Can anyone school me on the term capa. I hear its a an approval that is put on after market parts when they are considered to be parts that fit perfectly. For instance, "a capa approved hood".

Just curious.

Thanks

If there is no such thing as a capa, is there anything else like what im describing?

Perfect? No. Acceptable by collision repair standards? supposed to be. Heres what it is officially -
"The Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) is a non-profit organization established in 1987 to develop and oversee a test program guaranteeing the suitability and quality of automotive parts. CAPA encourages competition in the marketplace in the hope that their program will ultimately reduce expense to the consumer and the industry while increasing and assuring part quality."
http://www.capacertified.org/home.asp

CAPA== Can't Align Part Again... :D

CAPA certified parts are new JUNK instead of used JUNK.
Some "certified" parts are useable, many are marginal, as compared to OEM crash parts.
Bumper covers are rough, fit poorly, Headlamps seldom fit or do not match OEM in refraction or appearance, the sheemetal is all over the place in fit and quality.
As a Collision shop we love the stuff. graemlins/angry.gif graemlins/clonk.gif graemlins/sad.gif
Karl

Every once in awhile you run into some A/F parts that do indeed fit good.
Ford Ranger fenders fit good, but for S10 graemlins/angry.gif graemlins/sad.gif

GM just released their findings about A/F parts and how they react in collisions. Needless to say the results were sicking...Eric

http://www.prodiscussions.com/cgi-bin/pro_discussions.pl?read=52575

I figured it had something to do with california...like everything else..."California Air Protection Agency" maybe...hehe graemlins/beers.gif

Eric, interesting forum you found there.

I agree that as a rule these aftermarket parts are inferior. However a test done be GM means next to nothing to me. To be able to pick and choose which car, parts, collision to do the test on by a company with millions of dollars in profit at stake in the outcome, come on now.

That is hardly an "objective" test. An aftermarket company could without a doubt pick and choose parts and a car to do a test that favored their products.

Take a look at that first link i posted, and look at the lighting survey. 82% of the aftermarket headlamps failed to meet proper specs. Thats just lighting specs,no mention of fit.Dont you love how the adjusters in those lights strip out after a few turns,never fails. What gets me is the insurance companys and sometimes customers want to use the CHEAPEST parts they can find,no matter the quality and its up to the technician to try and make the crap fit! If he cant make it perfect then people start to question his and the shops ability and ethics. In the end the techs usually the one caught holding the bag. graemlins/clonk.gif

Originally posted by 70isfine:
If he cant make it perfect then people start to question his and the shops ability and ethics. In the end the techs usually the one caught holding the bag. Aint that the truth.
I get to waste my TIME and MONEY just so some multi billion dollar company can save a few.

Am pretty darn lucky with the shop I got. If the parts dont fit, we take pics and replace with OE parts

Originally posted by sevt_chevelle:


Am pretty darn lucky with the shop I got. If the parts dont fit, we take pics and replace with OE parts But i bet you only get paid to change the part once. We had a problem with aftermrket fenders for new chevy p/u. Tried two a/m fenders then finally a GM.So the fender was r&i three times but we only get paid once. The things we go through to save people money. graemlins/sad.gif

Funny I've never heard a bodyman complain about the 10 hours he got to fix a dent that took him 2!!! :D Just kidden guys, they keep cuttin paint times I'll be payin them!!! Mike

Chris, true but Id rather do that then wrestle a part that doesnt fit.