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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

Carbon Fiber Repair On The BMW i3

Posted on 07 November 2014

On the BMW i3 with the carbon fiber passenger cell, the question is often asked, how do we repair damage to the carbon fiber? For that answer BMW presented an overview of the repairs at the 2014 SEMA show. The simple answer is that you cannot repair the passenger cell the way that you would repair a sheet molded compound (SMC) part.

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What's A Subaru Rear Skirt?

Posted on 04 November 2014

When it comes to repair information, vehicle makers use a wide variety of terminology for replacement parts. All of the different names can be confusing, especially when repairing a variety of vehicle makes and models.

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Advanced Joining Methods For Todays Vehicle

Posted on 31 October 2014

This article originally appeared in the November 2014 edition of ABRN.

When friends and family think about the vehicles of yesteryear they often say to me "they don't build them like they used to." I tell them, you have no idea how right you are. Cars today are light years ahead of where they were just a few short years ago. It is no longer vehicles of the future we are discussing, but current vehicles on the road today, and some are being repaired like nothing has changed. With the major changes in vehicle construction, the collision repair industry will need to learn some advanced attachment methods and a new way of thinking. Lets take a look at some advanced attachment methods necessary for repair on vehicles that are on the road today.

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Aluminum Dust Disposal

Posted on 15 October 2014

Recently, a collision repair professional called to Ask I-CAR, "How is aluminum dust disposed of after it has been collected in a sparkless motor vacuum?"

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Is it MIG or is it MAG?

Posted on 07 October 2014

Once people get used to calling something one thing, it's difficult to change it. To be technically accurate, whether it's MIG or MAG depends on the shielding gas.

When GMA (MIG) welding started its rise, it was often referred to simply as MIG welding. While this term is widely known, it's not technically accurate. MIG stands for "Metal Inert Gas" and is accurate when making welds using an inert shielding gas, such as 100% argon when welding aluminum. However, for most collision repairs on steel parts, we use a shielding gas that is 75% argon, 25% carbon dioxide (often called 75/25, or C-25). Because carbon dioxide is an active gas, the correct term would be metal active gas (MAG) welding.

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Minimum Driveaway Time For Urethane Adhesive

Posted on 03 October 2014

I-CAR recognizes minimum driveaway time for urethane adhesive. This is a time specification that the glass industry has agreed on when a vehicle that has had a stationary glass replacement can be released to the customer. It is when the adhesive has achieved enough strength to pass Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 212, windshield retention, and 208, occupant protection.

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What's A Mazda Rear End Panel?

Posted on 02 October 2014

When it comes to repair information, vehicle makers use a wide variety of terminology for replacement parts. All of the different names can be confusing, especially when repairing a variety of vehicle makes and models.

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SCRS Compiles Documentation on Clearcoat Application - Press Release

Posted on 30 September 2014

Project updates documentation provided by automotive refinish coatings manufacturers

by Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS)

Prosser, Washington, September 25, 2014 - The collision repair industry benefits from accessibility to clear and concise documentation regarding processes and procedures that are necessary to produce warrantable repairs. In July, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) issued a request to automotive refinish coatings manufacturers with an intent to update documentation on the issue of mid-panel clearcoat blending. Previous correspondence collected 10 years prior had demonstrated a consistent requirement for clearcoat application to extend across an entire panel, to the nearest breakpoint, in order for the repairs to be covered under refinish manufacturer warranties.

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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?