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Motor vehicle manufacturers produce Original Equipment Manufactured (OEM) or genuine replacement parts whilst third party vendors manufacture what’s often called aftermarket parts. Motor vehicle manufacturers make huge investments into the research and development of genuine OEM replacement parts which is to ensure each part is manufactured identically with optimum performance in safety and reliability. Genuine replacement parts are subject to safety recalls and a lifetime guarantee. Aftermarket manufactured parts particularly the Asian imported variety have never been crash tested nor are there any provisions for recalls based on safety or performance. There are many scientific reports and writings purporting aftermarket parts adversely affect the performance and safety of a motor vehicle and your new car warranty. WARNING: Do not fit aftermarket or Asian imported replacement parts onto your vehicle. The motor vehicle manufacturer’s warranty does not cover breakdown or damage to other vehicle or engine components which result from the failure of non-genuine fitted replacement parts. Vehicle manufacturers ensure all genuine OEM replacement parts produced are tested to perform identically as original parts as found in new vehicles. Genuine OEM replacement parts help the vehicle maintain its safe crashworthy integrity and protect the value of a vehicle longer than if aftermarket replacement parts are fitted. Vehicles have been known to sustain large losses in value using aftermarket parts: this is known as ‘Diminished Value’. Aftermarket parts are sold at greatly reduced prices because their manufacturer does not bear any cost of research, development or advertising. Although aftermarket parts look very similar to OEM replacement parts, there is however much disparity between them. Non genuine replacement parts have a high likelihood of being a serious safety threat. Much of the products sold as aftermarket parts are manufactured in Taiwan. They are locally known as ‘Taiwan Trash’ and for good reason; they have a substandard fit, have an extremely low crash resistance and mechanical reliability. The following are very simple examples of how safety and reliability are superior in genuine replacement parts against non-genuine parts. Safety – A motor vehicle body shell is essentially the ‘backbone’ structure of a motor vehicle. Body shells undergo rigorous crash testing and engineered with such precision that when all support members and components are welded together, they create a structural integrity of zero tolerance. Zero tolerance integrity provides the perfect platform from which the remainder of the car can then be assembled to deliver an optimum level of safety giving occupants the best possible chances to survive if involved in a motor vehicle collision. If the notion is accepted that the preservation of life is paramount and is why vehicle manufacturers go to great lengths to ensure their product accommodates for this, then the question needs to be asked why are collision damaged vehicles not repaired to similar standards? The bottom line is simply all about repairing the vehicle at the least possible price and not much else. For example, instead of replacing damaged body shell components at the manufactured seams and joints, turrets, centre pillars and other structurally important body shell components are being indiscriminately cut in areas where safety is dangerously compromised and the incised area later disguised with ‘bog and shinny new paint’. It is far quicker and therefore cheaper for smash repairers to adopt this method of repair than to follow the correct repair protocols and replace the damaged area with new OEM components pursuant to the manufacturers recommended specifications. Despite the fact that the motor vehicle manufacturing industry goes to great pains and huge expense to design, test and build safe crashworthy motor vehicles, their results are unfortunately being completely destroyed by smash repairers (and other stakeholders) involved in the smash repair industry only to bolster their own bottom line. As described in ‘The truth about the
smash repair industry’ link on this site, whilst smash repairers
continue to disregard the recommended smash repair guidelines,
motor vehicle structural integrity will continue to be compromised
and the personal safety of vehicle occupants will continue to
be put into grave danger. Aftermarket radiators are generally made from Copper which attract or conduct heat. They are painted to resemble the original genuine replacement part yet they hold less quantities of water and have less core structures which greatly compromise engine efficiency and cooling. Aftermarket radiators cause engines to run at hotter temperatures which are likely to cause overheating and head gasket failure. It is almost impossible to trace the source of a head gasket problem when radiator pressure tests do not register any apparent faults. Under these circumstances it would be impossible to determine that gasket failure was caused by an aftermarket fitted radiator consequently leaving the vehicle owner liable for the cost of all mechanical repairs. If a aftermarket radiator is fitted it is likely the engine will continue to run at hotter temperatures and the head gasket will again breach with a high probability of damaging other engine components. The manufacturers warranty will not cover the cost of such repairs because the initial damage was caused by a non genuine part. The table identifies aftermarket parts used by repairers and their detrimental effect on vehicles.
Always insist
that your collision repaired vehicle is fitted with genuine replacement
parts particularly when specified in your insurance policy. |
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Click Here If You Have a Collision Repaired Vehicle |
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| All equipment used by IVIC has approvals and /or endorsements issued by global motor vehicle manufacturers including: |
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