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.



Back-To-Basics: Masking vs. Removing

Sometimes going back-to-basics can make the difference between a quality repair and a failed repair. When it comes to refinishing, there are a few guidelines to remember when making a decision to either mask or remove a part.

Continue Reading...



Powertrain Overview: Electric Vehicles

Since the creation of the first modern automobile nearly a century and a half ago, there has been one dominant engine option on the market, the gasoline internal combustion engine. Now the gasoline internal combustion engine has some challengers trying to steal the crown. There have been many different types of engines in the past but many of them relied solely on fossil fuels to operate.

Continue Reading...



Fuel Economy Technology Systems: Turbochargers

Turbocharged engines are not a new technology. They have been around for many years to help create more power from engines. Turbochargers are still used to make large amounts of power, but the reason for the power is different for many vehicles. Many consumers want good fuel economy but are not willing to sacrifice acceleration or power. So, the options used to be to put a big engine in a vehicle to get a lot of power and bad fuel economy, or utilize a small engine and sacrifice power while getting great fuel economy.

Continue Reading...





OEM Linking Pin: 2015 Ford F-150 NVH Pads

As part of the I-CAR Repairability Technical Support (RTS) OEM linking pin activity, we are helping to connect the collision repair industry to the vehicle makers. Recently we had a technical inquiry that asked about NVH pad replacement on aluminum Ford F-Series pickups.

Continue Reading...


Fuel Economy Technology Systems: Auto Start/Stop

Tightening regulations on fuel economy along with rising awareness about pollution have influenced vehicle design and function in recent years. However, most consumers are not willing to sacrifice comfort, vehicle size, or power, so auto makers needed to use different methods to boost fuel economy. For the most part, aerodynamics can be directly related to fuel efficiency. The smoother air flows over the vehicle, the less power is required to make the vehicle move, leading to higher fuel economy. Unfortunately, a vehicle that has excellent aerodynamics may not be a functional vehicle for everyday consumers. So, other measures needed to be taken. In this series we’ll break down some of the methods used to boost aerodynamics and fuel economy along with any special cautions on how to repair them. Let’s check out the vehicle start/stop function.

Continue Reading...


General Motors: Spot-Weld Replacement

There is sometimes confusion on how many spot welds to use when replacing body components. Sometimes you replace what you removed, sometimes you use more or less than what was removed. It all depends on the particular vehicle you are repairing and what the manufacturer requires to be done. Luckily General Motors (GM) has a good way of identifying how many welds to use to install the new part.

Continue Reading...


Nissan Tech News: March 2019

An article in Nissan Tech News highlights different repair methods and procedures used in repairing Nissan vehicles. Nissan Sectioning Repair Tips article discusses reasons why a certain part may not be able to be sectioned, different welding methods, and ways to research and understand the body repair manual. Some reasons sectioning may be prohibited are due to material usage like ultra-high-strength steel (UHSS), panel layering/construction, or if the damage is in a crumple zone.

Continue Reading...




Toyota Collision Pros: Spring 2019

Toyota has launched their Spring 2019 edition of Collision Pros. Some highlights in this issue that you may want to check out are the important details regarding pre- and post-repair checklists, and Toyota Technical Information Systems (TIS).

Continue Reading...