Auto Body Tacoma

Many of us in Tacoma, WA would prefer not to ever set foot inside a auto body repair shop in Tacoma, WA.  Auto Body repair shops are associated with the thoughts of collision repair in Tacoma, WA.  No one ever plans to need auto body repair, ever.  Sure some of us would love a new paint job in Tacoma, WA, but beyond that, who would want to be in an auto accident?  Nonetheless, vehicle collisions do happen, and Hi-Tech Auto Body & Collision Repair can get your auto, car, truck, or SUV repaired and back on the road.

Auto accidents do happen, whether we are prepared for them or not.  Collision repair in Tacoma, WA is not all equal.  For this reason,  Hi-Tech Auto Body & Collision Repair would like to explain the Tacoma auto body process, and what do expect when dealing with  Hi-Tech Auto Body & Collision Repair for auto body repair in Tacoma.
First off, do not accept the assumption that auto body shops in Tacoma are dirty; on the contrary, a Tacoma collision repair shop should be tidy and well kept.  Modern car repair in Tacoma requires diagnosis with advanced electronics which requires skill, education, and specialized tools.  Auto body repair has changed greatly in the passed decades, keeping up with newer and more complicated vehicles.  This is why any given auto body shop in Tacoma is not the same, and why it is so important to do some research before paying any money.

Any professional paint shop in Tacoma, and any auto body shop in Tacoma, will be proud of their auto repair shop.  The layout, equipment, training of their staff – and most of all their people, all should be examples of the pride that the repair shop puts into their work.

Hi-Tech Auto Body & Collision Repair encourages you to be involved in the auto body repair process, and come take a tour of our facilities. Hi-Tech Auto Body & Collision Repair would be more than honored to give you a tour of our auto body repair shop in Tacoma, and show your our auto body repair capabilities as well as examples of our finished products.

Many people don’t know that pinstriping predates the automobile. Pinstriping is another vestige of the horse & buggy era that has carried over to the automobile. Pinstriping was an ornamental design for horse and buggy carriages. Pinstriping on cars was frequently done at the factory up until the later 1930′s. The final production automobile to have pinstripes was manufactured by General Motors in the late 1930′s. Custom pinstripes, added after the factory assembly line, started appearing on automobiles in the 1950′s. For those people who had muscle or sports cars, frequently referred to as “Hot Rodders,” customizing the appearance of their ride was the final step to complete modification. When all the performance changes to your auto such as, camshafts, valves, exhaust, intakes manifold, headers , wheels & tires, the only thing left is apply a unique paint finish to make your car really stand out.

The most typical applications for pinstripes are to paint in two colors: one that accents the primary color of the car or truck, and another, a narrow line, in a tone contrasted with the stripe to make it visible and stand out.

For larger vehicles, such as trucks, station wagons, vans, mechanical pinstriping is the easiest way to get good looking pinstripes. Mechanical pinstriping keeps a constant width, so that you can get the best alignment on the finished surface of your automobile. Magnetic pinstriping uses center grooves to hold paint templates for even more choices for stripe design. Two magnetic strips applied to your car hold the template in position while paint is applied & can also act as a guide for your hand. Obviously magnetic pinstriping is not an choice for cars with a fiberglass body.

Stencil tape is another common option for applying pinstriping. Stencil tape comes in many different choices that are suitable for the myriad of designs for car pinstriping. Stencil tape striping uses brushes, & a specialized pinstriping brush is an essential component in a successful project. One of the main benefits to stencil stencil tape is that you can apply different color stripes without waiting several hours the other stripes to dry.

For unrestricted creativity applying pinstripes freehand is the only choice. It is also the most difficult method to master and takes some practice to get right. If you have never done it before, you may want to try a few practice stripes on some scrap metal or wood. For beginngers, the simplest plan for a freehand striping is to apply a strip of masking tape down approximately a quarter inch from where you want the finished line to be, and then use this tape as visual guiding for your stripes. Household masking tape will allow paint to bleed through, whatever you do, don’t make the mistake of using regular masking tape. Auto body masking tape can be purchased from any auto supply store.

Any method that you use will give your vehicle a distinct look that is uniquely yours. Practice makes perfect, just like anything else worth doing right. Patience is elementary when painting anything. Don’t hurry through or try & take shortcuts. Don’t attempt to pinstripe your vehicle without proper equipment and tools, painting errors are costly to fix and take time. Great results make pinstriping your car, truck, or van uniquely yours.

Most people don’t know that pinstriping predates the automobile. Pinstriping is another vestige of the horse & buggy era that has carried over to the automobile. Pinstriping was an ornamental design for horse and buggy carriages. Pinstriping on automobiles was commonly done at the factory up until the later 1930′s. The last production car to have pinstripes was made by General Motors in the late 1930′s. Custom pinstripes, added after the factory assembly line, started appearing on automobiles in the 1950′s. For those enthusiasts who owned muscle or sports cars, frequently referred to as “Hot Rodders,” modifying the appearance of their ride was the final step to complete customization. When all the performance changes to your automobile such as, camshafts, valves, exhaust, intakes manifold, headers , wheels and tires, the only thing left is apply a custom paint finish to make your car really stand out.

The most common applications for pinstripes are to paint in two tones: one that accents the primary color of the car or truck, and another, a narrow line, in a color contrasted with the stripe to make it visible and stand out. For larger vehicles, such as trucks, station wagons, vans, mechanical pinstriping is the easiest way to get good looking pinstripes.

Mechanical pinstriping keeps a constant width, so that you can get the proper alignment on the working surface of your automobile. Magnetic pinstriping uses center grooves to hold paint templates for even more options for stripe design. Two magnetic strips applied to your car hold the form in place while paint is applied and can also act as a guide for your hand. Clearly magnetic pinstriping is not an option for automobiles with a fiberglass body. Stencil tape is another common choice for applying pinstriping. Stencil tape comes in many different choices that are usable for the myriad of designs for auto pinstriping. Stencil tape striping uses brushes, and a specialized pinstriping brush is an essential ingredient in a successful project. One of the primary benefits to stencil stencil tape is that you can apply different tone stripes without waiting several hours the other stripes to dry.

For unrestricted creativity applying pinstripes freehand is the only choice. It is also the most challenging method to master & takes some practice to get right. If you have never done it before, you might want to attempt a few practice stripes on some scrap metal or wood. For beginngers, the simplest way for a freehand striping is to lay a strip of masking tape down approximately a quarter inch from where you want the finished stripe to be, and then use this tape as visual guiding for your stripes. Regular masking tape will let paint to bleed through, whatever you do, don’t make the mistake of using household masking tape. Auto body masking tape can be purchased from any auto supply store.

Any method that you use will give your automobile a unique look that is uniquely yours. Practice makes perfect, just like anything else worth doing right. Patience is essential when painting anything. Don’t hurry through or try & take shortcuts. Don’t attempt to pinstripe your vehicle without proper equipment & tools, painting errors are expensive to fix & take time. Great results make pinstriping your car, truck, or van uniquely yours.

Most people don’t know that pinstriping predates the automobile. Pinstriping is another vestige of the horse and buggy era that has carried over to the car. Pinstriping was an ornamental design for horse and buggy carriages. Pinstriping on cars was frequently done at the factory up until the later 1930′s. The last production automobile to have pinstripes was manufactured by General Motors in the late 1930′s. Custom pinstripes, added after the factory assembly line, started appearing on automobiles in the 1950′s. For those enthusiasts who had muscle or sports cars, frequently referred to as “Hot Rodders,” customizing the appearance of their ride was the last step to complete customization. When all the performance upgrades to your auto such as, camshafts, valves, exhaust, intakes manifold, headers , wheels & tires, the only thing left is apply a custom paint finish to make your auto really stand out.

The most common applications for pinstripes are to paint in two tones: one that accents the primary color of the car or truck, & another, a narrow line, in a tone contrasted with the stripe to make it visible and stand out. For larger vehicles, such as trucks, station wagons, vans, mechanical pinstriping is the easiest method to get good looking pinstripes.

Mechanical pinstriping keeps a fixed width, so that you can get the best alignment on the working surface of your automobile. Magnetic pinstriping uses center grooves to hold paint templates for even more choices for stripe design. Two magnetic strips applied to your car hold the template in place while paint is applied and can also act as a guide for your hand. Obviously magnetic pinstriping is not an choice for cars with a fiberglass body.

Stencil tape is another popular choice for applying pinstriping. Stencil tape comes in several different choices that are suitable for the myriad of designs for car pinstriping. Stencil tape striping uses brushes, and a specialized pinstriping brush is an essential component in a successful project. One of the main advantages to stencil stencil tape is that you can apply different color stripes without waiting several hours the other stripes to dry.

For unrestricted creativity applying pinstripes freehand is the only choice. It is also the most difficult method to master & takes some practice to get right. If you have never done it before, you may want to try a couple practice stripes on some scrap metal or wood. For newbies, the simplest way for a freehand striping is to apply a strip of masking tape down approximately a quarter inch from where you want the finished line to be, & then use this tape as visual guiding for your stripes. Household masking tape will allow paint to bleed through, whatever you do, don’t make the mistake of using ordinary masking tape. Auto body masking tape can be purchased from any auto supply store.

Any method that you use will give your car a distinct look that is uniquely yours. Practice makes perfect, just like anything else worth doing right. Patience is elementary when painting anything. Don’t hurry through or try & take shortcuts. Don’t attempt to pinstripe your vehicle without proper equipment & tools, painting errors are costly to correct & take time. Exceptional results make pinstriping your car, truck, or van uniquely yours.

Is your vehicle ready for the cold weather? Temperatures and wind chills that can take your breath away. Snow and ice that make stepping outside a dangerous proposition. You know all too well how winter affects you. Have you ever considered how cold weather affects your vehicle? After all, you don’t want to be broke down in freezing weather.

If you live where it snows, you know the damage that snow, ice, loose gravel and salt can do to your car. Minor scratches and nicks turn to rust, your heater gets a workout it may not be prepared for, and your windshield must deal with the temperature stress of a warm interior and a freezing exterior. Check out these tips for preparing your car for cold weather:

Tacoma Wa Windshield Safety

• Thermal shock is the term engineers use to describe the stress caused by drastic differences in outdoor and indoor temperatures. If you have a small ding in your windshield, thermal shock can cause your minor ding to turn into a major crack.
• Repairing a small ding costs as little as $50 to $60. Replacing a cracked windshield can cost hundreds of dollars; on some cars, the cost may be even higher. Once a ding or star (star-shaped with points spreading out) expands, windshield replacement is often the only option. It’s important to repair small chips and dings quickly.
• Repair not only saves the windshield it preserves the factory’s seal of windshield to auto body. Passenger side air bags deploy off the windshield, preserving the factory installation is an important safety consideration and keeping the factory’s original adhesive set also helps avoid air and water leaks.”

Tacoma Wa Fluids

• As any mechanic will tell you, checking fluids is the least expensive and easiest preventive maintenance you can do. Change your oil frequently (consult your owner’s manual for recommended frequency), and don’t forget to change your engine coolant (diluted with 50 percent water) and transmission fluid, about every two years. Pure engine coolants can freeze at zero degrees, but mixing with water prevents freezing and provides great protection for the cold weather.
• Though fluids like oil and transmission are commonly checked, other fluids integral to your vehicle’s performance, may go unnoticed. Power steering, brake, radiator and battery fluids also should be filled to recommended levels.
• Don’t forget to top off windshield washer fluid. If you’ve ever driven after salt trucks have come through to melt snow and ice, you know the importance of windshield washer fluid. Do not dilute washer fluid with water since it can freeze during winter’s harsh temperatures. While you’re at it, you might want to change the wiper blades to prevent poor vision in already poor driving conditions.

Tacoma Wa Batteries and Corroded Cables

• Winter mornings are rough on older batteries. The average life of a battery is 3 1/2 years. If your battery is older than that have a mechanic check the battery and cables to ensure your car starts quickly and reliably.

Anything Made of Rubber in Tacoma Wa

• Worn, bald or badly aligned or balanced tires can mean accidents on ice, rain or snow. Make sure to do a safety inspection on your tires for adequate tread, proper inflation and alignment and rotate your tires every 6,00 miles. If you live in unusually snowy areas, you may want to consider snow tires for added traction, or keep chains in your trunk or garage to help you through heavy snowfall.
• Rubber parts under your hood should be checked also. Radiator, heater and vacuum hoses, among others, should be checked for cracks and bulges. Also, inspect all belts for damages and splits.

Rust, Minor Scratches and Nicks in Tacoma Wa

• Road salt can turn a slight scratch or nick to an ugly rust spot that’s impossible to avoid. And it can spread. Avoid costly body work by restoring spots before they turn into larger problems.

Boots in Tacoma Wa

• Front-wheel drive vehicles equipped with CV (constant velocity) joints should have the boots checked for rips and cracks. Boots protect CV joints, but when the joints are exposed to salt, ice and snow, they can damage the joint. Replacing a joint can costs hundreds of dollars, but replacing a boot can save you a a much more costly repair.

Tacoma Wa Spark Plugs

• Worn or misfiring spark plugs can affect how efficiently a vehicle burns the fuel/air mixture, ultimately affecting engine performance. Worn spark plugs waste gas and increase exhaust emissions, so have them checked and replaced often.

Tacoma Wa Car Brakes

• Brakes are your most important safety equipment and they should not be neglected. Don’t postpone needed brake work. It’s dangerous to drive with poorly performing brakes, especially in snowy weather. Postponing brake service also can cause the cost of overhauling your brake system to skyrocket.

Tacoma Wa Auto Lights

• Last, but not least, check your lights. Accidents can occur if you can’t see where you’re driving, or if other drivers can’t see you, especially as we approach winter’s short days and long nights.

Maintain your vehicle regularly to provide years of service with better performance and safety.

Tacoma WA ASE Certified Mechanics

How good are you about changing your automobile’s air filter? Most manufacturers recommend that you check the filter — which is designed to trap dirt and contaminants before they reach your engine — every time you get an oil change, and replace it whenever it’s dirty or has been driven 20,000 miles, whichever comes first. For people who regularly drive on dirt or sand roads, that could be every 5,000 miles, but not everyone does it in a regularly.

If it’s too dirty, the air filter won’t trap dirt particles, which can damage motor cylinders, walls, pistons and piston rings, severely impacting gas mileage and motor performance. An inefficient engine can cause air pollution. The situation has gotten so bad in some states, they now require vehicles to pass engine emissions tests to stay on the road. In many cases, drivers find out their vehicle’s failed because of a dirty air filter.

When replacing your air filters, here are some things you should keep in mind:

• To check if you need a new air filter, just lift it out (it isn’t fastened down) and hold it up to the sun or to a strong light. If you can’t see light streaming through it, try dropping it lightly, bottom side down, on a hard surface. This should knock some of the dust from the filter. If there is no light visible through the filter after doing this a couple of times it needs to be replaced.
• When buying an air filter, look for well-known, quality-brand filters; you can often get them quite cheaply at discount stores. Generic air filters may be cheap, but they aren’t always of good quality, and if your air filter lets a lot of junk get into your carburetor, you may find that a cheap filter is very costly in the long run. If you need help determining which air filter is the one you need, go to your local auto supply store or to the parts department at your dealership. Give them your automobile’s make, model, and year. Make sure that the filter you get matches your old filter in size and shape. If it doesn’t, you’ve been sold the wrong filter for your vehicle.
• If you decide to change the filter yourself, always do so with the motor off, and never start or run the engine with the air filter out of place. Most filters can be easily replaced by removing snap clips, a clamp or several screws. Make sure you use the filter specified for your vehicle’s engine; do not try to make a filter fit. An improperly fitting filter can allow unfiltered air into the motor, causing engine damage.

Hi-Tech Collision proudly serves greater Tacoma, WA with…

Tacoma Motorcycle Repair and Motorcycle Maintenance!

Hi Tech Collision and Auto Body has ASE certified motorcycle mechanics on staff. Our expert level technicians will make sure your bike is mechanically sound and in optimum condition. We always ensure that our work is of the highest quality, making sure that your motorcycle is repaired and tuned to its full extent.

Our motorcycle services include:
• Motorcycle Repair
• Motorcycle Maintenance
• Motorcycle Tuning
• Motorcycle Customization
• Motorcycle Paint Job

Please do not hesitate if you have any question regarding your motorcycle! Hi Tech Collision will be happy to answer any questions that you may have about your motorcycle repair or motorcycle maintenance!

Hi-Tech Collision proudly serves greater Tacoma, WA with…

Auto Collision Repair that will get your car, truck, or utility vehicle back on the road!

Hi Tech Collision is your Tacoma auto body repair specialist. We have built our reputation of affordable and quality car repair by standing behind our work and making sure you, our customer, is completely satisfied. Our licensed and trained professionals are ASE certified mechanics as well as i-Car certified collision repair specialists.

At Hi-Tech Collision, we will always treats your vehicle as if it was our own…

Tacoma ASE certified master car mechanics that you can trust!

Hi-Tech Collision has a dedicated team of trained technicians who have serviced thousands of cars, trucks, SUVs, and utility vehicles in our state of the art repair facilities. We wouldn’t be so bold to say that we have seen it all — but we are pretty close! Our Tacoma ASE certified mechanics are skilled in all types of automotive repairs, whether it be for a truck, car, quad / ATV, motorcycles, utility vehicles… you name it!

Here are just a few of our Automotive Mechanical Repair Services in Tacoma WA:

• Auto Wipers and Battery Replacement
• Auto Glass Replacement
• Auto Head Lamp Alignment
• Installing Original Factory Auto Parts
• Installing Custom and Aftermarket Certified Auto Parts
• Computerized Auto Body Frame Straightening

Please do not hesitate to give us a call and get a free quote today! Our skilled car mechanics will take the time to diagnose and explain any problems and solutions related to your vehicle.