Getting your car repaired is never fun and can be an extremely stressful process if you don’t know where to go or who to trust. So, wouldn’t it make you feel better if a body shop knew precisely how to repair your vehicle and was able to provide you with the same information regarding a repair on your specific vehicle? At 3D Collision Centers, we feel Conshohocken drivers deserve to know what should happen during the repair process so you never have to deal with an unsafe or inferior quality repair that could put your life at risk. That’s why we write these blogs because not every autobody shop takes the time to educate their customers, but we do because your safety is our number one priority.
When it comes to repairing the 2017 Honda Odyssey, Honda has specific requirements on repairing this vehicle that a technician might overlook, simply because they trust their experience more than manufacturer guidelines. However, as you’re about to read in this blog, that is not to way to repair cars, especially when they’re equipped with advanced safety technology like the 2017 Odyssey. We want to let Conshohocken drivers know what Honda wants when repairing the 2017 Odyssey.
Significant Changes to the 2017 Odyssey
The exterior of the Honda Odyssey hasn’t had much change over the past few years since the 2011 model. However, there are significant changes to the vehicle’s structure in the 2017 model that technicians need to be aware of. Many technicians will make these mistakes because they assume since the cars technically look the same, they’ll be repaired the same way they have for the previous model years. However, as we’re about to explain, repairing the 2017 Odyssey is different from how you’d repair any other Odyssey.
For starters, the 2011-2013 Odyssey model was made of 59% High Strength Steel (HSS) and featured Honda’s Ace Body Structure (ABS). Then in 2014, Honda had a whole new generational change in the ABS, increasing the amount of HSS utilized, not to mention integrating aluminum into the vehicle’s structure. The 2017 model has continued to be modified to adapt to these changes and is composed of more high-tensile steel “than ever before.” You might be wondering what this has to do with the vehicle? According to Honda, “…this contributes to higher body rigidity and reduced weight, which directly benefits ride and handling, interior quietness, performance, and efficiency, without compromising crash safety or long-term durability.”
Repairing the Odyssey
When repairing the 2017 Odyssey, there is both a repair manual and repair manual supplement available for technicians. It’s critical for technicians to pay careful attention to any differences the supplement may have from the manual. Honda states, “if the procedure in the supplement different from the original [manual]…that information supersedes the original information. However, if there is no procedure in the supplement, the original procedure applies.”
Aiming and Calibration Requirements
Whenever you hear about alignment, aiming, or calibration procedures for your car, these are newer repairs required for vehicles equipped with any form of ADAS technology. Since this technology is usually a combination of ultrasonic, camera, and/or radar sensors, calibration/aiming is a required procedure any time these vehicles are being repaired. Most shops will ignore any calibration requirements because they assume if there’s no visible damage to any of these systems, then they are functioning the way they should be. However, even one degree can cause total repair failure in these systems.
The 2017 Odyssey comes with a variety of ADAS technology. The forward collision warning and lane departure warning systems use the same upper windshield camera, which means they have specific repair requirements. If either the camera or windshield is removed or replaced (commonly known as R&R) at anytime during the repair process, the camera unit will need an aiming procedure.
Blindspot warning is also available on the 2017 Odyssey. If either the left or right blind spot warning sensors are removed or replaced, Honda requires an alignment procedure. In the rearview passenger mirror, you probably noticed a camera. This is part of the 2017 Odyssey’s lane watch system. This camera will need to be realigned if:
-The camera is removed or replaced
-Door mirror is removed or replaced
-The door panel is repaired
Whether you had your mirrors clipped or were in a minor fender bender, aiming procedures guarantee the cameras are aimed in the right direction so the advances safety systems can perform the way they need to. Without an aiming procedure or calibration of these systems, your safety would be compromised.
Sectioning Requirements on the 2017 Odyssey
Because the 2017 Odyssey is composed of a combination of materials, the technician must know the specific sectioning requirements. Otherwise, you could be driving a car that had parts removed that weren’t supposed to, and in replacement, it has inferior-quality aftermarket parts. And yet, many repair shops do precisely that, even on the newest models out on the road complete with all sorts of advanced technology and sophisticated materials. As we mentioned earlier, technicians must look up in the repair manual and repair manual supplement on how and where to repair different areas on your car.
When it comes to repairing the lower rail on the Odyssey, there isn’t a sectioning procedure, but there is a partial part replacement procedure at a factory seam near the cow. The rear rail and rear floor don’t allow sectioning, but there are several partial part replacement at factory seam procedures available.
As you might assume from the name, a partial part procedure is different from a full part replacement procedure or sectioning. However, the average technician will likely go ahead and perform a sectioning procedure since this is how they’d repair the same damaged area on any other car. This is not only illegitimate repair practice, but it is unsafe, and you should only take your vehicle somewhere that follows what Honda has to say.
Who In Conshohocken Knows How To Repair My 2017 Odyssey The Right Way?
With so many body shops in the Conshohocken area, wouldn’t you want to take your Honda somewhere that follows the exact repair procedures released by your car’s manufacturer? That’s what we do here at 3D Collision Centers and we hope to show you what proper car repair means for your 2017 Honda Odyssey. We never repair a car without looking up what the OEM says because that is the only way to repair your car the right way by putting your safety as the top priority.
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.
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 7 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.
