High Strength Steel (HSS)
High strength steel is used for body panels in order to reduce vehicle weight.
Accordingly, precautions in repairing automotive bodies made of high strength steel are described below:

Read the following precautions when repairing HSS:

When heating is unavoidable, do not heat HSS parts above 550C (1,022F).
Verify heating temperature with a thermometer.
(Crayon-type and other similar type thermometer are appropriate.)


Instead, use a saw to avoid weakening surrounding areas due to heat. If gas (torch) cutting is unavoidable, allow a minimum margin of 50 mm (1.97 in).

If spot welding is impossible, use MIG. welding. Do not use gas (torch) for welding because it is inferior in welding strength.

Therefore, when cutting spot welds on a HSS panel, use a low speed high torque drill (1,000 to 1,200 rpm) to increase drill bit durability and facilitate the operation.
Always note the following when spot welding HSS:




Body alignment
Replacement operationsASCD indicator
Description
ASCD indicator lamp illuminates to indicate ASCD operation status. CRUISE is
integrated in combination
meter.
CRUISE illuminates when MAIN switch on ASCD steering switch is turned ON to
indicated that ASCD system
is ready for operation.
Refer to EC-68, "System Diagram ...
Protect your vehicle from corrosion
Wash and wax your vehicle often to keep the
vehicle clean.
Always check for minor damage to the paint
and repair it as soon as possible.
Keep drain holes at the bottom of the doors
open to avoid water accumulation.
Check the underbody for accumulation of
sand, dirt or salt. If prese ...
Handling precautions for plastics
Precautions For Plastics
When repairing and painting a portion of the body adjacent to plastic
parts, consider their characteristics
(influence of heat and solvent) and remove them if necessary or take
suitable measures to protect them.
Plastic parts should be repaired and painted ...