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Glossary Of Terms...

Not sure what that term meant? Look it up here!

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Abrasive - A very hard substance used for the removal of material by cutting, grinding, lapping, or polishing metals.

A/C - An abbreviation for air conditioning.

Affidavit – A written statement affirmed or sworn by oath before a commissioner for taking affidavits in British Columbia or a notary public, for use as evidence in court.

Aftermarket part - A part of similar kind and quality not made by the original manufacturer of the vehicle.

Alignment - The act of lining up or the state of being in a true line.

 

Anti-lock braking system (ABS) - System that automatically controls wheel slip or prevents sustained wheel-locking on braking.

Automated Guided Vehicle System (AGVS) - vehicles equipped with automatic guidance equipment which follow a prescribed path, stopping at each machining or assembly station for manual loading and unloading of parts.

Basecoat - During the painting stage of auto body repair, the vehicle undergoes several layers of paint. This basecoat is the first colored coat of paint applied to the repaired area.  This basecoat is dull and needs to be covered with a clear coat for ultra violet protection and gloss.

Blending - Process in which the painter feathers/layers the paint across the body panels. This procedure fades the paint from the damaged area into the original paint to ensure the new paint matches the old paint.

Body - The vehicle's structural panels including the cowl, pillars, doors, roof, rear body, quarter panels, floor pan, and rocker panels. 

Buffing - After the car has been repaired and painted, the vehicle is then buffed/polished to remove any surface imperfections. 

Bumper - A part placed on the front and back of vehicles used to absorb damage during an accident.

Chargeable claim – any Collision or Third-Party Legal Liability claim where you are deemed more than 25% at fault. A chargeable claim will affect your position on the Claim-Rated Scale (in other words, your discount or your surcharge).

Claims adjuster – The employee at any ICBC claim centre or private insurance company whose job is to examine your claim, assess responsibility, and negotiate a fair settlement with you.

Clear coat paint - The clear, non-pigmented top coat that is applied over a colored base coat paint. Most late-model cars have factory-applied clear coat paints. Clear coat paint increases paint durability, gloss, and resistance to harmful environmental effects.  Additionally, light scratches that do not go through to the base coat can be wet sanded and polished for a invisible repair without the need for refinishing.

Collision Coverage - Collision coverage, or insurance, covers the damage to your car from another vehicle, person, object or surface of the road.

Component - a raw material, ingredient, part or subassembly that goes into a higher level assembly, compound, or other item.

 

Courtesy car – a car lent or rented to you to use while your car is being repaired. In British Columbia when using a body shop courtesy car, your 1st. party insurance coverage (collision and comprehensive) automatically transfer to the courtesy car to provide coverage for the body shop loaner in case of a insurance claim situation. 

 

Custom paint finish – paint finish other than the general class of finish applied by the manufacturer of the vehicle. Examples are custom murals, metal-flake paint finishes, pearl paints, sign painting, etc. that are not on the vehicle from the manufacturer.  In British Columbia, custom paint finishes are covered up to a value of $ 5,000.00 in conjunction with other non-factory equipment permanently attached to the insured vehicle.  Additional insurance coverage can be purchased to fully cover custom paint finishes and the premium charged is based on declared value.

Cowl - A part of the vehicle's body, located between the engine compartment and the dash panel.  Often the windshield wipers are attached here.

Crumple/Crush Zone - Areas of the vehicle which are designed to crush during impact. The crumple zones surround the driver and passenger seating area and during an accident they are designed to take the majority of the crush impact to protect the seating carriage area.

Dealer - a firm that buys and sells, adding some value for the consumer in the process. Dealer often means a firm which operates closer in the distribution channel to the consumer than a distributor or wholesaler, and may add more value for consumers than either of the above-mentioned terms.

Deductible - Your deductible is the amount of money you have to pay before your insurance kicks in to pay for the rest of the repairs. Collision deductibles can vary from $300 to $2,500 on regular vehicles.

Degrease - The act of wiping down a vehicle's surface with solvent prior to a new refinish. Degreasing is essential to proper paint adhesion. 

 

Depreciation – loss in value. A vehicle, or a part of a vehicle such as a battery, loses value as it ages, especially in the first few years after it is bought.  Insurance Companies apply depreciation when replacing a new part for a old worn part or one with significant pre-existing damage.

 

Detailing - Careful, in-depth cleaning and polishing of a vehicle's surface finish and or interior surfaces.

Ding - A condition in metal where a minor dent is present. Usually dings are caused by rocks, car door edges, or other small objects. 

Door Skin Panel - This is the part of the door visible from the outside. It can be separated from the door shell and replaced.

Emblem - A decorative piece piece attached to the vehicle. Examples include the pieces which spell out the vehicle's name and model.

 

Face Bar - A metal, chrome, or plastic part attached to the front or rear end of the vehicle. It acts as the cover to the bumper reinforcement bar.  It provides little protection and is usually placed on the car for appearance. Often trucks will have a chromed face bar with no reinforcement bar.

 

Factory-applied paint - Paint applied to a vehicle at the factory of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Factory-applied paint is often cured by baking.

 

Fender - The front side part of the vehicle, located to the left and right of the hood

 

1st. Party Insurance Coverage - insurance coverage which covers your vehicle when there is not other 3rd. party insurance coverage being applied.  This is your collision and comprehensive coverage.  This is also referred to as "own damage" coverage by your insurance company.

 

Floor Pan - A part of the body which forms the underside of the car. The floor pan can be a whole structure, running from front to back or divided into sections of front, intermediate, and rear.

 

Frame - Separate substructure of a vehicle which supports the body.  A frame's major components include side rails, cross-members, and frame horns.

 

Frame Horns - Front end extensions to the frame's side rails. They support the bumper and other parts of the front and rear of the vehicle. In a hard impact they will also absorb some of the damage.

 

Front End - An area of the vehicle which includes the front bumper, grille, hood, fenders and headlamps.

 

Fresh paint - Paint applied in an automotive collision repair shop (refinish paint) that has not fully cured. Refinish paints are deemed fresh for 30 days after application. Most paint manufacturers do not recommend applying a wax to fresh paint as the wax will seal in some of the evaporating solvents causing loss of gloss.

 

Glaze - A polish that is safe for use on fresh paints. Some glazes contain a mild abrasive that will remove minor surface imperfections. When a glaze with an abrasive is used, it should be followed by application of wax on cured paint or a hand glaze on fresh paint. A glaze also does not contain silicone.

 

Grille - A part located just above the bumper. It is usually made out of plastic, or aluminum, and adds to the appearance of the vehicle. Its open form allows air to blow through to the radiator to assist in cooling.

 

Ground Clearance - The distance between the bottom of the car and road surface.

 

Indirect Damage - Damage which is the indirect result of an accident. Ex. You are rear ended and one of the windows explodes due to the impact. The rear end is the direct damage, causing the window to break indirectly.

 

LKQ Parts - LKQ (Like Kind and Quality) parts, simply put, are used parts. They are auto parts originally manufactured by the builder of your vehicle. The quality and fit will be the same as new parts; they have simply been on another car previously. The use of LKQ parts, when appropriate, can reduce the cost of repairs. We will advise you of the appropriate usage. At Precision Auto Body, we inspect used parts for damage and reject any part that won't pass our high quality standards.

 

Metallic Paint - A type of paint which contains metallic chips or flakes. It gives off a metal sparkle.

 

Model line - group of motor vehicles having the same platform or model name.

 

Model name - word, group of words, letter, number or similar designation assigned to a motor vehicle by a marketing division of a motor vehicle assembler.

On Board Diagnostics (OBD) - a unit that monitors the Electric Control Unit and system responses for errors during normal vehicle operations. When the vehicle is serviced, this information on the errors can be down loaded and displayed to the service personnel which will facilitate the trouble shooting process.

 

Orange Peel - A paint surface with a texture of "hills and valleys" similar to the skin of an orange. Excessive orange peel is considered a paint defect. It can be reduced by sanding, compounding, and polishing.

 

Over-spray - Airborne particles that adhere to a finished surface. Over-spray particles can include unwanted paint, industrial fallout, chemical contaminants, or other airborne particles.

 

Own Damage Coverage - this is your collision and comprehensive insurance coverage that covers damages to your vehicle when other 3rd. party insurance coverage does not apply.

 

Oxidation - The effects of weathering or outdoor exposure on painted surfaces. Oxidation results in a dull or hazy finish. It can be corrected by removing the oxidized layer of the finish. Depending on the severity of the oxidation, this may be accomplished using cleaner wax, rubbing compound, polish or a machine glaze.  If the paint finish is a metallic finish then power polishing is not very effective as the small metallic particles can be exposed to the atmosphere resulting in light steaks to the polished paint!

Permanently Attached Equipment - usually equipment that is purchased from a after-market supplier (non-factory installed equipment) that is attached to the vehicle in such a manner that a tool is required to effect removal - i.e. truck canopies, custom wheels, etc.

Polish - A specially formulated blend of components designed to remove minor paint surface imperfections, such as fine scratches, light oxidation, water spots, and swirl marks left by the use of rubbing compounds. Polishes may or may not contain waxes or silicones.

 

Premium – the amount of money you pay to the insurance company for your coverage. All premiums are pooled by the insurance company, which then uses that money to pay out claims.

Primer - A material used prior to color painting the damaged area. It promotes the adhesion of the basecoat paint. Wet sanding the primer is required prior to painting with a colored coat. The primer is usually colored gray, but can be tinted. This primer also acts as a sealer on the metal.

Quarter Panel - A body part which makes up one of the two rear sides of the car. It contains the lock pillar, to which the doors lock onto. The two quarter panels are located on either side of the trunk or deck lid.

Reinforcement Bar - A part of the bumper which acts as the primary defense in the bumper system. It is usually a long heavy bar made of steel, aluminum, or hard plastic, and is located under the bumper face bar. 

Rocker Panel - A part of the vehicle body, which runs along the outer edge of the vehicle, below the doors.  The rocker panel supports the floor pan.

Rubbing Compound - A specially formulated emulsion of materials designed to remove paint surface imperfections such as scratches, oxidation, stains, and acid rain etching. Rubbing compounds are formulated in both liquid and paste form, and generally contain more aggressive abrasives than are found in polishes. The rubbing compound step is usually followed by glazing and/or waxing.

Side Rails - A part of the frame which runs the length of the frame assembly. Located on either side of the vehicle and connected to the frame horns in the front and rear cross-member in the rear. Also called side-members.

Silicone - A chemical compound with excellent water repellency and a slippery feel. Silicones are commonly used in automotive waxes to enhance application and ease of removal, and to increase gloss and durability. Must be used with care around fresh paint as contamination of the painted surface may occur.

Solvent - A liquid that thins or dilutes another liquid or solid.

Spray Booth - An ventilated enclosed area in which the vehicle is painted. The area is enclosed to protect over spray onto other vehicles and exhaust the toxic fumes from the paint.  There are several different designs for a spray booth mainly concerning the direction of air flow - the best type is the "down-draft" type where the air flow is directed downwards on the vehicle resulting in a cleaner paint finish.

Third-Party Legal Liability – your risk of being sued by someone: in legal terms, some third "party" in addition to you (first party) and your insurer (second party). When someone talks about a third-party claim against you, that means you are being sued by a person who holds you responsible for injuring them or damaging their property. The person suing can be your own passenger in a crash you caused. The damage you cause to another person - the third party - is covered under Third-Party Legal Liability insurance.

Tinting - The process prior to painting of mixing the paint to make sure it matches the color of the vehicle.

 

Total loss or write-off – a vehicle that is not repaired because it will cost more to repair than the vehicle is worth, or cannot be repaired well enough for safe operation.  In general, if the cost of repairs plus the salvage value (value of vehicle for parts purposes) of the vehicle is higher than the actual cash value (retail market value) of the vehicle including taxes, then the vehicle is deemed a "write-off" or "total loss".

Trim Panel - The inside part of the door which holds the armrest, door locks, speakers etc. It is usually designed to match the interior of the vehicle.

Uni-body - A term used to describe cars that have the frame and body structure connected as one. Most new cars are of the uni-body type. The uni-body is basically a somewhat flexible shell to which the body parts are attached. Crush zones are built into the shell for accident safety.

Vehicle Identification Number or VIN – a number assigned by the manufacturer and unique to every vehicle. It can be found on the dashboard identification plate, on the doorpost, and on the engine firewall. Since 1981, the VIN has been 17 characters long.

Wax - A uniquely formulated blend that protects and produces a durable, high-gloss finish on a painted surface. Waxes make it easier to clean a painted surface. Some also serve as polishes and are capable of removing minor paint imperfections.

Wheelbase - The length between the front and rear axles. Generally, larger vehicles have a longer wheelbase. However, there are exceptions because of the new 'cab-forward' designs which push the wheels closer to the bumpers. A longer wheelbase is beneficial to ride, interior and cargo space as well as handling. However, a longer wheelbase may give the vehicle a larger turning diameter which makes parking lot maneuvering more difficult.

 

19574 - 60th Avenue, Surrey, B.C. V3S 8E2
Phone: (604) 539-2828 Fax: (604) 539-2830
E-mail: allstar@allstarcollision.com