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Jake Rodenroth of asTech on Vehicle Tech’s Relation to Collision Repair Diagnostics

Telematics, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and OEM repair procedures are all predicted to significantly impact the way vehicles are repaired in the future, according to Jake Rodenroth, director of OEM and industry technical relations for asTech.

During a virtual presentation co-sponsored by the Nebraska Auto Body Association (NABA) and the Kansas Auto Body Association (KABA), Rodenroth shared insight about several vehicle technologies and how they relate to collision repair diagnostics. He also discussed some of the future concerns technicians will likely face.

Diagnostics

In the evolving landscape of vehicle diagnostics, Rodenroth said body shops must recognize the difference between collision diagnostics and mechanical diagnostics.

“Collision repair technicians and mechanical technicians will look at the same vehicle from a very different perspective,” said Rodenroth. Speaking from firsthand experience working as a master technician for a large OEM in his earlier career, he shared the difference between the two.

On the mechanical side, most of the repairs revolve around a concern or the vehicle’s maintenance schedule.

“The technician’s job is to identify the cause of that concern and then recommend the correction or repair on the vehicle,” said Rodrenroth.

Since many mechanical repairs are routine, he said the correction is usually predictable. Therefore, a variety of tools can be used to access the systems responsible for the cause. Ultimately, mechanical diagnostics comes down to first identifying the concern, and then the cause and correction.

In comparison, collision diagnostics involves having technicians first confirm the vehicle model and trim level and then determining the cause and correction. It also involves inspecting the severity of damage by confirming body specification and suspension geometry using pre-alignments and 3D measuring systems. “The trim level designates how many features and control modules it has,” said Rodenroth. “All collisions are inheritably different and there is nothing routine about each vehicle repair.”

Often dealing with the newest vehicles in the worst shape, technicians need access to all vehicle control modules and features to ensure a safe and proper repair. Welding and painting operations, as well as vehicle disassembly, may impact the vehicle control systems. In addition, many labor operations require ADAS calibration.

“After a collision, we should be really focused on making sure we see all of the modules and identify all of the problems as proactively as possible,” said Rodenroth.

OEM Repair Procedures & Scan Tools

Although some collision repair technicians turn to YouTube when looking for information to repair a vehicle, Rodenroth highly advises checking the OEM repair procedures.

“I feel like we learn on every car,” he said. “We have to humble ourselves and research what is involved so you can get it right. You’ll be amazed at what you’ll find,” he said.

He recommends starting small and researching how to remove a bumper cover, disconnect a battery or perform a four-wheel alignment.

Increasingly, Rodenroth said, dealer groups, OEM certified repair shops and many independent facilities are committed to following OEM procedures.

Rodenroth encourages technicians to use the scan tools identified in the service manual to ensure the repair is completed correctly and can be defended if necessary.

Some shops use aftermarket tools to help keep costs down, but Rodenroth cautioned they might not capture everything regarding scanning and diagnostics.

“Scan tools aren’t magic wands,” he said. “They don’t just fix the problem for you. We need to figure it out. Only the combination of the correct tools, the OEM service manual and a trained technician can repair a vehicle effectively.”

When it comes to invoicing, Rodenroth recommends itemizing everything done with the vehicle, and says this is especially important with ADAS calibration.

He advises shops to research the marketplace and identify the price of scans being charged and the tooling used.

My SEMA Rodenroth estimates the current market value of a scan is $50 while with Stacey Phillips OEM diagnostics, whether done by a dealer, mobile vendor or another third-party, averages about $120.

New Customers, Telematics & Over

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