By Tom Davis
Toronto, Ontario — December 21, 2017 — One OEM has put their foot down on the subject of scanning. Honda Canada has announced that all Honda and Acura vehicles involved in a collision must be scanned and calibrated, regardless of age. The company defines a collision as damage that exceeds minor outer panel cosmetic distortion. With this statement the Canadian OEM algins itself with American Honda, who previously published an identical position statement.
Honda Canada said all vehicles involved in a collision must have the following minimum diagnostic scans, inspections and/or calibrations done to avoid an improper repair:
- A preliminary diagnostic scan during the repair estimation phase to determine what Diagnostic Trouble Codes (“DTCs”) may be present, so proper repairs may be included.
- A post repair diagnostic scan to confirm that no DTCs remain. Any repair that requires disconnection of electrical components in order to perform the repair will require a post-repair diagnostic scan to confirm if the component is reconnected properly and functioning. Damage that requires body parts replacement will always require a post-repair diagnostic scan.
- Some safety and driver assistive systems will require inspections, calibration, and/or aiming after collision or other body repairs.
The mechanical forces encountered in a collision can damage electrical circuits and components in ways that are not easily diagnosed with visual inspection methods, read the statement. “The proliferation of electronic control systems has increased the number of potential DTCs beyond the point where a dashboard indicator can be installed and/or illuminated for every DTC. Dashboard indicators are intended for driver notification, not vehicle diagnostics,” Honda’s position statement states. It continued: “The presence or absence of dashboard indicators/warning lights is not an acceptable method to determine if post collision diagnostic scans are necessary.”
Honda and Acura vehicles include numerous electronic control systems, including those that operate safety and driver assist systems. Most of these systems include on-board self diagnostics that monitor the state of health and the rationality of input and output circuits. When monitored circuit values fall outside predetermined thresholds, diagnostic trouble codes may be set in one or more electronic control unit.
The statement added that not all electronic control systems can be scanned using the HDS, such as Honda LaneWatch and earlier model air conditioning and climate control systems, which have self-contained diagnostics that are not accessible using the HDS. Repairers would need to refer to the published diagnostic procedures in the appropriate electronic service manual available on the Honda Independent Repair/ServiceExpress website, the company said.
Honda said the “recommended” way to accurately determine the post-collision status of all Honda and Acura vehicle electronic control systems is the Honda Diagnostic System (HDS) scan tool. The OEM said it does not test other scan tools and that it cannot comment on their capabilities or accuracy.
More information can be found at techinfo.honda.com.
