Birds are often flying so fast that they don't notice a vehicle coming towards them. Because of this, birds often crash into moving vehicles. In fact, they may even cause damage to the radiator of a vehicle if they strike there. Here are some tips on how to handle this problem if it occurs.

Bird Strikes Can Be Devastating

People have likely heard about birds downing airplanes after striking them. While this type of damage isn't likely in a bird and car collision, it can still be problematic to the engine. The exact power of a bird strike will vary depending on the size of the bird, the surface it strikes, and the speed that both the bird and the car were going when the strike occurred.

Without going into the exact mathematics, it is fair to say that a bird strike on a radiator will cause some serious damage. Birds getting stuck in radiators is not uncommon and it can be a serious problem if it is not carefully addressed.

Radiators Are Particularly In Danger

Radiators are one of the most important parts of a vehicle because they help keep it cool and avoid serious heat damage. Unfortunately, they are situated in the front of the car and are typically very impacted by frontal damage. This is true in front collisions, but it is also the case in instances where a bird smashes into a vehicle.

As mentioned above, the force of a bird crash can be pretty hard on a vehicle. Even if it doesn't cause any serious damage, it may cause problems with the grill that make it look ugly. However, if they do cause a hole in the radiator, it may cause serious problems with the way the vehicle runs. As a result, it is important to get this issue fixed right away.

This Problem Can Be Fixed

Thankfully, it is possible to fix problems with radiators. How? The first step is to remove the bird after it has hit the radiator. This can be a difficult process because it involves carefully removing the wings and the body from the affected area. If the bird is still alive, it might require breaking its neck to put it out of its misery.

In most instances, though, the bird is likely to die from this impact. After removing and disposing of the body, it is important to inspect the damage it has caused. In most instances, it is likely to have caused impact damage to the radiator grill that can be repaired fairly inexpensively. However, if the engine starts overheating or acting up, there is a change more serious damage has occurred.

By following this simple process, it is possible to fix a damaged radiator with no problem. Fixing a radiator on your own is probably not a good idea, though, as professionals can do a much better job and ensure no small damage turns into more serious problems.

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