Do you need a Diagnostic Repair Scan?

So you’ve been in an accident, you’ve gotten estimates, selected your collision repair shop, and you’re ready to have your car back! Your repair technician brought up something called a pre and post collision diagnostic repair scan, but you’re not convinced it’s necessary. So, what do you need to know to make an informed decision?

A diagnostic scan looks for errors in your car’s computer systems.

A diagnostic scan looks at every computer system, sensor, or automatic feature in your car to make sure they’re working right. Today’s vehicles are full of so much technology that they often have hundreds or thousands of computer systems working together to operate things like cruise control, rear backup cameras, blind spot sensors, or lane departure warnings.

 

Virtually every car produced since 1996 can benefit from a scan.

The mid-90s brought us the first car with computer systems that did not trigger dashboard warning lights. The number of computers in cars today is so much higher than the number of dashboard warning lights – there isn’t room to put that many warning lights in a car.

Today’s computer systems are so diverse, they change so rapidly, and they aren’t standard among different auto manufacturers that there isn’t one scanning system that works for every vehicle. They require wireless access

 

Your insurance company may not want to pay.

Insurance companies and auto manufacturers are in disagreement over when diagnostic repair scans are necessary. Most original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), like Ford, Honda, and GM, have released statements saying that diagnostic scans are necessary for most cars after an accident to ensure passenger safety. Insurance companies want more clarity and more specific guidelines so they aren’t paying for unnecessary scans, or scans that don’t find any errors.

 

Auto manufacturers release repair guidelines for every car.

Every auto manufacturer (OEM) releases repair procedures for every make and model of every vehicle they produce. Your repair technician should always follow the OEM repair procedures. If these procedures state that a diagnostic scan is necessary, it’s likely for your safety.

 

If you have questions, don’t be afraid to ask your repair technician or your insurance company!

 

What can you do about diagnostic scans?

You can find many of the official OEM statements regarding diagnostic scans at www.oem1stop.com. If your insurance company states that they won’t pay for a scan and your repair technician says it’s necessary, call your insurance company.

My Bathroom Scale?

As technology advances, vehicles become more and more complex. According to Brian Wayne, of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the new Chrysler Pacifica has over 200 computers built into it!

At the annual NACE expo this summer, a panel of industry professionals representing OEMs and insurance companies discussed the recent official statements of several OEMs regarding the need for diagnostic scans both before and after all collision repairs.

Mike Anderson, owner of of Collision Advice, moderated the panel, which included representatives from State Farm and Farmers Insurance, as well as Audi of America, American Honda, Toyota, Fiat Chrysler, General Motors, Nissan, and Collision Diagnostic Services.

Why Are Scans Necessary?

Because vehicles today are so complex, manufacturers are concerned that the fragile systems inside them won’t function correctly following an accident. Dashboard warning lights exist to warn drivers when something isn’t working properly, but not every system sets off a warning light. Even when warning lights do go off, a scan tool is required to identify the problem.

Some of the systems installed into newer vehicles are there for safety. During the panel, participants discussed the Seat Weight Sensor as an example of one that can easily be thrown off in a collision. This system weighs the front passenger and determines whether it is safe to deploy the front airbag in the case of an accident.

Chris Toby, the panel representative from Honda simplified the issue, comparing the Seat Weight Sensor to a bathroom scale. He said, “Would you throw your bathroom scale against a wall and expect it to weigh you accurately afterward?”

Early in the discussion, Anderson asked, “How would a shop know that there is a problem with a vehicle if there is no dash light? How else can they tell? Can they do a visual inspection?”

Audi rep, Mark Allen, replied, “Those systems are there for safety and collision avoidance. Scan the car.”

Insurance Carrier Opinions

The insurance representatives who were present at the discussion indicated that they would appreciate a little more clarity regarding when scans are actually necessary.

State farm representative, Chris Evans, said, “A scan isn’t always necessary… We don’t always want to have to pay for one. What if you replace something where no embedded technology exists?”

Collision Repair Techs: Stuck in the Middle?

In the panel, all of the vehicle manufacturers discussed recent and upcoming official statements, and all of them support both pre and post collision repair scans. Unfortunately, this leaves collision repair shops in the middle of a battlefield.

Scanning technology, insurance expectations, and safety requirements are not yet standardized across the industry.