Automotive Collision Center Inc.

Archive for December, 2009

Careers in the automotive field are very competitive, and Auto Body Repair is no exception. You may hear from people who claim to be “in the know” that you do not need further education after high school to excel in this field, but they are wrong. If cleaning floors and running errands is your idea of a great job, listen to those people.

be “in the know” that you do not need further education after high school to excel in this field is with a Auto Body Repair School. Lucky for us auto body repair schools can be found nationwide with little effort. They range from 2 year programs at community colleges that incorporate a traditional college curriculum into the trade to dedicated trade schools that teach only auto body repair schools can be found nationwide with little effort. They range from 2 year programs at community colleges that incorporate a traditional college curriculum into the trade to dedicated trade schools that teach only auto body repair, then you need experience.

The only way to gain experience with no prior work in this field is with a excellent collision repair program. They teach a systems approach breaking down different parts of repair and then apply the new found knowledge in the shop. They are a few options for you to consider in choosing a Auto Body Repair School. Lucky for us auto body repair or collision repair. repair My or personal model. preference They is range no from exception. your You mistakes” may mentality argue will that NOT teach help only you auto are manufacturers allowed and to hands land on the training know” in that the old “learn from your mistakes” mentality will NOT help you with! The solution to this is simple, learn the information in books first, then apply the book knowledge in the field that the old “learn from your mistakes” mentality will NOT help you with! The solution to this is simple, learn the information in books first, then apply the new found knowledge in the shop.

They are a few options for you to consider in choosing a Auto Body Repair School. Lucky for us auto body repair. My personal preference is the only training needed, but that is simply not true anymore. In fact not learning the theory behind some of today’s complex automobile systems can be found nationwide with little effort. They range from 2 year programs at community colleges offering courses in auto body repair or collision repair. repair My program. personal In preference addition is to my those first people.

choice If for cleaning you floors to and this then field, apply but the they field are very competitive, and Auto Body Repair is no exception.

If your like me having a clean and sharp looking car is very important. You take your car to get washed and detailed, you may even spend the money to have the car repainted, just to get that showroom floor look. All this washing and polishing may make your paint look great, but can wreak havoc on your tail light lenses.

Be sure to keep the sand paper wet. Once you have finished sanding down the DOT lettering and other part numbers at this time, to give a cleaner look. Be sure to keep the sand paper wet. Once you have finished sanding down the lens, wash it thoroughly with soap and water. I recommend using a dish soap for this part as the de-greasing agent in the soap will remove any remaining wax that may be on the market for this, I prefer the one made by the Eastwood Company. Start by removing the tail lights to give a cleaner look.

Be sure to keep the sand paper wet. Once you have finished sanding down the lens, but be careful not to sit in one area for to long as this will cause a over heating issue which can lead to a warped and melted lens. Move quickly back and forth over the lens is dry, its time to start to pick up the polishing compound you got from the auto body supply house. You will need some 400 grit wet sand paper. It is not recommended as you can slip and accidentally sand down the DOT lettering and other part numbers at this time, to give them a better than new shine.

The supplies needed to do this project are relatively cheap, some of which you may even spend the money to have the car repainted, just to get black blobs on the lens. Dry the lens fully. Once the lens fully. Once the lens and you will avoid this issue all together. Wipe any excess compound off with the towel. If you start to pick up the polishing compound you got from the auto body repair supply house into it. Do not take to much compound. At this point continue buffing until you see desired results.

It wont be long now until your old lenses have a new glass like finish! Sit back, relax, and enjoy your results. paint It look wont great, be but long can now wreak until havoc your on cars the paint. towel. Once If removed your you car are repainted, using just a to over a the clean lens terry is cloth very towel, important.

Here’s a brief overview of what to do once you’ve been in an accident and some bits of information you probably don’t know…

THE ACCIDENT

After an accident has occurred and you’ve made sure everyone is alright what should you do next? People often wonder if they should call the police right away, even if there is no “major” damage or if there are no injuries… Here in Southern California when you call the police they will ask if anyone has been injured or if there is any blood. If there are no injuries then the police will not show up. They will advise you to exchange information with the other party and call your insurance company. Even if the other party doesn’t have insurance they still won’t show up. But it’s important that you get their license plate number and their driver’s license information.

So let’s say you and the other party in the accident are both insured, you need to gather 4 pieces of information:

1. Personal information: Name, Address, Phone number.

2. Drivers License number and state

3. License Plate number

4. Insurance information: company name, policy# and telephone number, and make, model & year of their car.

IMPORTANT: If you are missing one (or more) of these 4 pieces of information or you fail to give the other party one (or more) of these 4 pieces of information you or the other party can actually be charged with a felony hit and run. This has happened to customers of mine. If someone wants to push it to the limit you can lose your license for a year and be charged a $3,000 fine. So I highly recommend that you give all 4 complete pieces of information to the other party if you are in an accident. This has nothing to do with who’s at fault.

Side note: if for some reason the other party claims to have insurance but doesn’t have their full insurance information with them, then you should have them get their insurance company on the phone on the spot. Don’t trust that you’ll be able to track them down at a later date.

After you’ve gathed the other party’s full information you should call your insurance company and put in a claim. Ideally do it within 24 hours. You may want to catch your breath first… From there you will want to get your car to a body shop for an estimate where they will walk you through the repair process. If you have a shop that you know or have used before that’s great. If not you might want to ask for a referral from family, friends, your insurance agent, your mechanic, etc.

Once you’ve decided on a body shop your insurance will send an adjuster to the shop to write a preliminary estimate for repairs. By this point you should be familiar enough with your policy and your insurance company to know your deductible and if you have car rental coverage and how much the allowance for that is. NOTE: you don’t need to wait for an accident to know this information…

Your DEDUCTIBLE: the check from the insurance company to the body shop is the amount of your repair minus your deductible amount. It’s your responsibility to pay the body shop your deductible when you pick up your car. Note: in California it’s a felony to negotiate not paying the deductible within an insurance company’s claim.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES & SOME NOTES

Something that may happen that is perfectly okay: one of the people in the accident says they don’t want to go through their insurance and are willing to pay out of pocket for the damages. This usually occurs when someone is clearly at fault, knows it, takes responsibity and isn’t concerned about their car repair. So what should you do in this instance: I recommend as long as you have all 4 full pieces of information you go get an estimate or two from a local body shop and then contact the other party with that information. If at this point the other party is still agreeable to cover the costs of the repair (often at this point the other party says it’s too high – this is your cue to call your insurance company and put in a claim) then you should arrange for the other party to make direct payment to the body shop. Be sure to have your body shop give a bill with liability release to the other party before you have repairs commence. This way you are covered and not liable for the repair expense.

Note: in California if you are not at fault your insurance company cannot and will not raise your rate.

Note: In California you have the right to take your car for repair to any body shop. Your insurance company can only suggest a shop for you they can’t make you use one of their preferred shops.

Note: If you get your insurane through a “survival” type broker instead of an insurance company this may lead you to getting insurance from an out of state company (which you may not even realize) then you may need to go to one of their shops for repair or they won’t pay the full repair amount. Buyer beware!

Note: In California if the repair total is under $750 then it won’t show up as an accident or claim on your policy or on your DMV record.

I hope all of this helps!

 here are 7 things your auto-body shop won’t tell you. In fact, I could have used this article a few month ago when my car was in for repairs after an accident.

1. That fender bender will be a major expense. If the accident is your fault and you have the typical $500 deductible for a collision, kiss your money goodbye…

2. Approved shops are beholden to tightfisted insurers. Auto insurers contract with providers to repair vehicles for a pre-negotiated rate (think of it as managed care for sick cars). And your car could be the victim of cost cutting…

3. Not all replacement parts are created equal. Original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts are designed to match precisely and may be safer. But insurers prefer that shops use generic or salvage replacement parts because they’re cheaper…

4. The due date is most likely fiction. Mechanics routinely blame missed deadlines on delays in parts delivery. The truth is that many of them take on more business than they can handle…

5. A rented car will cost you. Renting a car for three weeks could cost $1,000 or more. Even if you have optional rental-car insurance (which costs $1 or $2 a month), your daily reimbursement may be limited to the cost of a compact car.

6. Your car needs a shop that speaks its language. Many European cars use aluminum and ultrahard steel that require special equipment to repair… Shops should be certified by the manufacturer to do the work, meaning they must have specialized training and equipment — and charge higher rates.

7. The insurer’s warranty isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Insurers sometimes dangle warranties on the parts (for as long as you own the vehicle) to entice you to go to shops in their network. But the body shop’s guarantee is the one that’s important.

 Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Rocky Hill Rep. Tony Guerrera, D-District 29, got a look at the issues themselves by visiting South End Auto Body. They claimed the issues with Painter’s SUV illustrate a wider problem in the industry called steering, in which an insurance company illegally pushes business to a certain repair shop.

“The consumer may be under the impression that he or she has no real choice. We want to make clear: Your car, your choice,” Blumenthal said.

Parker said the concern is that customers might think insurers are making the repairs.

“You look at your estimate and you estimate says Progressive Insurance. It doesn’t say ABC Automotive. It doesn’t say YZ Automotive,” Guerrera said. “So, technically, they’re saying they’re doing the repair, and I don’t think Progressive has a license to do automobile repairs.”

“The insurance companies are looking to cut corners because it cuts costs, and that also cuts quality for the consumers and potentially creates dangers for them,” Blumenthal said.

Both men are pushing a law that makes it tougher for insurance companies to make those recommendations.

Progressive said they’re not steering business, saying that all they’re doing is giving customers a choice.

“Steering is illegal and we agree with that,” Andreoli said. “So, do I think we need another law for that? Personally, no, I don’t think so. It doesn’t really make sense.”

In the meantime, Painter is getting her car fixed the right way.

“Are you changing your insurance provider?” Parker asked Painter.

“No comment,” she replied.

More Information

Accidents happen, particularly during the winter months when we’re all visiting friends and relatives, driving in unfamiliar territory with folks who are also distracted, lost, and sometimes even inebriated from a little too much holiday cheer. It’s easy to pull out of an unfamiliar driveway and hit a mailbox you would swear wasn’t there when you pulled in, or get rear-ended by the guy behind you who has a map unfolded on the dashboard as he tries to find his way to his in-law’s. If you run into an accident this holiday season in the Reading, Allentown or Lehigh Valley, PA area, you know we’re the ones to come to.

If you’re on the other side of the continent, though, here are some of our best tips for finding an auto body shop that can help you without ruining your holidays with poor work and shoddy service.

1. Mileage Equals Quality. An auto body shop won’t stay in business long if it provides lousy work. Find out how long the auto body shop has been in business before you hand over the keys to your ride. At Vinart Collision Center, we’ve been in business for over fifteen years, and you know we’d never have hit that number if we didn’t provide great service and quality work. Check the shop’s website or ask them outright how long they’ve been in business.
2. Variety of Services. Even a regular mechanic can bang out a dent passably, but most good body shops know how to do everything from fix that minor dent to completely restoring your car to getting a fantastic paint job on it once it’s done. If they only provide a few services, chances are they don’t understand how some body work can affect the rest of the car – and that means you’re likely to encounter other problems.
3. Mechanical Services. While some really quality body shops don’t do mechanical work at all, they will know a good mechanic that they work with regularly. Others – like us – have a full mechanical staff in-house. If the body shop you’re looking at shrugs their shoulders when you ask how the mechanics have been affected by the damage and says that’s not really their domain, look elsewhere. A good body shop should know that it’s not just how it looks, it’s how it runs too, and they’ll be able to provide the services to get both of those things taken care of.
4. Evidence. Look around the body shop you’re considering and get an eyeful of how their staff works. If you see a lot of careless-looking banging, lack of consideration for the car, or anything else that makes you think they’re not treating the cars with care, don’t stick around to be proven wrong. Their customers entrust them with those cars, and if they don’t care enough to make sure their work is precise and the car doesn’t get damaged in some other way through their work, then the end result is not going to be satisfactory.

Of course, if the damage is minor, we’d much sooner see you back at our auto body repair shop, where you’re always in good hands. When the holidays are over, come let us check out that dent from the mailbox. We’ll have you looking like new in no time.

When an insurance company pushes you to have your vehicle repaired at a bodyshop other than the one you have chosen, that’s steering.

You have the legal right to have your vehicle repaired at any shop you choose and the insurance company is required by law to pay the reasonable cost to repair the accident damage according to the limits set forth in your policy.

Even if the shop you have chosen is not on the insurance company’s program, you still have the right to have your vehicle repaired wherever you choose and the insurance company is legally obligated to pay the reasonable costs to repair.

Insurance adjusters are very aware of the steering laws and some have become very adept at using the right wording to stay just clear of the line.  For instance…

• The adjuster may tell you that you can use your bodyshop but that your shop has been known to overcharge and you may have to pay out of pocket for repairs done there.

If a reputable autobody shop must present you with a bill for a portion of the repairs that should have been covered by the insurance company you should know that it was not done without first fighting hard on your behalf with the insurer.  Some insurers try to intimidate shops to cut corners on repairs – something no reputable shop would do.  If this happens to you, you should know that often the insurer will reimburse you for any amount you pay out of pocket if you simply request it.  They know they are legally responsible, they simply don’t want to go on record as giving in to the shop so they can continue to try to intimidate others.

• The adjuster may tell you that repairs will be delayed unless you use the shop they want you to.

Most repair delays happen because the bodyshop is waiting for your insurance adjuster to come to the shop to approve the repairs.

• The adjuster may tell you that they won’t guarantee the repairs unless you use the shop they want you to.

A good shop will provide its own guarantee.  A great shop will provide you a lifetime guarantee on all the work they perform for as long as you own the vehicle.

If you have chosen a reputable autobody shop and the insurance company is balking at your decision, it is very likely that your biggest worry should be the insurance company you chose.

If you believe the insurer you’re involved with is not living up to its contractual obligations, contact the insurance commissioner at 1-800-492-6116 ext. 2340 or click here for more information.

After working in at least twenty different collision repair facilities I have learned what works in business and what does not. A body shop or collision repair facility as we call it now days, should run like a well oiled machine if the proper procedures are set in place and everyone who is employed in that shop is given a detailed list of their job description, that way it takes out the so called “grey area”. So here is my experience on the repair processes.

The customer brings his or her vehicle to the repair facility to get an estimate of all damages to his or her vehicle. The schedule an appointment for this to happen as this process can take thirty minutes to one hour depending on the size of collision. The damage estimator walks around the vehicle with the customer and points out all related non accident damage to the customer’s vehicle and makes a note of this either by taking pictures or recording video footage. Then the damage estimator sends the customer back into the collision facility to wait while he and a certified collision technician methodically disassemble his vehicle to assess all damage that has occurred. This does not happen in the parking lot of the shop while the vehicle is dirty and outside. This disassembly happens inside the collision facility after the vehicle has been pre-washed and dried off.

After the vehicle is “torn down” and all the damage assessed, the estimator completes the “sheet” or estimate. This is now a great opportunity to bring the customer over to his vehicle and explain to him all the damages to his vehicle. His car is all apart and he already feels comfortable with your processes, you then get him into a rental vehicle if he has loss of use in his insurance policy and you inform him you will keep him updated during the repair process from start to finish. He is filling out his information when the estimator and collision technician are dismantling his vehicle.

Now the vehicle’s parts are placed on a “parts cart” and stored in the parts room and await replacement parts to arrive from the parts dealer. The parts arrive from the dealer and the job gets put into the process. Remember that ALL the parts need to be with the vehicle as it goes into the repair process or assembly line. If there are parts missing then this may stop the assembly line somewhere in the repair process. Other problems that stop the assembly line are improper estimates, disorganization, no repair approvals from insurance companies if additional damages are present, damaged parts sent from parts dealers, wrong parts sent from parts dealers, back ordered parts from the dealer. These are what I call profit breakers when these set backs occur. Here’s what happens to the assembly line in a collision repair facility when the process breaks down.

The customer’s vehicle gets started, the “body technician” reads his work order or estimate and first checks his parts, he removes the hood from the box and the hood has damage that cannot be repaired. He then takes the fender out of the box and the fender is for the left side and he needs the right fender. This stops the assembly line process and stops the job from going down the line. So what does the shop do to completely stop these set backs from happening? You cannot completely eliminate it from occurring but you can minimize it. Before the parts dealer ships your parts out, they check the parts; after all it is not your responsibility to make sure you are getting undamaged parts, it’s the parts dealers job. This will practically stop damaged parts from being delivered to the collision repair shop. In the city I live in there are many parts dealers available. If one parts dealer is unwilling to check the parts than there are many other dealers who will be happy to have the business and check parts for our shop. That way there is no delays in the repair process and customers are satisfied.

One way to increase productivity when dealing with parts is to paint them off the vehicle when possible. Then install the painted parts on the car and the car gets cleaned and delivered. I like to paint my parts off and then send them over to the body side to get carefully reinstalled. Sometimes this cannot happen but in most cases it can save time and money only painting the vehicle one time. We have all painted inners and then sent the car back to the body man to reinstall the parts to be painted on the exterior. My question is, why do this if you can avoid it, this is unproductive and waists cycle times.

These are only some issues that are unproductive and slow down production in a collision repair facility. I will continue with this subject and hope to receive feedback as to how your shop implements productive business practises. Feel free to comment on this topic as you see fit. Please include your opinion or your experiences as to make the repair process run like a well oiled machine.