Repair Process
The Damage
When a major collision has occurred, police officers, rescue personnel, and tow truck drivers are typically the first people that the customer interacts with. The collision repair process and people involved varies depending upon the damage, the individual collision repair facility, and the equipment used by the repair facility.
Damage Analysis
The vehicle is not immediately repaired upon arrival at The Collision Co. repair facility; first an estimate of repairs must be made. The estimate indicates which parts should be repaired, replaced, and/or painted. It also indicates what type of parts should be used, how much the repairs will cost, and approximately how long it will take to make the repairs.
Repair Agreement
More than one person may write an estimate. It may be written by an estimator/production manager from The Collision Co. repair facility, an appraiser/adjuster from the insurance company, or an independent appraiser/adjuster for the insurance company. Before the repairs can begin, the insurance company, The Collision Co., and customer must all agree to the estimate.
Initial Repair
The production manager, and/or parts personnel at The Collision Co. use the estimate to order the necessary parts and materials to properly repair the vehicle. Before repairs begin, the parts are verified to make sure they are in good condition and match the make and model of the vehicle.
Before the vehicle is disassembled, it is washed and collision-related debris, such as broken glass, is removed. During initial disassembly, additional damage may be found that was not on the original estimate. In this case, a supplement is written to help ensure that the vehicle is repaired properly. A supplement is an addition to the estimate.
Structural Repairs
We use state of the art Car-O-Liner equipment
Vehicles are built to certain specs and repaired to tolerances ranging from 0-3 mm down to 0. Our structural repair technicians use specific locations and three-dimensional measuring equipment to determine if the vehicle frame or unibody structure was damaged during a collision.
A vehicle that requires structural repairs is placed on a Car-o-Tronic frame straightening rack or bench. Car-O-Tronic is a computerized measuring system supporting the entire repair process from initial damage analysis and assessment to final checks and documentation.
If structural parts cannot be straightened, the parts are fully or partially replaced following vehicle manufacturer recommendations. Most steel structures are welded, but aluminum structures may be joined using a combination of welds, rivets, and adhesive.
Non-Structural Repairs
Almost every vehicle brought to a collision repair facility has some type of non-structural damage. A collision repair technician repairs damage to plastic, aluminum, and steel exterior panels. Major damage generally requires part replacement, but minor damage is typically repaired with hand tools and shaped to contour using body filler and sanders. Paintless dent repair (PDR), which is removing damage without using body filler or paint, is another option for repairing minor damage.
Non-structural parts, including trim, may be bolted, clipped, adhesively bonded, riveted, or welded onto the vehicle. To reduce the noise, vibration, and harshness, some vehicle manufactures use foam fillers between the panels. The headlamps are also aimed before the vehicle is returned to the customer.
Mechanical/Electrical Repairs
Mechanical and electrical parts may also be damaged in a collision. This type of damage is repaired by an alignment and mechanical repair technician. Some of these problems may not be found until the vehicle is disassembled. Scan tools that connects to the vehicle's computer to identify and clear trouble codes caused by the collision are performed. All mechanical and electrical systems have the potential for being damaged in a collision, but most often it is the airbags and seatbelts, steering and suspension, wheel alignment, tires, and brakes.
Refinish
The refinishing process is when spray guns are used to apply coats of primer, basecoat (color), and clearcoat to the vehicle. The refinish technician may apply the paint and coatings to the parts on or off the vehicle. If parts are refinished on the vehicle, adjacent areas are masked off using paper and tape.
A paint code on the vehicle is used to identify the paint formula (color) that the paint maker recommends. Many different tints are used to make the color that is sprayed on the vehicle. Often a process called blending is used to create a uniform color appearance. Paint distributors and paint system manufacturer representatives supply the collision repair facility with the necessary refinish materials and offer technical support.
The graphics and pinstripes on a vehicle may be painted or applied as a decal. Painted graphics are applied free-hand, or they are applied in a series of masking steps. Decals are applied after the paint has dried.
The vehicle is protected against corrosion before, during, and after the refinishing process. Corrosion resistant primers, seam sealers, and anti-corrosion compounds are used to help prevent the vehicle from rusting.
The end product
Before the vehicle is delivered to the customer, a detailer cleans and buffs the vehicle if necessary.
To complete the repair, the vehicle is taken on a test drive to check for mechanical system problems, wind noises, and water leaks. The vehicle and repairs are also inspected and compared to the estimate. Repairs are completed to meet The Collision Co. standards and the vehicle is returned to the customer.