An error code is not always what it seems. Without a pre-scan, you run the risk of unnecessary repairs and wasted time. Precisely this initial diagnosis can make a big difference in the damage repair process.
A pre-scan provides instant insight into the current condition of the vehicle, makes hidden faults visible and helps to set up the repair process more efficiently, provided you are used to reading and interpreting the results properly. This prevents unnecessary work, increases customer satisfaction and contributes to a professional, structured working method.
At Jifeline Remote Diagnostics, we see daily how workshops across Europe face these challenges. For many technicians, correctly interpreting fault codes is a learning process: the descriptions are often cryptic and require technical interpretation. Reading and understanding diagnostic protocols is therefore a skill you develop through experience. The more often you work with them, the better you become at it.
Case study: error code 02895
A common situation is the fault code 02895 in the on-board network of a vehicle from the VW stable. This DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code) indicates an open circuit in the circuit of the control unit of the LED daytime running lights. The description reads:
"Supply for Left LED module daytime running lights and parking light (open circuit/short circuit to B+)"
If this fault code is statically present, the physical cause must first be identified. Consider a loose plug, cable break or faulty fuse. Coding will not fix the fault code in this case. Yet in practice, coding is often resorted to immediately, leading to unnecessary actions and loss of time.
Other faults, such as error codes for the fog lights or parking sensors, are also regularly misinterpreted. In this case, this is actually quite logical: the attached picture clearly shows that the front bumper is not yet fitted and the plugs are loose. The pre-scan was made while the bumper was still off. Naturally, open circuit reports then arise. It nicely illustrates how important it is to always put fault codes in the right context. Sometimes the cause is literally visible on the shop floor.
A sector under pressure
Trade associations are sounding the alarm: an ageing population, scarcity of new talent and competition from other technical professions are making it increasingly difficult to find good staff. This is precisely why it is important to work smarter.
What can damage repairers already do today?
The bodyshop sector is under pressure, but there are practical steps that workshops can take immediately to work more efficiently and professionally:
- Perform entrance scan at claim intake: Detect faults immediately on vehicle entry. The pre-scan is an essential part of the intake phase, in which the damage amount is also calculated.
- First establish physical cause in case of circuit faults: When the pre-scan shows fault codes indicating an open or interrupted circuit, it is important to investigate the physical cause first. Think loose plugs, cable breaks or damaged fuses. By cleverly interpreting the fault code, you can identify and address the physical cause such as a cable break, loose plug or damaged fuse early in the damage repair process.
- Diagnostic protocol for learning to read: Understand what a DTC report really says and what steps are needed. Error codes often have cryptic descriptions, and interpreting them correctly takes practice. The more often you work with them, the better you will become at it.
- Inspect wiring harnesses for structural damage: The attached photo shows that the front longitudinal beam has been replaced. That is THE time to thoroughly inspect the wiring harnesses in that area. They are then easily accessible and any damage can be detected immediately before the bumper is reassembled and fault codes are wrongly attributed to coding.
Remote diagnostics as an accelerator
Jifeline supports bodyshops with direct remote diagnostics. This includes reading fault codes, coding components and performing ADAS calibrations. Fast, safe and without expensive investments. This keeps the workshop running efficiently, even with the complexity of modern vehicles.
Not only a pre-scan is important. Read about the importance of a pre-scan and post-scan in remote diagnosis here.
