Fact: 8 out of 10 jobs with an airbag deployment require an airbag related supplement.
That can mean additional parts and/or labor and can delay the delivery of a vehicle up to 15 days. Those are the errors that cost companies like yours hundreds, even thousands of dollars.
Recently, we conducted an informal survey across the country and found not one company (insurance company or repair shop) tracked or even knew the true cost of the problem. The magnitude of these expensive errors was lost in the paperwork.
In every case, the reason no one knew was because no one was looking for it. Below are some examples of the actual costs when airbag components are missed in an original estimate and how this "leaking bucket" can be fixed.
2004 Ford Focus Seat Belts
Since 2000 (until 2005), the Ford Focus has used a different seat belt pretensioner configuration than most every other model produced: a driver's side seat belt pretensioner and a passenger's side buckle pretensioner. This was the way Ford designed the restraint system.
Without knowing about this configuration, and having a vehicle with an airbag deployment, a shop actually lost over 8 days chasing an airbag light problem. They replaced the deployed airbags as well as the obviously deployed driver's side seat belt, but no one knew to look at the seat belt buckle on the passenger side. After sending it to the dealership for diagnosis, it was finally discovered that the passenger seat belt pretensioner was in the buckle, not the belt! Even the parts counterman at the dealership didn't know which component had the pretensioner.
Knowing what part to inspect, seeing a picture of it and being able to anticipate the repair process would have avoided this problem.
In this particular case, the overall cost of the supplement including rental car charges and additional charges from the dealership amounted to $1024.84. The original estimate for the entire repair was $3155.66. This particular vehicle ended up exceeding the total loss threshold and put both the shop and the appraiser in trouble with the insurance company
If either the shop or the estimator had used AirbagSolutions, they would have seen the photos above and known about this difference and would have ordered the correct part the first time. It is the clarity and accuracy of the information provided that makeswww.AirbagSolutions the best answer to stop the "leaks in this bucket".
2004 Ford Escape Update
Here's a case where the estimate was right, but the repair procedure required more work due to a change in the product from the manufacturer.
The seat belt buckle pretensioner for some late model Ford Escapes now requires you to cut the wiring harness and splice in a new connector. This brings up a number of issues.
- Did you know that Ford allows you to splice an airbag wiring harness?
- Do you know which other manufacturers allow splicing?
- Did you get paid for the extra labor to do this repair (or did you just absorb the cost)?
- How much do you charge (or pay) to repair the car according to manufacturer specs?
None of the estimating systems tell you things like this.
This information came out as a TSB in August of 2005 in response to faulty connectors in the buckle pretensioner. Ford allows 2.0 hours to install these new connectors and sells them as a connector kit (2 required per vehicle). However, the new connectors also come with the new buckle pretensioner when they are replaced after an accident.
And yes, some manufacturers allow wire repair, while others require the entire harness be replaced. Finding that information requires hours of research through technical manuals of each manufacturer, but AirbagSolutions.com provides that information for every vehicle listed.
By using AirbagSolutions.com, information like this will be seen, included, discussed and accounted for in the original estimate. No more surprises when the actual work begins. No more phone calls to get approval from the appraiser. These are the items that drain your "profit bucket". These are the items www.AirbagSolutions.com provides for you...the first time, every time.
2008 Saturn Vue Control Unit
An insurance estimator wrote a nearly perfect estimate for this vehicle in the amount of $5427.22. It was a front end hit with both a driver and a passenger airbag deployment. The estimate included the correct seat belt and dashboard components and allowed sufficient time for all of the body repairs.
When the vehicle was ready to go to pre-delivery doll-up, the technician noticed the airbag light was still on. After many discussions and phone calls, the shop discovered that the new SDM (Sensing and Diagnostic Module) needed to be configured to the vehicle ID. This procedure requires a download from GM and without having the proper scanner and the correct software, the vehicle needed to be sent to the dealer.
This was the only error in the entire job, but it cost $89.95 and an additional 1 day delay in delivering the car.
No one wants an $89 supplement on a $5500 job...let alone look incompetent to an unhappy customer.
By using AirbagSolutions, both the estimator and the shop would have seen the photo and the detailed informational note above. With that information, they would have known to plan on this step for completing the job. Even the "small leaks in your bucket" need to be plugged. Having all the information stops leaks like this.
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AirbagSolutions is your expert in the field. We know what it takes to complete the job correctly, profitably and on time. We know what it takes to keep your "bucket full" and where the holes are. Whether you represent an insurance company or a repair shop, let us help you keep "money in your bucket" with a subscription to the answers you need.