degrees, it has less than half the cranking power while the engine needs 3 1/2 times the power to start. Faulty batteries cause more car starting problems than any other factor. Turn off all unnecessary lights and accessories if vehicle-starts are sluggish. Dim headlamps or sluggish engine starts may be signs a new battery is needed. When buying a battery, rely on advice given by auto parts and/or service personnel, who will cross-reference your vehicle to the industry standard for the proper replacement battery. Today's batteries are maintenance-free! They do not require regular fluid checks, but it is wise to inspect the battery case and cables for loose fits and/or damage. Check for CORROSION! Corrosion in the form of white or yellowish powder, can and will affect battery performance. Clean teh connections with a stiff brush, using a solution of baking soda water!!

Thats enough for today - tomorrow we will be discussing winter survival gear for your vehicle - make sure you watch out for it!

Until we collide again.
Tony "the car guy" Morice
General Manager
West Loop Auto Body