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Collision Repair News

Your job requires that you keep on top of the latest in vehicle, tool, and equipment technology – I-CAR is committed to helping you do so in one convenient place. We regularly publish new articles highlighting the latest and greatest collision repair information.

So check back often and follow us on Twitter @Ask_ICAR to ensure you’re equipped with the most up-to-date collision repair technical information available in the industry.


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Collision Repair Industry News

Corrosion Protection Guidelines: FCA/Stellantis

Posted on 15 June 2017

A key factor in collision repair is making long-lasting repairs. When a vehicle is repaired, many areas of corrosion protection are disturbed. This creates corrosion hot spots that left untreated will lead to corrosion and potentially a repair failure. However, there are certain precautions that can be taken to safely and properly restore the corrosion protection throughout the repair process. OEMs often give specifications on restoring corrosion protection. These specifications generally include seam sealer, adhesives, foam fillers, and cavity waxes. Let’s take a look at what FCA/Stellantis says.

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Structural Sectioning Procedures: Mitsubishi

Posted on 14 June 2017

Ask I-CAR receives many technical inquiries referring to sectioning. The collision repair industry wants to know where can you section, does the OEM have a sectioning procedure, and where can I find the sectioning procedure? Most OEMs allow sectioning to outer body panels and the front and rear rails. Sectioning reinforcements is not as common, as most reinforcements are replaced at factory seams.

Parts are made from various materials including HSS, UHSS, aluminum, and carbon fiber. These parts also have complex designs to collapse or transfer collision forces in a specific manner. Introducing a sectioning joint to many of these parts will alter how the part reacts to those collision forces. For this reason, sectioning a part is only allowed if supported by vehicle maker repair information. Let’s see what Mitsubishi says about structural sectioning.

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Additional Calibration Requirements: Hyundai

Posted on 09 June 2017

The addition of the OEM Calibration Requirements Search to the RTS portal was a big step for the collision industry. While this new feature has been well received, there has been some confusion about what is included in the search tool. The OEM Calibration Requirements Search is designed to provide information on the calibration requirements that are needed for vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). This includes systems such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and collision braking.

It does not include occupant classification systems (OCS), steering angle sensors, battery disconnects, or other calibrations/initializations required, when not related directly to ADAS. Let’s take a look at what additional items may require calibrations/initializations on Hyundai vehicles.

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Corrosion Protection Guidelines: Mercedes-Benz

Posted on 07 June 2017

A key factor in collision repair is making long-lasting repairs. When a vehicle is repaired, many areas of corrosion protection are disturbed. This creates corrosion hot spots that left untreated will lead to corrosion and potentially a repair failure. However, there are certain precautions that can be taken to safely and properly restore the corrosion protection throughout the repair process. OEMs often give specifications on restoring corrosion protection. These specifications generally include seam sealer, adhesives, foam fillers, and cavity waxes. Let’s take a look at what Mercedes-Benz says.

Continue Reading...

Structural Sectioning Procedures: BMW/Mini

Posted on 06 June 2017

Ask I-CAR receives many technical inquiries referring to sectioning. The collision repair industry wants to know where can you section, does the OEM have a sectioning procedure, and where can I find the sectioning procedure? Most OEMs allow sectioning to outer body panels and the front and rear rails. Sectioning reinforcements is not as common, as most reinforcements are replaced at factory seams.

Parts are made from various materials including HSS, UHSS, aluminum, and carbon fiber. These parts also have complex designs to collapse or transfer collision forces in a specific manner. Introducing a sectioning joint to many of these parts will alter how the part reacts to those collision forces. For this reason, sectioning a part is only allowed if supported by vehicle maker repair information. Let’s see what BMW/Mini says about structural sectioning.

Continue Reading...

Additional Calibration Requirements: Honda/Acura

Posted on 01 June 2017

The addition of the OEM Calibration Requirements Search to the RTS portal was a big step for the collision industry. While this new feature has been well received, there has been some confusion about what is included in the search tool. OEM Calibration Requirements Search is designed to provide information on the calibration requirements that are needed for vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). This includes systems such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and collision braking.

It does not include occupant classification systems (OCS), steering angle sensors, battery disconnects, or other calibrations/initializations required, when not related directly to ADAS. Let’s take a look at what additional items may require calibrations/initializations on Honda/Acura vehicles.

Continue Reading...

Corrosion Protection Guidelines: Subaru

Posted on 31 May 2017

A key factor in collision repair is making long-lasting repairs. When a vehicle is repaired, many areas of corrosion protection are disturbed. This creates corrosion hot spots that left untreated will lead to corrosion and potentially a repair failure. However, there are certain precautions that can be taken to safely and properly restore the corrosion protection throughout the repair process. OEMs often give specifications on restoring corrosion protection. These specifications generally include seam sealer, adhesives, foam fillers, and cavity waxes. Let’s take a look at what Subaru says.

Continue Reading...

Additional Calibration Requirements: Ford/Lincoln

Posted on 26 May 2017

The addition of the OEM Calibration Requirements Search to the RTS portal was a big step for the collision industry. While this new feature has been well received, there has been some confusion about what is included in the search tool. The OEM Calibration Requirements Search is designed to provide information on the calibration requirements that are needed for vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). This includes systems such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and collision braking.

It does not include occupant classification systems (OCS), steering angle sensors, battery disconnects, or other calibrations/initializations required, when not related directly to ADAS. Let’s take a look at what additional items may require calibrations/initializations on Ford/Lincoln vehicles.

Continue Reading...

Structural Sectioning Procedures: Audi

Posted on 26 May 2017

Ask I-CAR receives many technical inquiries referring to sectioning. The collision repair industry wants to know where can you section, does the OEM have a sectioning procedure, and where can I find the sectioning procedure? Most OEMs allow sectioning to outer body panels and the front and rear rails. Sectioning reinforcements is not as common, as most reinforcements are replaced at factory seams.

Parts are made from various materials including HSS, UHSS, aluminum, and carbon fiber. These parts also have complex designs to collapse or transfer collision forces in a specific manner. Introducing a sectioning joint to many of these parts will alter how the part reacts to those collision forces. For this reason, sectioning a part is only allowed if supported by vehicle maker repair information. Let’s see what Audi says about structural sectioning.

Continue Reading...

Top Ten Vehicle Specific Questions

Hyundai Does Hyundai have a sectioning procedure available?
Kia Does Kia have a sectioning procedure available?
Chevrolet Does Chevrolet have a warning against sectioning when there is no procedure?
BMW Can I-CAR send me BMW repair procedures?
Hyundai Does Hyundai have part replacement procedures available?
Honda What does Honda say about repairing damaged airbag system wiring harnesses?
Mercedes-Benz Can I-CAR send me Mercedes-Benz repair procedures?
Honda What does Honda say about straightening front lower rails?
Subaru Do you have to replace a front passenger airbag on a Subaru even if the airbag did not deploy? The repair information seems to indicate that it should.
Nissan Is there a wiring repair procedure for the airbag connector?

Top Ten I-CAR Specific Questions

What does I-CAR say about using a recycled quarter panel assembly that includes the inner, outer, and reinforcements?
What does I-CAR say about straightening a kink?
Can I-CAR General Sectioning Guidelines be used?
What does I-CAR say about repairing damaged door intrusion beams?
What does I-CAR say about the decision to use recycled parts?
What does I-CAR say about replacing suspension parts in pairs?
What does I-CAR say about repairing damaged bumper reinforcements?
What does I-CAR say about repair tolerances?
What does I-CAR say about using recycled airbags?
What does I-CAR say about repairing damaged crush boxes?