Car body parts

Body for your car: find out more! Which ones to choose, when to change them, and how much they cost

Body parts are a set of components making up an auto body. These are important elements of the safety system, as they absorb and dissipate the energy of an impact. They protect the people inside the car from environmental influences, providing a necessary level of comfort. They help the drivernavigate the road regardless of the time of day or weather conditions. They affect the aerodynamic characteristics of a vehicle and give it its appearance.

The parts of an auto body include

• Panels. These are usually made of metal and less often of fibreglass or carbon fibre.
• Bumper. It can be made of metal or plastic. It absorbs some of the energy in the case of a head-on collision.
• Windows. They protect the interior from dust, moisture, and dirt without obscuring the view.
• Headlights and other lighting fixtures. They illuminate the road in darkness or bad weather and delineate the size of the vehicle. Theywarn other drivers about the intention to make a turn.
• Door (wing) mirrors. These enable seeing what is happening behind the vehicle.
• Spoilers. These redirect air flow to reduce the vehicle’s air drag coefficient and increase its stability.
• Radiator grille. This enables counter-current air flows to reach the engine compartment to blow on the radiator. At the same time, it reduces the risk of damage by stones and other foreign objects.
• Gas struts. They are used to make opening and closing a bonnet and a hood easier.

Maintenance tips

• Clean body parts properly. Use a soft, clean cloth and special products for this purpose. Always rinse the body thoroughly with water to remove dirt and to avoid scratching the surface. For the same reason, avoid brush washers.
• Organic contaminants, such as bird droppings, should be removed as soon as they occur: The acids contained therein can damage the paintwork.
• Hidden cavities, the underbody, and other unpainted body parts need to be treated with a special anti-corrosion agent.
• If the vehicle is driven off-road, an anti-gravel coating can help reduce the risk of damaging the body parts.
• Monitor the antifreeze level in the windscreen washer tank. Using dry wipers to clean the windscreen risks damaging the latter.
• To avoid damage to the headlamps from stones, apply a protective film on them.
• Try to remove paintwork defects as soon as they occur. That will helpprevent corrosion from spreading.
• Use onlycomponents which are recommended by the manufacturer. Installing xenon bulbs into halogen lamps may cause the latter to melt, the reflector to flake, andother malfunctions.
• Wax the body on a regular basis. This will not only protect it from aggressive environmental impacts but will also helpmaintain its attractive appearance for a long time.

Malfunction symptoms

Scratches and chips on the paintwork are easy to detect during an examination. Sometimes you’ll notice that the paint has bubbled. This usually indicates that the metal layer under the coating has started to rust. Dim headlights may indicate that their glass is scratched. Minor scratches and chafe marks on the windscreen only become apparent as part of a general reduction in its transparency. Rattling noises while driving may indicate that some body parts are not securely fixed.

Malfunction causes

Most often, body parts are damaged by heavy impacts. For instance, careless parking or a minor car accident, as well as natural phenomena or stones flying out from under the wheels, can cause dents and scratches on the car. Minor scratches appear because of improper care, for example, due to a habit of wiping dried dirt with a dry cloth. If scratches are not removed in a timely fashion, vehicle components will start to rust quickly because of the exposure to moisture, dirt and chemicals used on roads.

autodoc.co.uk: Only high-quality automotive products

You can buy body parts for your car in our online store. We offer a huge range of high-quality products, for which we provide long-term guarantees. You will definitely be satisfied with your purchases.

Useful information on functions, causes of malfunction, diagnosis and replacement intervals

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