CAADE Estimating Repair Costs 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A vehicle's frame has a collapsed rail after a front-end collision. Which measurement method is essential to accurately assess frame damage?
- Visual inspection only
- Three-dimensional measuring using a frame bench or computerized system (Correct answer)
- Tape measure comparison to factory specs
- Plumb bob alignment check
Correct answer: Three-dimensional measuring using a frame bench or computerized system
Three-dimensional computerized measuring systems compare actual vehicle dimensions to factory specifications to detect all frame deviations.
Question 2: What is the purpose of including 'overlap allowances' in a damage estimate?
- To add profit margin to the estimate
- To deduct time for operations already performed when refinishing adjacent panels together (Correct answer)
- To account for paint material waste
- To credit for reused fasteners
Correct answer: To deduct time for operations already performed when refinishing adjacent panels together
Overlap allowances reduce labor time when multiple adjacent panels are refinished together, sharing setup and masking operations.
Question 3: When replacing a airbag module after deployment, which additional cost must always be included?
- Wheel alignment
- Scanning and calibration of the supplemental restraint system (SRS) (Correct answer)
- Radiator flush
- Transmission service
Correct answer: Scanning and calibration of the supplemental restraint system (SRS)
After airbag replacement, the SRS control module must be scanned and calibrated to ensure the system functions correctly.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes 'sublet repairs' on an estimate?
- Work done at a discount by the primary shop
- Specialized work sent to outside vendors, such as glass or alignments, billed as a pass-through (Correct answer)
- Repairs performed by the vehicle owner
- Warranty-covered repairs
Correct answer: Specialized work sent to outside vendors, such as glass or alignments, billed as a pass-through
Sublet repairs are specialty operations outsourced to other facilities (glass shops, alignment centers) and listed as a direct cost on the estimate.
Question 5: An estimator identifies corrosion perforation on a rocker panel during the repair. How should this be handled on the estimate?
- Ignore it as pre-existing and unrelated to the claim
- Document it as a hidden damage supplement requiring additional approval (Correct answer)
- Deduct from the original estimate total
- Write a separate estimate and bill the owner directly
Correct answer: Document it as a hidden damage supplement requiring additional approval
Pre-existing corrosion that becomes apparent during repair is documented as a supplement for insurer approval before additional work proceeds.
Question 6: When estimating the cost to repair a damaged aluminum body panel, why are labor times typically higher than for steel?
- Aluminum is heavier and harder to move
- Aluminum requires specialized tools, skills, and dedicated work areas to prevent contamination (Correct answer)
- Aluminum paint requires more coats
- Insurance companies require additional documentation
Correct answer: Aluminum requires specialized tools, skills, and dedicated work areas to prevent contamination
Aluminum repair requires dedicated tools, separate workspaces, and specially trained technicians to avoid galvanic corrosion and metal contamination.
Question 7: What is the function of the 'P-pages' (procedural pages) in estimating software guides?
- List all paint codes for each vehicle
- Define the rules, inclusions, and exclusions for how labor times are applied (Correct answer)
- Provide VIN decoding information
- Show parts diagrams for ordering
Correct answer: Define the rules, inclusions, and exclusions for how labor times are applied
P-pages outline the methodology, included/excluded operations, and conditions under which labor times in the guide are applied.
CAADE Estimating Repair Costs 3
A vehicle's frame has a collapsed rail after a front-end collision.
Which measurement method is essential to accurately assess frame damage?