Have you just dropped off your Honda or Acura vehicle to Autotech Collision Service to be repaired? Well, keep reading. Honda recently released a statement specifically for any Honda or Acura owner. We read it and compiled it down to what you need to know about Honda’s newest position on scanning and how it will affect your repair.
First of all, your Honda is most likely equipped with very advanced in-car safety technologies called ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems). These used only to be seen in luxury vehicles. Now every car built from 2016 onward has at least a backup camera, electronic stability control. In addition, most of these vehicles also come equipped with lane departure assist and front collision warning.
Honda insists that all of their vehicles get a diagnostic scan at the beginning and end of the repair process. This is important because not all New Jersey body shops do this, let alone ones in Southern New Jersey. However, we are Honda and Acura certified, which means we only repair your car exactly as the manufacturer tells us to. This statement may have just been released, but we’re already making these adjustments in our repairs. You can read a copy of the statement below.
Performing a diagnostic scan at the beginning and end of the repair is important because Honda makes it known in this position statement that although the car is not flashing “idiot lights” on the dash, it does not mean that all systems are working properly. You could have damaged components or non-functioning safety equipment, and you would only know this by scanning the vehicle. Honda reserves the dash warning indicators for vehicle information for the driver, and are not designed to alert a technician to a fault code. An example of this could be the airbag control module. In order to catch an airbag control fault code, it may require a thorough scan instead of just a visual inspection of the warning lights.
Here are Honda’s exact words on scanning:
It is the position of American Honda that all vehicles* involved in a collision† must have the following minimum diagnostic scans, inspections, and/or calibrations done to avoid improper repair:
• A preliminary diagnostic scan during the repair estimation phase to determine what diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) may be present, so proper repairs may be included.
- A post-repair diagnostic scan to confirm that no DTCs remain.
- Any repair that requires disconnection of electrical components to perform the repair will need a post-repair diagnostic scan to verify if the component is reconnected correctly and functioning.
- Damage that requires the replacement of body parts will always require a post-repair diagnostic scan.
Honda model years impacted by this position statement
According to Honda, this requirement for pre- and post-repair scanning is true of all Honda and Acura vehicles dating back to 1996 and even some as far back as 1992.
Furthermore, Honda states that some systems will require inspections, calibration, and/or aiming after a collision or other body repairs have been made.
When a technician hooks up a scanner to your car’s diagnostic port, several codes appear to give the technician a vantage point on where to begin the repair. These are known as the Diagnostic Trouble Code, or DTC for short.
Honda’s position on recalibrations:
Honda states that some systems will require inspections, calibration, and/or aiming after a collision or other body repairs have been made. Honda has a list of safety systems and features that must be re-calibrated after collision repairs are made. These include:
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Collision Mitigation Braking SystemTM (CMBSTM)
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
- Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
- Blind Spot Information (BSI)
- LaneWatchTM (Honda Only)
- Multi-View Camera System (MVCS – Acura Only)
This means that these systems, in particular, need not only a scan but also a complete recalibration of the systems. This can be a very time-consuming process and may require a trip to the dealer for recalibrations. In cases where this is needed, we handle that for you as part of the repair process, and you may see “dealer recalibrations” in your estimate.
Honda’s rule on what software is used for the scans
Honda went a step further and limited the scanning software that is allowed to scan a vehicle to Honda’s i-HDS software. What this means is that any old scanner will not work and it is one more investment a shop needs to make, or risks putting their customer’s lives at risk by not being able to pull up a hidden trouble code.
So, what does all this mean for Palmdale Honda owners, specifically?
Chances are, you or someone you know drives a Honda, considering it was the best-selling car and light truck model worldwide in 2018. If the Honda has been damaged in a collision, it is really imperative to take it to a shop who is not only certified in Honda repair procedures, but also has the right equipment and is staying up to date on all position statements, just like this one.
Honda’s statement about using i-HDs software was released just this month (May). The most knowledgeable repair technicians have already been implementing in these updates to their methods for repairing Honda’s. You want to take your Honda to be repaired somewhere that follows OEM procedures and is up to date on everything that has to do with the vehicle you drive. We here at Autotech Collision Service have OEM Certifications with over a dozen different car manufacturers, including Honda’s OEM Certification and Acura’s Pro First OEM Certification. You can trust that our technicians know exactly what they are doing and will only repair your car exactly as the manufacturer instructs us to.
We have also been proudly serving Southern New Jersey for nearly 30 years and aren’t stopping anytime soon. Feel free to call us at (856)-232-1833.
For a copy of Honda’s 2019 position statement on scanning, click here.
Need some Honda collision repair? We are here to help you! Feel free to call us, email, or visit our location in Sewell, New Jersey. Click our contact us page for more information.
