CALA Repair Cost Estimating 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When estimating overlap time in a repair estimate, what does overlap refer to?
- Extra labor added for difficult access panels
- Reduction in labor time when operations share the same disassembly steps (Correct answer)
- Additional time for painting adjacent panels
- Overtime pay for technicians working weekends
Correct answer: Reduction in labor time when operations share the same disassembly steps
Overlap occurs when two or more repair operations share common disassembly steps, reducing the total labor time required.
Question 2: Which estimating system uses P-pages (procedural pages) to define included and not-included operations?
- Mitchell (Correct answer)
- CCC ONE
- Audatex
- ALLDATA
Correct answer: Mitchell
Mitchell's estimating system uses P-pages to clarify which operations are included in published labor times and which must be added separately.
Question 3: A vehicle has structural damage requiring frame straightening. Which labor category does frame pulling typically fall under?
- Body labor
- Mechanical labor
- Frame/structural labor (Correct answer)
- Paint labor
Correct answer: Frame/structural labor
Frame pulling and structural straightening operations are categorized under frame/structural labor in most estimating systems.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a 'not-included' operation in an estimating guide?
- Operations the shop is not allowed to perform
- Additional labor steps that must be manually added to the estimate (Correct answer)
- Parts excluded from OEM warranty coverage
- Operations already paid by the deductible
Correct answer: Additional labor steps that must be manually added to the estimate
Not-included operations are labor steps not built into the published database time and must be manually added by the estimator.
Question 5: When a technician must blend paint into an adjacent panel to achieve a color match, this is known as:
- Panel tinting
- Color feathering
- Blend/blending (Correct answer)
- Tone adjustment
Correct answer: Blend/blending
Blending is the process of gradually fading new paint into an adjacent undamaged panel to create a seamless color match.
Question 6: Which factor most significantly affects the labor time to replace a bolt-on quarter panel versus a welded quarter panel?
- The vehicle's model year
- The structural attachment method requiring sectioning or full replacement (Correct answer)
- The color of the vehicle
- The insurance policy deductible amount
Correct answer: The structural attachment method requiring sectioning or full replacement
Welded quarter panels require cutting, sectioning, and welding operations that substantially increase labor time compared to bolt-on replacements.
Question 7: In repair cost estimating, 'R&I' stands for:
- Repair and Inspect
- Remove and Install (Correct answer)
- Replace and Itemize
- Review and Invoice
Correct answer: Remove and Install
R&I means Remove and Install — the part is taken off to allow repair or access, then reinstalled without replacement.
CALA Repair Cost Estimating 2
When estimating overlap time in a repair estimate, what does overlap refer to?