In a recent Autobody News webinar, Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG) Administrator Danny Gredinberg shared insights on how repairers can properly verify and plan for diagnostic scans and calibrations — emphasizing the importance of accurate terminology, OEM research, and documentation throughout the process.
“The goal here is to understand that there’s different terminology and not everything has to be a calibration procedure,” said Gredinberg. “Using the right terminology will help you achieve the correct discussion. When discussing these things for reimbursement, make sure you use the correct terminology every time.”
Gredinberg stressed that all procedures should follow the vehicle manufacturer’s repair guidelines. Whether technicians rely on third-party information systems or OEM resources, they should always “trust but verify” the data before performing work.
Case Study: 2024 Hyundai Tucson
Gredinberg shared a DEG inquiry involving a 2024 Hyundai Tucson that required an ADAS calibration for the forward collision assist (FCA) system.
“The forward collision assist system is designed to help avoid or reduce the impact of potential collisions,” Gredinberg explained. “It’s a critical feature that ensures the vehicle is safely returned to pre-accident condition.”
The DEG inquiry focused on the accuracy of labor times in CCC/MOTOR related to radar sensor aiming. Following review, MOTOR corrected the labor time from 1.1 hours to 1.6 hours after verifying the detailed steps required by OEM procedures — such as verifying vehicle center lines, setting up laser and target tools, and using a factory GDS scan tool.
Updated CCC Guide to Estimating (GTE)
CCC has since updated its Guide to Estimating (GTE) to include a section under the front bumper group for camera and sensor aiming. This section clarifies which operations are included — and which are not.
Some of the not-included operations for this repair include:
Leveling the surface under the vehicle
Creating calibration targets
Checking tire pressure and wheel alignment
Cleaning the FCA unit surface
Removing heavy items from the vehicle interior
Ensuring proper radar sensor power
Key Steps for Performing ADAS Calibrations
When approaching any ADAS calibration, Gredinberg recommended the following:
Identify whether the vehicle is equipped with ADAS and which systems apply.
Determine if calibrations are required.
Research OEM procedures (for in-house or sublet work) and confirm proper tools are available.
Prepare the vehicle according to OEM specifications.
Document every step and verify results to reduce liability.
If a calibration fails, note that duplicate calibration efforts are considered not-included operations.
Finally, Gredinberg reminded repairers that no two vehicles — or even two model years — are the same.
“Never assume every year, make, and model is going to have the exact same steps or times,” he said. “You’ve got to research to learn and learn to research.”
To ensure repair accuracy, always verify third-party data against OEM procedures before proceeding.
For more information or to view the full webinar, visit here.