Case in point - several months ago I was visiting Marco Mamoine of Marco's Autobody in San Gabriel, Calif. Mamoine is one of the most thorough repairers I've ever met. I remember once watching him torque the rear bolts on the rear subframe on a BMW. When he was finished, per BMW guidelines, he marked each bolt head with red paint. I don't think the mechanics at a BMW dealership go that far.
When I got to his shop, he and his mechanic were working on a 2010 Toyota Corolla. They were preparing to access the front frame rail by removing the engine. Both men had screwdrivers, small picks, lights, mirrors, etc. on a service cart next to the car. They were attempting to remove the engine wire loom attached to the fuse box on the left apron. They couldn't locate the release for the wire loom. After several frustrating minutes, Mamoine turned to the removal procedures on Toyota's Technical Information System (TIS) at www.techinfo.toyota.com.
We couldn't find the information we wanted in the collision section, but it was in the mechanical area. It turns out, on the fuse box there are two black wires attached with 10mm nuts. Once you remove the nuts and three connectors, the entire engine wire loom comes off. Yes, two wires hold this entire unit.
Even the best, most knowledgeable repairers need to review the latest repair procedures before starting work. If you're still not convinced and think you already know enough to perform any repair, try this quiz. All the answers appear at the end of this article.Question 1: How many SRS sensors are in a 2010 Toyota Camry?
A. 6
Question 2: Technician A states that SRS pig tail on Toyotas is not repairable. Technician B maintains that Toyota allows repairs to the SRS wiring and a special kit is available. Who is correct?
A. Tech A
Question 3: A 2009 Toyota Camry is damaged in a collision. Technician A says Toyota Collision Repair Information Bulletin (CRIB) #175 (Revised) states that the HSS occupant cabin reinforcement is repairable without heat. Technician B states the HSS occupant reinforcement repairs are not recommended. Who is correct?
A. Tech A
Question 4: Technician A says Toyota CRIB # 170 states that adhesion promoter is recommended on all OEM raw plastic bumpers. Tech B states that flex additive is a substitute for adhesion promoter. Who is correct?
A. Tech A
Question 5: Technician A states that Toyota does not approve of reconditioning wheels. Tech B says Toyota CRIB # 154 states that no refinishing of an OEM wheel is permitted. Who is correct?
A. Tech A
Question 6: A HSS replacement part is being welded. Technician A states that MIG welding is acceptable. Technician B states that STSW is acceptable? Who is correct?
A. Tech A
Question 7: A HSS replacement part is being welded into place. Technician A states that ER70S6 should be used on frame replacement parts. Technician B states that ER70S3 should be used for unibody components. Who is correct?
A. Tech A
Question 8: A new hood is being replaced on a 2009 Toyota Camry. Technician A states that cavity wax is applied to the hood after painting. Technician B states that a soft chip primer is applied to lower front section of the hood. Who is correct?
A. Tech A
Fig. 1 is an inner frame rail on a 2007 Toyota Camry. Point A is the front part of the rail. Points B and C are laser welds.
Question 9: What kind of section joint is used when sectioning the rail in Fig. 1?
A. Tapered fillet
Question 10: Technician A states that Toyota has a partial replacement part procedure for the inner rail. Technician B states that locations B and C, according to the Toyota Repair Manual, are section locations. Who is correct in this instance?
A. Tech A
Question 11: Point A on the rail has minor damage. Technician A states that, according to the Toyota Repair Manual, the rail can be heated to 1150 degrees Fahrenheit using just an induction heater. Technician B states that cold straighten is allowed by Toyota on HSS. Who is correct?
A. Tech A
Question 12: A Quarter panel is being replaced on a 2009 Toyota Camry. Technician A states that Toyota CRIB #176 (revised) allows the use of adhesive bonding and weld bonding. Technician B says adhesive is used between the outer panel and the outer wheelhouse panel. Who is correct?
A. Tech A
Question 13: A Quarter panel is being replaced on a 2009 Toyota Camry. Technician A states that MIG brazing is used at the joint near the package tray. Technician B states that an oxy-acetylene torch with flux brass can be used. Who is correct?
A. Tech A
Question 14: A 2010 Camry has suffered severe damage to the rear of the vehicle. Technician A states in CRIB #122 that rear body sectioning recommended because it uses less welds and preserves more factory welds and corrosion protection. Technician B states in CRIB # 157 that the OEM warranty is still valid with used OEM salvage parts, but is not covered with "imitation counterfeit" parts. Who is correct?
A. Tech A only
Question 15: A center post is being replaced on a 2010 Camry. Technician A states that the B-pillar reinforcement is sectioned 35mm above a reference point as per the repair procedures manual. Technician B says that butt weld with backer is used. Who is correct?
A. Tech A
Check your responses with this answer key:
1.d 2.a 3.b 4.a 5.a 6.c 7.d 8.c 9.c 10.d 11.b 12.b 13.a 14.d 15.d
If you didn't do as well as you thought, that certainly doesn't make you a bad repairer. It means that you need to be better prepared. The available OEM repair information is out there. Use it.
