February 2010 : Lighting the Way to Safer Roads – Headlight Maintenance is a Key to Your Safety : Someone You Should Know – Precision Body & Paint : Fun Events/On Stage & Screen

Download the Print Version: The Details – February 2010

Lighting the Way to Safer Roads
Headlight Maintenance is a Key to Your Safety.
By Jason Barker

Last month we showed the before and after photo of headlight detailing to the right, which lead to some thoughts on what goes into ensuring your high beams are working properly…

Headlight systems require periodic maintenance. Most vehicles in the US since the late 1980s use headlight lens-reflector assemblies that are considered a part of the car, and just the bulb is replaced if it burns out. Vehicle manufacturers vary on how the bulb is accessed and replaced, but they are usually accessed by opening the hood and locating a socket at the back of the headlight assembly. Headlight aim must be checked and adjusted occasionally because poorly aimed lights are dangerous and ineffective.

Over time, the plastic headlight covering can deteriorate. It can become pitted due to abrasion from road sand and debris. The plastic coverings can also become cloudy and yellowed. This is due to oxidation of the plastic covering by ultraviolet light from the sun. If it is minor, it can be repaired by a professional auto detailer. However in more advanced stages, the deterioration extends through the actual plastic material, rendering the headlight useless and necessitating a costly replacement.

Dirt buildup on headlight coverings also increases glare to other drivers, while reducing performance significantly for the you. Therefore, vehicle manufacturers have started installing headlight covering cleaner systems on some vehicles. These cleaning systems come in two main varieties: a small motor-driven wiper blade or brush, similar to those used on the windshield of the car, or a fixed or pop-up high-pressure sprayer which cleans the lenses with a spray of windshield washer fluid.

Make sure you’re not only taking care of the body, wheels and interior of your car, but those headlights that get you home at night!

Someone You Should Know
Precision Body & Paint

Over 100,000 completed jobs and 34 years of experience…

Those who demand quality trust their collision repairs to Precision Body and Paint. In fact, friends recommend Precision first and why not…year after year and job after job we consistently provide discriminating customers with the quality repairs they expect. For 34 years our philosophy has been simple and our conviction still remains unchanged. Dedication to Excellence means consistent quality, fair-pricing and unsurpassed customer service.

Mission Statement
We are the premier team of experts and professionals, Committed to providing high quality collision repair services to exceed our customer’s expectation. Learn more about Precision Body & Paint by visiting their web site at www.precisionfirst.com.

Fun Events / On Stage & Screen

Fun Events
Chinese New Year : 2/14-2/28 : http://www.portlandchinesegarden.org/
Pittock Mansion : Ongoing : http://pittockmansion.org/
Art in the Garden Series : Through 2/21 : http://www.japanesegarden.com/
The Chocolate Story : Through 4/25 : http://www.worldforestry.org/
NW Bike Show : 2/20-21 : http://www.nwbikeshow.com/
Baby Boomer Lifestyle Expo : 2/20-21 : http://www.portlandboomerexpo.com/
Yoshinogawa Sake Release Party : 3/7 : http://www.sakeone.com/sakeone/index.jsp
Portland Urban Iditarod : 3/13 : http://www.keepportlandweird.org/urbaniditarod/

On Stage & Screen
Beer & Movie Fest : Ongoing : http://www.bamfestpdx.com/
The Taming of the Shrew : Through 2/28 : http://www.bagnbaggage.org/
Hamlet : Through 2/20 : http://www.cohoproductions.org/
Pinocchio : Through 2/21 : http://nwcts.org/html/home.php

Fresh Start Detail Company
12130 SW Broadway
Beaverton, OR 97005
503-641-3285
jason@freshstartdetail.com

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