HOW HOT WEATHER AFFECTS YOUR VEHICLE
The summertime months typically mean more time to travel. Whether you’re planning a summer vacation, traveling on the weekend to a summer cabin, or just spending your evenings out enjoying the summer nights. It’s summertime and that means it’s very hot out there, Those hot summer months can take quite a toll on your vehicles. The exterior and interior, as well as the mechanical functions, can all be affected as the weather heats up. There are some things to look out for and some preventative measures you can take to keep your vehicle functioning safely and looking its best all year long.
UNDERSTANDING THE AUTOMOBILE GLASS REPLACEMENT SAFETY STANDARD (AGRSS) PROCESS
Like everything else in your car, you want to make sure your automobile’s glass windows and mirrors are safe. The Auto Glass Safety Council (AGSC) is a not-for-profit national organization that creates the safety standards and regulations for auto glass.
The Purpose and Function of Quarter Glass
The team of auto glass professionals at Smiley’s Glass in Richmond, Virginia are experts in the repair of quarter glass windows for vehicles of all makes and models. We’ve assembled this guide to help you learn about the history of these unique little windows and why they are important to your safety while driving a vehicle.
What To Do If Your Power Window Is Malfunctioning
Today’s vehicles are equipped with numerous conveniences like air conditioning, heated seats, and power windows. Today, nearly every single vehicle model on the market comes with power windows. Those of us who have experienced power window malfunctions know all too well how convenient having a functioning window in our car truly is. That’s why the Smiley’s Glass team in Richmond, Virginia has assembled this guide to help you understand and fix a malfunctioning power window.
Five Laugh-Worthy DIY Side Mirror Fails
When it comes to safety while driving, your vehicle’s mirrors are one of the most important features built into your car. That’s why finding the right replacement for a broken or damaged side mirror is extremely important.
In fact, the mirrors of your car are often specifically designed for their location and therefore cannot be replaced with an ordinary household mirror. For example, the passenger-side mirror is a convex mirror. A convex mirror bends light as it reflects it, and the farther away a point is from the center, the more the light is bent. As a result, an image formed in a convex mirror is smaller than an image in a plane (flat) mirror. That’s why the passenger-side mirror on your vehicle likely came equipped with the disclaimer, “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.”
How Winter Weather Affects Your Vehicle
Winter is a season beloved by many, but it can take a huge toll on your vehicle. Whether it’s ice forming on your windshield or salt building up on the underside of your car, winter conditions can take a much higher toll on your vehicle than in other seasons. That’s why the team of professionals at Smiley’s Glass has put together this guide to help you understand where vehicle damage may be lurking this winter and how you can stop it.
How is Auto Glass Recycled?
These days, recycling is on the rise. It’s becoming increasingly common to see sorted recycling bins in restaurants, malls, and public spaces. There are also a large number of products that can be made using these recycled materials. With the advancement of technology, we can now recycle a number of items that previously were impossible such as auto glass. Recycling windshields, for instance, is not incredibly difficult and is good for the environment. In fact, it’s estimated that for every ton of glass that is recycled, over one ton of natural resources are saved.
How to Take Care of Your Windshield in the Winter
Winter can be a truly magical time of year. From the beautiful snowy weather to the holiday season, winter is a time full of joy and fun. While this season is great for us, it can take a sizeable toll on our vehicles and our windshields in particular. Because the winter weather can be so detrimental to your car’s windshield glass, the glass experts at Smiley’s Glass in Richmond, Virginia have put together this post to help keep you educated about windshield care for the winter months ahead.
How Can Rust be Prevented?
There’s no worse feeling than discovering rust on your vehicle. It may appear as a brown spot on your fender or even a bubble in your car’s paint along one of the door panels. No matter how it appears, rust is an unwelcome sight. It signifies that the iron or steel in your vehicle has begun to corrode, weakening the structural integrity and safety of your vehicle. Furthermore, the presence of rust on your vehicle can also prohibit certain vehicle maintenance from occurring like windshield or window replacements. That’s why the Smiley’s Glass team has put together this guide to help you navigate the different kinds of rust that may appear on your vehicle so you can react appropriately before the problem gets out of hand.
Removing Fried-On Tree Sap From Your Windows
We’ve all been there. You return to your vehicle after finding that coveted, shady parking spot underneath a tree when you realize that perfect parking spot has left your vehicle coated in sticky drops of tree sap. If you’ve ever found yourself in this situation, then you’re sure to understand how difficult it can be to get rid of the mess on your car. Simply wiping away the sap almost never works and can often leave an even larger streak of tree sap on your vehicle. For that reason, many people simply leave the tree sap on their vehicle. We’re here to tell you that’s never a good idea.
How Fall Weather Can Affect Your Windshield
Fall is finally here! The leaves are beginning to change, children have returned to school and the evenings are beginning to feel cooler. But what’s the downside of this beautiful season? Out of each of the four seasons, fall is easily the most damaging to your vehicle’s windshield. While you may not realize it, the fall conditions are perfect for a damaged windshield. Whether it’s a brand new chip or crack or the expansion of an existing one, fall can really do a number on your vehicle’s glass. That’s why we’ve put together this article to help you understand the hazards that fall presents to your windshield and why you should act now before the weather continues to cool.
How to Avoid Fog on Your Windshield
Picture this. You’re driving down the road when seemingly out of nowhere your windshield begins to fog up. Annoyed and frustrated, you do everything you can to fix the problem. You’ve frantically hit all of the climate control buttons and cranked up your windshield wipers but you’re still at a loss. We’ve all been there. A foggy windshield situation is not only incredibly frustrating but it is also very dangerous to you and other drivers. That’s why we’ve compiled this article to help you learn about the causes of foggy windows and how to prevent window fog in your vehicle altogether.
How to prevent Windshield Cracks
When you think about the role of windshields as it relates to safety, the obvious answer is that they protect you from dust and other from striking you as you drive. However, there is a lot more that windshields do for car safety, including providing structural integrity to the car itself. Today's cars are meticulously designed to be as safe as possible, and the windshield plays a big part in ensuring that they are safe for passengers. Let’s look into some expected and some unexpected ways windshields make cars safer.
How to Take Care of Your Car Windows
All cars require proper maintenance, and your car windows should be well maintained just like other safety systems in your car. Having good visibility to see the road ahead is important, but you may not realize the important role that car windshields play an important role in a crash, helping to reinforce the roof as well as preventing passengers from being ejected from the automobile.
How Long Can I Drive with a Windshield Crack?
A crack in the windshield happens when an object strikes the glass with sufficient force to cause the crack. We’ve seen all sorts of ways car glass can break. A typical scenario involves small rocks falling from a dump truck, or the tires of the car ahead flinging debris behind as it travels down the road. Whatever the reason for the crack, it's important that you know a reputable auto glass company for those moments your windshield needs repairing or replacing.
