Repair or Replace?
What You Need to Know about Non-Reusable Parts
As a Lexus parts professional, you’re accustomed to referring to the Lexus Repair Manuals for proper repair procedures. But the manuals also provide specific information regarding non-reusable or “one-time-use” parts–those parts that are designed to be installed only once. While these parts may not be large components, they are vital to the quality of the repair, customer confidence, and your bottom line.
Maintain the Quality
Lexus designates certain parts non-reusable for a reason: to maintain the quality of the vehicle. These parts shouldn’t be reinstalled because they won’t operate as originally designed. Using them can lead to a failed repair, with symptoms such as water or air leakage, fit and finish issues, rattling or damage to other parts.
Lexus owners chose their vehicle because of its quality. They will notice if the repair does not match their expectation of the vehicle’s quality. When you replace a non-reusable part with a new Lexus Genuine Part, you maintain the vehicle’s original quality and ensure customer satisfaction.
A Win for You and Your Dealership
The benefits to you and your dealership are tangible as well. It is an opportunity for you to sell more parts to your retail and wholesale customers, even if the insurance company says “no”. You have a factory document that explains that you must replace these parts.
Lexus Collision Repair Information Bulletin (CRIB) #188
Should a customer or insurance company question the need to replace these one-time-use parts, CRIB #188 provides the OEM documentation you need to show the necessity. It states that Lexus Repair Manuals provide Component Illustrations that can be used to identify non-reusable parts. There are a wide variety of parts identified as non-reusable, and include but are not limited to: Glass, Trim, Fasteners, Gaskets, Emblems, Clips, Grommets, Garnishes, Decals, etc. Lexus non-reusable parts are designed to be installed only once. If removed, they must be replaced and not reused. Lexus strongly recommends the use of new Genuine OEM parts when parts are identified as non-reusable in the repair manual.
The Parts Manager and the Service Writer can easily have a conversation with their customers, explaining that these parts must be replaced. And, although the majority of these parts may be small, the potential incremental increase in sales and profit potential can add up!
Identifying Non-Reusable Parts
It is critical for estimators and technicians to identify non-reusable parts before beginning work on a Lexus vehicle. Although estimating systems and Electronic Parts Catalogs (EPCs) make an effort to list one-time-use parts, your best resource is the Lexus Repair Manual.
You can find this information on the Lexus Technical Information System (TIS). Log in to TIS and select the model and model year of the vehicle being repaired. Then, select Repair Manual (RM) and click on the part being repaired. Scroll down and select “Components”. The Components Illustration identifies non-reusable parts with a black dot, as indicated below:
Rely on the Lexus Repair Manual
Remember: non-reusable parts can include more than just clips and fasteners. There are interior or exterior trim pieces that are one-time-use, as well as some suspension or supplemental restraint system parts. For every Lexus repair, take the time to read the repair procedures thoroughly and list one-time-use parts on your estimates and parts orders. Be sure to include a line note indicating that Lexus has designated this part as non-reusable.
