Do You Trust Your Body Shop?
The Body Shop Checklist
Following a collision, you take your vehicle to a body shop. You want to get your ride back to the way it was — or as close as possible. You may look up reviews online or ask friends, family, or colleagues for suggestions on where to take your car. Several days to a few weeks later, you get the call: Your car is ready! You head down to the body shop and get ready to leave with your restored ride. But hold on — don’t leave just yet! Before you leave the shop, you must do a complete walk-around with a technician. You want to make sure the work is up to your expectations.
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Misaligned lights Misaligned panels Mismatched paint Missing emblems Missing trim pieces Missing VIN sticker Missing clips or fitment
Orange peel
Overspray
Paint transfer
Poorly-fitted aftermarket parts
Tape lines
Waxy residue
Inside the vehicle, double-check the following: • Parking sensors and camera function
First and foremost, your vehicle should look clean at a glance. It should be washed and vacuumed. For the rest, it’s time to take a closer look. Telltale signs of shoddy repair include gaps between panels (misalignment) and poor color matching (it might not be a 100 percent match, but it should be very close). Here’s a checklist of what you need to look for during your walk-around:
• Seat belt locking mechanism • Working lights (inside and out)
WORD SEARCH April If you check one or more of these off, it’s a sign of subpar work. The body specialists may be cutting corners. This can have serious consequences when you get back on the road with your vehicle. If there are issues, they need to be addressed. Speak with the shop’s manager or owner. If they’re reputable, they’ll fix the issue. Plus, trustworthy body shops generally offer warranties on their work. You should drive away as a happy customer.
• Loose fender liner • Misaligned bumpers • Misaligned exhaust
PASTA PRIMAVERA • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil • 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, ideally Parmigiano-Reggiano • Kosher salt, for pasta water and to taste
Ingredients • 12 ounces pasta, ideally fusilli • 1/2 pound broccoli florets • 2 carrots, shredded • 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into strips
Directions 1. In a large pot, liberally salt water and bring to a boil. Add fusilli and cook according to package directions. Add broccoli, carrots, and bell pepper during the last 2 minutes of cook time. 2. Drain the pasta and veggies, reserving 1/2 cup of cooking liquid. Return pasta and veggies to pot. 3. In a large skillet, heat olive oil to medium heat. Add garlic and cook until translucent and golden, 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, red pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook until tomatoes are wilted, about 2 minutes. Stir in reserved pasta water. 4. Add tomato mixture to pasta pot, stirring to coat evenly. 5. Divide into bowls, top with parmesan, and serve. Inspired by Food Network
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