The 5 Symptoms of Worn Tires
If you’ve ever wondered how to tell if you need new tires, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll describe the five major signs that will tell you it’s time to consider replacing your current tires. Once you’ve identified the 5 symptoms of worn-tires, they should not be ignored, because your safety and the safety of your family will be at stake each time you take to the roadways. When tires get worn out, they don’t perform as well, providing less traction under rainy or snowy conditions. In most cases, this won’t matter a great deal, but there’s always that one time when excellent traction might be enough to prevent you from being involved in an accident. Check for these signs of wear and tear, and replace your tires if they do appear to be in their last phase of usefulness.
How to tell if you need new tires
You may already have noticed a drop-off in your tires’ performance before you get around to checking them. In any case, these are some of the most critical signs that you should invest in a new set of wheels:
Temperature changes – anytime the weather outside takes an extreme drop, you can count on your tire pressure dropping right along with it. If you should head out on a road trip with under-inflated tires, it will cause more heat to be generated, and that will always wear out your tires more quickly. Be aware of temperature changes and how they impact your tires.
Vibration – anytime you feel some kind of vibration or thumping while driving, it could be one of several things. If the road itself isn’t bumpy, and you feel vibration under the seats, it’s possible that your rear tires may be unbalanced. If you feel the vibration in the steering wheel, that could be an indicator that your suspension has a problem. Anytime you feel something other than a smooth ride, it should be an alert that causes you to investigate further.
Bulges or cracks – as a tire begins to deflate, it will always cause a noticeable bulge at the sides. This is an obvious indicator of low tire pressure, possibly due to a slow air leak. It’s a good idea to eyeball your tires for cracks, splits, or gouges that shouldn’t be there. When you do spot anything like this, it’s best to have it checked out, rather than to simply accept the consequences on the road.
Tire pressure – each month, your tires will probably lose about one lb. per square inch of tire pressure, and if you should go several months consecutively without checking them, you could eventually find that your tires are significantly under-inflated. It’s always safest to have the correct tire pressure, so that you are sure your vehicle is performing correctly, and that you get the smoothest possible ride.
Tread Wear – this is one of the best and surest indicators for determining whether or not you need new tires. Most modern tires have small bits of rubber that are woven into the tread at a specific depth. All you have to do is locate these wear bars that cross the groove of the treads, and examine them for wear. If you see that the tread pattern has been worn down right to the wear bar, that’s an excellent indicator that it’s time for a tire replacement.
When you do replace tires?
When shopping for replacement tires, it’s best to have all four tires replaced at the same time. This is because all four will then have the same mileage, and you won’t have to remember which tires were replaced at which mileage levels. If the cost is a problem, you should at least make sure to replace the problem tire and its partner on the other side. As a bare minimum, front and back tires should always be replaced at the same time, so you get equal braking and driving characteristics between your front tires and those in the back. Looking for information on other auto repair and services? Check out our informative blog on whether you should be charged for an auto repair estimate.
Is It Worth It To Invest In A Car Engine Repair?
One of the most serious types of repairs that could befall your vehicle is a blown engine. That immediately forces you to consider whether it is more cost-effective to repair that engine or to simply invest in a new vehicle. To have the best information possible, you should probably have a skilled mechanic check out your vehicle, and pick their brain about whether or not a car engine repair might be the best option. When engines become damaged, there are basically three possible outcomes – you either have to replace a few parts, do some serious maintenance, or reconcile yourself to the fact that the engine has become totaled.
Maintenance Service
The aim of maintenance service is really to be proactive and take care of the engine, so as to prevent the kind of catastrophe where the engine dies mid-road. Whenever you observe any kind of issue with your engine, for instance, a check-engine light on the dashboard, you should attend to it promptly, so as to avoid any more expensive issues. If you can get the work done before any serious damage occurs, that will be the best you can hope for.
Of course, any maintenance procedure will always depend on how serious the problem already is, so it’s best if you address all issues in the earliest stage. By doing this, you’ll have a much better chance of avoiding serious engine troubles.
Car Engine Repair
Once you know that damage has occurred to your engine, it’s time to start exploring possible options for repair work. If the problem is on a single part or just a few related parts, you may be able to repair the engine without having it cost a fortune. You could even get very lucky and have the problem confined to a relatively inexpensive fix like a hose or replacement belt.
Larger issues, for instance, the transmission or radiator, will certainly cost you a lot more, and the repair total will run up quickly. Still, this will be much less expensive than purchasing a brand-new vehicle or footing the bill for a complete engine replacement.
Blown Engine
There’s no question that the modern engine in most vehicles is a very complex collection of parts, designed to perform a specific service, often under stressful conditions. Once an engine has become badly damaged, it’s very possible that the same kind of damage will be spread to other parts of the vehicle. In this scenario, repairing the engine is not usually an option. Instead, you’ll have to start considering a total engine replacement, or a total vehicle replacement.
What about Engine Replacements?
Replacing your engine will generally be a much cheaper option when everything else fails. So, if you’re wondering whether it’s beneficial in your own case, here are some things to consider. If your warranty still covers your vehicle, then you should definitely replace the engine, because the cost to you will be minimal.
If you have good insurance coverage, this can work almost the same as if you were still under warranty, with the policy covering most of the heavy-duty costs. Even without insurance or warranty coverage, it will generally be much less expensive to replace an engine than it would be to buy a completely new vehicle. If you’re weighing your options between installing a new engine and buying an older used vehicle, you should consider the fact that used vehicles often come with their own engine problems after years of usage and sometimes abuse.
You could end up paying much more for the used vehicle than you would for a brand new engine. There are also cases where a specific car has developed a strong sentimental value for an owner, and you may want to hold on to those memories a little longer. In this case, replacing the engine will allow you to keep the car and the memories it holds for you.
Engine replacement or new vehicle?
While replacing your engine will generally produce a reliable outcome, it may not be the best possible option for everyone. Some situations really do call for buying a new vehicle, and here are some ways that you can determine that. If you’re looking for some of the newer features available on a newer model of your vehicle, that may be one good reason to purchase the newer vehicle and take advantage of those desirable features.
Car engine repair will certainly be costly, but it won’t be as expensive as purchasing an entirely new vehicle. If your budget is not particularly strained at the moment, you may have had engine trouble at the best possible time, because you’re in a position to buy that new vehicle. Buying an entirely new vehicle will generally be worth your while if you have the budget to purchase a reliable vehicle that is very roadworthy, and which comes with a good warranty.
In Conclusion
Sometimes when you replace your engine, you’ll have so many new parts in the car that it really does leave you with a more reliable car for many years into the future. Others are just plain unlucky, and engine troubles signal the start of a whole series of unfortunate events. If your car is also experiencing issues with the catalytic converter, the suspension, headlights, the HVAC systems, and other areas unrelated to the engine, it may be time to admit defeat and simply purchase a new vehicle.
One last alternative might be to purchase a reconditioned engine, which is one that is not quite new but has some used parts. These are always more affordable than new engines, and they’re basically just as reliable, so you can accomplish your objective for a much lower cost. So, you will have some options when you encounter the dreaded engine troubles, and it will mostly depend on your budget and the availability of replacements that determines how you handle the situation.
What Is The Proper Procedure For Auto Glass Repair?
Anyone who has been driving for a number of years has probably experienced the inevitable pebble or stone which gets inadvertently flung up against your windshield to produce a tiny crack. This often happens when you’re driving behind a tractor-trailer that has 18 wheels, all churning furiously along the road, and sometimes picking up debris that gets passed along to following motorists. Then, in the next few days, you notice that the tiny crack has expanded and there are spidery cracks that appear to be growing along with the windshield.
Eventually, you end up with a crack that extends the entire length of the windshield, and that makes driving and visibility problematic. In some states, it’s illegal to drive your vehicle in this condition, and you would be required to fix it. This being the case, you’re much better off leaving the auto glass repair to the professionals, both for the sake of convenience and for safety’s sake.
Tools for Auto Glass Repair
If you were to undertake the replacement of a damaged windshield yourself, you would of course need to have a few skills that are necessary for the procedure, but you’d also need to have some materials and tools on hand to accomplish the goal. If you had to purchase all these, it would definitely cost you more than it would for a professional installation shop, and it would take you longer as well. These factors should be weighed when you’re trying to decide whether to do the work yourself or to leave it to the pros.
Here are some of the tools and materials you’d need to have ready for the job:
- stiff nylon brush
- gloves
- cold knife
- glass cleaner
- rubber gasket for a windshield
- urethane primer
- razor blade scraper
- caulk gun
- auto glass urethane
- vacuum
- painters’ tape
- wire brush or sandpaper
- screwdriver, pliers, utility tape.
The steps you have to follow would be the same ones followed by a professional shop doing the work for you. These steps have been identified by a reputable agency, and by faithfully following these steps, you can be sure of having a safe vehicle to drive on the road after the process is complete.
Proper Installation
There is actually a formalized process that has been set forth as the Automotive Glass Replacement Safety Standard (AGRSS), with a view toward ensuring that auto glass is replaced in the safest manner possible. This keeps road safety in mind at all times and guarantees that the new glass is installed in a way that will keep everyone from coming to harm on the roadway. Here are the steps that are outlined in the AGRSS procedure:
- installation prepping – the vehicle will be prepped for installation by a technician who places protective tape around the window and over the hood of the car. The windshield wipers then get removed temporarily along with the rear-view mirror, and any other external attachments in that general area. These will be stored somewhere until the replacement operation has been concluded, and it’s time to re-attach them.
- remove the damaged windshield – first, the molding strip that holds the glass in place has to be removed. Then a special knife is used to break through the urethane adhesive that binds the glass to the frame. A good deal of force is needed for this step, and it sometimes breaks the glass of the windshield, but that doesn’t really matter at this point. Any broken glass will be cleaned up completely before proceeding with the next step.
- prepare the window for installation – the technician will use tools that are adept at cutting down the previously used adhesive as close as possible to the framework of the car. After this, the frame has to be primed so that no contamination takes place when the new glass is ready to be installed.
- install the new windshield – after the frame has been thoroughly prepped and is ready for installation of the new glass, a technician will dry set the new glass in place using a new layer of urethane adhesive. Using a tool much like a caulking gun, the technician will apply new adhesive all around the windshield to make sure it stays in place under any conditions.
- finishing up – once the glass has been properly installed and has been cleaned off, all the finishing steps will be done in succession. This means the mirrors and windshields will be re-attached, as well as anything else that was removed during the beginning procedure. The discarded glass will be re-cycled by the glass repair shop. Now the work on the vehicle has been completed, and it is ready for driving again. It is always recommended that windshield wipers are not used on the glass for several days afterward, so the adhesive has a chance to set and become firm in place.
Auto Glass Repair Convenience
When you have the windshield replacement carried out by professionals, they will generally try to accommodate your schedule so as to make the whole process as convenient as possible. Many times, this involves coming right to your workplace and carrying out the installation in the parking lot where your vehicle has been parked for the day. That means you can go right ahead with your workday, and when the day is over, you can go out to the parking lot to find that the job is finished, and you’re ready to drive home with new glass in place.
The entire process generally takes less than an hour, and you can count on having a brand new windshield in place on that same day. Your auto insurance probably covered the full cost of having new glass put in place, although there may be a deductible you’re responsible for. In any case, for minimal cost to yourself, you can usually have a completely new windshield put in place very soon after you’ve incurred any kind of damage on the road. By contrast, if you were to do the whole operation yourself, at the very least it would be much more inconvenient, and it would probably cost you more as well.
The Ultimate Guide To Tire Repair
Almost everyone has had the experience where they’ve been driving along the roadway and run over something that punctures a tire and leaves you with a flat. Although you might be able to replace the tire yourself right alongside the roadway, you’ll eventually need to evaluate what to do with the flat tire. Depending on where exactly is the puncture, as well as the severity of the puncture, you may salvage the tire, and don’t need to replace it.
The way to determine whether or not you can repair a tire is by assessing exactly where the damage took place. You can´t repair the tire if it has a puncture either on the shoulder or on the sidewall. It’s also true that you cannot repair a tire punctured by an object that is bigger than a quarter-inch in diameter. Other than these two main stipulations, most other situations can get effective repairs, so that you can salvage the tire rather than replace it.
You might think that you’re best off replacing it regardless of the circumstances. You’ll probably want to get some mileage out of it before discarding it if you have just purchased new tires. There are safe ways to make tire repairs so that you don’t have to worry about the roadworthiness of any tire. Continue reading below to find exactly how to make a safe tire repair.
How to Safely Repair a Tire
First of all, it will be necessary to remove the tire from its rim, and conduct a thorough inspection of the inside and outside of the tire. This is necessary because even though a tire might appear to require a simple fix, it’s entirely possible that the bottom half of a nail or some other object could have damaged the interior sidewall. If you have determined that the tire is indeed repairable, you will next need to trim the damaged area, so it can be clean and stable.
Then you’ll need to pull a rubber stem from the inside out right through the puncture area so that you can seal off the internal portion of the tire. Again from the inside, buff the puncture area and apply vulcanizing glue. Then it will be possible to install a patch on the inner liner which covers the entire puncture area, and which will trigger a chemical reaction.
After this has taken place, you can mount the tire back on the rim, inflate it to the manufacturer’s specified tire pressure, and then check thoroughly for any leaks. If done properly, this repair procedure should take somewhere between 60 and 90 minutes, and at the end of that time, you’ll have a solid, reliable tire for use on the roads.
Tires You can’t repair
There are some situations in which you can’t simply repair a damaged tire, usually because of the severity of the puncture or the location where it occurred. If your damaged tire falls into any of the categories listed below, you should consider it non-repairable and it will be safest to simply discard the tire and purchase a new one. In situations where a puncture has occurred outside the repairable area, it is not safe to attempt to carry out repairs on the tire.
Viable tire repairs are primarily restricted to the crown or middle area of the tire. The crown is the center of the tread, usually about an inch to an inch and a half inside each shoulder of the tire. In most tires, you can consider the repairable puncture area as the area between the first major grooves on each of the two shoulders. In terms of the size of any puncture, the maximum size which is safely repairable for any passenger vehicle or light truck will be 1/4 inch in diameter.
If the puncture is any larger than this, the only safe thing to do is to completely take it out of service and replace it with a new one. If you should discover that there is a clearly noticeable bubble in any of the sidewall areas of your tire that damage has probably occurred by direct impact with a pothole, curb, or some other obstacle in the road. When you see this kind of bubble or bulge in a sidewall, you should consider it unrepairable, and the tire must be taken out of service.
Don’t use tire plugs
If you’ve ever been advised to use a tire plug in order to carry out repairs on a damaged tire, you should resist the temptation to save money and avoid using the tire plug altogether. A tire plug is an expandable object you can push into a damaged area from the outside, which theoretically can stop the leakage of air from occurring. You can then adjust this tire plug until any leaking air stops altogether from the damaged area.
The danger of this is that even though the leaking might stop, the ‘repaired’ tire is probably not safe to drive on the open road. While tire plugs can be very tempting because they deliver a quick fix, they are also prone to failure over a period of time, especially when driving at high speeds or over long distances.
It’s also possible for them to cause air to get trapped in between tread layers, and this will eventually cause the tread itself to separate. Once this happens, you’ll need to purchase a new tire anyway. It’s simply not a good idea to drive a vehicle that has had a tire repaired by a tire plug because there will always be some uncertainty in your mind about how long it will last, or whether it’s safe to drive. When you’re considering the safety of yourself and your family members, you just don’t want to take a chance on tire plug repairs.
How Long Does It Take To Repair Collision Damage?
Obviously, all collisions are different, so it stands to reason that the time taken to repair damages will be different in every single case. Despite the fact that there is no specific and guaranteed time frame to accomplish the ideal collision damage repair process, it is possible to estimate the length of time required. All based on the type of collision and the level of resulting damage. Whenever an auto accident has occurred, a claims adjuster from your insurance company will assess the damage, and make an estimate of the cost associated with that damage.
After that, it might take anywhere between a couple of days and a whole week to find a collision company that can take on the work. When you do decide on one specific collision shop, you should have a conversation with them about how long they think the work will take. Many factors can influence that length, one of the main ones being how much of a backlog of work the shop already has. Availability of parts may be another factor that has an impact on repair time, as can be the level of difficulty associated with the necessary repairs.
Structural Collision Damage Repair
Whenever it’s necessary to repair a frame rail, a rear body structural panel, or something to do with the radiator, it will be necessary to use a frame machine and some specialty fixtures. This will ensure that the car gets measured right, and then it will be necessary to mount the car on the frame machine. In order to do this, it will be necessary to remove some electrical parts, like the suspension, and maybe the engine to fit the car on the frame machine. They might use specialty fixtures to attach the car to the machine. These fixtures are cast molds that get attached to the vehicle at specific points. All this is to ensure that the car’s weight gets distributed evenly over the frame machine.
Special Materials and Metals
Many new cars include specialty materials and metals that call for special equipment, special training, and technicians with considerable experience and skills. Some of these materials are carbon fiber, aluminum, and high-strength steel, all of which require equipment and training.
Many shops might not even have the resources to carry out these kinds of repairs, so you’ll need to find a collision shop that is appropriately equipped and can handle these repairs.
New Auto Technology
New technology is always getting added to the vehicles driven by owners, and while this makes your driving experience more enjoyable and safer, it can cause repairs to take much longer. For example, a car with a rear bumper that has high-tech options would require the car to be recalibrated with special equipment that tends to be fairly expensive.
If this isn’t done, your car simply won’t operate as it should after doing the collision damage repair work. Other high-tech options that need recalibration are rear-view cameras, lane-changing warning systems, and park distance control sensors.
Any kind of high-tech options like the ones included in your car will generally increase the length of time, to ensure the accuracy of the repair work.
Check the Damages
One of the biggest factors in figuring out how long repairs will take is to assess the exact kind of damage which has occurred to the vehicle. There might be a relatively simple fix involved such as replacing a bumper, and that will only take a couple of days to finish up.
However, it’s likely that you will need more intensive bodywork, and that will take much more time. In addition to this, it’s possible to discover the vehicle needs extra repair work, for instance, internal issues that were not readily observable in the immediate aftermath of the accident.
Any good collision shop will accurately address and fix whatever damage has occurred, and this may require having certain auto parts removed so that other possible damage can be found. All this takes more time because it’s necessary to find all damage and get your car back to a roadworthy condition.
Factors that Might Delay the Repair
Sometimes it’s difficult to estimate the time necessary for repairs until the work has actually begun. This is partly because they can discover other damage during the process. When you remove certain parts of the vehicle for closer inspection, it sometimes turns out that more extensive damage is discovered, which of course will add to the total repair time.
Whenever an estimate is made of the time necessary for vehicle repairs, you should always remember that that repair estimate can get invalidated by the discovery of additional damage.
However, if this is the case, the collision shop will always contact notify you about the changed status, because your approval will be necessary to proceed with additional repair work.
Repair Cost of Typical Collisions
In addition to the time necessary to make vehicle repairs, the cost of those repairs will also vary depending on all the circumstances related to the damage. There are some standard factors used when estimating the cost of repairs. For instance, the make and model will be important in assessing the total cost. Newer or more common vehicles generally use parts that are readily available, while older cars or those which are unique, will often call for ordered parts.
Depending on where these repair parts come from, it might take a while for them to get delivered and then installed by your collision experts. Another factor that contributes to the cost estimate is the kind of repairs that are necessary. For instance, work that is much more detailed, such as a complete paint job, will require considerably more time and will bump up the cost of repairs.
Labor cost is another important factor in the overall cost of repairing collision damage. Collision mechanics are specialists who work hard to ensure that your vehicle is roadworthy again, and they should be fairly compensated for their efforts. The number of hours of labor required, as well as the number of specialists working on your car, will have a major impact on the eventual cost of the collision damage repair.
Types Of Auto Collisions
There are several different types of car accidents, and these can have a major impact on the investigation which takes place. As well as the whole claim procedure, if you should be making a personal injury claim. You can avoid many accidents by having more education and awareness about the types of auto collisions that can occur, and the circumstances which lead to them.
When you know more about the types of accidents that are possible, you may avoid such situations better. The idea is to be sure that you don’t become another highway statistic.
Causes of Auto Collisions
There are many causes that consistently appear as the triggers for several types of auto accidents:
- One of the most common causes is distracted driving. This includes eating and drinking, talking with others, watching videos, or tuning radios.
- Texting while you’re driving is another very common cause of auto accidents because statistically, you are 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident when you’re texting than if you had no distractions at all.
- Another major cause of auto accidents is drowsiness. Many drivers think they are alert enough to go on an extended driving trip, only to find out that they nod off now and then. This in turn creates extremely dangerous traffic conditions.
- Of course, driving under the influence of alcohol or some kind of drug is responsible for many accidents as well, because you cannot be as alert as you should be.
- Speeding is another popular cause since at a high rate of speed you don’t have adequate control of your vehicle.
- Reckless driving is similar to speeding, except that it involves behaviors that are dangerous in a traffic setting.
Now, these are the types of Auto Collisions we have seen and repaired:
Multiple Vehicle Collision
This type of accident involves two or more vehicles and generally results from a chain of events that got out of control. Pileups can be anywhere from relatively minor collisions to massive events which include many cars and vehicles. These kinds of multiple vehicle collisions can result in tremendous confusion. This usually involves a significant number of injuries and even fatalities.
Whether you get sucked into a multiple vehicle collision or not might depend on you being situationally aware, and making a point of keeping your distance from other vehicles.
Head-on Collision
These types of collision are not as common as many other types. This is because they involve collisions between vehicles going in opposite directions. There’s generally a loss of control, and one car directly swerves into the path of the other.
The best way to avoid a head-on collision is generally for you to steer to your right, and this may give the oncoming vehicle enough room to miss colliding with your vehicle and avoid a major accident.
Sideswipe Collision
It’s always a little bit risky when you’re driving immediately next to another vehicle. Almost any kind of distraction for the other driver might cause them to drift into your lane. This could result in anything from a small bump, to a blow that disables your vehicle.
The best way to avoid sideswipe collisions is to make a point of keeping your blind spots in sight. Also, be aware when other drivers are coming too close to your vehicle.
T-Bone Accident
This is one of the most dangerous types of accidents there is because it involves one vehicle crashing into the side of another vehicle. Most often this T-Bone occurs on the driver’s side of the vehicle. It can result in broken bones, concussions, and in a worst-case scenario, even fatality.
These kinds of collisions are generally quite sudden and difficult to avoid, so the saving grace may be the fact that you have your seatbelt firmly locked, so you can avoid being thrown about by the impact.
Vehicle Rollover
It happens sometimes in auto accidents that one or more vehicles land onto its side by the impact, or flips over several times. This action can cause occupants to be ejected, or it can cause them to get injured during the rollover. When an accident like this occurs, there’s no time for you to react, and often causes some serious injuries. If your seatbelt was firmly fastened prior to the vehicle rollover, that is your best bet for surviving the incident. It’s also the best way to reduce the seriousness of any injuries.
Single Car Accident
Even though only one car can get involved in this type of accident, it doesn’t mean that the driver is responsible for it. These types of accidents usually happen when a single driver reacts to some road situation by swerving. This is generally to avoid hitting something like an animal crossing the roadway, or another driver who’s weaving between lanes. The end result is usually something like a collision with a guardrail, a tree, an electrical pole, or some other object.
In many cases, the weather is a factor in a single-car accident, especially if driving conditions include snow or black ice. In order to avoid a single-car accident, the best action you can take is to slow down, especially if you’re driving through inclement weather conditions. You should also be aware of blind corners because traffic has a way of suddenly appearing from the other direction.
Of course, you’ll never be able to predict when a deer or a dog might leap into the roadway before you and cause you to make a sudden swerve while driving.
The only way to avoid this is to drive with awareness and to be cognizant of the fact that such auto collisions can occur at any moment.
Side-impact Collision
Anytime a vehicle sustains a broadside, it gets hit by the front end of another vehicle, and that can be a side-impact collision. Generally speaking, these kinds of accidents occur at intersections, where there are usually witnesses available. There’s also usually a traffic camera on top of the traffic light, but that is not always the case. Your best bet for avoiding these kinds of collisions is to make sure you’re traveling at a slow rate of speed as you approach the intersection, even if you have a green light for your traffic lane.
Intersections can be dangerous places, and all kinds of auto collisions can take place because of their nature. Anytime you’re approaching one or driving through one, that means you should give extra caution to the situation and be aware that there is an increased danger.
What To Look For On Your Autobody After A Rear-end Collision
There are nearly two million rear-end collisions on the roadways of this country every year, which makes them the most common type of car crash to occur. Some of these collisions can be extremely serious and result in injuries to passengers of both cars, while other collisions are relatively minor and cause minimal damage.
However, even these relatively minor collisions always have to be thoroughly checked out, because autobody damage is not always visible to the naked eye. That makes it very important to check out your autobody after any kind of collision has taken place, so that you can have confidence that there is no internal damage in addition to the visible structural damage.
Autobody Alignment Issues
One very common type of damage that occurs during a rear-end collision is problems with alignment. When you start to notice that your vehicle is pulling to one side of the road or the other as you drive, it might very well be that you have incurred alignment problems. You may also have an alignment problem if you notice that the vehicle vibrates, or that you have noisy steering during operation.
Check to make sure that your tires don’t wear unevenly or that they squeal while you drive. In situations where vehicle alignment is even slightly off, it can put a lot more stress on the suspension, tires, and steering. This will cause them to wear out much quicker than they normally would, and it can also cause some very definite threats to safety. If you have any reason to suspect a rear-end misalignment, be sure to have it checked out right away before it becomes a safety issue while driving.
Engine Damage
Automobile engines are extremely delicate and complex, and if you get in a rear-end collision, there will always be the potential to impact the performance of your engine. If you find that the check engine light comes on after a rear-end collision, you should always have it checked out immediately by your repair person. It’s also possible for a rear-end collision impact to damage the drivetrain of your car.
The force of the impact can thrust the exhaust system forward, and that can cause damage to the catalytic converter, muffler, engine mounts, and exhaust manifold. It’s also true that all-wheel-drive vehicles and rear-wheel drive vehicles have transmission components in the rear of the vehicle, and these can become damaged during a collision.
Check for signs that your transmission may have been damaged by monitoring any signs of leaking transmission fluid, or any issues you notice while shifting or accelerating.
Suspension Problems
The suspension system of a car has an important role in keeping the vehicle under control and delivering a smooth ride for occupants. Basically, the suspension system is responsible for maximizing traction between the road and your tires, permitting the operator to efficiently handle the vehicle. It has the effect of protecting passengers in the vehicle itself and managing the impact of road conditions.
Rear-end collisions will often cause frame damage that can apply additional stress to the suspension system, causing the struts and other parts to become worn more quickly. Any resulting misalignment can also apply more pressure on the components of your suspension system. Whenever the suspension is not working properly, you’ll notice that the ride is a lot rougher and that the car is harder to control. If you don’t take care of this promptly, it could even lead to safety issues.
Electrical Issues
Modern vehicles are far more technologically advanced than they ever were in the past. Even a minor collision can cause loosened wires somewhere throughout your vehicle, e.g. brake lights, taillights, or the battery.
Since all of these components are vital to maintaining road safety, it’s extremely important to make sure that they stay intact, especially in the aftermath of a rear-end collision. In most cases, it’s necessary to have a technician thoroughly examine the electrical components of your automobile to make sure that no damage has occurred.
Trunk Damage
Trunk damage will generally not affect vehicle operation, but it should not be overlooked when you’re assessing overall damage to your autobody after a collision. It’s entirely possible that issues with your trunk can cause safety hazards, and it will also lower the value of your vehicle. Your trunk should always be able to open and close easily, and it should be possible to securely lock the trunk when necessary.
Anytime you’re driving down the road, a damaged trunk might pop open and interfere with your view of traffic behind you. It might also startle a driver behind you and trigger another rear-end collision. Even though it might not seem like a high risk, you should always check out your trunk to be sure that no damage occurred there.
What you should look for immediately after a rear-end collision
In the aftermath of a rear-end collision, you should eyeball any problems by walking around the entire vehicle to see what’s obviously visible. The first thing on your checklist should be to inspect the trunk and the door gaps to make sure they’re still even, and that they open and close with no issues. Next, you should check the taillights and the rear bumper to make sure they don’t have damages, and that they still fit well on the vehicle.
Compare the left side and the right side to make sure that there are no differences, and there are no gaps between components. After this, check the vehicle roof and the quarter panels, especially if the rear-end collision was fairly severe. Eyeballing the autobody damage after a rear-end collision should give you an idea about what you’ll face when you send your car in for repairs.
However, you should not limit your understanding of the damage to what you can personally see. It’s always best to have a professional do a thorough examination of your vehicle after a collision because there are always issues that remain invisible to the naked eye or the untrained eye. Having a skilled technician inspect your vehicle’s autobody will always be your best bet in the aftermath of a collision.
Winter Car Maintenance Checklist
Winter driving conditions are always a little bit more hazardous, given the fact that on any day during the season you might get snow, ice, sleet, or hail on the roadways. That makes it important that you prepare for it yourself mentally, and that you have your vehicle prepared for those conditions as well.
By following the recommendations on our car maintenance checklist below, you can prepare your vehicle adequately to meet the challenges of winter season driving, and you’ll be better at avoiding accidents or problems that may happen on highways.
Service your Car for Winter Conditions
Before the bad weather arrives, it’s a good idea to service your vehicle, so might prepare for whatever winter might throw at you. First, it’s a good idea to have your battery checked, because battery power always decreases with a drop in temperature, and that means it will take more power to get your car started. If your battery was already having problems, the winter weather will exacerbate those issues.
Also, have your cooling system checked to make sure you have adequate antifreeze in the system, and that you have the right coolant-to-water ratio to prevent possible freezing. Cold weather may not hurt your brakes exactly, but it’s still very important to have optimal braking performance during winter conditions.
Lastly, have a service technician check some must-have items on your car maintenance checklist like your wires, cables, spark plugs, hoses, and belts. These can cause a problem at any time of year, but if they fail during the wintertime, you might find yourself stranded in an inhospitable area.
Check Tire Pressure
You may not have realized this, but every 10° drop in temperature will also generally carry a loss of 1 psi in your tires. That means it’s important to check tire pressure regularly during the wintertime and add air when it’s needed.
You can find the appropriate tire pressure for your specific tires in the vehicle owner’s manual, sometimes on the tires themselves, or on the tire placard in the doorjamb on the driver’s side.
Use Winter Tires
While all-season tires perform fairly well in winter conditions, if you really want maximum performance, you should definitely switch to winter tires for the season. This is especially true if you live in an area where temperatures get very cold, and where you can expect frequent snowfall.
When the temperature stays cold for an extended period of time, the rubber in non-winter tires tends to harden, and that decreases their ability to grab the road. Winter tires are equipped with special compounds that resist this hardening in cold temperatures, so they’re still capable of providing excellent traction on any road conditions, regardless of how cold it gets.
Keep your Window Washer Fluid Full
Monitor the fluid level on your windshield washer, because you will probably use your washer fluid much more frequently in the wintertime than at any other time of year. Road conditions will generally get messy whenever there’s a snowfall in progress, and you might have to use your windshield washer fluid to maintain a clear view for driving. You can find windshield washer fluid at most department stores and most auto parts stores, and it’s a simple matter to refill the reservoir whenever you need to.
Install Winter Wipers
Winter wipers are more advantageous than ordinary wipers because they are equipped with rubber that prevents the collection of ice on the blades. This will do a much better job of keeping the wipers themselves free of debris, and more capable of clearing off your windshield. When spring rolls around, remember to switch back to regular wipers, because the winter versions are heavier, and therefore more of a drag on your wiper motor.
Be Aware of How the Temperature Can Affect Traction
Any time you head out for an extended winter drive, make sure you’re aware of the temperature change while you’re on the roadway. Fluctuating temperatures can have a big impact on traction, especially if there is a relatively sudden change in temperature. As an example, it’s actually probably safer to drive in 0° weather than it is to drive in 32° weather all of a sudden. At higher temperatures, surfaces become slicker and more slippery, and that will make your vehicle more prone to accidents. At 0°, road surfaces tend to get more crunchy, and that will actually promote better traction.
Make Sure your Rear-window Defroster Works
You could be in a dangerous situation if you can’t see behind you during winter driving. A number of states actually have laws requiring that your rear windows are clear of debris and condensation. When you’re having your car winterized, make sure that your rear window defroster is in good operating order before the cold weather actually arrives.
Always Keep 1/2 Tank Full of Gas
You’re much better off to fill up frequently in the wintertime because it’s much more important that you have a greater supply of gas in the winter than in the summer. Having a relatively full tank reduces condensation and that can help you avoid any freeze-ups in your gas line. In addition to that, if you ever happen to get stranded in a snowstorm, your engine will be the only thing that can keep you warm until help arrives.
Pack a Winter Safety Kit
When you head off on any long driving trip, it’s a good idea to have a car maintenance checklist and pack some supplies in your vehicle which will be of assistance during any kind of emergency. It’s good to have some snacks on hand, bottled water, warm blankets, and anything that will increase comfort if you have to remain in place for an extended period of time. Include some drinking water as well, just in case you can’t get out of the car for any length of time.
Be Aware of Emergency Preparedness
All the drivers in your family should have a good understanding of this car maintenance checklist for emergency preparedness, just in case one should actually occur to any family member. In most cases, you should never leave your car, because you might lose sight of it altogether. It’s also a good idea to not run your car for any long period of time. Instead, run it for a long enough time to get warm, and then turn it off again, so that you don’t run the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Leave your dome lights on to attract attention, so that when help does arrive, they’ll know where to go.
Questions You Should Ask Your Auto Repair Provider
For most people, getting to an unknown auto repair provider is not only a nuisance, but it’s distasteful and very unwelcome as well. With less-than-legitimate shops, you never really know if specific auto repairs are truly necessary, or whether the repair person is simply trying to increase their profits at your expense and their repairs are practically always inconvenient and expensive. These auto repair providers might get all the rest a bad reputation by association, but in fairness these are relatively few.
The problem is, you never know whether or not you have just aligned yourself with one of those few unscrupulous characters. To help get fair value for your money, you should be prepared to ask a number of important questions of any repair service professional. If they’re on the up and up, they shouldn’t mind responding to your questions and helping you have peace of mind.
Below are some of the most important questions you can ask your auto repair provider, and you’ll be doing yourself a real favor if you actually ask these to your repair person, so you can find out a little more about the service you’re going to receive.
What Exactly Is The Problem With My Vehicle?
Even if you don’t know much about cars, you should ask this question, because your mechanic should be perfectly willing to show you what the problem is, and the impact it’s having on operation. If they are unwilling to show you where the problem is, they just might be trying to fleece you.
While it might be somewhat difficult to demonstrate, a simple matter of taking five minutes to show the customer what the problem is can go a long way toward inspiring your confidence in the auto repair provider in question. In addition, you might actually gain a better understanding of how your car operates.
How Much Will An Evaluation Cost Me?
Some auto repair shops do provide no-charge evaluations, while others have a set fee. Whichever of these two situations is in effect at your auto repair provider, the mechanic should have no problem relating what their policy is.
Don’t be deterred just because your mechanic tells you there is a charge for the evaluation, because it probably is fair that a skilled mechanic be paid for their time, and running diagnostics is a skill that requires specialized training and knowledge.
Can You Give Me A Written Estimate?
It’s always a good idea to get an estimate for any repair work you need done, so that things don’t spin out of control and you end up with a whole laundry list of repairs. It’s best to ask for a detailed estimate right at the outset, and not just a bottom-line cost, because you should know what you’re paying for.
When you see an itemized list that shows all parts that were used in repairing your vehicle, as well as a line item for the specific amount of labor involved, you can have a little more confidence that things were done honestly. Have an understanding with your mechanic that they will need to call you if there are any unanticipated problems or expenses, so you’ll have the option of approving or not.
What Kinds Of Accreditation Do Your Mechanics Have?
The thing to look for in accreditations is an ASE certification, which is a certification issued by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. This is a nonprofit organization that certifies and tests auto mechanics, for the purpose of ensuring that they have the skill and competence to repair your vehicle.
Other accreditations may be appropriate as well, but you should question them if they start to sound a little bogus. When you hear that mechanics do have the ASE certification, you can have a little more peace of mind knowing that they are qualified, skilled auto mechanics.
Which Are The Most Urgent Repairs?
If your auto repair provider gives you a whole catalog of repairs which your car needs, it could be legitimate, but then again it might not be. By asking which problems are the most urgent and what are the ones you must take care of right away, you can cut right to the chase and do the work on those issues that require immediate attention.
Have your auto repair person explain to you which repairs are the ones most necessary, and which ones can wait several weeks if necessary. A good auto mechanic will have no problem working with you to schedule other repairs at some future date, while handling the most urgent situations right at the present time. This is also a good way to establish some trust and rapport with your mechanic, since you should both have the same objective at heart.
What Caused The Problem?
This can be a really important question to ask, because if it turns out that the problem was caused by some bad driving habits you have, you’ll want to know this so you can correct the situation. On the other hand, maybe this was a problem that’s just common to the make and model of your vehicle.
Most often, you will find that the cause of a problem was some kind of overlooked preventive maintenance to avoid the problem altogether. These are things you need to know, so that you can prevent a recurrence in the future. When you have this information in hand, it might save you a lot of money on future repairs.
Does Your Shop Specialize In Any Kind Of Repairs?
Some repair shops are like general practitioners in the medical field – they pretty much handle everything. On the other hand, there are a number of repair shops which specialize in transmission work or brake jobs. This would be useful to know if for instance, you’re having a problem with your brakes.
It might be worth your while to take the vehicle to a shop that specializes in brake repairs. At any rate, make sure that your repair shop is capable of handling the type of problem your vehicle has, so you have a better chance of getting great work that resolves the issue.
Auto Collision Repair Pro Tips For When Your Car Breaks Down
If you should encounter some kind of difficulty with your vehicle while driving, the first thing you should do is try to maneuver to the shoulder of the road as soon as you can. This is especially true if you’re on the highway, because vehicle traffic will be traveling at high speed, and if your car is actually breaking down, it could create a very hazardous situation. Safety should be uppermost in your mind in a situation like this, so you should keep a couple of things in mind.
First of all, it’s a good idea to coast along the shoulder of the road until you reach a straight stretch of highway, with no curves in the road behind you. This will allow you to see any oncoming traffic, and it will also allow vehicles behind you to be well aware of your position at the roadside. If it happens that your engine suddenly dies while you’re in the middle of traffic on the highway, and you have no opportunity to reach the shoulder, you should make sure to stay in the vehicle.
It can be extremely disconcerting to be sitting in a non-operational vehicle with high-speed traffic all around you, but if you were to get out of the vehicle and try and reach the side of the road, you might run into a much worse situation. Keep in mind: police officers generally patrol highways, so more than likely a Highway Patrol officer will be along shortly.
Tips for Staying Safe
If your vehicle requires auto collision repair work on the road, that’s something you can work on after the fact. Your immediate concern is to stay safe, and to try to keep your vehicle free from harm, given the fact that you are in a dangerous situation that could have the potential for disaster.
Here are some things you should do to keep yourself and your vehicle safe before you make it to the auto collision repair shop:
- Hang some white cloth from the window– roll down the driver-side window, and hang out either a white piece of cloth or paper and then you can roll the window back up to ensure that it stays in place. This will alert drivers and authorities to the fact that your vehicle is in distress, and that they should go around you, and leave you out of the traffic flow.
- Call someone– the minute you know that you are going to require roadside assistance, you should use your cell phone to contact your roadside assistance club or the Highway Patrol. If you don’t have a cell phone, there may be an emergency call box nearby, and you can use this to call for help and then get back to the safety of your vehicle. If you can’t find a call box anywhere in the area, you’ll have to rely on your white distress flag to alert someone to the fact that you need help.
- Do not work on your vehicle– whatever you do, don’t get outside the vehicle and begin working on it, especially on the side of the vehicle that is closest to traffic. You might easily be struck by a passing vehicle, and that could be catastrophic. If it’s possible, maneuver your vehicle to a safe location, and then you will be able to inspect your vehicle for damage, and possibly conduct field repairs.
- Put on emergency blinkers– it’s best if you can alert other motorists to the fact that your vehicle is non-operational, although you probably shouldn’t do this at night. It’s not a good idea at nighttime because any vehicle drivers coming up behind you could mistakenly assume that your vehicle is still moving along the highway, and that could result in your vehicle being rear-ended.
- Place reflective markers behind your vehicle– if you have reflective markers or warning lights, these should be placed about six feet behind your vehicle to alert other drivers to the fact that you’re non-operational. As soon as you have placed these, you should return to the safety of your car. If you don’t have either one of them, you can leave open one of the car doors on the side of your vehicle away from traffic.
- Be careful about changing flat tires– if you’ve experienced a flat tire while driving, make sure that you can get well off the road before attempting to change it. If the flat is on the side of your vehicle which is nearest to traffic, it’s better that you don’t attempt to change it yourself, and that you simply call for roadside assistance. If the flat tire is on the side of your car away from traffic, then it should be safe enough for you to proceed with swapping out the tires.
Auto Collision Repair Tips
if your vehicle has sustained some kind of damage from your mishap while driving, here are some repair tips you should be aware of:
- Dents– whenever you have to deal with dents, make sure to have good illumination in your work area, and also make sure that you have on hand plenty of sandpaper, hammers, dollies, and paint. You should never put more than 1/8 of an inch of filler on a dent repair.
- Sanding– don’t use your bare hands to accomplish any sanding work, and instead, make sure to have a sanding block or a sponge to support the sandpaper. If you try sanding with your bare hands, it will create grooves from your fingers that tend to press harder than your palm does. A sanding block ensures that the job will be done smoothly, and all you need is a light touch to get the work done.
- Guide coats– these work by depositing a very thin layer of paint or dust all across the primer surface. They help you to identify low spots when you’re sanding down your vehicle at the auto collision repair shop.
- Welding clamp– use a sheet metal screw to get your panel in place, and then drill a pilot hole which you can run the screw through. This will hold your panels in place so you can do the welding work, and once you’re finished, a small spot weld will fill in the entire whole.
- Straight edge– a straight edge is ideal for roughing in some bodywork while using a hammer and dolly. Generally what you’ll need is a 2-foot strip of steel or aluminum which has a perfectly straight edge. When working with a broad dent, you’ll be able to use the straight edge to spot any low areas easily. If you run some masking tape along the length of the edge, it will also protect against any scratches in the paint.
