Keep Your Ride Looking Smooth

Potential Problems To Check After A Car Accident

15 January 2020 by Max Day

If you were involved in an accident with your car, many things could be affected in your vehicle. Taking the car into an auto repair shop is essential no matter how minor the accident was. The vehicle may be perfectly safe to drive, but some things need checking just to be sure.

Check the Steering and Suspension

The suspension is critical to proper handling, and if there is something broken or damaged under the car, driving any distance could be very unsafe. No matter where the vehicle was hit (front, rear, or side), having a technician or auto shop check the suspension system and the steering components in the front of the car should be a priority. 

Sometimes the suspension may look fine at a glance, but there could be a part bent under the car that is going to make the car hard to handle. Even harder to detect is a part that is bent and throwing the steering or suspension geometry off. Handling, tire wear, and suspension wear can all increase by driving your car with parts that are bent or broken.

Check the Fuel System

The fuel tank under the car may seem like it is okay at first, but after an impact, the tank can crack and start to leak. The fill tube or the vent line on top of the tank may become dislodged during the accident, as well. Both of these situations can allow gas vapor to escape the tank and build up under the car, creating a hazardous situation. 

Have an auto repair shop check the fuel system if you suspect there is a problem with it. If you smell gas anywhere near your car or notice even a small amount of fuel dripping under the vehicle, take the car into the shop. A leak in the fuel system is not overly difficult to fix, but not fixing it can create a fire hazard that is dangerous to you and others if the car is parked and leaking in a public garage or on the street. 

Check the Frame

Checking the frame or unibody of your car is vital after an accident. If the frame or unibody is bent, it can cause other parts of the vehicle to wear adversely. A bent frame will also throw off the alignment of the car and can make the car hard to handle. Sometimes, the car seems okay until you turn a corner or hit a bump in the road. 

A strange vibration, pulling to one side or the other, or wandering across the road lanes can indicate an alignment issue that should be assessed by an experienced auto repair shop with a frame machine and experience checking bent frames.  

To learn more about the services offered by auto shops, contact an auto shop in your area like Downtown Garage & Auto Body.  

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