Repairers have been invited to examine where damaged Stellantis panels can be sectioned and how replacement sections must be joined during an upcoming technical webinar.
Lynn Rogers, representing FCA/Stellantis, will join I-CAR technical specialists Oct. 28 at 1 p.m. Eastern for “FCA Sectioning Guidelines,” part of the Repairers Realm series.
I-CAR is a collision repair training organization. FCA refers to the former Fiat Chrysler Automobiles business, now part of Stellantis, whose brands include Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram.
The discussion will cover structural and nonstructural sectioning, outer body panels, floor panels, weld backers, weld types and welding precautions. Rogers and the panel will also examine differences between vehicles with a unitized body structure and those built on a separate frame.
Sectioning involves replacing part of a component by cutting and joining it at a location other than a factory seam. The permitted location and joining method depend on the manufacturer’s repair instructions for the vehicle and component.
That distinction matters because structural components are designed to absorb or transfer collision forces. Adding a joint can change how a component performs.
For FCA/Stellantis structural panels, full replacement is required unless partial replacement procedures are documented in an FCA US publication. Repairers must follow the applicable instructions, including restrictions on sectioning locations and welding methods.
A published example concerns the front lower rail on the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica. Sectioning is permitted only in the described area where damage does not extend beyond the sectioning location. Damage extending beyond that point requires replacement of the entire component.
The Oct. 28 discussion will give technicians and repair planners an opportunity to examine those requirements and put questions to the panel during the live question period.
Registration is available through the I-CAR Repairers Realm page.
