Whenever a vehicle is manufactured, every component of the vehicle is designed and tested before being integrated into the production process. Here, every component undergoes a strict set of compliance measures and tests to ensure that it is in line with the performance standards of the industry. These parts are referred to as Original Equipment Manufacturer or OEM parts. Thus, whenever you have an accident, it is always best to ensure OEM replacement parts are used for the repair.

Here’s a list of why OEM replacement parts are important after an accident in Austin.

They Ensure Safety Going Forwards

When it comes to keeping yourself and your family safe, you always want to invest in the best. This goes for OEM replacement parts as well. While they may cost a little more, they’re surely worth the investment.

Aftermarket parts are definitely easier to find and quite cheap too, but they come with the risk of possible failure. So, it’s best to make the wiser decision and look at the long-term benefits first. Making this assessment is important to keep your vehicle in fine condition and ensure safety for all.

OEM Parts Are Designed For Your Vehicle

OEM parts are designed and manufactured using the same materials and elements that were used during the initial production of the vehicle. This means that they are of the most top-notch quality and made according to industry standards. They fit right into your car’s structural specifications – this is exactly what you want for your car after a crash.

They Come With A Warranty

Austin OEM replacement parts come with a minimum one-year warranty. Thus, if any of the parts become faulty or show signs of wear and tear, you can easily have them replaced right away. With aftermarket parts, you will have to have to pay the full price for a new replacement altogether.

OEM Parts Enhance The Operational Life Of Your Vehicle

Since OEM replacement parts are compatible with your vehicle, they’re sure to improve the performance and operational life of your car. Ensuring the durability and longevity of your car going forward is what you want to focus on here, and OEM replacement parts aim to do just that!

All in all, you want to avoid opting for any aftermarket parts for repair after a car crash in Austin. In addition, it is important to be wary of the fact that most service providers seek to take advantage of vulnerable customers after a car crash. They do this by offering aftermarket parts at a high price. They resemble OEM replacement parts and can easily pass as being the original product. Thus, you want to be proactive and ask for the warranty card and certification documents before closing in on the deal. You’re going to be glad you did this in the long run.

1. Run a Battery Check

If you are someone who rarely drives their car, you should know that the inactivity of your vehicle can degrade its battery or, in simpler words, flatten it. In such cases, use a trickle charger or battery conditioner to keep your Austin car’s battery topped up even if parked in the garage for an extended period.

If your vehicle’s battery goes flat, having to jump start it can put extra pressure on the battery, which can ultimately damage delicate electronics and the engine management system. Therefore, for better battery life, you should drive it at least once or twice a week.

2. Get the Filters Changed Regularly

Over time and usage, your car’s air and oil filters can get clogged due to debris and residue, which can ultimately result in reduced engine efficiency. Thus, you must keep an eye on the engine light while driving and get the filters checked and replaced whenever required.

Getting an air filter swap during your regular car maintenance will keep you on the safe side and save you from future Austin vehicle maintenance costs. You can also increase the life of the filters by washing them according to the rules and regulations mentioned in the owner’s manual.

3. Replace the Leads and Spark Plugs

As vehicle models get more compact and complicated with time, automotive owners have come to do their own servicing. However, replacing high-tension leads and spark plugs is still something that you can easily do yourself. All you need to do is consult the vehicle owner’s manual and stick to the steps throughout replacement process of the spark plugs and leads. Therefore, when inspecting your vehicle’s spark plug, check if it shows:

• Signs of melting.
• Signs of deposits or wear.
• A dark-colored insulator and electrode.

If any of the aforementioned signs are present, the spark plugs need to be replaced before they cause further engine damage. However, suppose you have recently renewed your vehicle’s spark plug and see a gap between the insulator and electrode or cracks on the light-brown lead. In that case, it can indicate an underperforming engine. In such a scenario, you should get the engine of your car checked by a certified professional in Austin as soon as possible.

4. Perform Regular Fluid Checks

Like your body, fluids are the lifeblood of your automotive, so failure to replenish them might have irreversible consequences. Therefore, for proper car maintenance, you should check the engine oil once a week. You can do this in the following steps:

• Park your vehicle on a plain surface (ground level).
• Open the hood and remove the dipstick.
• Wipe the dipstick before you place it inside the engine fluid box.
• Pull it out to see the marking of the oil. It should ideally be a light, yellowish-brown color and in between the maximum and minimum markers.

However, if your vehicle has a diesel engine, then dark-colored engine oil isn’t concerning as it can result from the combustion process. Moreover, you should also check the windscreen washer and the coolant reservoir as, ideally, it should contain 50% antifreeze and 50% distilled water. Also, always use vehicle screen washers as normal washing-up liquids can damage the paintwork of your car.

5. Check Your Tires

Tires are your vehicle’s most used and most significant safety feature. Therefore, use a tire-pressure gauge once a month or before going on a long road trip, to check the inflation of each tire (including the spare), as under-inflated tires will increase fuel consumption which will affect your vehicle’s overall mileage and performance. Topping up the tires with the recommended air pressure in the owner’s manual will improve their life span by making sure they stay in great condition.

The tire pressure of the front and rear tires will always be different. Hence, you should get the tires rotated (swapping the rear ones to the front, and vice versa) every six months to even out wear and increase their lifespan.

6. Drive with Care

The smoother you drive your car in Austin, the better it will hold up over time. Although over-speeding can be very hard on your vehicle’s engine, the quick shifts between acceleration and deceleration can result in dire consequences. Therefore, for efficient car maintenance, it is suggested to follow some of the following rules while driving:

Avoid taking sharp corner turns as they can be aggressive on the tires.
Avoid putting extra weight on your vehicle, such as roof racks.
Don’t be too hard when stepping on the brakes, accelerator, and clutch.

7. Stick to the Service Schedule

Regular service checks are essential to keep your vehicle in top-notch condition. The service intervals of cars are either based on miles driven or the time of usage. According to car maintenance experts, you should get your vehicle serviced every 10,000 miles or once a year. Keep an eye on the dashboard and follow the owner’s manual to get your car serviced whenever required.

Scratches and Dings

Small scratches are pretty common when your car is in the parking lot or generally left unattended. But a deep scratch that affects the clear coat and paint of the car needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Deep scratches allow moisture to get under the paint and eventually cause rust and other damage to the car’s body.

Small dents or door dings on your Chevy vehicle are unappealing to the eye but don’t usually cause further damage to the car. It’s your call if you would like to get it repaired or not in Austin. If you ever plan on selling your car, it is recommended to get it repaired to avoid depreciation of the vehicle’s value. Whenever you do get repairs done, only go to a professional body shop that has the required experience.

Rust Repair

Rust can be caused due to salt in the air if you live near the beach, long-term exposure to the elements, or any damage such as scratches that were not repaired immediately. It is a long process to remove rust from the car effectively to make sure it does not return. The car is often disassembled to reach the rust on the affected part to get rid of it completely.

The extent of the rust is often not visible till the Chevy repair work has already begun. The affected area might start to grow in size once the paint and rust are removed. If this is the case, a good Austin body shop would contact you and confirm how much repair you would like done on the car.

Collision Repair

Collisions are more common than expected in passenger vehicles. After an accident, a car needs to be repaired correctly, or the driver might be at risk. At first glance, the damage might look minor, like just a damaged front end. More often than not, the frame or body might sustain some damage that is not visible to you.

Frame Straightening

In modern Chevy cars, the frame and the body act as one unit. The frame rails are now made of metal sheets in newer cars and welded to the bottom of the vehicle. Because of this design, the car can be easily damaged, even from a minor crash. A major collision could cause the entire car to be twisted and damaged or cause premature wear to other parts over time.

Our Austin Auto body shop has the equipment to assess the body and frame of the car and make sure they are both aligned. A good mechanic would be able to measure your car with a laser and a computer to check whether your car’s body and frame have a high tolerance. If you ever do suspect that the frame or body is out of alignment, you should get it checked.

Functions No Longer Work

If there are certain features in your car that are no longer functional, like problems opening your hood or flickering lights, you could get a ticket. All features like lights, headlights, taillights, and turn signals must be in working order if you are taking your car out at night. To avoid a ticket on your permanent record, take your car to the shop immediately after you notice an issue.

Resale Value

If you plan on selling your Chevy vehicle in Austin, you need to take it for auto body repair. Damage to the car could really affect the car’s resale value. The money spent on repairs is often much lower than the amount docked off your vehicle because of the damage.

State Inspection

At the time of inspection of a vehicle in Texas, a checklist is used. If any of the items mentioned on that checklist are damaged, such as a mirror or the lights, your car will not pass the inspection till the damage is fixed. If you delay repairs and don’t pass your inspection, your registration renewal could be delayed. In this case, you could be issued a ticket for expired registration. You could have used that money for auto body repair. To avoid this hassle and future regrets, do not delay any repairs needed on your vehicle.

Among the most common issues Tesla owners have faced relates to the cars’ battery or battery warranty. In some cases, Tesla batteries are reported to have stopped working and demonstrating lower working capacity. Many drivers have complained that their battery stopped working when the temperature dropped.

Memory Failure – Tesla cars feature a main screen referred to as the media control unit (MCU) that provides a lot of information about the vehicle and other aspects tied to its usage. The MCU system relies on eMMc Flash memory, which can be quickly and easily updated. However, the extensive updating of the flash memory can cause the system to fail, leaving the entire MCU useless.

Heating Failure in MX and MS Models – Many customers have noticed the heating element malfunctions in Tesla vehicles. Instances of heating failure have been more common in MX and MS models than in others. Vehicle owners explained that they heard a loud, pop-like noise from the heating cabin, after which the heating stopped.

Cracking Glass in Model 3 – One of the major issues seen in Tesla’s Model 3 (M3) is the tendency of the glass to crack easily. According to car owners, Tesla M3’s rear glass is quite fragile and they had to get the glass repaired three to four times in a row.

Suspension Problems – The heavy Tesla cars are also known to punish the suspension. The worst one being that the front suspension would pop apart and collapse when on full lock and reverse. Although Tesla argues that drivers may have hit a pothole or damaged the suspension in other ways, the complaint is quite common.

What you should do is avoid reverse and full lock whenever possible, especially when it’s extremely cold and the suspension bushes are more brittle and cold. If you face the suspension issue stated above, bring your car to a reliable Tesla service shop like Covert Collision in Austin.

Door Handle for Model S – Tesla Model S is believed to have a problematic handle. Car owners claim that the handles aren’t durable and are of low quality. Many customers said that they had to get them replaced a number of times. When pulled, the handles wouldn’t open and required the person to make more attempts before opening.

Covert Collision auto body shop is your top Austin wheel repair solution that promises to address all sorts of wheel repair issues. We repair minor and major chips, scratches, curb rash damage, pothole bends on the inside or outside of wheels. All you need to do is bring your car to our certified auto body technicians.

Here are some of most common wheel issues to look out for:

• Bulging and Cracking – Upon hitting a curb or pothole, bulges and cracks may appear on your tires, which can in turn damage the sidewall of the tires. The chances of this problem are greater when your wheels are over- or under-inflated. Since the only viable solution is to get the affected tire replaced, so it’s best to drive carefully to avoid the problem in the first place.
• Wheel Misalignment – A wheel that’s worn more on one side than the other, a condition called camber wear, might be misaligned. This could be a result of general wear and tear, the adjustment you made to the vehicle’s height, or hitting a curb. If not timely fixed, a misaligned tire will reduce its grip and traction on the roads. Depending on how severe the wear is, you’ll need to either get the tire refitted or replaced. Technicians at Covert Collision in Austin will determine the right solution and implement it in no time!
• Emergency Brake Damage – No matter how safely you drive, there are times when emergency braking becomes inevitable. When you apply the brakes in an attempt to bring your fast-running vehicle to an instant halt, the specific area of your tire that rubbed against the road sustains spontaneous wear. If left for too long, the damage can ultimately obscure vehicle handling. Thus, if you recently had to make an emergency stop, get your tires inspected for any serious wear.
• Over- and Under-Inflation – Over-inflated tires find it difficult to maintain contact and grip on the road. As the problem exacerbates, they won’t perform safely. Plus, exerting more pressure on over-inflated tires shortens their lifespan. One effective way to track whether your tire is over-inflated is to examine its wear patterns. If the center of the tires appear more worn down than the sides, it’s over-inflated. Under-inflated tires, on the other hand, increases the likelihood of punctures and make you’re the tires more prone to general wear and tear. Plus, it may increase the risk of understeer, paving the way for collisions. You may experience difficulty performing precise maneuvers and face poor handling. To determine whether your tire is under-inflated, monitor its air pressure and have it inflated or deflated from a local auto shop.
• Punctures and Cuts – Tire punctures and cuts typically result from road hazards, which is why they have nothing to do with driving style. A tiny needle or piece of broken glass on the road is all it takes to cause a puncture or cut on the tire. One great strategy to protect your tires from these is to keep your tires adequately inflated at all times.
• General Wear and Tear – Even in a perfect world where all drivers drive safely and there aren’t any potholes on the road, every running vehicle will sustain general wear and tear. The legal limit for tires’ treat depth is 1.6mm. Anything below this limit will make it illegal for you to drive.
  You shouldn’t wait for your tires to reach this level before replacing them because it’s the absolute minimum level. Get them replaced before the tread depth hit this level. This way, you’ll be driving safe on roads without compromising on grip and performance.

Paintless dent repair restores a vehicle to its original condition in a safe and eco-friendly manner. PDR is not only used to remove dents and dings from vehicles, but also to repair any damage caused naturally by toxins in the environment.

• Situation Assessment: The dents are identified and through their size, the degree of damage is assessed. Whether or not paintless dent removal can be used to undo the damage is also determined.
• Dent Assessment: Often the auto body technicians would have to assess the dent from the other side which would require the removal of panels and other exterior parts of the car.
• Analyze the Dent: Like a surgeon would view an affected area up close, a technician would do the same with the dent and get a better view while formulating an action plan.
• Remove the Dent: Finally, the technician would use specialized tools to apply pressure on the interior of the dent and “massage” it out.

After minor accidents, we often skip car accident repair assuming we don’t need it as it is nothing major. However, if we continue driving a damaged car, it could lead to dire consequences.

A minor fender bender might be hiding greater damage so you need to visit a body shop to get the damage assessed and repaired immediately. A good Austin auto body repair shop should offer repairs like towing, denting, structural repairs, paint jobs, and frame repairs or replacements. Covert Collision in Austin is your local body shop that offers all of these premium services, and more.

The consequences of not contacting your body shop immediately are as follows:

• Safety: You are compromising your safety and that of others around you even if you experienced a minor parking lot bump. To the naked eye, the damage might appear small but a professional would be able to assess the actual damage. There could be internal damages caused by the impact which could create problems for you in the future.
• Further Damage Prevention: Basic dents and scratches on the outside don’t mean there can’t be underlying damages. There could be brake issues, problems with the steering wheel or heating problems post impact that only a professional can detect. If you overlook these issues and delay repairs, these issues might escalate and end up costing you even more.
• Covered by Insurance: If your car’s loan isn’t paid off completely yet, the state of Texas requires you to get a comprehensive damage assessment done. This policy also expresses the importance of getting repairs immediately if you want to keep your coverage. Insurance companies do not offer extra coverage if you have delayed repairs on your car or have not been keeping it up to date.
• Your Car’s Value: If your car was paid for in cash or if your loan has been paid off, you could put your car’s value at risk if you do not seek immediate attention for your collision and auto body repair services. Or if you decide to sell the car without repairs, you might not be getting the best price for your car. Used vehicles are easily sold but nobody would choose to buy a damaged and faulty car.

Getting your vehicle looked at immediately after a major or minor accident is very important as it prevents any further damages to your vehicle while keeping you safe.

Some things like running over a nail, or a battery dying for no specific reason, or the engine breaking down always happen out of the blue and you cannot be prepared for it irrespective of how particular you are with your vehicle’s inspection.

Towing companies are called in the case of several roadway incidents. Here are a few incidents when you can ask for help:

• Your vehicle breaking down (overheating, battery dying, running out of gas, flat tire)
• Your vehicle colliding with another vehicle, a fixed object, an animal, or a pedestrian
• Your vehicle running off the road
• Load Shift; cargo on the roadway
• Your car simply won’t start

1.     Thorough Research

Following an accident, you might be tempted to opt for your insurance company’s recommended auto body shop. However, your insurance company might not have the best repair partners, in terms of experience, expertise, or equipment. Or, the body shop might be across town, making it difficult for you to keep track of progress. So, take your time to find better options near you to return your car to its pre-accident state.

2.     Recommendations from Friends, Family, Or Colleagues

You most likely have people in your social circle, including friends, family, and colleagues, who have been in accidents before. Ask them for body shop recommendations in Austin on social media or call. If they rave about a particular shop in your area, you should check it out for more information and a quote. However, this doesn’t mean you should stop looking into other options.

3.     Look for Certified Technicians

This is perhaps the most important tip in learning how to find the right auto body shop in Texas. Many body shops employ highly-trained, I-Car certified professionals that can work with multiple manufacturer vehicles. Meanwhile, some specialize in individual makes and models. For instance, a certified Ford or GMC body shop will proudly show off these certifications on their employees’ uniforms, packaging, and websites. Certified auto body shops also have better tools and equipment at their disposal, meaning they can do a much better job, in terms of quality and time.

4.     Compare Prices

Just because your insurance is paying the bills doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to minimize the costs. Always ask for an estimate from different auto body shops in Austin, either by visiting, calling, or chatting. More importantly, ask about the estimated repair time, since you’ll need the car to be ready for work or other priorities. The last thing you need is to have your car stay in a shop for weeks.

5.     Read Online Reviews

Social media and sites like Autotrader and Yelp are excellent places to find authentic customer reviews. Find out what people are saying about the body shops you’re interested in. Many customers even share before and after services pictures or videos with detailed descriptions of the work and quality of service.

When you’re trying to find a quality auto body shop, reviews are an excellent resource. Take the time to visit some trusted online sources and get a sense of what other customers are saying. Oftentimes, you’ll be able to find before-and-after pictures and detailed descriptions of the work that was done, costs, waiting time, and the level of professionalism the customer experienced from the shop.

6.     Ask Questions

Whether you’re on a call with customer support or visiting a body shop in person, don’t hold back on any questions you need to ask. Professional technicians and a highly-trained staff should provide you answers to all your questions, no matter how basic or complex. Feel free to ask about written estimates, warranties, insurance, paperwork, estimate process, certifications, payment policies, and expected turnaround time, etc.

7.     Trust Your Instinct

No matter how great an auto body shop is on paper, if you feel any doubt, always follow your instinct. Getting a good vibe from the technicians fixing your car is crucial. If you find anything shady, take your car to another body shop right away.

1.     Fixing Body Damage Requires Professional Intervention

It takes a lot more than some hot water and a strong hand to pull out a dent. Auto body repair is a complicated process that requires professional intervention and specialized tools. Even if you have a garage full of specialized tools, such as dent pullers and pain guns, you’ll still need the experience to successfully do the repair job, unless you’re willing to experiment.

2.     Lack of Proper Tools and Equipment

Even the most straightforward repair jobs require essential tools and equipment, which are not cheap to procure. Many car owners only have a basic toolset that comes with a car jack, screwdrivers, spanners, and breaker bar, etc. Meanwhile, auto body workshops pack more advanced tools and equipment that they use for daily operations.

3.     More Time Consuming

DIY auto body repairs are extremely time-consuming, especially for amateurs who are learning on the job. Unless you don’t have other priorities, you should leave the repairs to professionals who can take your car apart and put it back together faster than you could change a flat tire.

4.     Health Concerns

Taking the DIY route to fix your car is potentially dangerous, especially if the repair involves welding, drilling, cutting, and painting. Hazards include paint fumes, airborne particles, carbon monoxide, fiberglass resin fumes, hot metal, etc. As a result, you’ll need to proactively procure proper safety equipment, such as safety goggles and an approved respirator.  

5.     Inferior Results

When it comes to car repairs, it all falls to expertise, experience, and equipment. The best auto body shops in Austin have decades of experience in dealing with minor fender benders and major collisions, meaning they can do a much better job than you can, quicker and cheaper. When taking the DIY route, you’ll be investing in tools and supplies, which will only add to the cost. Unless you’ve done this before many times, it’s unlikely you’ll have enough practice for a perfect finish.

6.     Damaged Vehicle Prepping is Challenging

There’s more to fixing a damaged bumper or side panel than disassembling and refitting. It requires a lot of prep work before you can install new parts. For instance, before a paint job, you need to remove all the dust particles from the surface to avoid paint scraping off over time.

7.     No Controlled Environment

Many car owners think they can carry out any type of repairs in their garage or driveway. With this approach, you’re bound to make several mistakes and risk further damage. By opting for an auto body shop, not only do you get a controlled environment with proper tools and equipment, but you also deal with less dust, dirt, and harmful chemicals.