What is a Fender Flare?

A cracked bumper can spoil the look of any car, and if it is serious, it can also affect the structural integrity of the vehicle, making it less collision resistant. A cracked bumper is generally caused by a collision during driving or parking. The rear bumper can collide with an obstruction while reversing a car, while the front bumper can get damaged in a head-on collision. Getting a cracked bumper does not mean that you have to replace the entire bumper. The bumper can be repaired and mended if the crack is not severe. In this blog, we will explain in detail how to repair a cracked bumper.  Stepwise Method for Repairing a Bumper A cracked car bumper sends a negative impression to any onlooker, and it should be mended as soon as possible. However, if you have a cracked bumper, repairing is a much cheaper option than spending a lot of money replacing it. The method of mending a cracked bumper is quite easy, so let us see the stepwise process of repair Analyze the Damage This involves unattaching the bumper from the car body and examining it from various angles to see how big is the crack. Look at it closely to see if there are multiple cracks or just one crack. By looking at the damage closely you can assess the severity of the damage and come to a solid conclusion on whether the bumper should be mended or replaced.  Mask off the Body Panels Mending a bumper involves sanding, drilling and painting and this can affect the color of the surrounding body panels so the body panels near the bumper should be covered with a sheet of cloth to shield it from paint spills and damage frm a drill.  Drill the Crack Precisely Next you should drill the area where the crack has occurred. Drill two holes on either end of the crack. The hole diameter should be 6mm. These holes will prevent the crack from expanding further in length.  Grind the Bumper for Better Bonding Bonding and gluing requires a large area. To do this, you should grind the bumper to make a V-shaped groove on the front side of the bumper where the crack has occurred. The v shape can be made by using a knife or grinder. The grinder is better as it completely remove plastic residue from the surrounding area and is more precise.  Sanding of the Damaged Portion After the v-shape has been carved in the damaged part of the bumper you should sand it with an abrasive paper. The abrasive material should be of a medium grit. Sanding is really useful in facilitating efficient adhesion sonce the sanding process creates micro abrasions on surface that makes the paint and glue set on the surface better.  Apply Plastic Adhesion Promoter Before you rub the adhesive on the damaged surface, prime the bumper surface with a plastic adhesion promoter. Without covering the surface with this chemical, the glue will not set correctly. The adhesion should be thoroughly sprayed on the backside and front side of the cracked area for a flawless setting of the glue which is to be deposited in the next step.  Dab Epoxy on Both Sides  This is the most important step so it should be done with utmost attention to detail. You should start applying epoxy from the back side. For efficient coverage use a spreader to completely cover the surface with the epoxy. Once the back side is covered repeat the process for front side of the bumper.  Sanding for Preparation Wait for the epoxy to completely dry out before embarking on this step. After this sand the portion to which the epoxy had been applied. This is to create a smooth surface. A smooth texture enables the body filler to stick better as it provides more grip. At this stage you will feel the cracked area as a depression on the otherwise smooth surface.  Body Filler Application  Once you have sanded the surface you just have to pour the body filler and apply it evenly on the damaged portion. The application should be done carefully. Make sure to follow the curvature of the bumper. After the body filler dries out, gently sand the area to prepare the surface for painting.  Painting  Lastly apply the paint to the plastic bumper for final finishing. Wrap the adjacent body panels of the car near the bumper. Then start spray painting. The painting process begins with applying a primer coat. After that is dried a coat of base color is applied.  Conclusion The cracked rear bumper is easily repaired if attacked systematically. All this can be acquired by obtaining the appropriate tools, cleaning the damaged area, using the right type of adhesive or filler, sanding over to achieve a smooth finish, and painting to acquire a complete shined look, making your bumper regain its good looks and functionality. However, it should be kept in mind that serious cracks cannot be fixed with this method and complete bumper replacement is needed. This involves unscrewing the bumper. With patience this can be accomplished easily. 

  So, you have suddenly realized that your brake lights are not working. This is no good—not only it is dangerous to be driving around the area with no lights to signal when you are pushing your brakes, but one day you can get caught and you will find yourself with a ticket. Sometimes your brake lights don’t operate while the tail light work or vice versa. The first thing that you need to do when troubleshooting your rear lights is to get to know their working.   Taillights are a type of light fitted in a vehicle which are fixed at the back part of a vehicle. They are bilateral structures – meaning they are in pairs and are of different types and they also perform different functions. The main reason that highlights the importance of the taillights is to do with the safety of the drivers on the road. The red light which are at the back are indicating driver’s actions during driving to other drivers on the road. They help in avoiding confusion to drivers on the roads and help in informing other motorists of your intentions. These include braking, turning intentions, and the shape and position of the vehicle when viewed by other drivers from a distance. You can also turn on the hazard lights in the event of an emergency as well as the headlights. Still, both the front lights and the taillights of a vehicle are often only inspected after they are broken or an accident has happened. Ideally you must check the functionality of the lights every three months. Here are three real-world guidelines on how to inspect and repair your car’s taillights. Read on further to know how to resolve this crucial issue before you become a part of an accident. Detailed Procedure to Test and Replace Tail Lightss 1. Testing your taillights It is very important for you to test your tail lights on your car before you get to move on the road. To do this you need an assistant to tell you whether the lights are on or off. This is best done at night since it is easier to observe this in the dark especially when using artificial light.   Make sure the tail lights brighten and remain on for two occasions: (1) when applying brakes and (2) when the headlights are on. Moreover, you have a visual test on the tail lights themselves for signs of cracks, dry-rotted seals, and leaks. One should be careful with oxidation since it is difficult to reverse and involves replacements. All these are essential in as much as they help in retaining the value of the car for a longer period and your safety on the roads. 2. Replacing taillight bulbs   Needless to say, you should turn a blind eye to the issue of replacing your tail light bulbs if they are dead. Remember that the next part is a bit simpler and easier which is the removing of the bulbs. All that is required of you is to disconnect the electrical pigtail wiring and make sure that you take out the bulb very carefully. The bulb rotates and it has a tendency to come off from the metal contact housing this time. There is, however, one thing to be noted, that you should not touch the new bulbs with your hand. This is because, there is a buildup of natural skin oils which, when exposed to the light bulb when on, can greatly shorten the life of the tail light bulbs of your auto. 3. Replacing taillight assemblies Tail light assembly is, therefore, the set of lights found at the back part of your car. The fittings for the tail light assemblies are normally hidden behind the trunk interior material such as the carpet. In order to get access to the assembly, you will need to lift the trunk interior material liner, you will see couple of nuts that must be unscrewed and removed. When all the retaining nuts are removed, the old assembly should come out easily, as shown below. Then, you can have the new assembly positioned in the place. Finally, it is unadvisable to ignore the functioning of your car’s taillights as it might lead to their dysfunction. As highlighted in the practical tips above, follow the procedures on testing of tail lights, the light bulbs and the assemblies. Conclusion Tail lights are important for your safety on the road because they are used to communicate your presence and your intentions especially when you are driving in the night or in unfavorable weather conditions. This is one of the simplest, but very important tasks that a car owner should perform periodically. The function of dimming, flickering or complete failure of the lights can thus be detected before it affects your safety or cause an accident that may attract a ticket from a police officer. In case of any problems with the bulbs, fuses or problems with wiring, it is important to correct these as soon as possible so as to make the vehicle visible and safe to be on the road.  

When upgrading your car, you will likely consider the power, new look, or even the newest technology. However, one of the most important safety features, namely, the tail lights of your car, can be easily ignored. Built-in incandescent tail lights have been used for as long as one can remember, while LED taillights are superior. LED tail lights are advantageous since they increase car safety, power usage, and performance. In this blog, you will discover why your car requires LED tail lights now and why this type is more effective than conventional ones. Energy Efficiency A significant advantage for the owners who decided to modify their cars with LED tail lights is the energy-saving aspect. The commonly used tail lights are incandescent bulbs, which consume much energy through heat production. On the other hand, LED (Light-Emitting Diode) lights are much more efficient in using electrical energy because they use nearly all of this energy to produce light. This leads to reduced power consumption, which is helpful in electric and hybrid vehicles, whereby power conservation is of paramount importance. Improved Visibility as A Factor That Reduces Safety Risks The most important consideration for a car’s lighting should be safety since LED tail lights provide better illumination than older bulbs. LED lights are more luminous than traditional car lighting, thus enhancing your car’s visibility for other drivers, especially when driving at night or during a rainy, foggy, or snowy period. This causes your vehicle to be easily noticed from a distance, thus minimizing the chance of an accident, particularly a rear accident. Aesthetic Appeal and Modernization In addition to practical uses, LED tail lights also improve the look of your car. They are a more recent product that makes your car look considerably neater, smoother, and more technologically advanced. Several car makers have incorporated LED tail lights in their current models since they are trendy and have recently developed compact, sleek designs. LED lights are also available in different shapes, sizes, and colors, thus the flexibility aspect. Most aftermarket options have more dynamic features, including sequential turn signals, to make your car more glamorous. Regardless of the car model employed, installing LED tail lights is one of the easiest ways of enhancing the car's look. Environmentally Friendly Choice As the world becomes more environmentally aware, it is more important than ever to try and make those small changes to use less energy. LED lights are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly since they have a longer lifetime. Because of their longer life span, fewer LED lights are likely to end up in the dustbin compared to incandescent bulbs that burn out quickly and need replacement. Furthermore, they consume little power, indirectly decreasing your car's fuel utilization and, thus, emission levels. Choosing to change the LED tail lights is not a luxury but an investment because not only does it improve your car's performance, but also an environmentally friendly measure. Reduced Costs in the Long Term Nowadays, LED tail lights are a costlier invention than unchanged stern incandescent bulbs. However, they are cost-effective and assured of high yields after a long time. They do not require frequent replacement and repairs, reducing replacement costs and labor. Furthermore, their efficiency can result in slight yet apparent fuel or battery usage improvements over an extended period. A different way of saving costs is that there are relatively small chances of being given tickets for not functioning or non-existent rear lights. Due to the durability and longer life of the LEDs, fewer cases of sudden failure would lead to fines or accidents. Overall, one can easily conclude that the extra cost of purchasing LED tail lights could be recovered in the long run. Easy to Install and Maintain LED tail lights are relatively easy to install for those who like their car modified by their efforts. Most of the available aftermarket LED tail lights will connect to the vehicle as quickly as plugging into a wall socket since some do not require additional tools and skills for installation. This makes them an excellent upgrade for people who wish to enhance their car and not necessarily tow it to an auto mechanic. LED tail lights do not need much attention when it comes to maintenance in most instances; they do not require any. This reliability implies that, once integrated, they will continue to operate in the desired manner for years with little or no maintenance. This is especially so when compared to incandescent bulbs that not only need frequent replacements because they rarely last very long but also easily break. Conclusion If you want to enhance the look of your car, changing your tail lights to LED is one of the best things you can do. The benefits of integrating LED tail lights are very apparent in terms of safety and energy efficiency, aesthetics, and long-term costs. If one wants to improve the fuel efficiency of his car, enhance its performance, or give it a stylish look, LED tail lights are a perfect fit and come with numerous benefits. This is the right time to prepare and upgrade to future cars.