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 X @Ask_ICAR to ensure you’re equipped with the most up-to-date collision repair technical information available in the industry.



High-Strength Steel Prevalent in the 2020 Ford Escape

Ford’s 2020 Escape has been fully redesigned and is loaded with technology that collision repairers need to be aware of. This include different material usage, multiple powertrain options, and tons of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Let’s check out this update to the Escape.

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Powertrain Overview: Hydrogen Fuel Cell 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.

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Bumper Cover Repair With ADAS: General Motors

A simple bumper repair on a modern vehicle may not be as simple as it seems. New technologies like blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and other advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) utilize sensors behind the bumper covers. The ability for these sensors to be able to see clearly normally requires special caution when considering a bumper repair. Many OEMs have different levels of warnings when it comes to repairing bumper covers with ADAS. So, what does General Motors (GM) say on the subject?

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Back-To-Basics: Masking vs. Removing

Sometimes, going back to the 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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