Dan Espersen, Author at BodyShop Business - Page 2 of 5
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Repairing Ford Fusion Door Glass

Has this scenario ever occurred in your shop: You make relatively minor repairs to a vehicle and it appears as good as new. A few days later, the owner brings it back and says you missed something. In this example, the driver’s side door glass on a 2009 Ford Fusion is moving slowly and it’s

Fixing Loose GM Garnish Moldings

Often, it’s the small things that eat up time. For example, let’s say you repair a 2010 Buick that had been in a minor fender bender. When you’re done, the owner is happy and drives away. One week later, however, she returns to complain about a poor-fitting interior garnish molding. She’s sure your shop overlooked

Power Window, Moon Roof Initialization on ’09 Toyota 4Runner

Electronic vehicle systems have made vehicles more comfortable and convenient to drive. They’ve also increased vehicle safety immeasurably. In your shop, however, they make complex repairs even more complex. Every vehicle has different initialization and reset procedures for a growing list of systems. Searching for instructions takes time – and money! OE information is a

Fitting the Rear Bumper Cover on 2010 Ford Mustangs

Your technician is installing a brand-new OEM rear bumper cover on a 2010 Ford Mustang but is struggling to properly fit the cover to the quarter panel. He or she has spent several frustrating hours trying to make sure the fit is acceptable and will pass final inspection. Upon completion, you find that the new

Sealing Volkswagen Golf Hood Seams

On a typical busy day in the shop, many vehicle replacement parts are needed. Too often, some of these parts may be superseded, updated, discontinued or modified by the manufacturer. Unless you have access to vital factory Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs), you may not be aware of the changes or updates concerning these parts. The

TECH TIPS: Water Leak in Trunk of GM Vehicle May Affect Radio

Have you ever had a customer schedule a collision repair, but when the vehicle arrives it has certain conditions that may not be related to the collision? Your expertise and experience may tell you that these conditions were probably an issue prior to the accident and that the customer may have never realized they were

TECH TIPS: 2006 Ford F-150, Lincoln Mark LT Cab Side Sectioning

To section or not to section, and where to section – these are the questions we all deal with each day when developing a repair plan for today’s Vehicles. Manufacturers will often publish or update procedures that involve sectioning, welding locations, corrosion protection or recommended equipment for properly repairing and evaluating these vehicles. Throughout our

TECH TIPS: A/C Service Guidelines for GM Hybrids

As more hybrid vehicles start filtering into collision repair facilities, you and your staff will need to focus on the many procedures manufacturers provide to properly handle and repair them. Aside from the complex electrical systems on these vehicles, each one may have a unique mechanical system. For instance, what we may have thought was

TECH TIPS: Engine Undercover Removal Caution for Mazda3, Mazda5

With all the refinements and advanced technology built into today’s vehicles, it’s amazing how technicians, estimators, production managers and parts managers can keep up with the changes and correctly restore vehicles to a safe and accurate condition. If one continues to repair vehicles with outdated practices, parts and procedures, the completed outcome may ultimately affect

TECH TIPS: Fixing a Rattle in the Honda Element Tailgate

It’s the little things that can alter a customer’s perception of a collision repair facility. After you repair a vehicle, the customer may come back with something he or she hadn’t noticed before. It must be your fault, right? Not necessarily! Sometimes a problem already exists with a vehicle, and the only way you could

TECH TIPS: Repairing the ’06-’09 Buick Lucerne Front Door Lock

Too many times during a busy day, we often overlook what may be an important update or new procedure for repairing a vehicle. Manufacturers’ updates, Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) and recalls can offer critical information for the estimator or technician. TSBs help shop personnel keep abreast of common problems or solutions that have been discovered