IMPACT DIAGNOSIS

This chapter is designed to point out the most practical and correct ways to allow body repairers to obtain the best results.

Before starting to repair a vehicle, even one which is only slightly damaged, it is necessary to carry out a series of checks.

The first stage is to analyse the type of impact which has caused the damage and then the operations required to repair the vehicle.

The examination of the parts of the bodyshell structure which have been damaged, the possibility of repairing them or the need to replace them means that it is necessary to produce both an estimate of the repair costs and to decide the order of the

repair operations in order to optimize the repair time.

A preliminary check involves a series of dimensional checks being carried out, not designed to measure specific distances, but to assess the deformation suffered by the bodyshell.

Jigs should be used for these checks on the diagonals for the engine and luggage compartments, passenger compartment, windscreen and rearscreen housings and door housings.