Damaged Car

What to Do After a Fender Bender: A Mechanic’s Guide

A fender bender can happen in the blink of an eye. You’re at a stoplight, traffic slows suddenly, or someone misjudges the space behind you in a parking lot. Even though these accidents are often considered “minor,” they can still be stressful, inconvenient, and costly if not handled the right way. At Northwest Auto Center in Houston, we’ve seen plenty of vehicles come into the shop after small collisions. Many drivers aren’t sure what to do in the moment or how to handle the aftermath. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you take the right steps after a fender bender and protect both your safety and your wallet. What to Do After a Fender Bender Step 1: Stay Calm and Stay Safe First, take a deep breath. Accidents—big or small—cause an adrenaline rush that can cloud your judgment. If you’re able, put your vehicle in park, turn on your hazard lights, and check to make sure everyone is safe. If you’re on a busy road, move [...]

By |2025-09-18T10:43:17-06:00September 18th, 2025|Damaged Car|0 Comments
Read More

Emergency Car Repair Kit – Being Prepared

Car breakdowns never seem to happen at a convenient time and many drivers are underprepared for a flat tire or a dead battery, especially if they're in the middle of nowhere. Always keeping a handy emergency car repair kit in your vehicle can allow you to get your vehicle back on the road. Why You Should Keep an Emergency Car Repair Kit Whether you're heading to work or you're traveling cross-country to visit family for the holidays, an emergency tool kit for your vehicle is a helpful resource to have on hand. Many drivers will experience a flat tire or a dead battery at some point during their years of driving and it's integral to understand how to approach these situations. If you're someone who enjoys taking road trips or who drives during the night time hours, you'll want to ensure that you're self-sufficient for a few basic repairs. 8 Essential Tools for an Emergency Car Repair There are a few basic tools every driver should keep in their [...]

By |2022-12-22T09:42:38-06:00December 22nd, 2022|Car Tips & Auto Maintenance, Damaged Car|0 Comments
Read More

Signs of a Bad Car Thermostat

Your car's thermostat has the important responsibility of releasing coolant to the radiator when it reaches the rated coolant temperature. This ensures that your engine doesn't get too hot and there’s no thermal shock to the engine. When it's not functioning properly, you're running the risk of an overheated engine, or in some cases, a thermostat can stick open and won’t let the engine reach the proper operating temperature. Luckily, a replacement car thermostat is a relatively inexpensive repair. Signs of a Bad Car Thermostat Unusual Temperature Gauge Readings When you're starting up your car in the mornings, it should read as cold. As the engine has the chance to heat up, the gauge should move to the right to indicate the engine is reaching a normal running temperature. If the readings seem erratic, this could be a sign that your car thermostat is having issues. If you notice the gauge erratically moving from one end to another, this can be a sign of coolant that's being released at [...]

By |2022-09-23T09:19:52-06:00September 23rd, 2022|Car Parts, Damaged Car|0 Comments
Read More

What to Do After a Car Accident?

For many drivers, it's nearly inevitable that you'll be involved in some type of car accident during your time behind the wheel. Fortunately, this can be as minor as a fender bender but there are steps drivers should take after an accident in order to protect themselves, their passengers, and their car. Knowledge is powerful and knowing what to do after a car accident can make things go just a little smoother. Once you've taken care of your physical safety, you'll want to begin the insurance process as quickly as possible. They'll be able to suggest the next steps to you, which often involve taking your car in for repairs. Steps for What to Do After a Car Accident 1. Check For Any Injuries It's common for drivers who have been involved in an accident to feel stressed and anxious and to perhaps suffer from shock. The most important thing is to ensure your wellbeing and to seek immediate medical attention if injuries are present. 2. Document the Scene It's important [...]

By |2022-07-27T09:58:06-06:00July 27th, 2022|Car Tips & Damaged Car, Damaged Car|0 Comments
Read More

Is it the Battery, Starter, or Alternator?

When you've got places to be, but a car that won't budge, it leads to some strong feelings of frustration — and confusion! Your next question is probably, "is it the battery, starter, or alternator?" With all three having the ability to cause your engine not to start, 1/3 isn't seeming like good odds anymore. A little knowledge can go a long way in helping you diagnose the issue (and how much effort it will be to get your car going again). Car Parts 101 - The Battery, The Starter, and The Alternator While the three parts work in tandem to get your car moving, they all have separate (but equally important) roles. Car Battery Your vehicle's battery is the first spark that ignites the engine into action. Once the ignition switch is engaged (either by turning the key or pressing the start button), the battery sends voltage to the starter to help it get the gears turning. It also lets you crank the tunes without having your car [...]

By |2022-04-12T09:06:41-06:00April 12th, 2022|Car Parts, Car Questions, Damaged Car|0 Comments
Read More

I Put the Wrong Fuel in My Car – Now What?

We've gone over the different fuel types in previous articles. Whether from not knowing any better or an accident, putting the wrong fuel into your vehicle can cause some issues. If you mitigate this mistake quickly enough, you can minimize the damage. Put the Wrong Fuel in Your Car? Here's What to Do. The first step: quit driving and look up what you need to do (see below). The less fuel that is entered into your system, the better. From there, here's what you need to do to know about the wrong gas types. Gas in Diesel Vehicles Diesel and Gas are very different fuel types. Diesel fuel is thicker and acts as a lubricant. Thinner gasoline fuel causes wear to the fuel pump, injectors, and filters. This wear can happen quickly. Immediately halt your travels and call a tow truck for a ride to your local automotive shop, where they can drain the tank and fuel lines and fuel filter/s. Diesel in Gas Fueled Cars While engine damage [...]

By |2022-02-18T11:42:17-06:00February 18th, 2022|Car Questions, Damaged Car|0 Comments
Read More

Replace or Repair Your Vehicle?

When faced with an extensive vehicle repair, it can leave you wondering if you should replace or repair your vehicle. And you're not alone. If you aren't a mechanic or car expert, it can be hard to know your next steps. But we are here to help! Let's talk about some of the big questions you need to ask yourself when debating replacing your car over repairing it. When It's Time to Replace Your Car Deciding to replace over repair comes down to three main questions: 1. How much will repairs cost? 2. How much is your car worth? and 3. Are there any safety concerns that cannot be adequately repaired? Finding Out the Cost of Repairs If you were just in an accident or need a major repair, your first step is to visit your local auto shop. They can take a look at your vehicle and make a list of required repairs and let you know the cost of those repairs. If you're in the Houston area, [...]

By |2021-11-17T14:18:28-06:00November 17th, 2021|Car Service & Maintenance, Damaged Car|0 Comments
Read More

What to Do About Your Cracked Windshield

Cracked windshields are unavoidable (unless you've figured something out that we haven't yet). Some start as small chips, some come from weather changes, others from road debris, and some appear out of nowhere. But, wherever they come from, having a cracked windshield means you have some phone calls to make before it becomes worse or before you get a ticket. When to Repair or Replace Your Cracked Windshield Your windshield not only protects you from the elements, but an intact windshield ensures your airbags perform their job of protecting you and your passengers and helps keep everyone inside the vehicle in the case of an accident. When you notice damage on your windshield or any windows, you'll want to start thinking about your next steps. A repair may succeed if you have a small chip (smaller than a quarter) or a crack less than eight centimeters. A glass repair technician will be able to determine if your damaged windshield can be repaired. What happens if your cracked windshield or [...]

By |2021-11-08T15:05:01-06:00November 8th, 2021|Auto Care, Car Questions, Damaged Car|0 Comments
Read More

Reasons Your Car Isn’t Driving Smoothly

If your ride to work or to pick up the kids isn't as smooth as it once was, it can be annoying. But, it can also be alarming. Because if your car isn't driving as smoothly as it once was, it may leave you wondering what has changed. Wear and tear are to be expected on your vehicle. After all, it takes you to a lot of different places. When that normal wear and tear is ignored, you start to have major issues (and some potential significant repairs). Common Reasons Your Car Isn't Driving Smoothly When your vehicle isn't operating as smoothly as it once was, that's a warning sign. Your car is telling you that something isn't quite right anymore, and it's time to take notice as it could be one of these common issues. Suspension Problems The struts and shocks in your vehicle's suspension system are your shock absorbers. Every time you go over a speed bump, hit a pothole, or encounter uneven ground, the suspension takes [...]

By |2021-10-20T14:18:23-06:00October 20th, 2021|Car Questions, Car Service & Maintenance, Car Tips, Damaged Car|0 Comments
Read More

Jerky Acceleration? Here’s Why.

Picture this: you're sitting at a red light, and it turns green. You press the gas pedal, but instead of moving ahead smoothly, it's a jerky acceleration. The feeling can be quite alarming, especially if it's a new development. The thought of any potential vehicle issue and needed repair fills folks with dread. It's an expense no one wants to have to deal with. But, it's an issue you won't want to ignore when it comes to jerky acceleration. Continuing to drive while your vehicles jerks while accelerating can cause further damage. So you need to work with your local mechanic to get to the bottom of it. Reasons for Your Car's Jerky Acceleration 1) Dirty or Faulty Spark Plugs To get going, your vehicle needs a bit of a spark. That's the job of your spark plugs. If they are dirty, old, or faulty, the spark plugs may not give the combustion process and your fuel cylinders the needed spark leading to a misfire. Dirty spark plugs are [...]

By |2021-09-14T14:50:53-06:00September 14th, 2021|Auto Care, Car Service & Maintenance, Damaged Car|0 Comments
Read More
Go to Top