| Description and Operation In order to correctly determine the extent of the damage caused by an accident, in-depth technical knowledge, practical experience with the technical equipment and the testing and measuring devices is required. Assessment of the extent of the damage includes visual inspection and dimensional inspection of the vehicle. If damage to the chassis geometry is visible even during the visual inspection, the vehicle is to be inspected on an axle alignment jig. Visual recording of the damage From a profitability perspective, the possibility of a sectional replacement must be taken into consideration when assessing the damage to a vehicle damaged in an accident. NOTE:Training courses are offered on this subject. For an overview, please refer to the Ford Service Organisation's training course brochure. Positive accidental damage assessment can only be achieved if the service technician is able to reconstruct the effect of an impact on the body structure. For example: If the impact occurs on the front left-hand side member, the right-hand side member will usually also have been damaged. Often the length of this side member will not have changed, but because of the rigid body design, it may have become deformed. This damage can be detected through the size of the gap between the door and fender or by measuring the vehicle. In the case of more severe impacts, in which the front part of the vehicle cannot absorb all of the impact energy, the passenger cell is also used to absorb the energy. Here, the energy is transferred via the A pillar and distributed there. This results in deformations in the roof and the door sill. NOTE:In order to determine the damage as accurately as possible, it may be necessary to remove ancillary components, such as bumpers and inner fenders. It is possible to draw conclusions about the extent of the damage through a visual inspection of the external damage. In general, the following areas are to be checked during the visual inspection: - Outer panel including seam seals for cracks or flakes in the paint caused by the accident.
- Size of the gap on doors and hoods for evenness.
- The vehicle roof for folds (gap measurement on vehicles with sunroof)
- Dotted flange in door section for deformation and cracked weld spots.
- The side members and crash components for crumpling and folding.
- Trunk floor and floor pan from above and below for crumpling.
Hidden damage In addition to external indicators, such as flaked off paint or cracks in the underbody protection, it is vital to check for deformations that are not visible from the outside (hidden body damage) during a damage assessment. Unless ancillary components are removed, it is often impossible to achieve accurate diagnosis of the underlying body parts. Particular attention must be paid to the following components: - The A, B and C pillars in the roof area.
- Floor pan.
- Rear ancillary components, such as bumper, lights, etc.
- Trunk floor, spare wheel cavity.
- Rear coverings, such as interior trim, carpet, etc.
- Lower rubber seals, e.g. in door area (welded flange).
- Area under the rear seat.
- Attachment points of transmission system, steering, engine, drive shafts, front and rear axles.
- Electrical components, e.g. radio (damage through shaking).
Light commercial vehicles and off-road vehicles The basic body design of light commercial vehicles and off-road vehicles corresponds to a chassis frame with an attached body. Therefore, both vehicle components, the frame and the body, must be checked thoroughly during damage assessment. As with all vehicles, it is important to inspect the impact area and the shock absorbing areas closely for damage. With these vehicles too, simple inspections can also reveal indicators of possible deformations. In addition, you must check for the following for vehicles with frame structures: - Cracks in the paint on the frame welds.
- Traces of deformation on frame components.
- Check attachment points (silent blocks) for position changes and damage.
- Changed position of rubber seals.
- Fit and function of the ancillary components.
Convertible-specific crash characteristics Due to the convertible design, the deformation paths arising during an impact are larger than the actual permanent deformations. In the case of severe impacts to the front or rear end, deformations may even extensively deform the passenger cell with no recognizable permanent damage. This is referred to as a large compression characteristic. NOTE:Visual and functional inspections of the doors and convertible roof must be performed during damage assessment. Adjacent mechanical components may nevertheless be damaged owing to these deformations. The following should particularly be inspected: - Doors and door hinges.
- Lock pins and door guides.
- Cover mechanism.
| 
