If you currently own a 2019 Subaru Legacy and are currently needing collision repair, this blog is for you. Subaru has new repair procedures for technicians to follow when repairing your vehicle that can ultimately mean the difference between a safe repair and one that has the appearance of a “fixed” car.
Even if you were only in a small fender bender, these repair procedures are required when repairing your Subaru. It might seem a bit excessive, but with the integration of ADAS safety features in your car, there is no other option for ensuring your car receives a proper repair. Unfortunately, most shops in Saugerties won’t take the time to look up these repair procedures. But we will because we want our customers safe.
We want all Subaru owners to know about various repair procedures Subaru requires when repairing the 2019 Legacy. If you get an estimate back from a body shop and it doesn’t have the following procedures on it, then that shop is potentially putting your safety at risk.
Calibration requirements for Subaru
To properly repair the various sensors on your Subaru Legacy, a technician will have to perform a calibration. According to AAA, “an ADAS calibration is 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.
On a Subaru, the ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) systems are known as EyeSight. Because the 2019 Subaru Outback has several different sensors placed throughout the car, calibration is a requirement to make sure everything is working the way it should. If you don’t see calibration on your repair estimate, then your safety is at risk.
Here at the different sensors located on the 2019 Outback:
- Two camera sensors located on the rearview mirror, part of Subaru’s EyeSight system. This system is designed for adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, pre-collision braking, and throttle management.
Since these two camera sensors are attached to the windshield, the cameras will require calibration if the windshield is removed or replaced.
- Parking-assist sensors might be located in the rear bumper, part of Subaru’s reverse automatic braking system.
- The blind-spot detection sensors might also be located in the corners of the bumper, with indicator lights in the side mirrors.
If any of these sensors or the bumper is removed, the sensors will need to be calibrated.
- Inside the trunk lid is the backup camera, which will require an aiming (alignment) procedure if it’s removed.
Additional reasons why following Subaru repair procedures are required:
Obviously, your car isn’t just one giant sensor. The structure is made up of a body of different pillars, each having its own repair requirements. These are the vertical supports on a vehicle, critical for holding the glass in place and make up the overall structural integrity of any car, including the roof. Subaru has specific requirements depending on where a technician is cutting, welding, replacing, or sectioning. They need to look up the repair procedures because certain areas on the Legacy, like the outer B-pillar, have a partial part replacement procedure.
However, the inner B-pillar and the B-pillar reinforcement require a full part replacement. The B pillar is the part of the car that the front door latches into and rear doors are mounted onto if it is a 4 door. It is a structural component.
What does that mean? It means that on the outside of the b-pillar, it is ok for us to cut the damaged section out, and weld a replacement panel in. However, if the damage to the B-pillar includes the inner B pillar, then the whole B pillar will have to be replaced.
Post-repair requirements for Subaru:
Subaru also created what’s known as a “Post Repair Safety Inspection” for repairers to ensure nothing gets missed and everything is working correctly. Even if the airbags didn’t deploy or you were in a minor fender bender, the steering column must be removed and inspected and is a required part of this particular safety inspection.
Now say you were in a fender bender. There might be additional damage to your car that isn’t visible without further inspection. But if it’s something like a camera sensor knocked out of alignment, this can create significant problems in your vehicle. A camera sensor that’s off by a mere degree can mean total failure in the ADAS systems.
This is just one of the most critical reasons why Subaru stressed that whatever needs to be repaired, replaced, or the size of the damage, “ALL repairs must undergo the Post Repair Safety Inspection.”
Where you take your car to be repaired matters:
Here in Anytown, repair technicians aren’t legally required to have a license to work on your vehicle. This means they can ignore the Post Repair Safety Inspection and calibration requirements for your Subaru, giving you a repair that is nowhere what you need. Let alone what you deserve out of a body shop.
Why trust us with your Subaru repair needs:
We know you have many choices when searching for the best repair shop for your Subaru. We feel quite confident we would be able to provide you with the safe, quality repair that you deserve from a body shop. We put our customers first because we feel a quality repair comes from treating you like family and not like a transaction.
Our team of highly trained technicians has over 10 years of experience in collision repair, specializing in all aspects of repair from a minor fender bender to a complete restoration. We know this is an extremely stressful time for you, which is why we want to make this as stress-free as possible for you.
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