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Almost half of all traffic accidents are rear-end collisions. Some accident damage is clearly visible, such as a broken taillight or a dented bumper. Other damage can remain hidden until a more thorough inspection of the vehicle is conducted.

Buried Bumper Damage

Those familiar with the internal structure of vehicles, including people who work in auto body repair Denver CO, understand where to look for hidden damage. One of those areas is the bumper.

The purpose of a bumper is to prevent or lessen the damage to the front or back of the vehicle. It can be made of many types of material, but underneath the bumper is material designed to absorb the energy created during an accident.

Even if the bumper appears to have minor or no damage on the surface, there can be significant damage underneath. When impaired, the material is no longer able to absorb energy from future accidents and could result in more severe damage.

A Bent Frame

Damage to the bumper can also result in damage to the vehicle frame. The frame can be bent, even in minor accidents, and that damage is not visible to the naked eye. Inspection of the structure by trained professionals is important to determine any underlying damage.

A bent frame may not be able to hold up to future accidents, particularly high-impact collisions. Safety features such as airbags, cameras and warning sensors may malfunction as well since they rely on alignment.

Loose Wires and Troublesome Trunks

Any type of collision may cause electrical wires to loosen, resulting in limited battery life and malfunctioning speakers and rear operating lights. The trunk may become difficult to open, or it may open up without warning. There is also a possibility that the trunk could lose its watertight seal or the ability to stay locked, potentially causing a myriad of other issues.

Vehicle safety is important to drivers and passengers alike. Professionals trained to find hidden damage after an accident can help preserve safety.

In the realm of natural disasters, hail is probably one of the most overlooked until you experience a storm for yourself. Hail can range in width from pebble-sized all the way to softball-sized in rare events. Depending on the wind, even small hail can wreck havoc especially on your vehicle. When it comes to hail damage, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Your Car in a Hail Storm

Hail is formed during a thunderstorm when drafts blow rain up to a colder elevation where it freezes before it falls. If you’re caught in a storm while on the road, there’s little you can do unless you can get your car under cover immediately. The blemishes that hail causes to a car’s finish can be devastating. You’ll need expert hail damage repair Denver CO to safely remove the dents and dings.

A Smashed Windshield

Your car’s finish isn’t the only thing that can be destroyed in a hail storm. If hail is large and conditions are right, you could be looking at a cracked or completely destroyed windshield.

How to Prepare Your Car for Hail

Storms can come up quickly and your car is vulnerable if it sits outside. There are a few things you can store in your car in anticipation of the worst. Consider having a large blanket or a heavy-duty tarp in your trunk just in case. In a pinch, it might help save your car’s paint job.

Bodily Injury Done by Hail

While not common, hail can cause bodily harm. If large hail can break windshields, imagine what it can do to your skin. It’s always best to seek shelter when you see a storm headed your way.

The Sky Eventually Clears

Despite all the precautions you take against horrible weather, you can’t protect your car all the time. The important thing is to stay safe and consult the experts once the sky clears.

Transmissions can be costly to repair—sometimes repairing them can cost more than an older car is worth. This makes it incredibly important to be aware of any warning signs your car might be giving you. Here are some common transmission issues and how to spot them.

Dirty or Low Transmission Fluid

If you smell burning transmission fluid while driving your car, the transmission is likely overheating due to dirty or low levels of transmission fluid. Unlike oil, the levels of transmission fluid in your car should not diminish over time, so low levels likely mean a leak. If you catch it early, a leak can be a simple and relatively inexpensive transmission repair Lynnwood. Adding transmission fluid on your own, however, isn’t recommended, as it’s an involved process and adding too much fluid can cause even bigger problems for your car.

Worn Needle Bearings or Clutch

On automatic cars, the needle bearings keep the torque converter from grinding by reducing friction. If they’re worn or damaged they can cause overheating, grinding or revving sounds, transmission slipping or shuddering when the car is moving at higher speeds. A manual transmission’s clutch facilitates the movement of the drive shaft’s parts. A worn clutch can result in resistance and grinding sounds when shifting, delayed or struggling acceleration, and a spongy clutch.

Bad Transmission Pump

The transmission pump is a very important part, pumping transmission fluid through the transmission and allowing it to function. Like many other transmission issues, signs include strange noises, a burning smell since a failing pump may not be getting enough fluid to the entire transmission, and harsh shifting.

While it might be tempting to brush off warning signs like the occasional shudder, slipping gear or grinding sounds, doing so can cause a smaller problem to turn into a large one. This can mean costing yourself thousands of dollars or even totaling your car entirely. Getting these issues checked out early is the best way to save yourself money and ensure your car lasts for years to come.

The Subaru has become an extremely popular automobile make, particularly in the Atlantic Northeast, the Pacific Northwest and the Rocky Mountain states. They’re highly prized for their All-Wheel Drive systems, their fuel efficiency and their safety. If you’re a Colorado Subaru owner, and you want to make sure your car continues to function optimally, regular maintenance services and the occasional Subaru repair in Denver will be necessary.

Common Subaru IssuesNo wonder so many motorists love their Subarus: These cars are rugged, durable and dependable. From time to time, though, something may go wrong. Here are a few of the most common repair issues you may encounter if you own a Subaru:

• Joint issues: Because Subarus are engineered to be driven hard, they may develop joint issues, particularly joint issues that affect the front axle. If you begin to notice a clunking sound when you turn your steering wheel, bring your vehicle in for service as soon as you can. That clunking sound is an indication that your Subaru is handling differently, and that may affect its safety on the road.

CV joints on a Subaru can also be especially vulnerable. Subarus tend to be massive cars, and CV joints help transfer the transmission torque to the drive wheels so that the car will remain stable when it turns. If you start to hear a clicking noise when you turn, schedule an appointment with your mechanic as soon as possible.

• Air conditioning system: Broken A/C system O-rings are a common repair for Subaru owners. O-rings are inexpensive parts, and the fix itself is relatively easy. If you don’t attend to that repair right away, though, you run the risk of a refrigerant leak. Leaking refrigerant fluid can cause your A/C compressor to fail, and if that happens, you may need to replace your car’s entire A/C system. That can be a very expensive proposition.

• Oil: Subarus that were manufactured in 2013 and 2014 may consume more oil than other models. The company compensated for this issue by offering affected customers extended warranties, and the issue seems to have been resolved in newer models. Still, oil consumption may be something you want to keep an eye upon.