Like all car manufacturers, Kia is very specific about the way you should repair their vehicles. However, not every autobody shop will follow these repair procedures and think their “experience” is more important than taking the time to look up what the OEM says. In nearly all of our blogs, we stress to critical points: the importance of a reliable repair from where you take your car. And number two, the fact that not all Pennsylvania body shops will perform a repair that is up to the manufacturer’s standards. Any autobody shop can promise to “fix” your car and make it look like it’s never been in an accident. But what matters is getting it repaired in a way that doesn’t put your safety at risk.
If you own a 2019 Kia Optima and are in need of auto body repair, this is for you. Kia has provided very specific instructions that are unique to the 2019 Kia Optima, but it is the responsibility of the body shop to research these procedures and to follow them exactly. Currently, there are no laws requiring technicians to follow these OEM repair procedures and as a result, it’s up to the customer to find a body shop that knows the importance of following these guidelines.
We at Rocco’s Collision are always looking up what the manufacturer tells us, like Kia, so we can inform our customers of the importance of these new repair procedures on their cars. If you get an estimate back from a body shop and they don’t have any of the repair procedures we detail out below in this blog, then that shop is putting your safety at risk. For all you know, the safety systems in your car might be malfunctioning, unable to perform their designated functions, and your life could be at risk from an auto body shop not performing a scan wherever Kia requires.
This is why we want our customers to know what the specific requirements in a 2019 Kia Optima are, so you know what kind of service you should receive out of your body shop.
What Kia wants you to know about how body shops must repair the 2019 Optima:
Scanning requirements on the Kia Optima:
A new repair procedure required fo modern cars is something known as “scanning.” This will happen when a technician hooks up a scanner to your car’s diagnostic port. From there, several Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC for short) will appear, that tell a technician what needs to be fixed.
On the 2019 Kia Optima, scanning is a required procedure for its headlamps, especially for the S and SX models. These headlamps have unique configurations, capable of adapting to oncoming traffic, adjusting based on speed, and illuminating wherever the steering wheel is turning. Kia requires a recalibrating procedure that must be completed using a scan tool if a headlamp or height sensor is replaced. A recalibration will make sure your lights are correctly focused and perform all their designated functions, such as the ones available on the S and SX models.
Calibration requirements for sensors:
Just about every car manufactured over the past few years comes with advanced driver assistance technology (or ADAS for short). From lane keep assist, blindspot detection, and even the backup camera, ADAS technologies have forever changed the way we repair cars, but not everyone knows how to do it.
Just about every modern car has a different name for its advanced safety technologies. The ADAS system on the 2019 Kia Optima is known as DRIVE WISE. The system uses a variety of radar, camera, and ultrasonic sensors. Each one of these sensors has a unique repair procedure that will require something known as 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.” Not every auto body shop can perform a calibration, as it requires special tools and equipment. That way, the systems can be set or adjusted as needed.
Where Kia requires scanning and calibration on the 2019 Optima:
Since the ADAS systems are like little computers monitoring your driving and protecting you from a potential accident, Kia requires calibration any time a technician removes or replaces (also known as R&R) the area where the sensor is located.
Below are the different sensors on the 2019 Optima, part of Kia’s Drive Wise system:
- Adaptive Cruise Control sensor is located behind the front bumper. If the bumper is removed or replaced, the sensor must be calibrated.
- The Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) camera is located on the front windshield by the rearview mirror and is part of the automatic braking system. If the LKA camera or windshield is removed or replaced, calibration will be required.
- There are four ultrasonic park assist sensors across the rear bumper and blindspot radar sensors in the corners of the bumper. If the bumper is removed or replaced, calibration will be required for each of these sensors. Believe it or not, this applies even if you’re involved in a minor fender bender and can’t see any visible damage. The internal systems may be malfunctioning, and the only way to tell would be through scanning and calibration.
- There is a camera located on the rear hatch of the vehicle, that may be part of your car’s 360 camera system, which also has cameras on the mirrors and grille. If any of these cameras are removed or replaced, calibration is a requirement.
Who in Pennsylvania knows how to repair my Optima the right way?
Here at Rocco’s Collision Center, we believe quality collision repair comes from being informed on the latest repair procedures manufacturers like Kia tell us. That way, we can adequately serve our customers with up-to-date repairs that have your safety as the top priority and are of high quality. There is no such thing as a “one size fits all” approach when it comes to collision repair, even if a technician has repaired hundreds of the same car. No car repair is ever the same, and the best shops know this. We never take shortcuts in the repair process, because your safety should always be the number one priority. Any repair shop that gets right to work on the repair using their experience above what the manufacturer says is putting your life at risk.
We have several different locations across Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. We invite you to see for yourself why Rocco’s is the best out there! Feel free to give us a call at anytime at (888)-9-ROCCOS. Or to schedule an appointment or to call any of our locations directly, click here.
We look forward to hearing from you!
