Page 54 - Australasian Paint & Panel Jan-Feb 2020

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Scanning and recalibration
PAINT&PANEL JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2020
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ago and this year Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) is a requirement.
AEB requires input from multiple com- ponents including radar, camera and LI- DAR to monitor and detect the surround- ings for a potential forward collision and activate the vehicle braking system to de- celerate the vehicle. All without the drivers input.
Today it is the mum and dad cars, the ba- sic types that many believe do not have the modern electronic features that are fast be- coming equipped with very high levels of technology and ADAS systems.
Pre-scanning allows the facility and the insurer to understand the full severity of the damage. Severity issues must include the advanced electronic systems within a vehicle to fully deliver a complete, safe and quality repair. If you are not scanning, then the repair may be compromised.
When a pre-scan is completed the esti- mator is made aware of all the damaged electronics, the level of ADAS and is then provided with information to produce a re- pair plan that recognises all the damage that has occurred. With ADAS equipped vehicles it is sometimes difficult to ascer- tain what systems are in any particular ve- hicle, as they are often different. With ADAS, the level of equipment also deter- mines the calibration requirements and in what order they should be performed.
As with all new technological advance- ments, the ability to understand and adopt any new requirements can be a long pro- cess. Unfortunately, as an industry we are continuously challenged by new technol- ogy that seems to never end and we need to recognise and learn before incorrect de- cisions are made.
As an assessor or an estimator, it is a shared responsibility to recognise and ac- cept that this process must be done where required to ensure the consumer is safe. Regardless of your role, ignoring the issue through excuses that are based on not un- derstanding is not ethical or acceptable.
I-CAR has released numerous online courses that are available to access at any time. These courses provide an awareness of new technologies and the numerous systems in vehicles today. They can be ac- cessed at: i-car.com.au/calendar/
Not knowing or ignoring how to cor- rectly address new technology is no ex- cuse if an incident occurs to the consumer after a repair has been completed.
ADAS IMPLICATIONS AND THE TEXA SOLUTION
ADVANCED DRIVER ASSIST SYSTEMS
(ADAS) are evolving fast and this rapid growth is being stimulated by world standards for stricter safety regulations. More technology means different repair methods and different skills.
Repair shops, glass technicians and mechanics need to be fully aware of their liability firstly to perform the re- pair correctly and secondly to ensure a complete re-establishment and calibra- tion of the ADAS.
If a vehicle is returned to the driver with the systems not calibrated or work- ing properly and no advice has been giv- en to the driver, then there would be se- rious ramifications for the repairer if that vehicle was involved in any form of accident in the future.
TEXA supplies a range of solutions suited to different tasks that is both modular and multi-brand: whether you are involved in smash repair, glass re- placement or electrical/mechanical re- pair tasks. It is essential to provide us- ers with the diagnostic capability to know what problems exist and a step by step guide for repair tasks; and most importantly - a report showing the cor- rect calibration was carried out and it was successful and it met the vehicle’s manufacturer’s own specifications.
This report comes directly from the vehicle’s system providing a 100% guar-
antee that the vehicle’s ADAS systems are working properly after a calibration was carried out.
All TEXA’s tools are designed and manufactured in Italy on modern au- tomated production lines and meet the strict certification ISO TS 16949 for OE suppliers to the automotive manufacturing industry. Its calibra- tion systems are approved by most Australian insurers including IAG and RACQ.
On high tech ADAS equipped cars it is not enough to simple do a pre and post scan. Particularly if involved in an accident, it should (according to the OEMs) have a calibration and test drive carried out to ensure it is not only working but that the other vehicle’s characteristics such as wheel align- ments are also correct.
With more than 90% of new vehicles already having at least one ADAS fea- ture it is now critical that all repairers fully embrace the technology and under- stand their responsibility when repair- ing vehicles.
For a more broader understanding on this technology and the effect on you and your business contact michael@ mbdiagnostics.com.au, terry@mbdiagnostics.com.au or visit: www.mbdiagnostics.com.au