April 17, 2022
Rust. It's worse if you drive in places that use salt on the roads in winter, or if you spend time driving near a body of salt water. But any vehicle has to deal with rust after years on the road. And it's not just that rust can eat away your vehicle's body and fenders. It can be a real problem around your suspension, drivetrain or any place where there's metal.
Rust takes its time. You don't see it until it's already done its dirty work. It can wreak havoc with your electrical system. Sure, vehicle manufacturers do their best to keep it to a minimum, but especially with road treatments like brine around, their task is a difficult one.
The one spot everyone notices is in the paint. You see a little bubbling under the once-smooth surface. By the time it bubbles, it's well involved in rotting away that spot of your vehicle. You wouldn't believe how just a little thing can start the process on its way. A stone chips the paint down to the metal, moisture and salt reach the steel and rust is off and running. It could be a scratch in the paint, a little dent, acid from a parking garage, tree sap, you name it. If you spot it, show it to your service advisor because rust can be more than a cosmetic problem. It can be a safety issue.
While you can see the rust destroy your vehicle's body, you can't see it destroying your engine. But it can. It can eat away at such areas as air intakes or the exhaust system. Not only can it reduce performance, but also it can disable electrical connections. In this day and age where just about everything in your vehicle has a computer component to it, just a small electrical problem can strand you at the roadside.
Corrosion can attack your vehicle's chassis or frame, and they are what provide the structural strength and stability for everything attached. Think powertrain, suspension, axles, window frames. The list goes on and on. Structural integrity is vital to safety, so the stakes are high.
Now you can see why rust damages more than just the good looks of your vehicle. There's one thing to remember about corrosion - much of it is only visible from underneath the vehicle. When you bring your vehicle in to Tuffy Bonita Springs for service, our technician can look for any problems from that important vantage point. It's always a good idea to point out any spots that you think might spell trouble. That way you can stay ahead of it and beat rust at its own game.
Tuffy Bonita Springs
27790 S. Tamiami Trail
Bonita Springs, Florida 34134
239-498-9940
https://www.tuffybonitasprings.com
December 15, 2024
Things we don't expect happen to our vehicles. And let's face, no one really wants to spend money on an unexpected repair. But if you are putting off going to your vehicle repair facility because you're dreading bad news, you might just be putting off some good news. There was one minivan driver ... More
December 8, 2024
You've probably noticed how much easier it is to see when you're driving in the daytime as opposed to at night. It's one of the main reasons about half of all fatal vehicle accidents happen when it's dark. That's why it's important that your vehicle's headlights are in top condition and working t... More
December 1, 2024
Alfred Hitchcock once made a mystery thriller film called "Rear Window." It had nothing to do with the rear window of today's cars, SUVs, CUVs and light trucks. But there is one thing that some drivers DO find mysterious. Why don't the rear windows in the second row of many of these vehicles go... More