With the warm weather of spring and summer approaching, it’s more likely that you’ll be traveling with your canine companion for camping and road trips, as well as going to and from the park and running errands around town. When we think of car safety features, we often think of protecting humans in case of a crash. But there are several car features that also enhance vehicular safety for our four-legged family members, as well.

Automotive Safety Features

To ensure your dog stays safe on your next road trip, consider getting a car with these pet-friendly features:

• Privacy glass. Dogs can’t sweat—this is a fact. Privacy glass in the rear of the car helps to filter the sun and keep temperatures low, so your dog’s panting will be out of excitement, not heat. While the degree of tinting available to you may vary based on local laws, keeping the back of your car cool is essential if you plan on traveling with dogs.
• Multi-zone climate control. Most air conditioning systems are focused on maintaining comfort in the front seats of the car, but furry passengers need climate control as well. The ability to monitor and adjust the temperature in the back seat or cargo compartment is important for pets to remain comfortable and safe from overheating.
• Side curtain airbags. Front passenger airbags can be deadly for pets, but when a pet is properly secured in the rear seat, a side curtain airbag is an important safety feature in the event of a crash. Even if your pet travels in a carrier, a side airbag offers additional protection.

Car Accessories Made for Pets

If you frequently travel with your pet, consider adding these pet-friendly car accessories:

• Pet harnesses or restraints. Your needs will vary depending on the size of your dog, but pets shouldn’t travel unsecured any more than people should.
• Pet barrier. A pet barrier gives your dog freedom to move around while still containing them safely in the rear of your vehicle, preventing them from interfering with you during the drive.
• Mats and liners. Scratch-proof floor mats and seat liners are easy to clean and provide good traction for canine paws, helping to keep them balanced even around tight turns.

To order car accessories to accommodate your dog, be sure to visit a quality auto parts dealer. At our McCarthy dealerships, we not only perform full auto body repairs, we also install OEM car accessories for popular vehicle models.

Dog-Safety Driving Tips

Regardless of your car’s features, there are some important things you can do every day to ensure your pets travel in safety:

• Never leave your pet unattended in a vehicle. Even in the shade on a cloudy day, cabin temperatures can rapidly reach unsafe levels, adding up to 40 degrees to the outside temperature. Dogs are highly susceptible to heat stroke, and it’s simply not worth the risk to run into the store for a gallon of milk.
• Always restrain your pet. This is a legal requirement in many states but should be standard practice everywhere. Allowing your pet freedom of movement inside a vehicle is unsafe behavior for a driver. Approximately 31% of people who drive with their dogs admit to being distracted by them, and 59% admit to engaging with their pet in distracted behavior while driving.
• Limit time “out the window.” While everyone knows that dogs love to ride with their head out the window, it’s a safety risk. The occasional rock or pebble that may chip your windshield can be a terrible injury for a dog, especially when driving at high speeds. Keep your pet fully inside the vehicle at all times to protect their precious little faces.

No matter where the road takes you and your tail-wielding best friend this summer, staying safe should be rule #1. Our Kansas City collision centers can repair most auto body damage, but there’s not much anyone can do if you fail to keep your dog protected during that next big adventure.

Once your car reaches that 100,000-mile mark, it can start falling apart, especially if you haven’t taken measures to regularly care for your vehicle. But hitting this milestone doesn’t mean you have to push your car into the scrapyard. In fact, with proper attention and general auto maintenance, your vehicle can last you another 100k miles. Here are some ways to help you get to the 200k milestone.

1. Replace key parts.

After years upon years and miles upon miles, your car can wear down. It’s natural, and when you reach that 100k-mile mark, it can only benefit you to spend a little money on replacing the parts that most commonly wear out. This includes belts, tires, and brakes. There are others, but these are the most vital. Making sure these are in top condition will keep you driving longer.

2. Regular inspections.

These include inspections done in your own garage and at a professional repair shop. If you are handy, check things like tire pressure, shocks, hoses, clamps, and U-joints. Replace them if you notice signs of damage, or visit your trusted mechanic for advice and to order parts.

3. Pay attention.

When you drive the same car for years, you become attuned to the sound and feel of it. So, when you’re driving your old car, make sure to listen carefully. If something sounds strange or you notice a rattling that wasn’t there before, have it checked out before it gets worse. Early preventative actions put less stress on your vehicle, making it last longer.

4. Drive smart.

Driving aggressively or irresponsibly isn’t just dangerous for you and other drivers, but it also puts needless strain on your vehicle. By driving gently and treating your brakes well, you can extend its mileage and make your trips more efficient on gas.

5. Visit your trusted auto repair or auto body shop.

You may know your car like the back of your hand, but nothing beats a professional’s opinion. Regular full-car inspections, oil changes, and scratch/dent/damage repairs are worth the expense and will save you money in the long run.

Our McCarthy Collision Centers have been reliably serving Kansas City drivers for years. If you need help after a collision or simply want to fix up minor dings, contact us at 800-NEW-AGAIN or visit one of our five collision centers near Kansas City. We offer auto body services such as airbag replacements, suspension repairs, and auto glass installations, allowing you to enjoy 100,000 more miles in your vehicle.

Everyone tries to save money when buying auto parts, or paying to have their vehicle serviced and repaired. Then what’s the harm in taking a mechanic’s offering of cheap knock-off car parts? We’re here to give you the low-down on counterfeit parts, so you don’t make a poor decision when fixing your car. After all, the need to be fiscally responsible shouldn’t lead you to skimp on the parts that keep you safe on the road!

So, how ubiquitous are these fake car parts in the auto repair market, and are they really that dangerous?

Where Do Counterfeit Auto Parts Come From?

Per Bruce Foucart, director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, somewhere between up to 95% of all counterfeit auto parts come from China. These fake parts are never tested in accordance with U.S. standards for safety and failure rates. What’s more, automotive agencies have reported that the production, distribution, and sale of these faulty counterfeit parts have increased dramatically over the last 15 years. This illicit trade generates somewhere around $12 billion a year, according to a U.S. FTC report.

Types of Fake Car Parts

As is the case in life, you get what you pay for when buying a counterfeit car part. They’re made of poor materials and can compromise the longevity of your vehicle, let alone your life! Don’t risk life and limb over these essential car parts.

Counterfeit parts include windshields, airbags, brake pads, and seat belts—all of which may be fabricated with cheap materials from shoddy factories that are not certified or recognized by auto manufacturers. Airbags, in particular, seem to be the worst of the bunch; many counterfeit airbags fail to deploy or deploy in such a way as to unnecessarily injure passengers and drivers. Knock-off brakes can also be troublesome, as they can malfunction and cause damage to other vehicles and injure pedestrians.

What’s worse, people in the U.S. depend on their cars so much that they will inevitably venture into the bargain bin when it comes to car parts. Recognizing the demand, counterfeiters have picked the American market as a source of steady income. And it’s a high-reward, low-risk scenario that doesn’t typically result in loss of product or imprisonment.

Protecting Yourself from a False Fix

When it comes to making sure that your car is not infiltrated by cheap, dangerous parts, Foucart suggests taking the following measures:

• Only patronize repair and body shops you trust, like our collision centers near Kansas City. We are a reputable source for OEM car parts, and that’s our guarantee.
• Avoid offers for cheap parts and cheap repairs. We often have car part coupons or collision repair deals, but those are updated regularly to give you a good deal, not another headache down the road.
• Approach buying auto parts with caution and scrutiny, especially on the internet from unestablished vendors.

If you think you might have bought a counterfeit part, the best thing to do is to speak with an OEM representative or trusted mechanic with experience. That’s where our McCarthy Collision Centers can help. Offering world-class collision repair in Sedalia, MO and the KC region, our experts will determine if you’ve been the victim of a false car part installation, then make the necessary changes to right the ship. When you need to order an authentic auto part or require collision repair in Kansas City, trust in the McCarthy name.

Find your closest McCarthy auto body shop near Kansas City, Olathe, KS, or Sedalia, MO, and let us work for you.

Sources:

http://americanrecycler.com/8568759/index.php/news/category-news-2/1265-counterfeit-auto-parts-endanger-everyone

http://www.richardscollisioncenter.com/autobodyblog/2016/5/31/rise-in-counterfeit-auto-parts-cause-safety-concerns

http://verifybrand.com/counterfeit-auto-parts-pose-growing-threat/