ASE B6 - Damage Analysis (Glossary of Terms)

Appreciation

An increase in value, particularly in reference to an owner's use and enjoyment of his or her property

Caster

Angle formed between the kingpin axis and a vertical axis as viewed from the side of the vehicle. Caster is considered positive when the top of the king-pin axis is behind the vertical axis, that is, tilted toward the rear of the vehicle

ABS

Anti-lock brake system

HVLP

High Volume, Low Pressure spray gun

ISO

International Organization for Standardization

Aftermarket

Parts or components manufactured by any company other than the original equipment manufacturer (OEM)

CAPA

The Certified Auto Parts Association, an organization that certifies aftermarket parts for use in collision repair

isocyanate

a byproduct of the formation of urethane. Because _______________ are known hazards of auto refinishing, diligence should be exercised in providing personal protection. _________quickly become a urea when contacted by water vapor

database

a collection of published information that contains prices, part numbers, labor time estimates, etc. used for the purpose of estimating collision damage. There are several databases used in computerized estimating systems and published in hard cover books

Anti-lock brake System (ABS)

a computer controlled system that allows the vehicle to be controlled under heavy braking by releasing hydraulic pressure to wheels that are about to lock up and skid. Sensors located at the wheels monitor rotating wheel speed in relation to other wheels and send the information to a control module. The module in turn, controls a hydraulic modulator, which regulates hydraulic fluid pressure to each brake assembly.

gravity geed

a configuration of spray gun that used a material cup mounted above the air cap. Gravity feeds the material to the air cap

centerline gauge

a device used to measure and detect frame and structural damage. Centering gauges were the best available devices for measuring sway conditions in full frame vehicles, but they have become somewhat obsolete with the development of the Universal Measuring System (UMS)

Ball joint

a suspension component that provides a pivot point, allowing the steering knuckle to move up and down as well as turn in response to steering input. The ball fits into a socket housing that is attached to the control arm and stud on the other end of the ball is attached to the steering knuckle. A dust cover is installed over the ball and socket assembly to keep dirt out and lubricant in.

Actual Cash Value (ACV)

a term used in claims settlements, defined as the cost to replace a vehicle with one of like kind and quality, plus applicable sales tax and license transfer fees

cavity wax

a wax-like material used as a corrosion preventative that is sprayed into doors, rocker panels and other closed body sections

catalyst

added to a paint resin in specified proportions to catalyze (harden) paint

direct damage

also called primary damage, the damage that is caused by the direct contact of the vehicle with the striking or impact force

Digital Multimeter (DMM)

also known as An instrument that measures volts, ohms and amps and displays the results numerically

electro deposition primer

also known as E-coat. The process employed at the OEM level during which the body is electrically negatively charged and the paint positively charged to bond the film. Replacement parts come with an application of E-coat

clip

also known as a body section. The clip can be a front or rear section of a car's body. The front clip would include the bumper, lights, grille, hood and fenders. Rear clips would come with left and right quarters partial floor and the complete roof panel cut at the windshield pillars

full frame

also known as a perimeter frame or ladder frame, the _________ design has faded from use in passenger cars today. However, the resurgence of light trucks and SUVs in the market has caused the _________ design to reappear in repair shops. In the _________ design, the body is a separate unit mounted on the frame

etch primer

also known as wash primer. Contains acid for etching bare steel, aluminum, galvanized or stainless steel. Aids in adhesion, converts existing corrosion, and prevents further corrosion. Eliminates the acid etch/metal conditioning step

flex additive

an elastifier added to paint mixes to allow flexibility in bumper covers or other parts subjected to hard use

centerline

an imaginary line that is projected through the absolute center of the vehicle

datum

an imaginary line that runes below the vehicle establishing a starting line from which height is referenced above and below

elastomeric

any various polymers having elastic properties of natural rubber

Gas-Metal Arc Welder )GMAW)

commonly referred to as Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding equipment

door handles, latches and striker bolt assemblies

door lock and handle assemblies usually consist of the outside door handle and linkage, the inside handle, the inside locking rod and the locking mechanism. There are several types of exterior door handles available On the push-button type, the button presses directly on the lock mechanism to open the door. Another more common type is the lift handle type. When the handle is lifted one or more linking rods operate the lock mechanism

inertia

during a collision, the resistance of the vehicle body to change direction with the impact

energy absorbers

help the bumper system absorb the energy in a minor impact. An energy absorber can be either a piston-style hydraulic or gas-charged device located between the front frame rails and the bumper reinforcement or face bar. It may be an accordion-type metal bracket that, once damaged must be replaced.

HSS

high strength steel

glass installation kit

includes a butyl tape kit, pinch weld primer, and urethane material sufficient to make an I-CAR approved windshield replacement. These kits are required for the replacement of any encapsulated glass on a vehicle.

Betterment

many insurance carries will change the customer for actually providing a part or assembly that is better than what the owner had at the date of loss. This is usually a commonly replaced item that is subject to wear and tear during the life of the vehicle, including tires, batteries, brake linings, shocks and struts.

desiccant

material used to collect moisture. ________ dryers are used to remove water vapor and oil aerosols from compressed air

damage report

often called an appraisal, physical damage report or estimate, it is the official estimate, of damage vehicle. the damage report is usually written at the shop or at an insurance company drive-in claims center. the damage report is generated using a set of industry reference guides that list various repair operations and time recommended for those repair. the damage report forms the basics for the shop's written work order or operational plan.

Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR)

one of the premier collision repair training bodies in the world. Consisting of a consortium of insurance companies, car manufacturers, equipment manufacturer and collision repair operators, I-CAR offers training to technicians around the world

coatings

paint or material applied to a substrate for purposes of protection from weather, corrosion, abrasion or other elements. Also used for appearance considerations. Primers, sealers, color and clearcoats are all ______

crossmember

part of the vehicle frame structure, arranged transversely and attached to the frame rails at each side of the vehicle. Can be removable or welded or riveted in place.

corrosion protection

refers to all of the efforts that carmakers take to keep their vehicles from rusting prematurely. This includes advanced paint systems , using two-sided galvanized sheet metal, undercoating, and corrosion-resistant coatings sprayed inside vehicle body cavities. All of these ________ steps and measures must be replaced or renewed during the vehicle repair operation.

clear coat

the application or presence of a paint product applied over a colored basecoat. The clear coat is designed to protect the color and add to its gloss

Camber

the attitude of a wheel/tire assembly in which, when viewed from the front, the distance between the tops and bottoms of the tires are different. If the distance between the bottoms, positive camber is present.

delaminate

the condition after a collision repair in which a layer or layers of a paint coating peels away from the vehicle

crows feet

the condition of paint, usually lacquer after exposure to weather ad temperature changes refers to the fine cracks which resemble the angular shape of a bird's foot

crash sensors

the devices that work with the control module to discriminate between crash and non-crash events. These sensors measure the severity of the impact. They are set up so that sudden 'negative acceleration' will cause the contacts to close, sending a signal to the control module. The control module checks for a signal from the rear sensor which checks for a signal from the rear sensor which must arrive first to activate the airbag(s)

Constructive Total Loss

the economic decision not to repair a vehicle based on costs other than that of the repair, such as rental reimbursement or diminished value settlements.

Bumper reinforcements

the mounting for the bumper fascia, which is a flexible plastic covering for the front or rear of the vehicle. The fascia can absorb impacts from road debris and minor collisions without showing damage.

fascia

the part of a bumper assembly that covers the energy and load bearing components of the assembly. The fascia is not crucial to the safe operation of the vehicle and is usually designed for cosmetic applications.

function

the performance and operation of a part or assembly

crosslink

the process by which resin molecules link with those of an activator, yielding a new compound (see catalyst)

Atomize

the process of dispersing a liquid material into a mist made up of droplets of uniform size. Spray equipment atomizes paint products

Blend

the process of dispersing color into adjacent panels to minimize the perception of a mismatch in color. Once the color has been blended, the painter usually applies a clear topcoat to the blended panel.

Buff

the process of polishing painted surfaces by hand or with a machine to eliminate surface scratches and to restore gloss. The application of a compound is necessary for this procedure. This is the procedure following the color sand operation.

full panel replacement

the process of removing a damaged body panel at its factory seems and replacing it with a new or salvage part at the identical points

dry stripping

the process of removing paint films without the use of chemicals. Sand blasting, plastic media blasting and soda blasting are all examples of ___________

glass repair

the process of repairing chips or surface scratches in glass. While this repair may be detectable to a degree, it is very cost-effective when compared to a glass replacement

clean-up

the process of repairing minor damage to a salvage part to make it usable in the collision repair process

color sand

the process of sanding, either with water or dry, a new finish to remove dust particles and other contaminants.

Air horns

the protruding points on the air cap of a spray gun

Axle ratio

the ratio between the rotational speed (rpm) of the driveshaft and that of the driven wheel. Gear reduction in final drive is determined by dividing the number of teeth on the ring gear by the number of teeth on the pinion gear

diamond condition

the result of a collision where the impact has forced one side of the frame rail system farther backward or forward than the other. The cross members are pushed out of square with the frame rails resulting in a parallelogram. A__________ is most common in full frame vehicle

actual cost

the specific procedures, parts and materials used in the repair process, documented with photos, invoices, and videotape. This constitutes actual cost as opposed to estimated cost

convolution

the state of a frame rail or other component in which it is shortened in length and folded upon itself like an accordion.

Direct Repair Program

these are arrangements insurance companies establish with collision repair facilities to be preferred providers or members of the insurance company's repair network

clippin

this is a colloquialism for the act of installing a clip to repair collision damage (also known as sectioning)

High-Strength, Low-Alloy (HSLA) steel

this is the stronger than mild steel and is produced with the addition of alloys

collision access time

this is the time required to relieve stress or remove other impediments to the repair. For example, if a damaged hood requires a pull to gain access to the underhood area, that would be considered _______

feather, fill and block

this is to feather-edge or taper the edge of the broken paint film, apply the appropriate primers and/or primer surfacer to fill minor scratches, and block sand to achieve a level surface suitable for color coats. This procedure can also be itemized into its separate components

Bolted parts and assemblies

those components that may be attached to a repaired or replaced panel or assembly. For example, the wiring harnesses, relays and mechanical components attached to a fender apron are considered bolted parts and assemblies.

clips and hardware

those hardware items used to attach moldings, trim and body parts to the vehicle. Some hardware items are listed in estimating guides as parts and may be included in the appraisal as line items

included operations

those labor procedures deemed to included within specific operations. They are detailed in the procedure guides of labor databases. A separate line item charge is not considered appropriate for included operations or procedures

Align

to bring two or more structures into a linear patter with one another

glass setting tape

used on some lift channels or sashes to hold the glass in place. This tape may be of a cloth type or a rubber material. A piece of tape the length of the channel is cut from the roll

Anti-seize compound

used on the threads of fasteners in some applications, such as with stainless steel fasteners to improve corrosion resistance and provide insulation from vibration, which can loosen bolts. It can also provide a barrier to water penetration since the threads are sealed by use of the compound

bend

when the change in the shape of the part between the damaged and undamaged area is smooth and continuous, and can be straightened without permanent deformation.

Butt joint

where two panels are joined end-to-end and welded together.