Wife's 99 smashed by large suv, need help and advice - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

buck987si · 11-10-2011, 06:40 AM

Ok TN, my Wife's car got backed into by a stooge in a escalade. We're gonna need some reccomendations for a waterproof car cover. She says it felt pretty straight driving it to my Grampa's garage where we've been lucky enough to store it for now.

He would like to put his truck inside with the wintery weather approaching. We're still haggling with the insurance company on possible buy back- yes, cost of repair vs blue book forces it to be "totalled".

Also, based on these cell phone pics, would we be able to just put new/used doors back on it and be good to go? Thankfully no one was seriously hurt. She, our 3 kids in the back and my Mom were in at the time

buck987si · 11-10-2011, 06:58 AM

Here's some more pics

carsrus · 11-10-2011, 08:16 AM

Honestly that doesnt look to bad, at least with the doors closed. I would just buy 2 complete doors and just bolt them up. Shouldn't cost to much as thats a really common color. 500$ max for 2 complete doors.

***BMR*** · 11-10-2011, 09:27 AM

Look across the roof for signs of buckling or bowing, indicative of structural damage. Get your eye even with the roof level to see it best.

ghettosled · 11-10-2011, 12:09 PM

yeah, it really doesnt look bad at all and very much repairable.

***Mister_Perkins*** · 11-10-2011, 03:16 PM

as long as the pillar between the front doors isnt bent, you should be in good shape

zb420 · 11-10-2011, 04:21 PM

Here's a pic of some damage that was inflicted on my poor car by a city bus on the pass. door.

Very similar damage to yours.. no biggy...as long as there isn't structual damage... and yes, they totaled out my car and I bought it back for $350.00. ( Money a junk yard would give them plus my deductible)

Why are they hassling you over something that is SOP?

buck987si · 11-10-2011, 11:08 PM

Whew! Was hoping it had a chance of being saved. Thanks for the quick response guys. Will check those areas with more scrutiny now that I know it's possible to repair so simply(I hope).

Now to figure a "gentle" way to get that front door off. Find some doors in the Seattle area. A 3-4 day barge ride and she'll be back in business.

She just rolled 45 or 50,000mi earlier this summer, so it would be sweet to not lose this one.

Now to find a decent car cover. It rains here like you wouldn't believe. This time of year we avg 13-15in of rain for Nov alone. Right now I'm looking at Amazon, they carry some Covercraft Custom Fits from $150- $340. California Car Covers has some that run $195- $320. If any of you have personal experience with any of these covers or other brands/kinds I am all ears.

buck987si · 11-10-2011, 11:18 PM

Wow zb420! What year is your baby?

Idk about the buy back hurdle. The Wife has been squeezing all she can out of the insurance company. The guy who hit us has the same insurance company as we do.

We've been concerned every step of the process as we sometimes feel uncomfortable with some of their offers/decisions since they are obligated to both of their policy holders.

Chris Crash · 11-10-2011, 11:38 PM

Damn...I had doors your exact color for sale. I ended up tossing them at the scrap yard, would have gave 'em to you for free if you paid shipping!

zb420 · 11-11-2011, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buck987si

Wow zb420! What year is your baby?

Idk about the buy back hurdle. The Wife has been squeezing all she can out of the insurance company. The guy who hit us has the same insurance company as we do.

We've been concerned every step of the process as we sometimes feel uncomfortable with some of their offers/decisions since they are obligated to both of their policy holders.

mine is a '93. their offer should be a stock offer.
if the car is a total it's no good to them, they will junk it.
The junk yard in LA will give you $250 or so. Add your deductible (collision) and the total should be your price.
California Car Cover is located here in the valley and they make very good covers.
Covercraft also makes quality covers.

Not all all waterPROOF so you have to be sure about that.

SF

edit: If you use CC Cover, when you talk to them on the phone, ask them for a better price. They should knock 10% off.

***Mister_Perkins*** · 11-11-2011, 11:20 AM

so your door wont open?

buck987si · 11-11-2011, 05:30 PM

Yes Mister_Perkins. I believe the front door will not open. I was in such shock to see it in person, I didn't even try to open it. The Wife said she and the 2 different body shop guys writing up the estimates were unable to open the door.

The accident occured on another island 20 miles from mine, where my Grampa lives. I'll be going by him Thanksgiving weekend and will try to asses the areas pointed out to me.

Sounds good zb420. The formula info for insurance figures makes sense. There are no typical wrecking yards in our area. There's a guy who crushes the cars and sells them as scrap.

I'm about to call Covercraft and California Car Cover in just a few mins. Not sure if they're open with it being Veteran's Day

***Mister_Perkins*** · 11-11-2011, 05:36 PM

Well, your going to have to get the door open to get it off.

The linkage may have popped apart. You can try to get in the back side of the panel and pull up on the linkage that latches it to the car.

If that doesnt work, you'll have to drill the latch out.

buck987si · 11-12-2011, 05:14 PM

Thanks Mr. P for the pointers to get the door off. I should have recognized that getting into the inside of the door and trying to manually pop the latch with the rods might release it. I've changed the front driver's handle more than once on my Mother-in-law's 95 Camry. I've even changed the driver's side rear door in the pics.

Living on a island with very few choices for auto repair, I've become the one fam and friends rely on to fix their cars.

I've even repaired and replaced more than once a cousins Ford Explorer door handle. It had a broken ext handle and the interior rod had disconnected too- had to remove the inner panel and reach for the rod to finally open the door.

I guess I was in such shock and still am I didn't recognize that was the 1st and best approach to getting the Wife's door open when it's time.

Everyone's help and assistance is very much appreciated. Even if it may seem like a minor hint or suggestion, it could be the exact solution or at least a piece of the puzzle to get a complete solution to our cars problems.

I will definitely update as we decide how and when and where we decide to get my Wife's "baby" back to duty.