Things to Check After Auto Body Repair

Having auto body repair work done on your vehicle is often such a relief that by the time you get your vehicle back, you’re ready to ride off into the sunset without a second thought. However, even with the most trusted auto body shop teams, it’s important that you take a little time for a post-repair inspection. Not sure where to start? Here are a few key areas to look over and double-check before getting too far down the road.  

The Area of Repair  

Whatever part of your vehicle needed tending to, it’s time to look that area over. Check for dimpling, make sure alignment is correct and the paint color matches. Don’t be afraid to get up close and personal. Any auto repair team worth their salt will encourage you to do just that. Looking over the repair area is the first step to ensuring all is well after the repairs have been finished.  

All Electronic Components and Features  

The next step is one that people often forget, only to find out three days (or weeks) later when someone sits in their back seat for the first time that the window won’t roll down or the door won’t unlock like it’s supposed to. Checking all electronic components like windshield wipers, radio, automatic locks and windows, blinkers, etc. Is a critical step that you’ll thank us for later. Often it’s just a matter of connecting a wire that accidentally got left unconnected or flipping a switch that was overlooked in the final check before you were given a call.  

Alignment  

Depending on the work done, your alignment should be checked. Most auto repair shops will ensure that the alignment of your vehicle is adjusted if necessary even if the repairs they’re doing don’t directly affect that. For this step and the following two, we recommend asking your repair team if you can do a quick drive around the block before signing off. Making sure it drives like it should and feels normal is an important piece of the post-repair check puzzle.  

Sounds  

While you’re giving it a test drive, keep the music off (once you’ve checked to make sure all the music inputs and outputs work and the speakers sound like they ought to.) This is important to make sure your vehicle isn’t making any strange or new noises. If you notice anything that you didn’t hear before you brought it in, make sure you bring it up to your repair team so they can check it out.  

Brakes  

Brakes are an essential part of driving safely. Testing your brakes in a few different scenarios is a must-do when you’re checking your vehicle after a repair. Test them normally, and test having to pump them hard. No, we don’t recommend getting yourself in situations where that is required as it’s a very quick way to wear your brake pads out, but should a situation arise where you need to brake hard, you want the peace of mind knowing that your vehicle can do that. And if anything got messed up in the repair, it’s better to know now, in a situation you’re controlling, than last-minute when you can’t.  

Looking over the work done is not an insult to your auto body repair team, it’s a necessary part of the repair process. Conducting a post-repair inspection is expected and encouraged. After all, it’s your vehicle, and you deserve to feel fully confident in the work done. We know the world is a little intense right now, but we’re proud to be essential workers still open and operating for your auto body repair needs in this time. Need an estimate? Wondering how our processes have changed in light of social distancing regulations? Give us a call today or schedule an estimate online.