Category: Collision Repair

Facts vs Myth: DIY Ways On How To Get Dents Out Of Your Car

Car dents can seem to appear from nowhere. In some cases, you know what happened, like when your son opened the back door too fast and hit the parking meter on the sidewalk or your daughter rode her bicycle into the driver’s side door when she wasn’t paying attention. But what about that mysterious ding on the front fender that wasn’t there when you went into the mall? Did a grocery cart roll into the back door last week? Who sat on the hood and made the indent near the grill? A quick search online will give you many options for fixing dents themselves. Learn whether these tips are fact or fiction.

Hair Dryer and Compressed Air

One method described online is describes using a hair dryer to heat up the dent until it is too hot to touch and then quickly cooling it with compressed air. This method will not work on modern cars as most use a combination of metal and plastic on side panels and bumpers. A hair dryer cannot create enough heat to soften the metal and allow it to pop into place.

Wet Sponge and Plunger

According to online sources, you can drench the dent with a wet sponge soaked with water then use a cup plunger over the dent and apply pressure to pop the dent. Surprisingly, this method actually works on rounded dents and smaller dings. Applying a small amount of heat to the metal and then using the plunger may also work.

Suction Tools

Small suction tools can be purchased online for under $10 but some online sources claim you can use almost any type of suction tool, including a GoPro camera mount. This process works similar to the plunger, suggesting that you wet the surface and apply the tool. Like the plunger tip, this process can also work for small dents or dings.

Dry Ice

Internet sources claim that dry ice, which is frozen carbon dioxide, can be used to fix a dent. Heat the dent until it is too hot to touch. Protect your hands with gloves and wrap the dry ice in a towel. Rub the dry ice on the dent for about 15 minutes and the dent will pop into place. This is false information. Even if the dent appears to improve, as soon as the area returns to the outside temperature, it will reappear again.

Boiling Water

If you have discovered a dent in your plastic bumper, one internet method suggests pouring boiling water on the dent and surrounding area. You then reach under the bumper and push the dent out with your hands. This method actually works as the hot water softens the plastic so it can be pushed back into place.

The bottom line is that, although you may be able to repair a small dent yourself, some of these methods can actually cause more damage to your car. The surface can be damaged and mini creases can appear in the area surrounding the dent. Instead, schedule an appointment with Elmer’s Auto Body by calling or filling out the easy form online to have your dent repaired professionally and correctly.

What Is Frame Damage on a Car?

What Is Structural Damage On A Car?

Much like the human body, an automobile has a skeleton that supports its weight. This skeleton is commonly called the frame, and it is also used to protect the driver in the event of an injury. This is why a car frame is always made of steel that is both solid and strong.

Anything else would be unsafe and would probably not be able to survive an accident of any consequence. Unfortunately, even a solid steel frame can be broken if the trauma is great enough. In this article, we will examine this problem and attempt to give you an idea of what is going on and what you can do to correct the problem.

The Two Types Of Car Frames:

There are a number of different ways in which a car frame might be designed, but you don’t need to be familiar with all of them. All you need to know is the difference between the two most common types.

Unibody Frame

This is by far the most common type of vehicle frame for cars. A unibody is a combination of frame and body. There are several reasons why most of the industry has now switched to unibody frames.

One reason is the ease of manufacture. These frames are much easier to mass-produce because they are fitted together in pre-formed pieces. In addition, they provide a level of reinforcement that other vehicles cannot match. In a series of crash tests, unibody SUVs were found to lower the risk of death for both driver and passengers.

These unibodies are the reason that most outer car bodies are no longer made of steel. With a strong unibody frame inside the outer frame, the metal shell is no longer necessary. Also, unibody frames are usually lighter than body-on-frame models, allowing for greater fuel efficiency. Here is a good example of a unibody frame for easy reference.

There are two downsides that come with this frame type. First, they cannot handle as much weight as the traditional frame-on-body design. Second, unibody frames are much more difficult to repair if they become damaged.

Body-On-Frame

These types of frames are still very popular on larger vehicles like trucks and buses, as well as some SUVs. This is done for several reasons. For one thing, it’s not a good idea to fool around with designs that have long been proven to be effective. More importantly, a traditional frame can handle a bit more weight. That’s a very important factor when designing a truck or bus. Most people seem to agree that these types of frames are better for work.

At the same time, these simpler designs are usually easier to repair than a unibody frame. WIth a simpler kind of design, it is far easier to remove and replace a single section. When repairing a unibody frame, it is more difficult to replace a single section without compromising an entire side.

As we showed earlier, these frames do not tend to provide the same level of crash protection. However, the material of the outer body is also of some importance. A body-on-frame should be safe enough if the body is made of steel rather than composite material.

What Can I Do About This Problem?

If you have frame damage to your car, there is no doubt that you have a serious problem. In most cases, it will probably be cheaper to buy a new car than to replace the frame. However, some of this will depend on the type of frame involved and the degree of damage incurred. However, you should always start by getting estimates from various repair shops. Compare these prices to the cost of another vehicle before going any further.

The first thing you may be wondering is whether or not you can fix this problem yourself. Chances are, you cannot do so. While there are some very basic frame repairs that can be accomplished without special equipment and knowledge, the vast majority of these cases will require professional work.

If you are dealing with a rusting issue, you should strongly consider scrapping the vehicle. If the frame has reached a point where rust threatens any part of the frame, it is probably too far gone. You may only see one section that needs replacing at present, but there is probably more corrosion that you don’t see. The thick enamel coating on the steel (which is usually present) can hide a lot of rust damage.

The rusting issue can become much worse if you live by the coastline. Saltwater proximity leads to a higher level of salt in the air, and this has a harmful effect on steel support beams in general. While a thick coating can help, this problem will always be present.

Your biggest problem lies in the straightening of the frame. If the frame of your vehicle is bent by even a small amount, it can cause your car to drive crooked. If you’ve ever seen a vehicle that looked like it was driving sideways, it probably had a bent frame.

Another issue is that a repaired frame will never be as strong as it once was. This is mostly due to the fact that it is no longer a single piece. Even after being welded in place with the best methods known, there will always be a weak point that could cause catastrophic failure in the event of an accident.

In most cases, your best option would be to sell the car for whatever you can get. You can sell the entire thing to a scrap dealer, or (if you are mechanically inclined) you can take the car apart and sell it one part at a time. Frame repairs are only worth the money and trouble for cars that have a special value for one reason or another.

Conclusion

It should be obvious by now that frame damage is a very big problem. In many cases, it will mark the moment at which the car is officially shot. However, you should not rush to get rid of a car upon learning that it has some frame damage. Minor issues may well be treatable, so treat it like a loved one on life support. Save it if you can, but don’t prolong the inevitable.

Things that Damage Your Car’s Paint

When it comes to your car, one of the most common forms of damage (and thankfully one usually very reparable albeit at a cost), is to your paint job. Vehicle paint consists of various specialty formulae (they vary) and is applied through a very specialized set of processes that require professional training to wield properly.

Needless to say, over the over a century that vehicles have carried us about our hectic lives, there has been a lot of effort and science into creating durable paints that can stand up to the ravages of nature and damage afflicted by high-speed impacts with things like insects, debris and precipitation.

Unfortunately, no form of paint can be truly indestructible. Really, no form of anything can. You might be surprised at the things that can actually ruin your paint job. Some of them are things you’d think are temporary forms of “dirtiness” that merely require a loving wash to do away with. However, that is sadly not always the case.

In many instances, the longer these elements are present, the more damage they’re doing to your paint job, too. Knowing this, and the further danger to your vehicle’s longevity and resale value which can be brought about by compromised paint, it’s high time we look at five commonplace things that can cause serious damage to your paint.

Some of these may surprise you!

Tree Debris

On top of being a nuisance and a source of dirt, trees can do active damage to your paint job. Pollen usually only provides an annoying layer of crud to be washed off, but some breeds of this stuff can actually be abrasive, not unlike comet or some other granulated cleaning supply. This calls for caution and very gentle washing-away.

Furthermore, sap, which possesses sugars and organic acids, can eat away at your paint job as well. The acids are fairly obvious, eating at the enamel and base. The sugars can crystallize, resulting in the paint being pulled away when the sap is removed, or peeling as it expands and contracts from eating.

Acorns and other tree seeds/nuts can also act similarly to hail, causing dings or scratches that you really want to avoid. Avoid parking under trees, and keep your trees trimmed if at all possible.

Bird Droppings

Ah, the most infamous (and darkly-humorous) nemesis of a clean car – the bird dropping. Yes, we all know the woes of a freshly-washed car seeming to magnetically attract loaded avian nemeses. But, did you know that these droppings do more than just make your car dirty? Like tree sap, they contain acids, though these are quite a bit nastier than the ones coming from trees.

Originating in the digestive tracts of complex animals, these acids are designed to break pretty much anything down, and they will do precisely that to paint and metals alike. If a bird does what birds do, your aesthetic appreciation isn’t the only reason to wash it off immediately.

Bug Splatter

This one sits right next to bird droppings in the category of cliché problems for keeping cars clean, and is another “funny when it’s not you” situation. Bugs are usually a problem in the spring and summer and can be severe, depending on where you live.

Like bird droppings, bug splatter can actually cause damage to your paint job, due to organic acids being present. However, they can do more than this, because bugs are usually a high-energy impact. Anyone who’s had a bug hit their face on a motorcycle, or on an arm hanging from the window of a fast-moving vehicle can vouch for the fact it stings.

Most insects are actually fairly dense, rugged things that will also put dings or microscopic scratches into your paint, which will then be further exacerbated by that awful acidic organic soup.

Sunlight

Yes, even the sun is your car’s enemy. The sun doesn’t just put out warm light and heat. Considering that the sun, like all stars, is a massive, powerful nuclear reaction, spewing out intense radiation across the known spectrum. UV is one of the biggest offenders, and on top of causing sunburn and potentially cancer, UV can also fade and break down things like car paint.

To learn more about car paint care, and the forces stacked against you, fill out our contact form today.

Why Is My Car’s Paint Peeling?

Your car’s appearance is important to you, which is why you wash, wax and detail it on a regular basis. You apply touch-up paint to places where rocks may have caused scratches. Despite all your best efforts, you may have noticed some small areas where the paint seems to be peeling. Despite taking good care of your paint, other factors can lead to peeling paint on your car, a process known as delamination. If you don’t deal with the issue, your car could decrease in value.

Multiple Layers

Your vehicle has multiple layers on its surface. The first layer is primer which serves as a bases layer for the paint. It protects the metal and evens the surface so that paint adheres well. The next layer is the base coat. This consists of several layers which are applied carefully to give the car it’s unique coloring. Finally, a clear coat is added as a hard shell that keeps the car from rusting, a process known as oxidation, minor chips and scratches as well as to keep it protected from rain, snow, sleet, and other environmental issues.

Peeling Paint

When one or more of the layers stops binding to the surface below it, delamination can occur. If the primer stops adhering to the bare metal, the paint above it will begin to peel. This can lead to small circles of paint flaking from the surface of the car. There are two reasons why this could occur. If the factory made a mistake in the process or if a DIY paint job was not done correctly, there could be flaking. Chrysler, Ford and GM models manufactured in the late 1980s to mid-1990s experienced issues on the production line that led to premature paint delamination due to a problem in the factory. The second cause is a compromised paint seal due to a rock chip, ding or scratch. If the chip breaks through the paint seal, road salt and other contaminants can damage the paint.

Repairing Peeling Paint

The first thing is to determine the deepness of the peeled area. If the paint beneath the clear coat starts peeling badly, the problem is serious. You will want to address the affected area as quickly as possible. There is a possibility that the factory paint job was faulty. You will know this if the peeling is over the entire body. If the car was manufactured by GM, Chrysler or Ford in the early 1980s to mid-1990s, it may be a factory paint issue. The same is true if it was a DIY paint job. If either of these is the case, you will want to have the entire car repainted before the peeling gets significant.

If you have noticed peeling paint on your car, contact Elmer’s Auto Body today to schedule an appointment. You can do so by calling or filling out the easy form online.

Car Repairs: Independent Repair Shop vs. the Dealership

When it comes to many common service industries on which we all reply, we tend to have blanket terms for handfuls of related types. “Construction” is a severe generalization, for example. The same can be said for “mechanic”, as people so very loosely use this to describe an independent mechanic shop or the team at their vehicle brand’s local dealership.

Well, they provide the same basic problem solving and services at the end of things. Your vehicle is repaired/inspected/maintained by trained professionals and specialized equipment. However, there are vast differences in the customer experience between these, and both have their strengths and weaknesses.

This results in an awkward scenario where there’s no one right answer. So, let’s take a look at both independent mechanics and dealerships. Some of these will be obvious, but others might just surprise you. At the end of this, hopefully, we’ll have guided you a bit in the direction of which choice works best for you.

Independent Mechanics

Independent mechanics are by their nature, smaller establishments. There are exceptions, as a couple of chains of large mechanic businesses exist in the United States, though their experience is a strange halfway between independent mechanics and dealerships.

Your typical legitimate independent mechanic will generally be calling the shots, having no company to answer to. This provides advantages in a lot of ways, which we’ll get to in a moment.
The biggest overall description of an independent mechanic is “down to earth”, or “personal”, compared to the consumer-optimized, commercial service dealerships offer. However, independent mechanics do have their disadvantages as well. So, let’s look at their strengths and weaknesses in a little more detail.

Pros

• Independent mechanics can have their better nature appealed to. This means it’s possible to haggle or find an honest mechanic who can actually give you a reasonable but still practical price.
• It’s a more personal interaction across the board. You talk directly to the people working on your vehicle, and you can ask questions, interject with important things about your car people wouldn’t necessarily know. You can be a little more involved, at least on the outset, with an independent mechanic.
• They will have very broad experience, working on many different vehicles, solving many different kinds of problems. This means that no matter what your vehicle is, within reason, they can probably work on it. This is contrary to dealerships, as we’ll see soon.

Cons

• They will often be busy with a lot of disparate problems, meaning it may take them a little bit longer than dealerships may be.
• They may have to order parts for your vehicle.
• They may not have equipment dealerships have access too.
• You can run into some hustlers if you’re not quick on your feet.

Dealerships

A dealership is a different beast altogether. Dealerships aren’t just about service and repairs – that’s actually a secondary function for them at best. They exist to sell vehicles, so most of their resources are dedicated to just that.

However, they do have a dedicated mechanic staff, which specializes in your brand of vehicle, which has its advantages. However, you’re unlikely to talk to the mechanics, an associate playing middle man. It’s very neatly packaged sterile consumer service.

Pros

• They almost certainly won’t have to order parts if your car is a common model in their brand.
• They tend to have the latest equipment, and the best expertise if your vehicle qualifies.
• They do provide a more comfortable space to conduct business and, if needed, wait. You’ll get a decent enough cup of coffee, a clean, well-lit place to wait with air conditioning.
• If you’ve got a lease and/or warranty, some repairs may not cost you anything.

Cons

• Prices are fixed at these places. They’re beholden to corporate.
• You can’t engage the mechanics.
• Associates are required to try to upsell you on something while you’re around.
• They specialize, and depending on your vehicle, that may just make them not an option.

To learn more, fill out our contact form today!

Auto Body Shop vs. Auto Repair Shop: What’s The Difference?

When thinking about auto repairs, everyone associates all types of repairs with an auto mechanic shop. The truth is, this is a case of a general catch-all term, just like how people refer to all tissues as “Kleenex” or all sodas as “cokes”.

In all reality, there is a very distinct difference between a mechanic and an auto body shop. Not having a proper understanding of why they are different can lead to less than satisfactory results when you have repairs done on your vehicle. Not only will this result in a lot of list time and money on your part, but it unfairly paints both professions in a bad light at the end of the day.

What Mechanics Do

Contrary to popular belief, mechanics don’t specialize in the cosmetic aspects of a vehicle. Scratched paint, dents, broken windshields, busted bumpers and fenders – these aren’t their area of expertise.

No, mechanics actually work with, get ready for it, the mechanics of your vehicle. If you need systems checked, tune-ups completed, parts replaced, engine repairs done, or other mechanical system-related maintenance, mechanics are the ones to get the job done.

Should you be in an accident, mechanics should always be your first stop, so that critical operational systems can be inspected and repaired. Failure to ensure the safe and effective operation of the car’s mechanical systems could result in further damage being done.

What Auto Body Shops Do

Likewise, auto body shops do not specialize in mechanical systems. They do not inspect electrical systems, replace damaged engine components, work on brakes, do tune-ups or other system-related tasks.

Auto body repair shops have specialized tools and knowledge to do structural and cosmetic repairs crucial to keeping your vehicle presentable, safe and with a preserved resale value. If your vehicle’s paint is scratched, doors dented, bumpers/fenders are busted, glass is broken or panels are crumpled, they’re the ones to restore it to like-new condition.

Once a mechanic inspects and repairs functional systems in your vehicle following an accident, your next stop is to see these artists so they can make the car’s exterior match the repairs the mechanics did to the critical systems.

More than Meets the Eye

When deciding which profession you need to consult, consider the nature of the problem. Are you experiencing functional difficulties such as steering, electrical, brake, or engine problems? These are functional systems in which a mechanic can expertly diagnose and repair.

If the exterior shows damage of any sort aside from tires, this is a job for an auto body shop. They have the specialized skill and expertise to not just look at the visual damage, but other body problems that could result from the same incident. A crumpled bumper may be obvious, but minor damage to side panels etc. may be less apparent. A mechanic knows how to replace a bumper or panel, but won’t take the time to do a full body inspection and eliminate additional problems.

The Challenge of Painting

Painting is a difficult, involved process. Spraying paint requires a lot of preparation and skill. Mechanics don’t paint. It’s not cost-effective for them to dedicate the space to a paint repair area nor have skilled painters on hand when this isn’t their field.

Auto body shops continually handle these sorts of repairs and thus have the equipment, space, and talent to match paints and apply them.

Know Your Problem

As said earlier, it all comes down to knowing what type of problem needs fixing, and which business is dedicated to it. It doesn’t pertain to which is better at a given thing – they each specialize very strictly in a specific set of services at which they excel.

To learn more about the differences between Auto Body Shops and Auto Repair shops fill out the contact form today!