Damage Analysis and Estimating Flashcards
7 cards from real CAA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Damage Analysis and Estimating flashcards as text
A B-pillar made of ultra-high-strength boron steel is damaged. What does the OEM usually require?
Answer: Replace it at factory seams or approved sectioning locations only, following OEM procedures
Most OEMs prohibit heating or straightening boron and UHSS parts, and require replacement only at specified locations.
Why must aluminum body repairs be done with tools that are kept separate from steel repair tools?
Answer: Steel particles on aluminum can cause galvanic corrosion
Steel contamination embedded in aluminum creates galvanic corrosion, so dedicated tools and work areas are required.
Why are pre-repair and post-repair diagnostic scans commonly included on estimates for late-model vehicles?
Answer: To find and confirm the clearing of fault codes in safety and electronic systems that are not visible
Scans reveal stored diagnostic trouble codes in modules such as ADAS and SRS that a visual inspection cannot detect.
A windshield with a forward-facing camera for lane-keeping assist is replaced. What additional operation is typically required?
Answer: ADAS camera calibration
Replacing a windshield that holds an ADAS camera usually requires static and/or dynamic calibration under OEM procedures.
An appraiser uses a paint thickness (mil) gauge on a used vehicle and gets readings much higher on one door than on the rest. This most likely means:
Answer: The door has been previously repaired or refinished
Unusually high film-build readings suggest the panel has been refinished or has body filler underneath.
After welding a replacement quarter panel, which operation restores factory corrosion protection inside enclosed sections?
Answer: Applying cavity wax or anti-corrosion compound
Welding burns off factory coatings, so cavity wax or corrosion compound must be applied to inner surfaces as OEM directs.
When deciding between repairing and replacing a damaged steel fender, which factor matters most?
Answer: Whether repair labor and materials cost more than replacement, and whether a quality repair is achievable
Repair-versus-replace decisions balance the cost of repair against replacement while making sure the repaired part meets quality and safety standards.