Paintless Dent Repair Dent Assessment and Damage Evaluation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When assessing hail damage, what metric do PDR estimators use to quantify damage?
- Total weight of the hail that fell
- Number of dents per panel and dent severity matrix (Correct answer)
- Age of the vehicle
- Color of the vehicle paint
Correct answer: Number of dents per panel and dent severity matrix
Hail damage is quantified using a dent count per panel combined with a severity matrix rating each dent's size and depth to calculate total repair scope and pricing.
Question 2: What is a 'tension ring' in dent assessment?
- A metal ring used to hold panels during repair
- The area of raised metal surrounding a dent caused by impact tension (Correct answer)
- A tool used to measure dent diameter
- A rubber seal around car door panels
Correct answer: The area of raised metal surrounding a dent caused by impact tension
A tension ring is the ridge of raised metal that surrounds the low point of a dent, formed when the impact pushed metal inward and displaced it outward.
Question 3: Why is backlight important when assessing a dent on a horizontal panel like a hood?
- Backlighting helps warm the paint before repair
- Light shining across the surface at a low angle reveals subtle high and low spots not visible under normal lighting (Correct answer)
- Backlight dries the panel before repair
- Backlighting determines the paint code
Correct answer: Light shining across the surface at a low angle reveals subtle high and low spots not visible under normal lighting
Raking or backlighting at a low angle across horizontal panels creates shadows that reveal subtle surface irregularities and accurately show the extent of damage.
Question 4: What does 'gloss' of the paint surface reveal during dent assessment?
- How recently the car was washed
- Areas of stress or paint stretching that appear as dull spots indicating possible cracking risk (Correct answer)
- The brand of paint used
- Whether the vehicle needs waxing
Correct answer: Areas of stress or paint stretching that appear as dull spots indicating possible cracking risk
Areas where paint has been stressed appear duller than surrounding surfaces, indicating overstretched paint that may crack during PDR if not handled carefully.
Question 5: How should a PDR tech assess a dent located near a body line?
- Body lines never affect PDR difficulty
- Body lines change how metal tension is distributed, making dents near them harder to repair (Correct answer)
- Dents near body lines should always be refused
- Body lines only matter on trucks
Correct answer: Body lines change how metal tension is distributed, making dents near them harder to repair
Body lines create concentrated metal tension that changes how the panel responds to pushing, making dents near or on a body line significantly more difficult to repair correctly.
Question 6: What does a PDR estimator look for when checking for 'prior damage' on a panel?
- Rust on the exterior surface
- Overspray, non-factory panel gaps, paint thickness variation, or waves in the paint surface (Correct answer)
- Aftermarket accessories
- Tire wear patterns
Correct answer: Overspray, non-factory panel gaps, paint thickness variation, or waves in the paint surface
Signs of prior repair include overspray on adjacent panels, inconsistent paint thickness gauge readings, non-factory panel gaps, and waviness in the paint surface.
Paintless Dent Repair Dent Assessment and Damage Evaluation 2
When assessing hail damage, what metric do PDR estimators use to quantify damage?