Fixable myself?

DogLeg · #1 08-19-2011, 06:45 PM

Hi all. My wife got in an accident this AM. She rear ended a Ford Focus. I have a 2003 Ford Ranger Edge. How bad is this? Some things I can DIY. Anything that needs painting or has dents I'll take to the body shop.

1. the hood has a corner crack, is this fixable?
2. side marker light needs replacement (DIY)
3. front panel is dented (taking to body shop)
4. grille with argent needs to be replaced. a piece broke off and couldn't be found. (DIY)
5. metal part behind the bumper is bent (how hard is this to bend?)
6. crack/tear in the bumper (is this DIY fixable?)
7. this nees to be prepped and painted (taking to body shop)

So 1, 3, 6, and 7, can you guessimate how much this will cost me? I live in Atlanta. I only have liability insurance. Thanks for you help!

Clinton · #2 08-19-2011, 06:47 PM

I would do the body shop man, Looks like you're going to have some inner damage for the corner mount and have the header panel checked

STL · #3 08-19-2011, 07:21 PM

Everything but the corner light needs to be looked at by a body shop. It is what you cant see that needs attention.

The header panel can possibly be cracked.

DogLeg · #4 08-19-2011, 08:03 PM

Thanks guys. I was hoping for some miracle DIY project. Any guess on how much? I'm going to take it to a body shop next week but just wondering much it's going to hurt

Christianguy · #5 08-19-2011, 08:27 PM

for something like that you could be charged as little as $700
Hope you know a good body man.

STL · #6 08-20-2011, 04:26 AM

Why not just file it under you insurance? Just pay the deductible and they will cover the rest.

handyandy · #7 08-20-2011, 04:37 AM

if it were mine id be taking the panels off to look,the hood u can straighten corner out yourself,front fender off,its junk any way,lights and grill off,front bumper off(prob the mounts that are bent)get it all off see how it looks underneath,go to junk yard pick up bumper,fender grill lights etc as your gonna need them regardless,by this point u will have an idea if anythings bent underneath and go from there

DogLeg · #8 08-20-2011, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handyandy

if it were mine id be taking the panels off to look,the hood u can straighten corner out yourself,front fender off,its junk any way,lights and grill off,front bumper off(prob the mounts that are bent)get it all off see how it looks underneath,go to junk yard pick up bumper,fender grill lights etc as your gonna need them regardless,by this point u will have an idea if anythings bent underneath and go from there

I took your advice and took off the grill, headlight, and bumper cover. Glad I did b/c a bracket for the headlight was broken but I can fix it. I probably would have been charged for a new headlight.

TerrenceStuart · #9 08-20-2011, 08:13 PM

I like how you blamed the wife.

STL · #10 08-21-2011, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DogLeg

I took your advice and took off the grill, headlight, and bumper cover. Glad I did b/c a bracket for the headlight was broken but I can fix it. I probably would have been charged for a new headlight.

So why not file it under insurance?

OhioMike · #11 08-21-2011, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Any guess on how much?

$2200 eyeballing it.

Quote:

So why not file it under insurance?

He can always get a free estimate and let them know if he even wants to procede with insurance or have the work done at all. I was hit in a near hit-in-run where I was having trouble finding out the owner's info. etc., and a local bodyshop I dealt with before has a free estimate. While I was sorting out the mess and deciding whether or not it was worth pursuing through my insurance at all, I still needed documentation as to the damages. I went in, they did an estimate, and I told them my situation, and they said, "You know where to find us. Give us a call". It ended-up being minor and the commercial trucking insurance company paid me directly, and I decided it wasn't worth the bodyshop.