Newsletter - March 2006

Strange Noises and How to Get Rid of Them

It starts out with just an occasional squeak, rattle or creak that we ignore. After awhile, it starts to get more obvious and annoying. Eventually, even the loudest stereo won’t cover up the noise(s). We are talking about some of the strange noises your vehicle will make as parts wear out and break. Now let’s talk about how you can help the repair shop to properly diagnose and repair these annoying little noises.

The better you can describe the noise and when it happens, the easier it is to reproduce it.

Does the noise happen when:

* Accelerating
* Braking
* Going over bumps
* Turning (if so, which direction?)
* Shifting gears
* Does it happen with the engine on or only when moving?
* Does it change with vehicle speed?
* Cold or hot temperatures
* Engine temp
* Only after driving for ___ number of minutes

Can the noise be best described as a:

* Squeak
* Creak
* Rattle
* Squeal
* Clunk
* Knock
* Tick

Most importantly, be prepared to go on a test drive with the technician or service advisor to reproduce the noise. It is critical that you can identify the noise and demonstrate it to the technician. Without this test drive, the technician may identify a noise and repair it but it might not be the same noise that you are hearing. Keep in mind if you think it will be hard for you to reproduce the noise on a test drive it will also be hard for the technician to reproduce it. Without hearing the noise it nearly impossible to identify the cause and repair it.

Bottom line is the more information you can provide us regarding the noise (including a test drive) the easier it will be for us to identify the cause and remedy it. If necessary, keep a diary of when the noise happens to help keep track of when it happens and what the conditions are.

Most noises can be addressed very easily if we have the right tools. The most important of these tools it being able to reproduce and identify the noise with the technician. This assures us that we are going after the same noise demons as you are.

Myths and Facts about “Frame Damage”

The number one concern people who are buying a vehicle or having one repaired after an accident is does it have any frame damage. There is a perception that a frame damage can’t be repaired correctly.

Let’s start with some definitions and history. In the 1970s and earlier many cars built in the US were built on a true frame, a box frame that held the drive train and suspension and bolted onto the body. Trucks and larger SUVs are still body-over-frame construction. European manufacturers pioneered unibody construction in which reinforcing rails are incorporated into the structure of the body. American manufacturers took up this design for cars in the 80s. Most of the vehicles on the road today are of the unibody type. Unibodies are designed to absorb crash energy. The passenger compartment is rigid and the front and rear sections are designed to deform one component after another until crash energy is absorbed. Because of this, rails will move to the side, move upward or downward or crush to absorb energy.

Unibodies are designed so that the structure can be realigned. Modern state of the art pulling and measuring equipment can realign components to within 1mm (about the width of a pencil lead). There are specific industry standards about what can be repaired or must be replaced. Replacing a frame rail is not all that much different from replacing any other welded in part.

Full frames are also repairable but if a section is damaged severely the whole frame may need to be replaced.

If unibody or frame repair is not performed correctly the rest of the body parts may not line up correctly and it may prevent correct wheel alignment, but with the proper skill and equipment all components will align just as they are supposed to.

Many people think a car history report like Carfax will reveal what accidents a vehicle has been in. This should not be counted upon. We have seen many cars we know have been in accidents where that information doesn’t come up on the report. Carfax does not claim it gets information from insurance companies. Most of its information is from the DMV. Also the information they receive varies state to state and is therefore spotty.

Around 25% to 30% of the cars we repair have some degree of frame repairs performed. Frame repairs are a routine part of collision repair and don’t need to be thought of as a serious repair problem.

Frame and unibody structural repair is serious business, but when performed to industry standards the repair is invisible and integrity is restored. The thinking that frame damage can’t be repaired is definitely a myth and if anything diminishes the value of a car it’s the myth that it couldn’t be fixed right.

If you want to see an actual pull in process, let us know. We’ll demonstrate to you what how our state-of-the-art frame and measuring system brings your vehicle back into manufactured specifications. Email brenda@addisonauto.com for a demonstration.

© Copyright 2010. Addison Auto Center

Addison Auto Repair & Body Shop
2005 South Holly Street • Denver, CO 80222 • 303-691-9484

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Serving Virginia Village, Holly Hills, Southmoor, Cherry Hills Village, Greenwood Village, University Park, University Hills, Belcaro, Hilltop, Cherry Creek, Washington Park, Bonnie Brae, Southmoor Park and greater SE Denver area since l982.

We work (mechanical repair and auto body work and hail damage) on all makes of cars and trucks, including: Chevy, Dodge, Ford, Honda, Jeep, Kia, Lexus, Nissan, Plymouth, Saab, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota and Acura through Volvo.