Back in 2018, Volkswagen sold nearly 60,000 Atlas SUVs, doubling their sales from 2017. In the past few years, cars have gotten incredibly advanced with their built-in safety technology and mixed materials. Although this is the new normal for how cars are manufactured nowadays most body shops will repair cars the way they have for years. However, Volkswagen, along with any other car manufacturer, has specific repair procedures for technicians to follow when working on your car to ensure your vehicle can protect you the way it was designed to.
You might be wondering just how necessary these repair procedures are, especially if you were only slightly tapped from behind in a busy parking lot. However, since the 2018 Atlas is equipped with ADAS technologies throughout the car, following the manufacturer repair procedures are the only way to go.
Here at Autotech Collision Service, we make it a point to inform Sewell drivers about the different repairs out there for their cars. That way, you will know what to look for when you get an estimate back from a body shop. When it comes to repairing the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, the repairs we discuss below are absolutely necessary to ensure your car receives the proper repair. Otherwise, that shop will be putting your safety at risk.
Calibration requirements for Volkswagen:
One of the newest repair procedures required for cars equipped with advanced safety technology (commonly known as ADAS) is something known as calibration. These systems are composed of a variety of different ultrasonic, radar, and camera sensors. Calibration is a necessary procedure to check if these systems are working the way they should be.
AAA defines ADAS calibration as “…a process carried out to correctly align the cameras and sensors of a car so its ADAS systems can work as intended.” Calibration requires specialized equipment and tools performed by highly trained technicians capable of adjusting or setting these systems.
Because the Atlas has many different sensors placed throughout the car, calibration is a mandatory procedure. If you don’t see calibration on your repair estimate, then your safety is at risk.
Here at the different sensors in the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and when calibration would be necessary for each sensor:
-Front radar sensor behind the VW emblem on the grille, referred by Volkswagen as the “Distance Regulation Control Module.”
Calibration for this radar would be required if:
- Radiator core support system procedure was performed
- Radiator core support was removed and inspected (R&I) or removed and replaced (R&R)
- Rear-axle toe is adjusted
- Changes were made to the suspension, affecting the vehicle’s height
-There are two radar sensors located on the left and right of the rear bumper. These sensors are part of the rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot detection systems.
Unlike the other systems in the car, these sensors typically calibrate automatically. However, if any Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) appear, static calibration will be required. DTCs will show up when a technician hooks up a scanner to your car’s diagnostic port to provide a vantage point on what needs repair.
-There is an optional camera sensor in the front grille, part of the peripheral of the 360-degree camera system in the vehicle. The 360-degree camera system also includes cameras on the side rearview mirrors and the liftgate.
Calibration for the 360-degree camera system would be required if:
- Camera replacement
- Certain changes in ride height (such as the suspension)
- Wheel alignment
-There is an optional Driver Assistance Camera near the rearview mirror. This camera assists in lane departure warning, pedestrian detection, and collision warning and braking. According to Volkswagen, “static calibration of the forward-facing camera requires an alignment rack.” A static calibration ensures these sensors are directionally proportionate to their original design.
Calibration for the Driver Assistance Camera is required if:
- The control module is not correctly programmed
- The Driver Assistance Systems Front Camera was replaced
- The windshield was removed or replaced (R&R)
- The rear axle toe was adjusted
- Work was performed on the chassis (since this influences the height of the car)
- The level control system sensor was readapted on vehicles with dampening regulation.
Additional reasons why following VW repair procedures are necessary:
Volkswagen also has various sectioning and welding procedures across different areas on the 2018 Atlas. In case you didn’t know, welding and sectioning repairs are all about where a technician can cut, weld, replace, or section different parts of your car (depending on what the manufacturer tells them).
Part of what makes the Atlas unique is Volkswagen states there are many sectioning and replacement areas on the car that can be chosen “depending on the damage.” Of course, there are still welding requirements that a technician must look up, despite the many areas where sectioning is allowed in the car. Just because a vehicle is manufactured a certain way, doesn’t mean it should be repaired this same way. A lot of body shops make this mistake, assuming a good repair is restoring your car back to factory conditions. This is not necessarily the case, which is why a shop must look up the manufacturer’s repair procedures to know precisely where they can cut, weld, replace, or section.
The roof on the 2018 Atlas was laser welded. Now, lasers aren’t something you’d find even in the best body shops (for now). Because of this, Volkswagen has specific requirements during a replacement procedure requiring the roof to be cut off at the laser welds. If a shop chooses to ignore these repair procedures, your roof would only have a band-aid level repair and would be unable to protect you in case you’re in an accident. Think about that: you wouldn’t want to be driving in a car that had a bad roof repair, right? Most shops will repair the roof on your vehicle the same way they would for every other car in their shop. It takes a highly trained technician to know how to do a proper repair.
Why trust us with you Volkswagen repair needs:
Here at Autotech Collision Service, we are a Volkswagen OEM certified repair shop located in Sewell, New Jersey. Not every auto body shop is OEM certified or follows the repair procedures laid out by Volkswagen. We are because we care about your safety and giving you a safe quality repair that is done the right way.
When a shop becomes OEM certified in a particular vehicle brand, they are committed to becoming experts in every to do with repairing vehicles made by that manufacturer. We have over a dozen OEM certifications because we refuse to put our customer’s life at risk due to an illegitimate repair. Any auto repair shop can make your car look “fixed” and brand new, but only an OEM certified repair shop does it the right way.
We have been proudly serving Southern New Jersey for nearly 30 years and aren’t stopping anytime soon. We pride ourselves in providing Southern New Jersey drivers with the highest quality OEM repairs because that’s what you deserve out of an auto body repair shop.
If you’d like to schedule an appointment or to get an online quote, click any of the buttons below! Or, feel free to give us a call at (856)-232-1833. We look forward to hearing from you!
