High Tone Auto Body Inc.

(970) 927-4351
  • Home
  • About
    • Location
    • The Shop
    • Career
    • FAQ
  • Repair
    • Auto Body
    • Glass Repair
    • Wildlife Encounters
    • Fleet Management
  • Gallery
  • Car Cosmetics
    • Paint Repair
    • Head Lamp Polish
    • Clear Bra
  • Insurance
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us

March 4, 2013 by High Tone Autobody Leave a Comment

Bear Break-In Car Interior Repair Aspen, CO.

Animal encounters are quite often, and in some cases these encounters sound a bit strange…but this is only a reminder that wildlife acts unpredictably and we should be careful in how we leave our vehicles, and what we leave in them.

Below is a series of photos from a damage done by a small bear that somehow got locked inside a Honda SUV and did considerable damage on the interior. Luckily, nobody was hurt and the bear had left the car by the time its owners returned.

Honda SUV bear brake-in interior damage
Honda SUV with a bear close-encounter
bear feces in vehicle and other damage
Bear left feces in vehicle while trying to get out
Interior roof damaged by bear
Damaged Interior Roofing and Plastic Molding
bear damaged plastic panels in car
Bear tore off most of the interior plastic moldings
Bear broke the sun roof while inside vehicle
Damaged sun roof on Honda SUV during bear brake-in

As you can see from the images, the bear that got stuck in the vehicle did quite a bit of damage.

On the back seat the bear did some damage on the seats themselves, broke off some trimming in the boot area, took off some plastic panels in the passenger area and broke off the sun roof. Also, it marked the vehicle with its poop in the boot area to make things even worse.

The vehicle needed some replacement plastic trimmings, some parts for the sun roof, and a complete interior detailing to get the bad odor out.

Usually, bears get close to vehicles if they smell food. Bears have excellent sense of smell and nothing gets by them. To avoid bear encounters like this one, make sure your vehicle is clean of any kind of food:

  • Don’t leave wrapped/unopened food in the car like candy or crackers, bears can smell them
  • Take the food out of the glove compartment and other storage spaces in your vehicles
  • Make sure there are no larger chunks of food or wrappings of food lying on the floor
  • Remove any used bottles from juices, milk and any other sweet beverages

 

Filed Under: Wildlife Encounters Tagged With: auto body repair, Auto-Body Repairs, bear damage on vehicle, car care, detailing, interior vacuuming, wildlife encounters

January 8, 2013 by High Tone Autobody Leave a Comment

High Tone Auto Body – Serving the Roaring Fork Valley for Over 30 Years

High Tone Auto Body has been providing Roaring Fork Valley residents with top quality auto body and collision repair for over 30 years. We’ve build our reputation over this time on quality repairs and outstanding customer service. We have many long-time local repeat customers that return year after year for any and all of their auto body repairs.

Our convenient mid-valley location in Basalt is within walking distance to the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) bus system and Park-N-Ride. We also have an excellent relationship with Enterprise-Rent-A-Car out of Glenwood Springs, CO who will accommodate our customers with rental car delivery and pickup at our facility.

Our service area is primarily the cities of Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale & Glenwood Springs.

Our shop is 6,140 square feet and our parking lot holds 40 vehicles. We have a variety of vehicles that come through the shop: Toyota, Ford, Subaru, Jeep, Chevy, Audi, Mercedes, BMW, VW, Lexus, Porsche, Land Rover, and many more. Most vehicles are all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive to accommodate the winter driving conditions here in the Roaring Fork Valley. We are a direct repair service center for many insurance companies, and are more than happy to help you handle your insurance claims.

We have the finest in frame and measuring technology and experienced, qualified technicians.

Please contact us today for free estimate and get your car looking like new again!

 

Filed Under: About

January 4, 2013 by High Tone Autobody Leave a Comment

The Repair Process – From Estimate to Payment

1)   Estimate Written

  • Photos taken
  • Authorization Form Signed
  • Estimate & parts usage reviewed with customer
  • Estimate locked

2)   Scheduled In

3)   Call to Confirm Appointment

  • Notify the estimated number of days to repair
  • Who is paying?
  • Parts Deposit
  • Determine if customer will be using a rental vehicle or not
  • Ask customer to be sure to remove any personal belongings:  garage door openers, CD’s, etc.

4)   Order Parts

5)   Parts Received

  • Parts checked in & verified
  • Invoices entered into management system
  • Part price changes acknowledged
  • Freight recorded

6)   Vehicle Arrives

  • Review contact information
  • Review estimate with customer
  • Vehicle Check-in/Waiver Form completed with customer.   Ask about dash lights, special requests, etc
  • Up-sale:  Windshields, tires, rock chips, interior/exterior details
  • Ask customer to be sure to remove any personal belongings:  garage door openers, CD’s, etc.

7)   Vehicle Check-In

  • Vehicle Washed
  • Vehicle reviewed for prior damage after vehicle is washed
  • Damage to vehicle compared with estimate
  • Prior damage marked with washable marker
  • Pre-Post Vehicle repair QC check list completed
  • Vehicle Check-in inspection completed
  • Vehicle interior & exterior video’d
  • Special customer request written on driver window
  • Sublet items written on driver window
  • Dash codes marked on driver window
  • Vehicle labeled with RO & job jacket hung on rear view mirror
  • Up-sale sheet completed and turned into CSR
  • Vehicle assigned to technician

8)   Disassembly/Mapping

  • Technician drives vehicle into stall
  • Technician reads estimate
  • Technician reads notes on driver window
  • Technician disassembles vehicle 100%
  • Technician looks for additional hidden damage
  • Technician separate good & bad parts
  • Technician obtains parts from Parts person
  • Technician mirrors each part with the vehicle
  • Vehicle sent to Sublet/Mechanical
  • Vehicle sent to Frame rack if necessary

9)   Disassembly/Mapping (cont)

  • Technician writes supplement with Estimator & Painter
  • Photos of broken parts are taken
  • Photos of additional damage are taken
  • Parts needing paint is given to Painter

10)  Estimator writes supplement

  • Estimator adds photo to file
  • Estimator calls customer to notify them if additional damage was found
  • Customer is notified if additional parts and or labor is needed for a complete repair
  • Approval from customer required before continuing with repairs
  • Supplement parts are ordered

11)  Vehicle is repaired

  • Vehicle is Quality Controlled prior to Paint

12)  Supplement parts are received

  • Supplement parts mirrored to damaged parts by Technician
  • Supplement invoices are entered into management system

13)  Vehicle is sent over to Paint shop

  • Vehicle is prepped and masked for primer
  • Vehicle is prepped and masked for paint
  • Vehicle is Painted
  • Vehicle is Quality Controlled for any paint flaws

14)  Reassembly

  • Vehicle goes back to Body Shop for reassembly
  • Vehicle reassembled
  • Depending on the repair, fluids are checked
  • Test drive made if deemed by repair

15)  Sublet

  • Vehicle taken to sublet vendor for: alignment, code reset, tires, etc.
  • Vehicle is Quality Controlled
  • All invoices for sublet, body supplies, fasteners etc entered into management system

16)  Office

  • Office personnel balances estimating file to management file
  • Customer notified of target completion date and approximate time
  • Final invoice printed

17)  Detail

  • Vehicle is clean both inside and out
  • Pre-Post Vehicle repair QC check list completed
  • Vehicle Quality Controlled
  • Vehicle is placed on delivery row

18)  Customer Pick-Up 

  • Vehicle is reviewed with customer
  • Final invoice with warranty presented to customer
  • Payment is collected
  • Key’s given to customer
  • Rental company notified of rental drop off if applicable

Filed Under: The Shop

January 4, 2013 by High Tone Autobody Leave a Comment

Frequently Asked Questions

Here you can find Frequently Asked Questions grouped by topic so you can quickly find the answers you are looking for!

Estimates

Q: How many estimates do I need to get?

A: Colorado law only requires one. Your insurance company may recommend one but you may use the shop of your choice.

Q: Do you charge for an estimate?

A: No. Estimates are free.

Q: How much would it cost to repair my vehicle?

A: We must see the vehicle and get information off of the vehicle like VIN, manufacture date, options, and condition of the vehicle to be able to provide an accurate estimate.

Q: Why do I need to bring my vehicle in for an estimate… can’t you just tell me over the phone?

A: Photos are needed for insurance and other documentation, verify textured parts, color, fit, vehicle options, condition, availability, etc. People have different perceptions of what needs repair. Often times there may be hidden damage or damage unseen by the untrained eye. It would be a disservice to the customer to not thoroughly assess the vehicle.

Q: What is needed to have an estimate written?

A: Name of insurance company, claim number, contact person at insurance company, e-mail address so photos may be sent if a non-Direct Repair Program company is used, phone and fax numbers. A signed authorization form is also needed for parts to be ordered and repairs to take place.

Q: How long does it take to write an estimate?

A: It generally takes between 10 and 40 minutes depending on the damage.

Q: Do I need to make an appointment for an estimate?

A: Yes, if possible, this allows the Estimator to give you his full attention and provide an accurate estimate.

Q: Can I drop my vehicle off for the day while you do an estimate?

A: Yes, we must first get some basic customer information from you to write an accurate estimate and know who is paying for repairs.

Q: Will the price of my estimate change?

A: Due to part price changes, hidden damage, freight costs, etc. prices may change.

Q: Do all parts come painted?

A: Very rarely does a part come painted from the factory.

Insurance

Q: Will my insurance rates go up if I file a claim?

A: Call your insurance agent to learn this information.

Q: What does DRP stand for?

A: Direct Repair Program

Q: Is there a difference between a shop that has a DRP agreement vs a shop that doesn’t?

A: When a shop has a DRP agreement with an insurance company, it generally means that they have met certain criteria mandatory by the insurance company such as: employee training within the body industry, specific equipment requirement, life time warranty on repairs, personnel, etc.

Scheduling

Q: How long will the repairs take for my vehicle?

A: Depending on the size of repair, we can determine the number of labor hours and perform a calculation to determine the approximate number of days needed for repair.

Q: My insurance agent said that you can fix my vehicle right away… when will it be done?

A: We must schedule all vehicles, order parts and have your authorization signed first before repairs begin.

Hours of operation – Drop off/Pick up vehicles

Q: Are you open on the weekends?

A: No, we are open M-F 8-5.

Q: Can I drop my car off after hours or on the weekend?

A: Yes, we have an Early Bird or Overnight drop off box hanging on the side of the building. Please fill out the envelope completely. Sign and put your keys in the envelope. Seal and drop through the mail drop in the door.

Q: Can I pick up my car after hours?

A: Yes, provided it is paid in full. Your keys for afterhours pick up will be placed in a lock box.

Q: Are you related to High Tone Automotive?

A: No, we are two separate businesses but we do overlap in our services list.

Payment

Q: Do you accept credit cards?

A: Yes, we accept Visa, Master Card or Discover.

Q: Do you accept payments on my deductible?

A: No, your deductible must be paid if full before your vehicle is released.

Q: My estimate is written but I’ve decided not to go through insurance. What do you need from me to proceed?

A: We require a parts deposit on all repairs.

Windshields

Q: Do you do windshield repair or glass replacement?

A: Yes, We can arrange for our glass vendor to come to our facility and provide this service for you.

Detailing

Q: Do you do detailing service?

A: Yes, We can detail your vehicle at our hourly rate. Every vehicle is different in terms of size, degree of cleanliness desired etc, it is best to stop by for an estimate.

Tow-ins

Q: Who pays for the tow bill?

A: If the vehicle is going through insurance the insurance company will include the tow bill in the total of the estimate. If not the owner of the vehicle is responsible for paying the tow company direct.

Q: Will I be charged storage fees?

A: If your vehicle is repaired at our facility storage charges will be waived if picked up when completed.

Paint

Q: How long do I need to wait after a paint job before I can wax my car?

A: Fresh paint must breathe and cure. Even though it has been baked at 140 degrees F, solvents still come out of the paint. Wait at least 90 days.

Q: Can I take my freshly painted car through a car wash?

A: We recommend touch-free commercial car washes or washing by hand using a non-detergent soap.

Q: How do I get tree sap off of my car?

A: Most tree sap is baked on by the sun. Try using hot soapy water. If that doesn’t work, please bring it in so we can inspect it. More than likely we will have to use solvents, color sand and buff the clear coat.

Q: Do you sell touch up paint?

A: Yes, it is a part of our Paint Repair services program.

Q: Do you paint specialty items?

A: Yes, when possible, we must see it first to determine the type of material it is, the condition, the quality of finish you want etc. Please come by with a sample.

Q: Do you do auto restoration work?

A: No.

Q: Do you do complete paint jobs?

A: It depends; we must first see the vehicle and determine its condition.

Rental Cars

Q: Do you have rental cars?

A: No. We work closely with Enterprise Rent-A-Car out of Glenwood Springs and Aspen.

Q: Can you rent a car for me?

A: No, You must rent the car yourself. The rental car company will ask you personal information that we do not have such as your driver’s license, policy number, whether or not you have rental insurance etc.

Q: Do I have to go to Glenwood Springs to get a rental car?

A: No, Enterprise will meet you at the shop but it must be confirmed and scheduled with them.

Q: How much is a rental car?

A: You must call the rental car company. The cost varies depending on the type of car you want, options, your insurance policy and how many days you need it.

Q: How do I know if I can get a rental car?

A: Call your insurance agent and find out if you have rental coverage on your policy.

Q: Must I turn in my rental car right away when my vehicle is complete?

A: Yes, If your vehicle is complete you must turn in the rental vehicle or there may be a chance that you will be paying out of pocket for additional days of rental.

 

If you have any questions, please leave a comment and we will answer your question and include it in the corresponding category. Thank you for taking the time to review our FAQ page.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

January 2, 2013 by High Tone Autobody Leave a Comment

Windshield Replacement Service in Aspen-Basalt Area

In the past few posts we covered a few stories on windshield replacement, how important the windshield is in the structural integrity of your vehicle, and how many windshield replacement services to a sub-standard replacement job.

As we outsource our windshield replacement services to specialized workshops, it is our responsibility to make sure that every single vehicle that we handle gets factory-level quality of windshield replacement. For this reason, we often times monitor the replacement procedure. Most of the times windshield replacement technicians do an excellent job, but in rare occasions, some technicians skip a step or two in the industry-dictated replacement procedure.

The windshield replacement procedure requires that the windshield gets treated with chemical solvents to clean up the contacting surface where the urethane glue goes. After cleanup, this surface must not be touched with bare hands so technicians must use medical gloves. Some technicians have windshield carrying techniques that allows them to lift the glass without toughing the treated surface, but in some rare cases, the mind wonders off only for a second and technicians grip the glass without even realizing it. Unfortunately, this is all it takes to contaminate the contacting surface.

Here’s one example of how we noticed a procedure breach that may have resulted in a faulty installation of the windshield:

caught red-handed, procedure breach in windshield replacement
Notice that the technician has gripped the windshield and touches the primed surface with bare hands.

The black lining of each windshield is the contacting area where the windshield is glued onto the chassis with a urethane glue. As you can see on the image above, this technician seems to have forgotten to keep his fingers off the primed surface. A bare-skin contact contaminates the primed surface and the dew and grease will prevent the urethane glue to form a solid bond with the new windshield. As the windshield carries almost 30% of the structural integrity during crashes or airbag activation, poor adhesion can result in blowing the windshield off the vehicle so the airbags will have nothing to bounce off and brace your face in a collision.

The good thing is that we noticed this and stopped the technician. Since he was a certified technician there was no need of debating the issue. All that was necessary was a “Hey, the primed surface…your hand…”. His response was “Oh man… good eye!” He cleaned up the entire contacting surface, re-primed it and installed the windshield by the book.

Most of the times, it’s the little things that make or break a solid windshield replacement. In this case, a drop in concentration could have resulted in a sub-standard windshield replacement service. Thanks to our strong attention to detail, we pointed the technician of this unintentional error and our client got a factory-level quality of windshield replacement.

Need a windshield replacement?

Contact Us

Filed Under: Glass Repair Tagged With: Auto-Body Repairs, excellent customer service, glass repair, the best aspen auto body shop, windshield replacement services aspen, windshield replacement services Basalt

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • …
  • 10
  • Next Page »

Latest News

  • Toyota Tundra Door & Bed Repair
  • Ford F-150 Aquapel Treatment During a Basalt Trade Show
  • Repairing a minor front area damage on a Saab
  • Nissan Collision Repair: An Unfortunate Encounter with a Deer
  • Keep a Clean Windshield & Avoid Glaring: Aquapel Glass Treatment

Categories

About Auto Body Car Cosmetics Career Clear Bra Detailing Fleet Glass Repair Head Lamp Polish Insurance Paint Repair Repair Specialty Items Sublet Services Testimonials The Shop Uncategorized Wildlife Encounters
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+

Directions

High Tone Auto Body Inc

265 East Cody Lane
Basalt, CO 81621
Phone: (970) 927-4351
Fax: (970) 927-9374

Hours of Operation
Mon-Fri: 8AM-5PM
Copyright © 2023 High Tone Auto Body Inc. · Site by: Momentum Interactive & Thin Air Web · Log in