MAP announces revised uniform inspection & communication standards

The Motorist Assurance Program has released its revised 2002 Uniform Inspection & Communication Standards (UICS) for all seven vehicle systems: Brakes, Drive-train, Engine Maintenance & Performance, Electrical, Exhaust, HVAC, and Steering & Suspension. Service providers participating in MAP have until April 2002 to implement the new UICS.
"These revisions are made biannually to reflect changes in technology as part of MAP’s commitment to consumers and participating service providers," explained MAP President Lawrence Hecker. "We also update the Uniform Inspection and Communication Standards to continue making them as user-friendly as possible for technicians and their customers."
The biannual review of the UICS takes place in odd-numbered years. Publication of the revised UICS subsequently takes place the following January.

Examples of UICS Revisions for 2002:

 For components that are defective, but do not affect performance, the repair or replacement is now suggested; the 2000 UICS made no recommendation.
 For components that are worn, but not affecting performance, repair or replacement is now suggested; the 2000 UICS made no recommendation.
 If broken brackets are encountered during an inspection, it is now appropriate to suggest repair or replacement of brackets; the 2000 UICS made no recommendation.
 Parts that are “beyond specification” for any reason are considered a required repair or replacement.
 If wear “exceeds specification,” the component is required to be replaced.
 Where applications are incorrect, the procedure now is to determine and correct the cause of the incorrect application before repairing or replacing.
 Routing of cooler lines is now a required repair from suggested.
 If a CV boot is found to be leaking, the new procedure is to inspect the condition of the joint before replacing the boot.
 Drive-train UICS: the condition: “not affecting performance, but close to the end of its useful life” has been added. Components (e.g. clutch disks, clutch forks) that are worn, defective, broken, burned or otherwise unacceptable are suggested to be replaced.
 Drive-train UICS: conditions of “beyond service interval” as well as “at service interval" have been added.
 In the Fluid sections of various UICS books, a burned condition now includes a note: “Fluid that is burned indicates a serious problem. Determine and correct the cause.” Also, required procedures for fluid flushing are now included, when fluids other than the correctly specified fluid are present which affect or do not affect the rubber parts. They specify using the correct fluid and using the OE specified procedure.
 When corroded terminals are encountered that affect performance, it is now recommended to determine the cause and correct before making the required repair or replacement.
 The word “damaged” was replaced in almost all cases with an actual description of the damage, e.g. bent, binding, cracked, etc.
 Additional “Notes” and “Alerts” have been added in various locations (e.g. clutch master cylinder if gummy cover gaskets encountered, the procedure to check fluid condition is now provided in a Note.)
 Additional cross references were used where applicable