The Database Enhancement Gateway on Tuesday recognized the Auto Body Association of Texas as its latest Gold sponsor.

“ABAT is excited to be a Gold Sponsor of the DEG,” ABAT Chairman Burl Richards (Burl’s Collision Center) said in a statement. “Many of us on the board have been active users and have spent a great deal of energy educating our member shops about the value of the DEG and what it provides to our industry for a long time now. We are excited to formally partner with the organization and give back in a meaningful way.”

The DEG is a free industry resource which allows collision repairers and insurers to ask questions about and suggest changes to the Audatex, CCC and Mitchell estimating services. It’s responsive and quick; either the DEG or the information providers typically will have answers for you within a few days — often within the same day.

Questions and responses also are preserved within a DEG database drawing from more than 17,000 past inquiries. Thus, it’s possible for estimators and adjusters to find answers to their queries within the archives and not even need to file an inquiry.

The nonprofit is a joint effort of the national Alliance of Automotive Service Providers and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists. It’s also supported by sponsors and advertisers.

The Automotive Service Association and PPG sponsor the DEG at the Platinum level. ABAT joins ALLDATA, the Kansas Auto Body Association, Nylund’s Collision Center, Redwood City Autobody and Spanesi at the Gold level. Silver-level sponsors include the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association and Auto Body Hawaii, and Integrity Auto Collision Fairfield and Osceola Autobody back the DEG at the Bronze level.

“We are all really proud to recognize ABAT for sponsoring with a generous contribution to help invest in industry resources that are having a positive impact on their membership,” DEG Administrator Danny Gredinberg said in a statement. “ABAT’s support of our program helps to maintain the DEG as a free resource for the Collision Repair Industry, and is a true testament to the commitment the ABAT board of directors has made to their member base.”

In honor of ABAT, here’s a recent DEG inquiry regarding a vehicle produced in Texas.

A DEG user on Sept. 3, 2020, wrote in to ask about Audatex’s treatment of a deckside on a 2017 Toyota Tundra. Toyota has built the pickup at its San Antonio, Texas, facility since 2008.

“(T)he De-attach procedure is included base on P-Pages but I don’t see it in the included operations when I click on the part under the damage (included operations) option,” the DEG user wrote. “Drill time seems longer. Only 3.8 to replace a weld panel isn’t enough.”

The user also mentioned that “the destructive test panel time is not included either.”

After checking the OEM repair procedures, Audatex determined it wouldn’t change any labor times. But it clarified them for the user.

“The 3.8 hours is for the removal of all parts attached to the panel,” the information provider wrote. “The allotted weld time is 5.7 hours.”

Audatex also said its times don’t include test welds.

“Additionally, in accordance with the reference manual, we do not include time to perform weld testing,” it wrote.

Thanks to the work of the DEG and the generosity of sponsors like ABAT, any repairer or insurer can submit questions like this and get answers — entirely for free. Why not give it a try? And if you’re ever down in Texas, look ABAT up and say thanks.

Feel like supporting the DEG and the industry yourself? Sponsor the nonprofit at the company/group level or as an individual. Alternately, consider buying an ad on the site. The site also takes donations through PayPal.

More information:

“DEG Welcomes ABAT as Newest Gold Level Sponsor”

Database Enhancement Gateway, Jan. 5, 2021

DEG inquiry database

Featured image: The Auto Body Association of Texas logo is shown. (Provided by the Database Enhancement Gateway)