Category: Collision Repair

It’s always a relief when you get a call from the repair shop telling you that your vehicle is ready for pickup. This usually marks the end of an irritating and stressful process. Being without your vehicle for even a short time tends to aggravate the situation, but you still have one final step once the repairs are done. It is highly essential that you always test drive a vehicle after it has been repaired. If there is anything wrong, you need to figure that out immediately.

 

What Happens If You Don’t Do A Test Drive?

You will almost surely be driving your vehicle home after picking it up from the repair shop. However, that isn’t really the same thing as a test drive. A real test drive involves checking for common problems and paying close attention while performing specific maneuvers. It’s definitely not the same thing as an everyday drive down the street.

If you don’t do a test drive immediately, you will see those problems eventually. Unfortunately, it will be much harder for you to complain about those incomplete or incorrect repairs once several days have passed. The sooner you bring it back to the repair shop, the more likely it is that they will take responsibility for their mistake and fix the problem. If you wait too long, there is no way for the shop to know that you aren’t trying to scam them for free work.

 

Don’t Come Back With Unrelated Problems

You should understand that it isn’t always the shop’s fault if your car isn’t fully repaired. Unfortunately, some vehicle issues are much more subtle than others, and therefore much harder to detect. Thus, little problems can easily be missed. However, it isn’t reasonable to complain about something that was outside the scope of the repair work.

For instance, let’s say you brought your car to a body shop for repainting and a new windshield. If you get the vehicle back and notice problems with the engine, that probably had nothing to do with your auto body repair specialist. A paint job and a windshield change would not affect the engine one way or the other, so you cannot blame them for that one. However, in that same situation, you would definitely need to go back to the shop if the paint starts peeling or if the windshield isn’t properly installed.

 

Best Practices When Doing A Test Drive

As we said, a real test drive is a bit more involved than the average driving session. The main difference lies in the fact that you have to pay close attention to the vehicle. First of all, turn off your radio and your AC/heater. This will allow you to more accurately hear any telltale noises. This should also make it easier to feel any strange vibrations or “choppiness” that might be present.

On that note, strange noises and vibrations are always warning signs. They could indicate minor problems like a warped rotor guard, or major problems like a bad transaxle or a failing transmission. Find a place where you can cut some sharp turns and do some figure-eights. There are certain problems (particularly wheel problems) that are only noticeable when you turn in a certain way.

A few brake checks are also in order, although you should not do them on a crowded public road. Basically, you just want to get up to a good speed and do a few quick stops just to make sure your brakes are working properly. They should bring you to a full stop without making the vehicle lurch to one side. On that note, you can also easily check the alignment of your vehicle.

While driving down a straight stretch with no other cars nearby, set your car on a perfectly straight path and then let go of the steering wheel. Only do this for a maximum of five seconds, and grab the wheel quickly if you begin to swerve.

Here is why you do this: A vehicle with bad alignment will not maintain a straight course. It will immediately try to drift left or right, and that makes alignment problems easy to diagnose.

Finally, it’s also a good idea to test the electrical components in your car and make sure they are working properly. This would include things like power windows, power locks, the stereo, the AC, turn signals, brake lights, low/high beams, etc. Such problems can indicate issues with the parts that provide their power. As a final tip, make sure to drive on varying road conditions at varying speeds. This gives you the best possible chance of detecting a problem.

 

How Long Should A Test-Driving Session Last?

There is no set rule here, but a lot of people say that 20-30 minutes is ideal. However, you should take as much time as you require. You don’t want to skimp on any of the checks, and you want to take the time to fully verify any problems that you see. And so, the real answer is to take as much time as you require.

 

Conclusion

Without a solid test drive, it becomes very difficult to evaluate the repair work that has been done to your vehicle. You will essentially be trusting your mechanics 100%, and that isn’t always a good idea. Of course, you can get away with that if you choose one of the better auto body shops in South Jersey. If you are in need of a good NJ body shop, you can call our team here at Elmer’s Auto Body at (856) 218-0202.

Unfortunately, vehicle accidents cannot always be avoided. Even if your driving is impeccable, there will always be the possibility of disaster. As long as no serious injuries have occurred, the first priority after an accident will be vehicle repair. Unfortunately, being involved in a major collision can lower the market value of your car. This is fair because damaged goods are always worth less, even if they have been repaired. Still, there are ways to bring that value back up again. With that in mind, let’s discuss some ways to enhance your vehicle’s value after an accident.

 

How Does A Collision Lower A Vehicle’s Value?

 

Naturally, any major accident (and most minor ones) need to be reported to your insurance company. In turn, that insurance company will file a diminished value claim in response to a collision. This claim is simply a note on the vehicle’s official history stating that it was involved in an accident.

There are three different types of diminished value claims:

• Inherent: This claim is made when the vehicle has been properly fixed and restored to its pre-accident state. A slight value loss occurs here because things are no longer original and pristine.
• Immediate: This is a claim that usually won’t be filed if the vehicle is fixed in a timely fashion. It signifies a large and immediate value reduction due to damage sustained in the accident.
• Repair-Related: This claim is used for value losses that result from bad repair jobs.

Now then, let’s talk about some of the ways in which you can bring that value up again.

 

1. Make Sure All Repairs Are Done Correctly

 

Obviously, you want your diminished value claim to be an “inherent” one. These claims generally have the lowest reduction, and they only require that the vehicle is properly repaired. Make sure that the body shop and all its mechanics are certified to work on your type of car, and make sure that they have a good track record. It’s also important to use OEM parts wherever possible. If everything is done right, it shouldn’t be that hard to get your damage claim placed in the least harmful category.

 

2. Consider Some Upgrades

 

Vehicles are always worth more money when they are in their original state. However, once major repairs have been done and parts have been replaced, your vehicle will no longer be in that original state. The upside of this is that you can go ahead and upgrade the vehicle in any way you might like. Upgrades will generally increase the value of any vehicle. Examples of value-raising upgrades might include:

• New tires and/or rims
• A new paint job
• Better headlights
• Leather seats
• Spoilers, trim, running lights, and other cosmetic improvements
• Engine improvements or a better engine

 

3. Get An Appraisal

 

Most auto shops will be willing to appraise your vehicle for a small fee. This simply means that they will thoroughly check the vehicle for any problems. They will also take various factors into account to determine an approximate market value for the car. While an appraisal may not immediately raise your vehicle’s value, it will verify its existing value and help you to keep from getting “low-balled” when it’s time to negotiate the price with a potential buyer. In addition, the appraiser can probably suggest some effective ways to raise your vehicle’s value.

 

4. Documented Regular Maintenance

 

The condition of a car makes a huge difference in its value. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to verify the condition of some vehicles if the owner hasn’t kept good records. You should keep a record of every repair that is done on your vehicle, even if it’s just routine maintenance like changing a spark plug or changing the fluids. When it’s time to sell the car, you can show those documents to a potential buyer as proof that the car has been regularly maintained.

 

5. Add New Safety Features

 

Instead of upgrading your existing features, you can opt to add new ones. In particular, older cars usually won’t have the same safety features that you see on newer models. For some buyers, a thing like that can make a big difference. That’s why it can greatly increase the value of your car to equip it with better safety systems.

 

6. Get The Vehicle Detailed

Because we spend so much time inside of them, many vehicles have a tendency to get dirty. Whether it’s trash on the floorboard, spilled coffee in the console, or animal waste in the backseat, it needs to be cleaned. Stains and other such wear will reduce the car’s value without a doubt. Thankfully, these issues are easy to fix with a routine detailing job, which can raise the value by a moderate amount.

 

Conclusion

 

There is no reason to worry that collision repairs will kill your vehicle’s resale value. When things are handled in the appropriate way, you can keep those value reductions to a minimum. Using the methods on this list, you might even be able to increase the value beyond pre-accident levels. But, we hear you asking, “where can I find the best auto body shop near me?” The answer is Elmer’s Auto Body, as we specialize in helping car owners maintain the value of their vehicles. If you would like to know more, you can call us at (856) 218-0202.63

When your car has been involved in a collision, the damage will not always be obvious. Some things are extremely obvious (like a busted fender, for instance), but many other problems are less visible. In particular, issues with the vehicle’s electrical systems will not necessarily be plain to see. That is why every good collision repair begins (and ends) with a diagnostic scan.

 

How Does A Diagnostic Scan Work?

 

As in the medical field, the term “diagnostics” refers to the process of finding your problems so that they can be fixed. With all the computerization that is present in modern vehicles, a diagnostic scan is highly essential. Otherwise, it can be ridiculously hard to isolate and identify subtle issues.

Diagnostic scans work by using a special tool, technically called an “on-board diagnostic tool.” Yes, the name is highly self-explanatory, but that’s neither here nor there. This is a small device, about the size of a walkie-talkie, that can plug into a special port and scan the vehicle for any known problems. In most vehicles, this port is located under the steering column, but it varies by model.

When the tool is plugged in, it will take a couple of minutes to scan the car’s electronic control modules (ECM). These are small computers that are fed information by special sensors throughout the vehicle. In some cases, it may be necessary to repair one or more sensors and/or ECMs before an accurate diagnosis can be given. The diagnostic tool will display codes that correspond to specific problems.

 

How Does An ECM Work?

 

While older vehicles would often have a single ECM, modern vehicles have many. They might be located in the same area, but each of them is technically considered to be a separate computer. Here are the most common types of ECMs that you might find on a vehicle:

• Engine Control Unit- Controls the firing and timing of the engine, while also giving feedback
• Door Control Unit- Controls power doors and gives feedback on their condition
• Power Steering Control Unit- Controls the power steering system and reports any problems
• Powertrain Control Unit- Controls the transfer of force from the engine to the wheels, while also reading any issues
• Body Control Unit- Controls various secondary systems like wipers, air conditioning, etc.
• Transmission Control Unit- Controls the switching of gears in vehicles with automatic transmissions and reports any problems
• ABS Control Unit- Controls the brakes and gives feedback on their performance
• Airbag Control Unit- Controls the deployment of airbags and reads their status

There are others that might be present in your car, but we think you get the idea. Each of these ECMs relies on accurate feedback from their respective sensors, which they use to report codes to a diagnostic tool. Each of these is basically just a small computer that is designed for one specific job.

 

Pre-Collision Repair Scans and Post-Collision Repair Scans

 

Whenever you are having a collision repair job done, it is essential to do a pre-repair scan. Otherwise, the repair technician might not fix (or even notice) all of the existing problems. No one wants to pay for half a repair job, so that is not acceptable. Nearly all auto manufacturers recommend that a scan like this should be done before any collision repair. For repairs that are covered under a warranty, it is usually a requirement.

A post-collision scan is just as important. Otherwise, there is no opportunity to verify that the vehicle has been fixed. It will also verify that the mechanic did not create any new problems in the process of fixing the old ones. Some auto manufacturers have gone so far as to require all their certified mechanics to do pre-scans and post-scans on every vehicle of that particular brand.

For instance, GM now requires both of these types of scans whenever a collision has occurred. These guidelines also call for hands-on diagnostic work, but that doesn’t negate the need for scanning.

 

Can All Vehicles Be Scanned With On-Board Diagnostic Tools?

 

Unless you are talking about a particularly old vehicle, you should be able to plug in a diagnostic scanner and use it with no problem. EPA regulations mandate that all cars sold after January 1, 1996, must have on-board diagnostic systems so that they will be compatible with such tools. If your car is any older than that, you should probably go to a mechanic who specializes in antique vehicles. These regulations were first introduced in 1994 but did not become fully mandatory until 1996.

 

How Much Do Repair Shops Charge For Pre/Post Collision Scans?

 

This will vary somewhat according to the repair shop in question. All mechanics and shops have an hourly labor rate, about which you can ask. Many shops just charge according to the time taken for the scan. Some others, however, charge a flat rate for each scan performed. Talk to your repair shop to find out the specifics of this matter. So, after you ask yourself: “what is the best auto body shop near me?, the next question to answer is: “How much will they charge me for a scan?”

 

Conclusion

 

Modern automotive repair is a much more high-tech process than it was in the past. Without proper diagnostic tools, every repair job becomes much more difficult. With these tools, labor costs should be reduced. When the mechanic doesn’t have to take the time to diagnose every problem physically, it creates faster and more efficient service for all. If you would like to know more about this subject, you can call Elmer’s Auto Body at (856) 218-0202. If you need the best South Jersey auto body shop, you cannot go wrong with us.