CAIA Automotive Repair Techniques & Standards 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the correct procedure when a vehicle equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) has its windshield replaced?
- Perform a camera and sensor calibration according to OEM specifications (Correct answer)
- Test the wipers and replace the glass only
- Reset the ADAS system by disconnecting the battery
- No additional steps are required after windshield replacement
Correct answer: Perform a camera and sensor calibration according to OEM specifications
ADAS cameras mounted to the windshield must be recalibrated after replacement to ensure lane-keeping, automatic braking, and other systems function correctly.
Question 2: Which paint system layer is applied directly to bare metal to prevent corrosion before topcoat application?
- Epoxy primer (Correct answer)
- Sealer
- Clearcoat
- Base coat
Correct answer: Epoxy primer
Epoxy primer is applied directly to bare metal because it bonds tightly and provides excellent corrosion resistance as the foundation layer.
Question 3: A technician uses a 'slap hammer' (slide hammer) during a collision repair. What is its primary purpose?
- Pulling dents outward from the back side of a panel (Correct answer)
- Driving panel fasteners into place
- Testing panel alignment by striking the surface
- Removing seized bolts
Correct answer: Pulling dents outward from the back side of a panel
A slap hammer uses sliding weight momentum to pull dents outward when access to the rear of a panel is limited.
Question 4: What is the significance of a 'book time' or 'database time' in collision repair estimating?
- It is the labor time established by estimating systems (like Mitchell or CCC) for a specific repair operation (Correct answer)
- It is the actual time a technician spent on the repair
- It is the maximum time an insurance company will pay for any repair
- It is the time required to order and receive parts
Correct answer: It is the labor time established by estimating systems (like Mitchell or CCC) for a specific repair operation
Book time is the labor time value assigned by estimating database providers for a given repair operation, used as the billing standard across the industry.
Question 5: When inspecting a repaired vehicle, an adjuster finds uneven panel gaps. What does this most likely indicate?
- Improper panel alignment or incomplete structural repair (Correct answer)
- Normal manufacturing variation on the vehicle
- Incorrect paint color matching
- A problem with the vehicle's suspension
Correct answer: Improper panel alignment or incomplete structural repair
Uneven panel gaps indicate the underlying structure was not restored to factory dimensions, causing panels to sit incorrectly.
Question 6: What is 'blend' time in a paint estimate?
- Labor charged to feather new paint into adjacent panels for a seamless color match (Correct answer)
- Time to mix paint to the correct color formula
- The drying time built into a paint estimate
- Time allowed for color sanding the clear coat
Correct answer: Labor charged to feather new paint into adjacent panels for a seamless color match
Blend time covers the labor required to spray paint onto adjacent undamaged panels to gradually transition the new color for an invisible repair.
Question 7: According to most OEM position statements, which components should NEVER be repaired and must always be replaced after a collision?
- Deployed airbags, airbag modules, and seat belt pretensioners (Correct answer)
- Door handles and mirrors
- Non-structural trim panels
- Grilles and fascias
Correct answer: Deployed airbags, airbag modules, and seat belt pretensioners
Deployed airbags, SRS modules with stored crash data, and fired seat belt pretensioners are single-use safety devices that cannot be reliably repaired.
CAIA Automotive Repair Techniques & Standards 4
What is the correct procedure when a vehicle equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) has its windshield replaced?