Nissan Armada 2025-2026 Service and Repair Manual: Shrinking Methods
(1) ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE
The body panel is connected to the negative power supply terminal and the tip is connected to the positive terminal. Then, an electric current is supplied to heat the panel. The shrinking principle is the same as that of gas welding. This method features no hammering and greater workability than gas welding and is suitable for repairing local panel deformations.
(2) CARBON ROD
The panel is connected to the negative power supply terminal and a carbon rod is connected to the positive terminal. The panel is heated so that heat is conducted from the outside to the center of the dent. Wet rags are then applied to cool it quickly, thus shrinking the panel.
This method is suitable for repairing wide, shallow panel deformations.
(3) GAS WELDING (OXY-ACETYLENE TORCH)
(a) Heating and expansion
As the sheet metal is heated with a gas welding torch, it stretches.
However, stretching is restricted in the unheated surrounding portion. As a result, the heated portion bulges.
(b) Sudden cooling
When the bulge is cooled suddenly, it shrinks.
This shrinking is accelerated by tapping with a wooden hammer.
(4) HAMMER AND DOLLY
A shrinking hammer and shrinking dolly are used by the hammer-on-dolly method. Many tiny dents are formed on the panel surface. This method is suitable for shrinking comparatively small areas of panel deformation.
Shrinking the Sheet Metal
Plastic deformation may cause reduced panel thickness and the panel may stretch. Even when it is repaired using a hammer and dolly, the panel tends to bulge, losing its original shape.
In such cases, ...
How to Heat Sheet Metal
Use a carburizing flame when shrinking sheet metal with a gas welding torch.
Hold the torch at a right angle to the center of the sheet metal.
Maintain a distance of 3 mm - 5 mm (0.12 in - 0.20 in) b ...
Other materials:
Removal and Installation
CAUTION:
Never damage the body panel.
REMOVAL
Remove front kicking plate. Refer to Removal and Installation.
Remove rear kicking plate. Refer to Removal and Installation.
Disengage center pillar lower escutcheon fixing pawls, and then remove center pillar lower escutcheon.
: Pawl
Disengage cen ...
When SRS is not activated in a collision
CAUTION:
WORK PROCEDURE
Check the SRS components and the related parts using the following table.
If the front seatback assembly is damaged, the front seatback assembly must be replaced.
If the rear seatback assembly is damaged, the rear seatback assembly must be replaced.
If the door finisher assem ...
Diagnosis Procedure
CHECK DTC OF AIR BAG DIAGNOSIS SENSOR UNIT
Check DTC in “Self Diagnosis Result” mode of “AIR BAG” using CONSULT.
Is DTC detected?
YES>>
Perform trouble diagnosis related to the detected DTC. Refer to DTC Index.
NO>>
GO TO 2.
CHECK DTC OF BCM
Check DTC in “Self Diagnosis Resul ...
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