Car manufacturers are constantly releasing statements on how to repair their different models. There may be a strict repair procedure for a vehicle made between January – June of one year, but has an entirely different repair procedure than models made in July of that same year. It’s extremely important for repair technicians to follow these repair procedures because it not only keeps you safe but also maintains the overall integrity of the vehicle. The best auto repair technicians know to follow these repair procedures.
Recently, Mazda released a statement on how to perform a bumper repair on their CX3 vehicles. Because of the advanced driver assist systems in today’s modern vehicles, repairing a bumper is nowhere near as simple as what it used to be. Here at Cherry Hill Collision Center, we feel it’s our duty to let New Jersey Mazda car owners like you know about specific repair procedures that a car’s manufacturer releases. Not only will this give you a better understanding of the importance of a shop following OEM repair procedures when repairing your car. But you’ll also feel empowered to make sure your car is being repaired the way it should be.
Car repair requires extensive training from the technicians to be up-to-date on how to work on today’s vehicles. It’s not as simple as dropping your car off at the shop, trusting the technicians will simply know what to do. Auto repair technicians always need to check the car’s manufacturer to see what the latest repair procedures are for each vehicle. It’s incredibly complex and can cause severe, lasting damage to the vehicle if incorrectly repaired. Almost every state in the country doesn’t require technicians to have a license to work on your vehicle, including right here in New Jersey. So, how do you know they are correctly repairing your vehicle? It’s anyone’s guess, but it comes down to where you take your car to be repaired.
ADAS Technologies in the Bumper
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, or ADAS for short, refers to the new technologies in your car designed for safety. Some of the ADAS systems that use sensors behind bumper covers include adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring. These advanced technologies are now commonly seen in today’s vehicles. However, they require specific repair procedures released by your car’s manufacturer to maintain the advanced safety features your vehicle is built with. These are known as OEM repairs, which are the best for your vehicle. They are straight from the manufacturer instructing technicians on how to repair your specific vehicle.
Mazda’s CX3 Bumper Cover Repair Procedures
Although we are specifically discussing bumper repair on the CX3, the diagram below gives you a demonstration of the three different ways Mazda instructs technicians to repair bumpers on the 2019 CX-5:
When technicians approach a repair on a 2019 CX3 bumper cover, there are several OEMs with various levels of warnings. The blind-spot monitoring couldn’t be calibrated if there are obstructions on the bumper. The entire rear bumper would have to be replaced if the area around this specific ADAS system is damaged.
Here’s what Mazda has to say in the 2019 CX-5 repair manual:
“Radar aiming cannot be performed correctly if obstructions which interfere with radar emission are stuck on the blind spot monitoring (BSM) control modules or the rear bumper. Perform the following procedure before performing the radar aiming.
—Verify that there is no water, mud, soiling, sticker adhesion, or repairs done using putty application on the surface of the rear bumper and that there is no mud, soiling, or scratches on the blind spot monitoring (BSM) control modules…If the rear bumper around the BSM control module is damaged, replace the rear bumper.”
The Importance of Following OEM Repair Procedures
The above diagram showed three common bumper repairs require specific OEM repair procedures. What may come as a surprise is despite the importance of these repairs, most technicians will still repair a vehicle their way based on “experience.” However, each repair is unique and comes with its own set of repair procedures. Due to the critical role BSM plays in vehicular safety, this is why repair technicians might need to replace the bumper if there’s any damage.
You want to take your Mazda to a New Jersey auto repair shop that knows to check the OEM repair procedures before they begin any repair for any vehicle. These are the best technicians out there because they know the importance of following OEM repairs. Whenever an auto repair technician repairs a vehicle solely based on “experience,” they can severely damage the ADAS systems your car is built with. Not to mention, the overall structural integrity of the vehicle can also be damaged in the repair process.
Who In New Jersey Knows How To Repair My Mazda The Right Way?
We at Cherry Hill Collision Center are always looking up the latest repair procedures released by car’s manufacturers. Our team of technicians has had extensive training and knows the importance of OEM repairs for your vehicle. We feel we are the best New Jersey has to offer because we know each car repair is unique and we genuinely care for each of our customers.
It can be hard to trust an auto body shop who promises you they’ll give you the best job, especially with the complexity in today’s vehicles. That’s why we encourage you to schedule an appointment or to get an online quote, right here on our website! We are committed to excellence in auto collision repair and to serving you with the highest quality repairs and value because you shouldn’t have anything less.
Feel free to give us a call at anytime at (856)-663-0500. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you in any of your auto repair needs!