AUTOMOBILE MAINTENANCE FOR THE LAS VEGAS DESERT – Part 1 of 8

An 8 Part Series from The Collision Center for Car Care in the Las Vegas desert

1. Car exterior paint damaged by the hot sun – Exterior Paint
2. Car battery maintenance in the Las Vegas desert
3. Maintain your vehicle air filter in the Las Vegas desert
4. Maintain your vehicle Oil in the Las Vegas desert
5. Maintain your vehicle Air Conditioning for the Las Vegas desert
6. Maintain your vehicle Coolant for the Las Vegas desert
7. Low tire pressure can lead to tire failure
8. Las Vegas desert rain, check your windshield wipers

Help Your Car Survive the Las Vegas Summer Heat

The extreme high temperatures in Las Vegas take a toll on your vehicle, making car care and automobile maintenance a high priority if you want it to last. The Collision Center will take a look at the most important things to check up on to keep you in the driver’s seat during the hot summer.

Vigen Khachikyan, the General Manager of The Collision Center, cites overheating as the most common issue he sees during the summer, with the primary culprit being coolant leaks. However, Khachikyan notes that a general distrust of auto mechanics can prevent people from bringing their vehicle in for car care — turning a minor problem into a major one.

“A lot of times, the misconception is that a lot of shops may actually be trying to sell you something you don’t need,” Khachikyan said. “Some may actually be honest with you, but the bad reputation the auto industry has nowadays is that they’re always trying to sell you something, so a lot of people discredit the person’s advice unless they’ve trusted or used them before.  At Hi Star Auto Center we think you the customer, deserves to know what is wrong with your vehicle, how we are going to fix it, and how long it is going to take. We have initiated our Transparent Repair Service^tm or TRS^tm, we encourage our clients to ask questions and they will be answered by our knowledgeable staff. We understand how important it is for you to have answers for all of your questions. We want you to have peace of mind regarding all of your repairs.”

People don’t have the time to become their own mechanic, but Khachikyan recommends that people learn how to check their vehicle’s fluid levels. Being able to identify when the fluids are low allows motorists to find possible leaks on their own.

Khachikyan warns that anyone checking their coolant levels should make sure their radiator is cool beforehand.  “If you open up a radiator when it’s hot, you can get hot fluids spilling out everywhere and you can get very serious burns,” Khachikyan said. “The fluids can get up to 220 degrees. That being said, it’s good to check your own fluids.”

Khachikyan recommends that people consult with someone they know and trust — preferably in the auto industry — to learn how to check a vehicle’s fluid levels. He said The Collision Center is willing to show customers how to check these levels, which fluids go where and how to avoid overfilling.

1.       Car exterior paint damaged by the hot sun – Exterior Paint

The Las Vegas sun is VERY hard on your vehicle’s paint. It is very easy to spot cars where the owners did not properly prepare for the desert heat. A well-maintained finish on your vehicle really helps with the resale value.

The best way to prevent faded paint on your vehicle is to limit your car’s exposure to the sun. In the Las Vegas desert, it’s easier said than done. People will literally park in the back of a parking lot if there is shade from a tree. If you have a garage, park in the garage.

Your car’s topcoat keeps it looking from-the-dealer shiny, but dust and other debris can scratch the topcoat and possibly damage your vehicle’s paint job. Washing it will remove pollen, dust and bird droppings that can deteriorate your exterior finish if left on the surface to bake in the hot Las Vegas sun.  Plus, if a rainstorm blows in, dust and water can mix together and leave some unsightly spots on your vehicle. To prevent your car from looking less than its best, try to wash it at least once a week.

For ultimate car care, waxing is also important. You should always keep a resilient coat of wax on the car to help reduce paint fade and clearcoat degradation, wash weekly and waxed monthly on a silver car. If driving a black or dark vehicle, wax every other week.  The waxing process will not only make some of dust slide off, but the waxy layer also protects the car’s topcoat.

Also avoid using silicone-based products on your tires and dash, like Armour All; silicone dries out and destroys rubber, vinyl, and plastic. Because of the heat of the road surfaces, your tires need all the strength they have; sidewall blowouts are very common on the highways out there.

Come in to The Collision Center, we have a truly great Auto detailing department that will make sure your vehicle is protected and of course we have the best Vehicle Paint department.  Mention this Blog, and you will receive a very special rate.