CAIA Automotive Repair Techniques & Standards 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A collision repair shop invoices for 'setup time' on a frame pull. What does this charge cover?
- Time to anchor the vehicle, attach pulling equipment, and configure the measuring system (Correct answer)
- The cost of renting the frame rack
- Labor to remove damaged frame rails
- Time spent ordering replacement parts
Correct answer: Time to anchor the vehicle, attach pulling equipment, and configure the measuring system
Setup time covers the labor involved in securing the vehicle to the frame rack and configuring measurement and pulling equipment before straightening begins.
Question 2: What repair technique is used to repair minor dents without disturbing the factory paint finish?
- Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) (Correct answer)
- Body filler application
- Panel replacement
- Heat shrinking
Correct answer: Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)
PDR uses specialized tools to massage dents from behind the panel, restoring the shape while preserving the original paint.
Question 3: When evaluating a repair on a vehicle with a space frame or aluminum-intensive structure, why is cross-contamination a critical concern?
- Steel particles contacting aluminum cause galvanic corrosion, weakening the structure (Correct answer)
- Aluminum reflects heat away from the welding area
- Steel tools cannot be used on aluminum panels
- Cross-contamination only affects paint adhesion, not structure
Correct answer: Steel particles contacting aluminum cause galvanic corrosion, weakening the structure
When steel particles contact aluminum in the presence of moisture, galvanic corrosion occurs, rapidly degrading the aluminum structure.
Question 4: A vehicle has a kinked frame rail. Under what circumstance would an adjuster recommend total loss rather than repair?
- When repair costs approach or exceed the vehicle's actual cash value (ACV) (Correct answer)
- When the kink is located in the rear of the vehicle
- When the vehicle is more than five years old
- When the frame rail is made of high-strength steel
Correct answer: When repair costs approach or exceed the vehicle's actual cash value (ACV)
A vehicle is typically declared a total loss when the estimated repair cost meets or exceeds the ACV, making repair economically impractical.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a 'teardown' or 'blueprint' estimate in collision repair?
- A detailed estimate created after full disassembly to document all damage before any repair begins (Correct answer)
- An initial drive-by estimate at the scene of the accident
- A final invoice submitted after repairs are complete
- An estimate produced using only digital photo analysis
Correct answer: A detailed estimate created after full disassembly to document all damage before any repair begins
A teardown or blueprint estimate is written after complete disassembly, providing the most accurate and comprehensive damage assessment before repair authorization.
Question 6: Which standard governs acceptable color match tolerances when repainting a vehicle panel during collision repair?
- Industry consensus and OEM paint manufacturer guidelines define acceptable visual color match under standardized lighting (Correct answer)
- The color must be an exact spectrophotometer match with zero deviation
- Any color within two shades is acceptable by federal law
- Color match standards are determined solely by the vehicle owner
Correct answer: Industry consensus and OEM paint manufacturer guidelines define acceptable visual color match under standardized lighting
Acceptable color match is evaluated visually under standardized lighting conditions per paint manufacturer and industry guidelines, not an absolute zero-deviation standard.
Question 7: When a shop performs a 'rough-out' on a damaged quarter panel, what has been accomplished?
- The panel has been pushed or pulled close to its original shape before finish straightening begins (Correct answer)
- The damaged panel has been completely replaced
- The panel has been sanded and primed for painting
- Measurements have been taken but no physical repair has started
Correct answer: The panel has been pushed or pulled close to its original shape before finish straightening begins
Rough-out is the initial straightening phase that brings severely deformed metal close to its original contour before fine metal finishing work.
CAIA Automotive Repair Techniques & Standards 5
A collision repair shop invoices for 'setup time' on a frame pull.
What does this charge cover?