Painters Collision Centers

5 Bad Driving Habits to Avoid at All Costs

With more traffic and massive congestion on the roads everywhere, you probably often witness some rather bizarre driving behaviors on a semi-regular basis. At Painters Collision Center, with locations in Chandler and Queen Creek, we see them too, but don’t fret–it happens whether you’re living in Arizona or anywhere else in the country. 

So, here are five things that many drivers do that can seriously damage their vehicles in the near future if they do them on a continuing basis: 

1.) Resting Your Hand on the Shifter: Unless you’re vigorously changing gears, there’s no reason to touch the shifter. Resting your hand on it places weight on the transmission’s bushings and synchronizers and can cause internal wear in your tranny over time. Keeping both of your hands on the steering wheel and taking them off only to switch gears is the best suggestion here.

2.) Not Using the Parking Brake: By not applying your parking brake, it forces the entire weight of your car to rest on the parking pawl, which is a tiny piece of metal within your transmission. By ignoring your parking brake, this could cause the pawl to gradually wear out and eventually break, making the “P” on your shifter basically worthless. So, please use the parking brake every single time, because it’s easy and takes less than three seconds to do so. 

3.) Revving the Engine When It’s Cold: Too many people do this and it can eventually damage their engines. It’s not a terrible idea to let the engine idle for a minute or two after a cold start. This allows it to warm up and gives the oil some time to circulate throughout the engine. However, you should avoid revving the engine when it’s cold. Sure, the exhaust sounds impressive, but revving the engine when it’s cold causes unexpected temperature changes that can potentially damage components. It also causes excessive wear on parts of the engine that haven’t had a chance to be lubricated with oil. Your motor will sound better, and rev more effortlessly once it has a chance to warm up, so be patient lead foot and it will benefit the vehicle down the road. 

4.) Hauling Too Much Weight: Your car is not your home, so you don’t have to carry all of your earthly possessions in it, right? Each pound of extra weight can impact your fuel economy and the vehicle’s handling, plus it can cause excessive stress on suspension, brake and a wide range of drivetrain components. So, take a moment and give your trunk a thorough cleaning out and save the wear and tear on your car. 

5.) Hard Starts and Stops: This one’s surely a no-brainer, but so many people seem to never figure it out. Mashing on the gas can be a blast, but it uses significantly more fuel than gradually applying the throttle. Abrupt stops are sometimes needed, but if you do them all the time, the wear to the brake pads and rotors will become evident. Looking ahead, planning your trip and applying the pedals smoothly is the best strategy and a safer way to drive. 

About Painters Collision Center 

Today’s vehicles are essentially large computers on wheels, so you need a collision repair company with the right tools, equipment, and training to diagnose and fix these sophisticated machines at a high level. At Painters Collision Centers, with two locations in Chandler and Queen Creek, AZ, we stress quality, transparency, and complete accountability. People praise us for being thorough and providing over-the-top customer service on every repair. When you hire us at Painters Collision Centers, you tap into our 35 years of cumulative experience in the collision repair industry. Owners Jim and Kelly Huard aren’t just in it to win it. They’re in it to be the best! 

Sources: MSN, AAA and TIME 

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

A/C Recharge

We offer AC recharge services for R134 and R1234 systems on most vehicles. Stay cool in the desert heat!

Window Tinting

Tinted protective film shields out both UVA & UVB rays to keep you cool, comfortable and in style.

By Appointment Only.

Prices Vary - please call for an estimate.

ADAS Scanning

Keep your Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) performing at optimal levels for improved safety.

Clear Film/Protectors

Protect your vehicle from sand, wind, door edge bumps and finger nail scratches!
Apply Clear Film Protection!

Glass Repair/Replacement

We can replace or Repair most any glass. With Today’s Advanced ADAS Technology, it is critical that proper calibrations and test drives are conducted in order to ensure the glass is installed to OE standards. Many people do not realize that the front and rear glass are structural components to the vehicle. Family and Safety First!!!

Detailing Services

COMING SOON!

Please check back or call for further details.

REFINISHING/PAINT REPAIR

We offer panel refinishing or off the car part refinishing.

At Painter's we use PPG Envirobase water-based products, so we can achieve a perfect color match and rapid cure times.

Light Mechanical

We offer AC recharge for R134 and R1234 systems, factory suspension repair and replacement, wheel alignments, and other light-duty mechanical services. Call for details.

Collision Repair

Whether you have been involved in a major or minor accident, or encountered a hailstorm, we can fix it! Not only can we fix it, but we will also return your vehicle back to pre-accident condition. This includes structural and aluminum repairs. We are a full-service body shop. We know that when a problem occurs with our vehicles our lives STOP. We will help you get back on the road as promptly as possible.