Component Tests and General Diagnostics
Accident Damage And Diagnosis
General notes:
- Exact diagnosis of the extent of the damage enables proper repair planning
- All body repairs must be carried out in accordance with the guidelines in this Body Repair Manual
- The stability and strength properties of the body must be taken into account during body repairs. The body has exact defined deformation patterns that must not be affected by any repair work
- For instance, the crumple zones absorb the bulk of the impact energy. If any unprofessional repair techniques or methods are used in these areas then this can pose a fundamental threat to vehicle safety
Hidden damage:
- As well as looking at external indicators like flaked off paint, it is vital to check for hidden body damage or deformation that is not visible from the outside. Large attached parts like bumpers and inner fenders often need to be removed to allow accurate assessment of damage to underlying body parts
- Gap dimensions offer another alternative for diagnosis by visual inspection. If any changes or misaligned edges are apparent, then this usually indicates that the dimensions of the affected part are incorrect
Impact effects on the body
It is possible to deduce the overall extent of damage from the direction and magnitude of the impact forces. This does however require extensive body-specific knowledge.
If, for instance, an impact occurs at the front left-hand side member, then the right-hand side member is usually also affected as a result of the rigid body-shell design (crossmember). Often the length of this side member will not have changed, but because of the rigid body-shell design it may have moved from its original position (often only by a very small amount). If any deviations are present this can usually be detected by checking the gap dimensions between door and fender or by checking for changes in dimension.
In the case of more severe impacts, the front part of the body cannot absorb all of the impact energy, and the passenger cell is also deformed. Here the impact energy is transferred via the side member to the A-pillar. This results in deformations in the area of the roof and the door rocker panel.
Obtaining spare parts
The availability of spare parts often determines how easily the body repairs can be carried out. The following procedure is recommended:
- Obtain all the data for the vehicle, including type, vehicle identification number, trim code, engine identification letters, initial registration etc
- Establish all of the metal parts that need to be renewed
- Establish all of the attached parts that need to be renewed, including small parts like rivets, clips etc
Equipment
All Jaguar approved body repair facilities are expected to be equipped in line with Jaguar Body and Paint Centre of Excellence Operating Standards.
The approved body equipment for the all new XJ aluminium range is listed as either:
- Category A
- Category B
All approved equipment is available on a Worldwide basis from:
A copy of the approved equipment standards for category 'A' and 'B' repair facilities is available on request from:
Jaguar Equipment Programme (JEP)
Unit 6
Wollaston Crescent
Burnt Mills Industrial Estate
Basildon
Essex
SS13 1QD
0800 214390
Alternatively, you can access the programme via the website: www.eqseurope.com