Two years ago, Ford was the top-selling brand in North America for the ninth consecutive year and sold close to 2,500,000 vehicles. Within the first quarter of 2019, there was a 10% increase in Lincoln Navigator sales and a 62% increase in Ford Expedition sales. We are now in 2020 and Ford continues to lead the pack of car manufacturers.
Here at 3D Collision Centers, we feel customers deserve to know what car manufacturers have to say about repairing their vehicles. That way, you feel more confident going into the repair process knowing what your car needs. In this blog, we’re going to discuss what Ford has to say about repairing their 2019 Expedition or Lincoln Navigator.
There’s no shortcut to proper collision repair, which is why it’s critical for a body shop to follow these repair procedures that have your safety as the number one priority. Not to mention, Pennsylvania doesn’t require technicians to be licensed to work on your car, which is why the more knowledge you have about your car repair, the better. There was also a recent video from I-CAR 360 was released highlighting various repair procedures on both the Expedition and Navigator. Whether or not a shop choose to follow these procedures can ultimately mean the difference between a safe and correct repair versus one that could put your life at risk
Both the 2019 Lincoln Navigator and Ford Expedition are aluminum vehicles. A few years ago Ford revolutionized light-duty pickup truck construction by building the industry’s first all-aluminum truck body. Now the aluminum construction has expanded into the large SUV segment of their lineup. This is very important to note because aluminum is repaired differently than steel and not every auto body shop is equipped with the tools or training to repair an all-aluminum vehicle.
This also means that Ford and Lincoln insist that their repairs are done in a particular way that is different than the way they left the factory.
Why does this matter to you?
Every autobody shop and every technician has a choice when repairing a car. They can either take the time (which isn’t even that long) to look up the proper repair procedure from the manufacturer. Or, they can look at how the vehicle was constructed and guess how to make the repair look like it was a factory installation. A few years ago, this was standard practice. But now, the manufacturers are saying that in some instances the way you fix them is different from the way we built them, and it is a safety reason that is done that way. Technicians are not engineers, the manufacturers are. The reason for pointing this information out to you is so that you are made aware that not every shop performs repair the same way.
What does Ford say about repairing the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator?
For the 2019 Ford Expedition/Lincoln Navigator, Ford has specific repair procedures on how to properly repair the aluminum-bodied vehicles for any type of repair that might be needed on your car. For instance, Ford requires calibration anywhere there is a sensor or camera on the Expedition/Navigator. Taking this step ensures everything is working the way it should, which is why Ford makes it a requirement when repairing any of their vehicles.
Many shops will skip over this step because they assume if there aren’t any lights appearing on your dashboard, then everything is working. However, a skilled technician knows just because no warning lights are appearing, it doesn’t mean there aren’t any problems. Calibration involves a technician hooking up a computer to your car’s diagnostic port, where different codes known as DTCs (Diagnostic Trouble Codes) would appear. These tell the technician what’s wrong, what needs fixing, and what is working.
Below, you’ll find a list of the different safety systems on the Expedition and Navigator:
- Inside the front bumper are the front parking assist sensors.
- Behind the front bumper is the adaptive cruise control sensor.
- The camera in the front windshield is part of the Lane-Keeping System (LKS).
- The rear bumper has rear parking assist sensors.
- Blindspot radar sensors are located on the corner of the bumper. Debris (such as mud, snow, ice, etc.) might prevent functionality.
- If either vehicle is equipped with a 360-degree camera system, there will be cameras located in the mirror and grill that will work with the backup camera.
It’s important to note that if any cameras, bumpers, or even the windshield are removed or replaced at any time during the repair, calibration will be required.
Other areas that have different repair procedures:
In addition to the above areas, there are several different sectioning repair procedures for the Expedition and Navigator. One example is if a technician is repairing the Expeditor or Navigator from the B-Pillar towards the front of the car. Ford instructs technicians to follow the same repair procedures as the ones laid out for an F-150, specifically for this area. The key is making sure a technician knows the exact areas where this is applicable and where it is not. Otherwise, you might end up with a repair that made for a different car, and your car is no better than covering a gunshot wound with a bandaid.
Who in Pennsylvania knows how to repair my Ford Expedition or Lincoln Navigator?
Here at 3D Collision Centers, we are a team of dedicated, trained technicians who are determined to make the repair process as stress-free as possible. We know you have many options when choosing where to take your car, including places your insurance company is encouraging you to go. We feel we are the best option Pennsylvania has to offer because we know how to repair a car the right way.
We are also proud to say that we are among the 10% of auto body repair shops in the country that are I-CAR Gold Class trained. This is especially important when looking for the best place to take your car to be repaired when technicians aren’t legally required to follow OEM repair procedures. They can do whatever they want to your car and as a result, you get a repair that is nowhere near the quality or safety you should demand.
In addition to providing you with only the safest and correct repair, we will work with you and your insurance company to ensure the process is as stress-free as possible. You can think of us as your agency/policyholder liaison!
We have seven different locations across Delaware, Chester, and Montgomery Counties. Feel free to give us a call at anytime at (877)-692-7776. For a list of the phone numbers for each of our locations or to schedule an estimate, click here.
We look forward to showing you the 3D difference!
