Paintless Dent Repair Dent Assessment and Damage Evaluation 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the first step a PDR technician should perform when evaluating a dent?
- Immediately begin pushing from behind
- Inspect paint thickness and surface condition before any repairs (Correct answer)
- Apply heat to the dent area
- Pull the dent with a glue tab to test its depth
Correct answer: Inspect paint thickness and surface condition before any repairs
Before beginning any repair, a technician should evaluate the paint condition, surface integrity, and damage extent to determine if PDR is appropriate.
Question 2: How do PDR technicians use a paint thickness gauge during assessment?
- To measure the depth of a dent
- To detect prior body filler or repaints that would affect PDR suitability (Correct answer)
- To determine the type of steel in the panel
- To calibrate lighting equipment
Correct answer: To detect prior body filler or repaints that would affect PDR suitability
A paint thickness gauge detects areas of thick paint that indicate prior body filler or repaints, which would make PDR difficult or impossible since the paint may crack.
Question 3: What does a 'sharp' dent (as opposed to a 'soft' dent) indicate about repairability?
- Sharp dents are always easier to repair
- Sharp dents have a defined crease that makes repair more challenging and time-consuming (Correct answer)
- Sharp dents indicate the vehicle is made of aluminum
- Sharp dents only appear on hoods
Correct answer: Sharp dents have a defined crease that makes repair more challenging and time-consuming
Sharp dents have a defined crease or fold in the metal that requires more careful, targeted work compared to soft round dents, making them more challenging and time-consuming to repair.
Question 4: What does inspecting the 'reflection' of a dent on a reflective board reveal?
- The color of the original paint
- The exact depth, shape, and high/low spots not visible to the naked eye (Correct answer)
- The type of metal used in the panel
- Whether the vehicle needs alignment
Correct answer: The exact depth, shape, and high/low spots not visible to the naked eye
Using a reflective board, technicians can see distortions in straight lines that reveal the precise topography of the dent including subtle high and low spots invisible to the unaided eye.
Question 5: Which damage type is LEAST suitable for PDR repair?
- A shallow door ding
- A small round hail dent on a hood
- A dent with cracked or chipped paint over it (Correct answer)
- A dent near a panel edge with no paint damage
Correct answer: A dent with cracked or chipped paint over it
A dent with cracked or chipped paint is not suitable for PDR because the repair process could worsen the paint damage, and the original paint is already compromised.
Question 6: How does metal thickness affect dent assessment in PDR?
- Thicker metal is always easier to repair
- Thinner metal dents more easily but also responds more readily to PDR; thicker metal requires more force (Correct answer)
- Metal thickness has no effect on PDR
- Thicker metal always requires glue pulling
Correct answer: Thinner metal dents more easily but also responds more readily to PDR; thicker metal requires more force
Thinner metal panels dent more easily but also respond well to PDR pressure; thicker metal requires greater pushing force and may be more resistant to returning to shape.
