If you are about to undergo surgery, how important is it to you that your surgeon studies your case before picking up a knife? Pretty important right? How safe would you feel to learn that your surgeon did not even look at your chart, but instead they performed the surgery just based on how they have done them in the past? That can be a bit unnerving, wouldn’t you say?
Unfortunately, that is just how collision repair goes if you don’t utilize a body shop that takes the time to study the repair procedures prior to working on your car. This isn’t a rare occurrence either, which is why it’s critical you take your car to be repaired somewhere that knows how to repair your car the right way.
All manufacturers, including Chrysler, create specific repair procedures for specific types of damage. Your repair professional has the option to stop and research the proper repair, or take the lazy, dangerous route and just do it the way they think is right.
We at Statesville Collision Center don’t expect any of our customers to study and understand all of these procedures, but we want to highlight the fact that not only do they exist, but we research them and we follow them on every repair. It is important to us that you know, that we know to research and prepare a plan for every repair and document it all.
So, what does Chrysler have to say about removing metal, sectioning, cutting, and welding?
Just last month, FCA’s advanced body development and collision repair manager Dan Black demonstrated how sectioning locations could be found in the OEM repair procedures. During the presentation, Black showed the below diagram detailing different sectioning locations on a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica.
According to Mr. Black with regards to where sectioning should take place, “all those are identified in areas or specific spots where they must be sectioned, but also more important, where not to section,” he told the SCRS Collision Repair OEM Technology Summit Nov. 7, 2019, at SEMA. Some items which must be replaced at factory seams only are “clearly identified,” he said.
“The described sectioning locations only explain joint location and type. All other welds along the sectioned portion of the component must be replaced,” it states. “Squeeze Type Resistance Spot Welding (STRSW) is the method to be used. If accessibility prevents application of spot welds, MIG plug welds are to be used. Welding of structural panels through 3 or more tiers of panel stack-ups will require 9.5 mm. plug welds. Exterior panels should be installed using 6 mm plug welds.”
If these repair guidelines, which are laid out by FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) specifically for technicians are ignored, then it can cause an illegitimate repair. As a result, your safety would be compromised, as your car wouldn’t be able to provide you with the same level of protection in another accident.
Modern vehicles are a unique combination of different materials. When it comes to sectioning and welding on your vehicle, a body shop can easily turn your vehicle into a moving death trap if they mix and match the wrong materials and ignore the best practices laid out by your car’s manufacturer, known as OEM repairs. We wish we could say this rarely happens, but unfortunately, it happens more often than you think. This is why it’s important that you research your local body shops to ensure your car receives the proper, correct and safest repair.
FCA Requirements On Sectioning Repairs
A sectioning repair is precisely how it sounds: part of your car is removed and either replaced with a new part or welded back on, based on what the OEM calls for. One of the most critical aspects of sectioning repair is knowing the exact areas where to section and where not.
FCA not only stated how critical it is for shops to follow these repair procedures. Mr. Black also said during the November presentation:
“If cut at a different location, that repair, we cannot speak for how it will perform.”
Although these repair guidelines are specific to a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica, each vehicle has its own unique set of OEM repairs. However, it’s up to the shop and the technicians receiving the necessary training to be capable of performing these types of repairs. Any auto body shop can make your car look better than what it was coming into the shop on the outside, but that doesn’t mean your car has been fully repaired everywhere the manufacturer outlines. That’s almost the easy part. What separates a good body shop from any other body shop are highly-trained technicians who take the time to repair your car the right way. That is what makes all the difference in the world in a truly safe repair.
This diagram below shows a frame rail on a 2017 Chrystal Pacifica, where the areas in red cannot be sectioned. The other inner bodyside parts would need to be replaced entirely as a whole and not sectioned. we’re showing this diagram as an example of what a technician should/would pay attention to when repairing your vehicle.
Why trust us in your Chrysler repair needs:
We want North Carolina drivers to feel confident in taking their Chrysler vehicle to a body shop who knows how important it is to look up these guidelines before, during, and after any repair. It could mean the difference between your car still being able to keep you safe the way it was designed to or crumble to pieces as soon as it gets into a future collision.
Here at Statesville Collision Center, we are proud to say we are an FCA certified OEM repair shop. This means we know how to repair your Chrysler vehicle exactly as the manufacturer would want us to and we are always current on the latest repair procedures. We also are among the 10% of body shops in the country that are I-CAR Gold Class Trained. We care about our technicians receiving the highest level of training possible so you can provide you with the quality repair that you deserve.
We are always checking OEM repair procedures and understand what it takes to give you the best possible repair out there!
Feel free to give us a call at (704)-881-0410. If you’d like to schedule an appointment or get an online quote, we’re more than happy to help out! We offer these on our website to make the car repair process as stress-free as possible! Just click any of the buttons below to get started!
We look forward to hearing from you!
