ASE B3

NON-STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
AND DAMAGE REPAIR

Master outer body panel repair, metal finishing, body filling, moveable glass, and plastics to conquer the B3 exam.

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ASE B3 Sample Flashcards

Click a card to reveal the answer.

MIG Welding
Metal Inert Gas welding; the most common type of wire-feed welding used in collision repair.
PDR
Paintless Dent Repair; removing minor dents without requiring repainting.
Guide Coat
A light coat of contrasting color applied over primer to highlight low spots during block sanding.
Galvanic Corrosion
Rust that occurs when two dissimilar metals are in contact with an electrolyte.
Polyurethane (PUR)
A common type of flexible plastic used for modern bumper covers.
Adhesion Promoter
A chemical applied to bare plastic to help repair materials and paint stick properly.
Weld-Through Primer
A zinc or copper-rich coating applied to bare metal before welding to prevent corrosion.
Spot Weld
A localized weld commonly used by OEMs to join overlapping panels at the factory.

ASE B3 Non-Structural Analysis Overview

ASE B3 Task List Categories

Certification Test
65 Total Questions
55 Scored • 10 Unscored • 90 Minutes
Recertification Test
28 Questions
45 Minutes • Must pass cert first
This test counts toward ASE Master Collision Repair & Refinish Technician status. You must pass B2, B3, B4, and B5 to earn Master status.
Scored Question Distribution (55 questions)
13%
31%
15%
9%
22%
11%
A. Preparation
B. Outer Body Panels
C. Metal Finishing
D. Glass & Hardware
E. Welding & Cutting
F. Plastic Repair
  • A. Preparation 7 Qs • 13%
    1. Review damage report and replacement parts for accuracy. Inspect for prior damage and repairs. Inspect for proper systems operation and/or deactivation. Verify coating thickness.
    2. Identify potential health, safety, and environmental concerns associated with vehicle components and systems, i.e. ABS, air bags (SRS), ADAS, refrigerants, high voltage, coolants.
    3. Research and determine repair plan, locate procedures; build data, materials, and methods of overall repairs in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer's specifications and accepted industry procedures (including calibration/initialization of advanced vehicle systems).
    4. Position vehicle to perform repairs; lift, raise, or support if necessary.
    5. Remove damaged or undamaged interior and exterior trim and moldings/claddings as necessary; document missing, broken, or one-time use parts/fasteners/components; store removed parts/fasteners/components.
    6. Remove and store undamaged, non-structural body panels and components; remove and store mechanical/electrical components that may interfere with or be damaged during the repair process.
    7. Check for malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illumination; scan all control modules and retrieve diagnostic trouble codes (DTC), data, and settings; identify battery disconnect procedures.
    8. Protect panels and parts adjacent to repair area to prevent damage during repair.
    9. Remove dirt, grease, wax, and other contaminants from areas to be repaired.
    10. Remove pinstripes, emblems and decals (transfers/overlays and other paint protection accessories); remove adhesives if necessary.
    11. Remove corrosion protection, undercoatings, sealers, and other protective coatings as necessary to perform repairs.
    12. Remove repairable plastics and other parts for off-vehicle repair.
    13. Identify safety precautions: i.e., personal protection equipment (PPE), shock hazards, fumes, safety data sheet (SDS), etc. before beginning any repair operation.
    14. Perform high-voltage disconnect procedure; reconnect/enable high-voltage system after repairs are completed.
  • B. Outer Body Panel Repairs, Replacements, and Adjustments 17 Qs • 31%
    1. Determine the extent of the direct (primary), indirect (secondary), and inertia damage; determine the direction of impact; plan the methods and order of repair.
    2. Remove and replace bolted, riveted, adhesively bonded, and welded panels or panel assemblies.
    3. Identify the body panel substrate (high-strength steel, aluminum, magnesium, composite, etc.); determine the extent of damage for reparability or replacement.
    4. Remove, reinstall or replace, and adjust/align hood, hood supports, hood hinges, and hood latch/lock.
    5. Remove, reinstall or replace, and adjust/align deck lid, lid hinges, tailgates, hatches, supports, liftgates supports, and lid latch/lock; perform initialization.
    6. Remove, reinstall or replace and adjust/align doors, latch/lock assemblies, handles, and hinges; perform initialization.
    7. Remove, reinstall or replace, and adjust/align bumpers, brackets, reinforcements, guards, absorbers, isolators, and mounting hardware.
    8. Remove, reinstall or replace and adjust/align front fenders; check and adjust gaps and clearances.
    9. Remove, reinstall or replace and adjust/align exterior lighting and mounting panels.
    10. Check outer body panel function, adjust as necessary for proper operation.
    11. Restore contours of a damaged panel to a surface condition suitable for metal finishing or body filling.
    12. Weld cracked or torn metal body panels.
    13. Apply protective coatings to restore corrosion protection.
    14. Remove damaged body panels; replace panels using a weld, weld-bond, adhesively bonded, rivet, rivet bond, or other fastening procedures.
    15. Repair door frame, repair or replace door skins; inspect intrusion beams.
    16. Restore seam sealers, mastic, sound deadeners, and foam fillers.
    17. Diagnose and repair water leaks, dust leaks, wind noise, squeaks, rattles, and vibrations.
    18. Install interior and exterior trim, pinstripes, emblems, decals (transfers/overlays, vapor barriers), and protective film.
    19. Perform initialization and calibration; test drive to achieve set conditions and scan computer systems as needed to verify proper system operation following outer body panel repair, replacement, or adjustment.
  • C. Metal Finishing and Body Filling 8 Qs • 15%
    1. Remove paint and other coatings from the damaged area of a body panel.
    2. Heat-shrink stretched panel areas to proper contour.
    3. Cold-shrink stretched panel areas to proper contour.
    4. Metal-finish the damaged area of a body panel to eliminate surface irregularities.
    5. Identify the considerations and procedures for preparing the surface for application of body filler material.
    6. Mix, apply, and shape body filler material.
    7. Sand cured body filler material to contour.
  • D. Glass and Hardware 5 Qs • 9%
    1. Inspect, adjust, remove and/or replace moveable, electrically heated, stationary, mechanically fastened, bonded, and hinged glass.
    2. Inspect, adjust, repair, or replace window regulators, run channels, power mechanisms, and related controls. Reset automatic features and clear stored codes if necessary.
    3. Inspect, adjust, repair, and remove or replace power glass roof panels and related controls. Reset automatic features and clear stored codes if necessary.
    4. Diagnose and repair water leaks, dust leaks, wind noises; rattles, and vibrations; inspect, repair, or replace weatherstripping.
    5. Inspect, adjust, and install convertible or retractable roof and related mechanisms. Reset automatic features and clear stored codes if necessary.
    6. Scan computer systems and verify proper system operation following stationary glass removal or replacement.
  • E. Welding, Cutting, and Removal 12 Qs • 22%
    1. Identify weldable and non-weldable materials used in vehicle construction.
    2. Identify the considerations and procedures for cutting, removing, and welding various types of steels, aluminum, and other metals.
    3. Determine the correct welding process to be used in specific welding situations: compression/inverter/squeeze type resistance spot (STRSW), GTAW (TIG), GMAW (MIG), MIG-brazing; determine settings, electrode, wire type, diameter, gas, and bonding material to be used in specific welding processes.
    4. Adjust the welding equipment for proper operation.
    5. Perform test welds. Visually inspect, perform destructive test, and make adjustments as necessary.
    6. Determine proper work clamp (ground) location.
    7. Use the proper gun-to-joint angle, distance, speed, and direction of gun travel for welds being made in all positions.
    8. Select proper STRSW arm set, electrode type and diameter, and settings based on the location and material to be welded.
    9. Protect vehicle components (adjacent components, hybrid/high voltage components, computers and other electronic modules) from possible damage caused by welding, cutting, and drilling; remove as necessary.
    10. Prepare the metal to be welded; ensure proper weld joint fit-up; apply weld through primer if required.
    11. Select and prepare the correct joint type (butt, lap, etc.) for the repair.
    12. Identify and perform the correct type of weld (continuous, stitch, tack, plug, spot, slot, etc.) for each specific welding operation.
    13. Identify the causes of weld defects; perform required equipment maintenance and/or make necessary adjustments.
  • F. Plastic Repair 6 Qs • 11%
    1. Identify the types of plastic(s) or composite(s); determine repairability.
    2. Identify the proper plastic or composite repair/cleaning procedures; clean and prepare the surfaces of plastic or composite parts for repair.
    3. Reshape plastic parts.
    4. Repair plastic parts by welding or using adhesive repair materials; repair composite parts using adhesive repair materials; use reinforcing materials as required.
    5. Perform single or two-sided repairs in plastic or composite panels.
    6. Replace bonded plastic or composite body panels; straighten or align mounting locations.
    7. Replace mechanically fastened plastic or composite body panels; straighten or align mounting locations if necessary; torque fasteners to specifications.

ASE B3 Key Terminology

Click any term below to reveal its exact definition:

Work-Hardening PDR MIG / GMAW STRSW NVH SMC Tensile Strength Yield Strength Panel Bonding