Certified Collision Center

One of the biggest misconceptions pertaining to autobody repair is that structural damage to the frame of your car cannot be repaired. While it can be costly to repair structural damage to your car, it can be fixed. An auto body frame machine plays a key role in helping to straighten out the structure or framework of your car. Read on to learn more about what an auto body frame machine is and how it works to fix structural damage that is caused by car accidents. 

What Is an Auto Body Frame Machine? 

An auto body frame machine is a piece of equipment that is used to repair damage to the inner frame and structure of your vehicle after a car accident. This helps to restore your car to its original shape when the force of an accident distorts the framework. It is estimated that approximately half of all accidents cause damage to the inner frame or structure of a car, meaning that half of all cars involved in accidents benefit from an auto body frame machine. 

How Does an Auto Body Frame Machine Work? 

A vehicle that is involved in an accident is placed on the platform of an auto body frame machine and secured firmly into place. It is imperative that the car not be able to move in any direction. Chains are then attached to the framework of the car where the damage is present. The auto body frame machine utilizes hydraulics to increase the tension on the chains slowly but steadily. This creates tension that pulls on the section of the inner frame or structure that has been damaged, pulling the frame back to its correct shape. Auto body frame machines utilize technology to measure the frame of the car as it is being adjusted, so the machine automatically stops when the measurements meet the manufacturer’s specifications for your car. 

Do All Cars Involved In An Accident Get Placed On a Frame Machine? 

Many cars that are involved in an accident do get placed on a frame machine. The frame machine can help to repair the damage, but it can also help to measure the body of your car, verifying whether any frame damage or structural damage has occurred. It can be hard for the human eye to visually see minor frame damage, so utilizing a machine helps an auto body repair shop determine without a doubt whether the damage is present or not. 

If you have been involved in a car accident, you should always bring your vehicle to an autobody repair shop. Structural damage may be hidden behind even minor dings and dents, and you may have no idea. Here at Certified Collision Center Autobody Repair Shop with locations in Tracy, Stockton, Manteca, Modesto, Lodi, South Sacramento, Oakdale, and Galt, our team can thoroughly assess the condition of your vehicle after an accident and get to work getting it back to its pre-accident state. Call us today to schedule an appointment to have your car inspected by our professionals. 

Airbags are designed to deploy when there is a major accident. The airbags are designed to save lives when major accidents occur. Fortunately, most people are involved in minor fender benders, and as such, the airbags typically do not deploy. However, if you have been involved in a major accident that deployed the airbags, you may have many questions. Here are a few of the frequently asked questions about airbag deployment and the answers. 

Can Airbags Be Used Again After an Accident? 

Airbags cannot be fixed or reused after an accident. When airbags were first introduced, there were some types of airbags that could be repaired. However, those airbags are no longer being installed in cars, and if you do have them, it is recommended that they not be repaired. After the airbags have been deployed, they need to be discarded. New airbags will need to be installed. 

Why Is the Airbag Sensor Light On Even though the Airbags Were Not Deployed? 

If an accident is severe, the airbag sensor light may come on, even though your airbags were not deployed. Unfortunately, this is a safety feature, and your car will not operate until the airbag sensor light has been reset. An auto body repair shop can ensure your airbags are still in working condition and reset the light. 

Is a Car Totaled If the Airbags Are Deployed? 

There is a common misconception out there that if your airbags are deployed, your car will automatically be totaled. The reason this myth is repeated is because many cars are totaled when the airbags have been deployed for two reasons. First, airbags are deployed during serious accidents, and serious accidents cause major damage to a car. Secondly, airbags can be expensive to replace. Replacing one airbag alone can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $6,0000. As such, that can increase the repair costs, and thus, increase the chances of your car being totaled. However, the airbags deploying does not automatically mean your car will be totaled. 

Can An Auto Body Repair Shop Replace Deployed Airbags? 

If your airbags were deployed, you may wonder who can replace the airbags. Collision repair shops and auto body repair shops are trained to replace vehicle damage after a car accident, including replacing deployed airbags. Additionally, most car dealerships have the skills and resources to properly replace airbags in your vehicle. 

If you were involved in a car accident and the airbag sensor was triggered or the airbags were actually deployed, you need an autobody repair shop who can reset the sensors and/or replace your car’s airbags, as well as fix any damage done to your car in the accident. Certified Collision Center Autobody Repair Shop with locations in Tracy, Stockton, Manteca, Modesto, Lodi, South Sacramento, Oakdale and Galt, can help with all of your post-accident needs. Reach out to us today to discuss how we can help get your car back to its pre-accident condition. 

If your car was involved in an accident that caused major damage to your car, your car may be totaled. Totaling a car is a term an insurance company uses when they are not going to pay to repair the car, and instead, are going to pay you the cash value of your car. There are a lot of misconceptions out there pertaining to totaling a car and how an insurance company decides whether or not to total a car. Here are the factors that are looked at when deciding whether or not to total a vehicle after an accident. 

Actual Cash Value Versus Cost of Repairs

One of the first things that are looked at when deciding whether to total a car is what the actual cash value of the car was pre-accident and what the cost of repairs are post-accident. Checking the Kelly Blue Book value of your car will give you a good idea as to what the actual cash value of your car was pre-accident. This is not the same as the actual cost to replace your car, which is where many people get confused. In the state of California, if repairs plus the scrap value of your car exceed the actual cash value of your car, your car will be totaled. 

If Your Car Can Be Made Safe Again

Another element that is looked at when deciding whether to total a car or not is whether the car can be made safe again. No amount of repairs can fix certain types of damage, including extensive damage to the structure of the car. This is often why cars that have had their airbags deployed are totaled. It is hard to repair a car after airbags have been deployed and it is unsafe to send them back on the road if the work is not completed. If the car is so damaged that it can not be made safe, your car will be totaled, regardless of the cost of repair or the value of your car. 

State Regulations Require the Car to Be Totaled

The state of California has specific regulations in regards to when a car should be totaled. Many of these regulations have to do with safety and environmental factors. There are specific types of damage that the state will not allow to be fixed on an automobile. If your car sustains this type of damage, the state requires that the vehicle be totaled, instead of being repaired. The insurance company has no choice but to total a car out due to state regulations if this occurs. 

If your car has been involved in a car accident, you need to bring your vehicle to an autobody repair shop, such as us here at Certified Collision Center Auto Body. We can help determine what repairs your car needs and prepare an estimate for an auto insurance company. By law, you are allowed to pick any licensed autobody repair center you want to complete work on your car. Turn to us to help you get your car back to its pre-accident condition. 

The sun can be extremely damaging to the paint on your car. Just like your skin can burn if it is not protected from the sun, your car’s paint can start to bubble, flake or peel. One of the common misconceptions is that paint damage only occurs on extremely hot days. However, it is ultraviolet rays from the sun that directly lead to fading and degradation of the paint, not heat. As such, if your car is in direct sunlight, paint damage can occur. Here are a few tips that can help you prevent sun damage to your car’s paint. 

Try to Park Your Car In Shaded Parking Spots

One of the best ways that you can prevent sun damage to your car’s paint is to try to park your vehicle in shaded parking spots when it is not in use. This includes a garage or a covered parking spot. If you cannot park your vehicle in a shaded spot, consider using a car cover that reflects the sun’s UV rays to protect your car. As you look for a shady place to park, a large, shade tree may seem like a shaded spot. However, bird droppings and sticks falling from the tree can damage your car, so you may want to avoid parking under them. 

Wash Your Car Frequently

Another way to minimize sun damage to your car’s paint is to wash your car frequently. Many outdoor elements, including pollutants and contaminants, can eat away at the clear coat on your car. This exposes your paint faster, and leaves you more susceptible to your paint fading or becoming damaged. It is recommended that you wash your car at least once every two weeks. If you live in a city with a lot of smog or it is allergy season and pollen is covering your car, you may need to wash your car more frequently. 

Have a Coating Applied to Your Car

The last thing that you can do to help prevent sun damage to your car’s paint is to have a coating applied to your car. There are different types of coatings that can be applied. You can have your car regularly waxed to help cover and coat the car. Or you can have a ceramic coating professionally applied to your vehicle to protect the paint. Both choices add another layer of protection between the sun and your car’s paint, helping to protect your car. Additionally, a coating also helps to protect against other types of paint damage, including damage caused by acidic bird droppings and even minor scratches.

Here at Certified Collision Center Autobody Repair, our autobody repair shop can help you prevent sun damage to your car’s paint job by applying coatings. If damage is already done, our team can help to fix and repair that damage. Visit one of our repair shops to let an expert take a look at your vehicle and determine the best course of action to prevent or correct sun damage to your car’s paint. 

Not everyone knows that you can replace the carpet in an automobile. Replacing the carpeting in an automobile is something that an autobody repair shop can help you with. Once the carpet for your vehicle has been ordered, installing it is a fairly easy and quick job. There are many reasons why the average person may want to consider replacing the carpet in their vehicle. Here are a few of those reasons. 

There Are Stains in the Carpet

One of the most common reasons why people want to replace the carpet in their car, truck, or SUV is because there are stains on the carpet that will not lift. Stains can negatively affect the value of your car and can make your car look dirty. Using floor mats can help minimize the chances of stains developing in the carpet, but staining can still occur. If you have stubborn stains on your carpet that just will not lift, replacing the carpet may be needed. 

The Car Was Involved in a Flood

Another reason why you may need to replace the carpet in an automobile is because the car was involved in a flood. Mold can begin to form in carpets within 24 hours. It is usually not possible to salvage carpets in cars after they have been soaked because there is a high risk that mold or mildew can begin to grow. Sitting in a car with mold can cause the same health hazards as living in a home with mold. Replacing the carpets helps to keep you and your passengers healthy. 

There Are Smells You Cannot Get Out of the Carpet

Removing stains from car carpet and upholstery is not always possible. You can use cleaning products and air freshening products, but sometimes a foul odor remains. If this is the case, replacing the carpet or upholstery that smells may be the only way to completely remove the odor. A professional can determine where the bad odor in your car is coming from and then help replace either the carpet or upholstery. 

The Carpet is Ripping

The final common reason why you may wish to replace the carpet in your car is because the carpet is starting to rip, tear or unravel. If your household carpet starts to unravel or tear, carpet repair may be performed to help salvage the carpet. Unfortunately, this is not something that is done with automotive carpeting. Replacing them is the only way to solve the issue of ripping, tearing, or unraveling the carpet. 

Replacing the carpet in your car can help you to maximize the value of your car, ensure your car looks its best, and ensure your car does not smell funky. If you are looking to replace the carpet inside of your vehicle, Certified Collision Center, an autobody repair center, can help you. Call one of our eight Central Valley locations today to get an estimate or to schedule an appointment. 

The number one reason why windshields need to be replaced is flying road debris has hit the windshield. But another common reason why windshields need to be replaced is due to auto glass pitting. Unless you have experienced problems before due to glass pitting, you may have no idea what this term means or why you should familiarize yourself with it. Here are a few frequently asked questions about auto glass pitting and the answers. 

What Is Auto Glass Pitting? 

Auto glass pitting is a condition that is caused by tiny particles blasting your windshield over and over, creating tiny pits or indents. Some of the items that can cause pitting include sand, dirt, and road salt. As such, individuals who drive on icy roads that are sanded or salted, those who drive on or near a sandy beach, or those who drive down dirt or gravel roads are more likely to experience auto glass pitting compared to individuals who do not encounter these conditions regularly. 

What Are the Dangers of Auto Glass Pitting? 

Auto glass pitting is problematic because it can be dangerous. When a windshield is pitted, it may be weakened. This decreases the structural integrity of the windshield and may cause it to shatter easier if you are in an accident or debris hits your windshield. Another problem associated with pitting is that the small pits can create distortion or glare. This can make it harder to see the road while you are driving, particularly if you are looking in the direction of the sun. 

Can Auto Glass Pitting Be Repaired? 

If the pits are positioned outside of your visual field on the windshield, they may be able to be polished or buffed out if they are minor. If the pitting is on your entire windshield or affects the visual field on your windshield, the windshield cannot be repaired. In this situation, replacing the windshield is the only option. An auto body technician can inspect your windshield and help you determine if repair or replacement is needed. 

How Do You Know If Your Windshield Has Been Affected By Auto Glass Pitting? 

There are a few different ways that you can tell that your windshield has been affected by pitting. First off, if items appear blurry or distorted out of your windshield, your windshield may be pitted. Secondly, if you notice your windshield wipers are smearing water instead of clearing the water, and you know that the windshield wipers are new and not damaged, your windshield may be pitted. Lastly, if you feel the exterior side of the windshield, you may actually feel the small pits, craters, or indents in your windshield. Your auto glass should feel smooth and your hand should easily glide over the windshield. 

If your windshield is pitted, you will likely need to replace your windshield. While you may not immediately think of bringing your car to an autobody repair shop for glass repairs, autobody repair centers frequently replace auto glass, including windshields. Here at Certified Collision Center, we can quickly replace your windshield. Call us to get an estimate or to schedule an appointment with us.