Category: Accident

You expect your repairs to be completed the correct way so that you can get back on the road. Unfortunately, not every repair shop in South Jersey is going to follow manufacturer procedures—particularly when reinstalling airbags. Incorrect airbag reinstallation isn’t a trivial problem. When your airbags aren’t properly installed after an accident, your driving a vehicle that may not perform as required when you’re in danger.

At Elmer’s Auto Body, we pay attention to manufacturer directions when reinstalling airbags, because we want you to be safe when driving your car. Here’s what happens when your airbags aren’t reinstalled correctly, and some steps you can take when you suspect something’s wrong.

The Role of Airbags in Collision Safety

Airbags haven’t been around for a long time, but they have saved countless lives. First developed in the 1950s and made common in the 1990s, airbags are a safety feature that creates a protective cushion around the driver and passengers in the vehicle. This makes them a crucial feature in all modern vehicles. Airbags work in conjunction with seatbelts, frame structure, and crash sensors.

It doesn’t matter if the airbags deployed during a collision or not. Most of the time, airbags need to be replaced and reinstalled. Furthermore, the process needs to be handled by a technician whose been trained to use manufacturer-approved parts and processes. That way, everything will function as intended.

What Can Go Wrong When Airbags Aren’t Reinstalled Correctly

As mentioned previously, the reinstallation process for airbags needs to be handled by professionals. Any mistake during the reinstallation can have serious consequences.

1. Airbags Fail to Deploy in a Crash

In order for an airbag to deploy, various sensors and electrical components also have to work. If those modules aren’t properly attached, your airbags may not deploy when you need them. Imagine if that were to happen during a high-speed crash on Route 55…failure to deploy could be the difference between minor injuries and life-threatening ones.

2. Airbags Deploy Unexpectedly

On one end of the spectrum, your airbags may not deploy at all. Now, what happens if those airbags go off at the wrong time? Incorrect wiring during reinstallation may cause even a bump in the road to trigger airbag deployment. Should that happen when you least expect it, you may lose control of your vehicle, causing a collision.

3. Faulty or Non-OEM Components

Some low-cost repair shops use non-OEM or recycled airbags to save money. These parts may have unknown histories, missing inflators, or damaged wiring, leading to unpredictable behavior during deployment.

4. Dashboard Warning Lights Ignored

When you received your vehicle, was there a warning light on the dashboard? Warning lights don’t happen out of the blue and for no reason. They’re a sign that something is amiss. Don’t overlook those lights, because it means that your airbag may not protect you in a collision.

5. Improper Sensor Placement or Calibration

Airbag systems rely on precise measurements from sensors mounted on the frame and within the cabin. If a frame is even slightly misaligned or a sensor isn’t calibrated correctly, airbags may deploy too late—or too early—to offer protection.

Signs Your Airbags Weren’t Reinstalled Correctly

Now that you know about the issues and consequences underlying an incorrect airbag reinstallation, let’s discuss the signs. Knowing what to look and listen for can help you recognize issues before they worsen.

Here are red flags that may indicate a problem with your airbags:

• The airbag warning light stays on or flashes.
• You notice new rattling or clicking sounds near the steering wheel or dashboard.
• The horn or steering wheel buttons don’t work properly.
• You were in another minor accident and your airbags didn’t deploy.
• You weren’t informed of airbag replacement or reinstallation details after repairs.

Notice any of these symptoms of a poor airbag reinstallation? Don’t wait to let an auto body repair shop know. Get your vehicle inspected as soon as possible.

Why Airbag Reinstallation Requires Certified Auto Technicians

Airbag systems are tightly integrated with your vehicle’s structure, sensors, and electrical systems. That’s why manufacturers provide specific procedures for reinstallation that must be followed precisely. At Elmer’s Auto Body, our certified technicians use OEM parts and manufacturer-approved procedures to ensure your airbag system is fully restored. We verify sensor alignment, recalibrate your vehicle’s ADAS systems, and test all safety components before your vehicle leaves the shop.

You can trust that when we say your car is ready, it truly meets safety standards.

Get Your Airbags Properly Reinstalled at Elmer’s Auto Body

Airbags are lifesavers, but they need to be reinstalled correctly after a collision. Make sure you are choosing safety and selecting a trusted collision repair shop in South Jersey. At Elmer’s Auto Body, we take repairs seriously and never cut corners. Our technicians are certified by numerous manufacturers and will follow repair guidelines. We want you to be safe, which is why we check and double check every sensor and safety component.

When you get into a collision, much of the damage you see is on the surface. There are dents, dings, scratches, and cracks, but those aren’t your biggest concern. Underneath the panels is your vehicle’s foundation: the frame. You can also call it the structural backbone, one that absorbs energy from impacts and helps keep you safe during a collision. When frame repairs aren’t done properly, however, your vehicle’s ability to keep you safe is reduced.

At Elmer’s Auto Body, we’ve seen a lot of vehicles where corners were cut on frame repairs. That’s why we’re going to talk about the importance of frame repairs and why shortcuts are dangerous.

Understanding the Importance of the Vehicle Frame

As mentioned previously, the frame is like the skeleton of your vehicle. It’s a supporting structure around the engine, transmission, suspension, and interior compartment. Aside from support, the frame absorbs and distributes impact energy to keep that force away from you and your passengers. When the frame is damaged, the repairs have to be precise to return your frame to factory standards.

Cutting corners can result in serious problems that affect how your car handles. In short, if you get into another collision with a frame that hasn’t been repaired properly, the risk of damages and injuries increases.

What Happens When Frame Repairs are Rushed or Incomplete

Some shops will rush through frame repairs due to lack of experience or improper equipment. Cutting corners leaves unseen damages. Rushing leads to inevitable problems.

Here is what happens when frame repairs aren’t taken seriously:

Misalignment

The frame needs to be straightened using a computerized measuring system. Without it, your frame could be a millimeter off. That may sound like a small deviation, but it can have huge consequences. A frame that isn’t straight can cause a misalignment, leading to your car pulling to one side, uneven tire wear, and premature suspension damage. Misalignment also means you need to continuously correct the steering, leading to fatigue. That’s a dangerous combination when driving at high speeds.

Reduced Collision Protection

Your vehicle’s frame is designed to absorb and redirect crash energy away from passengers. When this structure is not properly restored, it can’t perform as intended in another collision. Instead of absorbing energy evenly, the frame may buckle or collapse in unintended areas, dramatically increasing the risk of injury. Even a small weakness in the frame can have serious consequences in a future accident.

Compromised Airbag Timing

Modern vehicles contain a network of sensors and crumple zones that are designed to exacting standards. When one sensor or crumple zone doesn’t work properly, those safety measures may not deploy correctly. For example, if your frame is off slightly, crash data may be misread, leading to lagging airbag deployment. Sometimes the airbags may fail entirely. Unfortunately, when that happens, it increases the likelihood of severe or fatal injury.

Noise and Vibration Issues

Poor frame repairs also need to less comfort and drivability. If components like suspension mounts, subframes, or body panels are reattached to a warped structure, you may hear persistent rattles, squeaks, or clunking sounds. These noises often mean that parts are under stress or misaligned, which can lead to further wear and tear on surrounding components over time.

Weakened Structural Integrity

Vehicles are made with aluminum and steel, two metals that need precise repair techniques to restore to normal. If a shop welds, heats, or reinforces these materials incorrectly, it can permanently weaken the metal. That means your vehicle’s frame may not have the same rigidity or crash resistance it once did, leaving you less protected in the event of another impact.

Why Precise Frame Repairs and Certified Technicians Matter

Leaving any kind of auto repair up to chance is never wise, as safety and performance can be negatively impacted. For South Jersey drivers, that can be all the difference between a vehicle that is able to swerve and take an impact and a horrible injury. As such, you need to choose an auto repair shop that is certified and experienced. Frame repairs need specialized machines and measuring systems to be restored to their original specifications.

We’re serious when it comes to repairs and protecting you in the event of a future crash. We don’t cut corners, and we never let you drive away with something left undone.

Signs Your Frame Repairs Weren’t Done Correctly

If you recently left an auto body repair shop in South Jersey and something felt “off,” don’t ignore it. You’re instincts are probably right. Let’s take a look at the signs of poorly done frame repairs, so you know whether you need to take your vehicle to us:

• Your car pulls to one side even after an alignment.
• Uneven gaps between panels or doors that won’t close smoothly.
• New vibrations, creaks, or rattles while driving.
• Steering or suspension that feels unstable or unpredictable.
• Persistent warning lights for airbag or stability systems.

Notice any of these issues? Bring your vehicle to a trusted South Jersey collision center, like Elmer’s Auto Body. Our certified technicians will inspect your vehicle to see if any damage still remains.

Ensure Proper Frame Repairs with Elmer’s Auto Body of South Jersey

Say no to rushed frame repairs. There’s too much at stake to overlook something so vital. Instead, you need to ensure that frame repairs are done correctly. At Elmer’s Auto Body, we have advanced equipment and certified technicians to restore your vehicle’s structural integrity. With us, you’ll be back on the road, driving with confidence, in no time.

When you get into a car accident, it’s easier to focus on damage that you can see, such as dented panels, cracked bumpers, and shattered glass. Yet, there may also be damage that’s invisible to the naked eye, hidden away in the vehicle’s structure. In many cases, these microfractures can pose a dangerous threat to your safety, since they can’t be seen. At Elmer’s Auto Body, we believe it’s important for drivers to understand what microfractures are, why they matter, and how to ensure they’re not overlooked after a crash.

Let’s talk about microfractures and how to tell if your vehicle may have them.

Key Takeaways

• Microfractures are tiny, often invisible cracks in your vehicle’s structure that can occur during a collision, even if the exterior damage seems minimal.
• These hidden fractures can weaken your vehicle’s frame, disrupt alignment, increase vibrations, and interfere with safety systems like lane assist or emergency braking.
• Many repair shops overlook microfractures because they don’t use advanced diagnostics or fail to fully disassemble and inspect the vehicle after an accident.
• Warning signs of microfractures include new rattling noises, uneven tire wear, steering issues, or panels that no longer align properly.

What are Microfractures?

Microfractures are tiny, nearly invisible cracks that form in the structural parts of your vehicle during a collision. They most often appear in the frame or unibody, suspension, engine mounts, weld points, and critical brackets or supports. Even though microfractures are small, it doesn’t take long for them to grow with the vibration and stress of daily commutes. When left untreated, microfractures weaken the structural integrity your vehicle, making it less safe.

In other words, even if you car looks fine after a crash, there may be microfractures throughout the structure. It’s important that you bring your vehicle to an auto body repair shop for an inspection if you notice any of the following microfracture signs:

• Sudden rattles, creaks, or new noises
• Uneven or rapid tire wear
• Steering that feels loose and off-center
• Doors or panels that don’t line up the way they should

Why are Microfractures So Easy to Miss During Car Repair?

Compared to cosmetic damages like cracks in the windshield or dented panels or even rust, microfractures aren’t big. You won’t see them during a visual inspection. In fact, many collision repair centers may miss microfractures if they are focusing more on a fast turnaround rather than taking the necessary diagnostic steps (Elmer’s Auto Body would never do this; we’re here for you and your vehicle).

Here are some common reasons microfractures get missed:

• Lack of diagnostic equipment
• Rushed repair job that focuses on cosmetic damage
• No structural alignment check
• Failure to fully disassemble the vehicle to check affected areas

Post-collision inspections need to go beyond the surface. Advanced diagnostic tools like laser frame measuring systems can help identify microfractures so they can be repaired.

How Do Microfractures Affect Your Vehicle?

If left unaddressed after an accident, microfractures can turn into a serious issues. These nearly invisible cracks can gradually worsen with everyday driving, road vibration, and exposure to weather. Over time, microfractures can impact multiple systems in your vehicle:

Weakened Frame Structure

The structural integrity of your vehicle is what protects you during a collision. Microfractures in the frame or unibody can compromise that strength, reducing your car’s ability to absorb impact and protect passengers. Even a small crack in a critical weld point or support beam can lead to serious failure in another crash.

Worsening Alignment Problems

Microfractures near suspension components, control arms, or subframe areas can slowly throw off alignment angles. That leads to steering that feels off, difficulty keeping the car straight on the highway, or constant corrections while driving. You may also notice uneven tire wear, which can become costly and unsafe if not corrected.

Increased Vibration and Noise

As microfractured parts begin to shift under pressure, you might hear creaks, rattles, or popping noises—especially when turning or going over bumps. These subtle signs often indicate that certain parts are no longer properly secured or aligned, which can also result in a rougher, more uncomfortable ride.

Compromised Safety Systems

Many advanced safety features rely on precisely mounted sensors and properly calibrated components. Microfractures near these mounts can cause ADAS systems (like lane keep assist or emergency braking) to misfire or stop working entirely. In some cases, the systems may shut off without warning, leaving you less protected on the road.

How Does Elmer’s Auto Body Find and Fix Microfractures?

We take structural integrity very seriously at Elmer’s Auto Body. Every vehicle that comes to us for collision repair is carefully inspected. Yes, that means for microfractures as well as visible damage. We used computerized frame measurement systems to accurately diagnose issues, even those that can’t be see by the naked eye. Our certified auto repair technicians also take the time to fully disassemble the affected areas to see what lays beneath. We use OEM parts and manufacturer recommended repair procedures.

At Elmer’s Auto Body, our goal is to restore your vehicle’s safety and drivability as if the accident never happened.

Schedule for Auto Body Repair at Elmer’s Auto Body

Whether you were just in an accident or had repairs done elsewhere and something still feels wrong, Elmer’s Auto Body is here to help. We’ll perform a thorough diagnostic and let you know if microfractures or other hidden damage were missed.

You deserve peace of mind knowing your vehicle is safe and structurally sound. Let us make sure no detail is overlooked.

Call or visit one of our South Jersey locations in Medford, Sewell, or Mt. Ephraim to schedule your appointment. You can also reach us by filling out the contact form.