Why you should avoid cheap panel beaters

So, before kick-starting your holiday trip, it's best to take the time to ensure that your vehicle is ready for the season and the roads ahead. You can do this by checking out the following nine tips you must consider when preparing for the holidays. 

9 Tips on preparing your car for the holiday season 

Even though you're excited to get on the road for the festive season, we want to ensure that you know how to keep yourself safe when driving. Here are some tips to consider: 

Check your tyres and air pressure

It's always important to check your tyres' air pressure now and again, especially before a road trip for the holiday. The best place to do this is at a garage or auto body shop. On another note, ensure that you don't also forget to have the spare wheel's condition checked. If something happens to a tyre, the spare one should be in good condition to replace the damaged tyre. 

Ensure all vehicle lights and signals work

Despite avoiding fines and making sure other drivers can see you, it is important to check your vehicle's lights and signals before driving. Ensure that your vehicle's headlight, indicators, brake lights, and taillights are working to ensure your safety on the roads. 

Always check your car's brakes

For a safe driving experience, you must always ensure your vehicle's brake systems are working well. Checking whether your brake system needs replacing is essential for ensuring safety. Whenever you notice something wrong with your vehicle's brakes, don't hesitate to take it to a nearby auto body repair shop.

Have your radiator checked

If your vehicle tends to overheat when driving, there could be a problem with its cooling system. Overheating can be caused by the air conditioning units not working, a leaking radiator, or a defective temperature control device that may not be functioning properly. If you notice a green, orange or yellow liquid under your vehicle, it's because there may be a cooling liquid leak. Therefore, it will need repairs done before you continue your drive. 

Have the vehicle's oil and fluid levels checked

It's always important to make sure that there is enough fluid in your vehicle before taking a trip. These may include: 

- Oil level

- Coolant level

- Brake/clutch fluid level

- Windshield washer fluid, and

- Water level

- Power steering fluid

Having the fluid levels checked before going on a road trip will help avoid breakdowns and accidents. Also, changing the engine oil before going on holiday may be best to avoid any unnecessary problems. If you are in need of a car service or oil change, Kiwis can help you with a professional change in no time. 

Replace old batteries and fuses

Ensure that you check your battery before leaving for the holidays. Take note of any warning signs, such as the engine light coming on or your car doesn't start immediately. On another note, check the condition of your vehicle's battery. If you see that it's swollen or leaking, then it's important to have it replaced. 

Inspect your windscreen wipers and windows

If you notice that your windscreen wipers are streaking, jumping, slipping or squealing, you may need them replaced. Additionally, you should ensure that your windows and mirrors are clean. Dirty mirrors and windows can create an increase in glare from the headlights of other vehicles at night, which can be very dangerous. Also, cleaning your vehicle ensures that your wipers and lights work properly and improve your driving visibility. 

Test drive your vehicle

When you have the chance, after checking everything on your vehicle, take it out for a test drive. You can take a short drive around the block or to the shops and check for unusual sounds and feel for any shakes or issues. If you hear a whining noise or squealing when braking, or if you feel that your brake or clutch pedal is hard to press down, then you will need your vehicle checked before taking a road trip. 

Prepare for any emergencies

Before driving anywhere, you should always ensure that you have all the needed emergency equipment and that they work properly. You should also ensure that you have your cell phone and charger for in case your phone dies, or there is an emergency, and you need help. Even though it may not seem like a big deal. However, having an emergency kit may save your life if anything happens. An emergency kit may include the following: 

- First aid kit

- Jumper cables

- Reflective warning triangle

- Fuses & fuse checker

- Towing rope

- Tyre pressure and tread checker

- Puncture repair kit

- Reflector vest

- Water

- Spare oil

- Spare wheel

- Flashlight

- Tools (e.g., screwdriver or a jack)

- Pain killers

So, now that you've gone through the checklist and ensured that everything is in working order, you can have a joyful holiday.

However, if you've come across any problem with your vehicle, avoid going to a cheap panel beater. When you go to a cheap panel beater, you may feel that you're saving on some financial costs, but you'll end up paying a lot more later on. If you go to a cheap panel beater, you are risking your vehicle's performance, appearance, and safety. Have you ever thought about how they're able to cut the costs of repairing your vehicle? This is how: 

1. Parts are not genuine

Cheap panel beaters are known for using aftermarket replacement parts. Usually, the parts they use don't always meet the specifications of the vehicle's manufacturer and don't guarantee the safety or performance of your vehicle. 

2. They repair & don't replace

Typically, cheap panel beaters repair broken parts instead of replacing them. In the event of an accident, you risk the safety and reliability of your vehicle if you do not replace your vehicle's damaged part.

3. Cheap paints

Even though cheap paints will keep your costs low, they will degrade much faster than quality paint and will increase your costs later on. When cheap paint peels or fades, your vehicle's metal will be exposed and start to rust. Also, cheap paints produce toxins that damage your vehicle's appearance and value. 

4. Poor customer service

There are quite a few cheap panel beaters who work closely with insurance companies and often only adhere to the costs that the insurer sets for them. Due to these circumstances, cheap panel beaters tend to make shortcuts to reduce the overall cost of a vehicle's repairs. This is often at the expense of poor customer service.

At Kiwis auto body, our team has over 40 years of experience and qualified industry knowledge. Our company is equipped to repair any vehicle and prides itself on ensuring the satisfaction of our customers and providing the highest quality vehicle repairs. Let us know if your vehicle is not performing well during or before the holiday season.

With our panel-beating services and knowledge, we will help you identify the cause of the problems. Bring your vehicle to our workshop, and let us help you before your holiday begins. In addition, we offer towing services where we collect and deliver your vehicle to our workshop if you cannot bring your car into our workshop.

Remember that a safe and reliable vehicle will ensure a joyous holiday season for you and your family. Having said all of this, we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Festive Season.