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Beyond Collisions: Other Common Causes of Auto Body Damage

websitebuilder • Jan 03, 2019

An auto accident is the most common cause of auto body damage, but other things can also damage your car's paint or body. The following are some of the potential causes of auto body damage.

Auto Accident — Blue Car Have Accident in Raleigh, NC

Road Debris

Hard road debris, such as rocks and pebbles, can cause serious damage to your car's body. Such debris may scratch and damage the paint or even cause dents on the body of the car. Hard road debris is typically present on:

Gravel roads
Roads frequented by construction or quarry trucks
Damaged roads with potholes
Roads under construction

Therefore, avoid such roads to limit your exposure to road debris. If you can't avoid such roads, reduce your speed while on them so that the road debris won't fly and hit your car at great speed.

Sunlight

Sunlight affects many things, including the paint on your car. Too much exposure to sunlight can cause your car’s paint to fade prematurely. Sunlight can cause the car’s interior components, such as the seats and dashboard, to fade as well.

The best way to avoid temperature-related damage is to park your car in a suitable environment. For example, park in the shade if you have to park outside. At home, keep your car in the garage; don't leave it by the street.

Concrete

Concrete is extremely corrosive, and it can strip paint off your car relatively fast. Wet concrete that dries on your car may come off with some of the paint when you remove the dried concrete.

Therefore, do your best to not get concrete on your car. Here are a few tips to help you avoid concrete damage on your car:

Don't drive through constructions zones; take alternative routes if possible.
Don't park your car near construction zones.
Keep your car out of the garage when you use concrete to renovate the garage.

Remove any concrete that does get on your car as soon as possible; don't let it dry off on the car.

Bird Droppings

Bird droppings don't just make your car dirty. They also damage your car's paint. The droppings contain chemicals that damage the protective outer paint and expose the inner layers. With time, the exposed layers also get damaged, and you’ll have to repaint your car.

The best way to prevent damage from bird's droppings is to not park your car anywhere that birds frequent. For example, don't park under trees — apart from birds' droppings, tree sap may also damage your car. Another trick is to cover up your car whenever you park it outside.

Fuel and Brake Fluid

Fuel and brake fluid are also bad for your car. The petroleum products contain chemicals that damage your car's paint. Therefore, be careful when you fuel the car so that you don't spill any fuel on the paint. You should also be careful with DIY repairs or service so that you don't spill brake fluid or fuel on the car.

Abrasive Substances

Lastly, any abrasive substance can also damage your car's paint. Dirt particles or rough washcloths, for instance, can strip paint off your car and expose the car's body to rust damage. Even abrasive cleaners can damage your car's paint. Therefore, pick your cleaners with care, use soft washcloths, and rinse dirt off the car before you scrub the car with a washcloth.

Hopefully, you will take the precautions and your car won't suffer body damage any time soon. If your car does suffer body damage, however, Coats Auto Body is here to fix the damage and get your car back to its pristine condition. Contact us today for a repair or paint quote.

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