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Fixing My Car... Please Help

DLX737200 From United States, joined May 2001, 1468 posts, RR: 23
Posted (4 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 348 times:

Hello everyone. On my way to Tampa yesterday to vist a friend in the hospital and also taking some time to take a few shots at TPA, I got rear-ended on I-4. The traffic was going real slow and we would frequently just come to a halt on I-4. Rush-hour... So anyway, we came to one of our many halts and I hit my brakes like everyone else. However, the guy behind me didn't. It was a big, commerical box-truck. I got out of my car on I-4 and walked back to look at it while he kept apoligizing a million times. I let it go because at first I only saw a few scratches and didn't worry about it. So I got off I-4 and got some gas in Lakeland. When I was fueling up, I looked again but this time saw a big dent in the top. I don't know how I missed it but I didn't see it before. So now, I'm stuck with a dented trunk on my Nissan Altima 1999 and don't have any insurance info on this guy. Now I'm looking for the cheapest method to fix it. Any suggestions on techniques for getting out a dent? Thanks for anyone's help.

Lincense Plate blurred for security purposes

"I hope we don't die today."

19 replies: All unread, jump to last

777236ER From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2001, 12706 posts, RR: 51
Reply 1, posted (4 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 333 times:

You might not want to tell your dad that you were hit by someone and were stupid enough not to check for damage, get their insurance details and phone the police.

Your bone's got a little machine

L-188 From United States, joined Jul 1999, 28158 posts, RR: 70
Reply 2, posted (4 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 329 times:

How handy are you?

Option one. Go to a junkyard and get an undamaged one off a junker that got front ended. Simplest mechanically since all you have to do is pull bolts and maybe connect some brake light wires.

You also might get lucky on the paint too,If you can find a lid in the same color as your car.

Otherwise if you can locate that spray on touch up paint in your car's color. Check with NAPA or similar. Some of the common colors are in aerosol cans, so no dealing with air sprayers and such.

Option two.

Open up the lid and then bang the dent out, with a hammer and the approprate blocking.

Again depends how handy you are.

[Edited 2004-06-19 16:02:55]

OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.

Cptkrell From United States, joined Sep 2001, 2095 posts, RR: 8
Reply 3, posted (4 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 315 times:

Most recycle yards are now hooked to a locator computer...you will probably be able to find an exact replacement, including color. From the looks of the damage,I'll bet the deck inner panel is whacked, too. I'd go for replacement rather than repair. Regards...Jack

Ushermittwoch From Germany, joined Jan 2004, 2362 posts, RR: 15
Reply 4, posted (4 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 306 times:

Well in my country you need to inform the police ASAP if something like this happens. That way you get the guys insurance information and can make claims pretty easily.

I just hope you'll learn your lesson.

Where have all the tri-jets gone...

DesertJets From United States, joined Feb 2000, 6703 posts, RR: 18
Reply 5, posted (4 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 299 times:

Depending on what your insurance deductable is, you may or may not need to make a claim. A call to a few local body shops will help you figure out how much it is to repair.

Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia

FutureUApilot From United States, joined May 2004, 1365 posts, RR: 18
Reply 6, posted (4 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 292 times:

Hey,
I don't know anything about the car, but i like your licence plate!!!
-Sam

The Pilot is the highest form of life on Earth!

DLX737200 From United States, joined May 2001, 1468 posts, RR: 23
Reply 7, posted (4 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 273 times:

Ok... I called a local body shop and got an appointment for an estimate on Monday afternoon. I really don't wanna put in a claim because I don't want an increase in my premium. What about those Dent Popper thingys. I don't know what they're called but I see them on tv a lot. They attach to the dent and unpop them. Think maybe that might work? I'm not too worried about it right now. The car still drives just fine. I'll probably get it fixed in the next two months or so. Whenever enough income shows up. Smile

"I hope we don't die today."

DLX737200 From United States, joined May 2001, 1468 posts, RR: 23
Reply 8, posted (4 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 271 times:

You might not want to tell your dad that you were hit by someone and were stupid enough not to check for damage, get their insurance details and phone the police.

I already told my parents and they weren't mad at all. They understand I had no control over this jerk hitting me. Second of all, I DID look for damage and just didn't see this dent. I saw all the scratches and thought that was it. The way the sunlight hit the trunk, I didn't see the dent. Third of all, this happened at 4pm yesterday. It's now 2:10pm where I live. That's almost 24 hours later and this happened in a town 60 miles away. How am I suppose to get their insurance details now? I have to live with it now.

"I hope we don't die today."

DesertJets From United States, joined Feb 2000, 6703 posts, RR: 18
Reply 9, posted (4 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 260 times:

Say no to the dent popper. If you don't know what you are doing, and in all likelyhood you don't, you can end up making it worse. The idea that a $29.99 tool can do the same as somebody with the proper tools and experience is pretty laughable.

Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia

Fritzi From Sweden, joined Jun 2001, 2754 posts, RR: 0
Reply 10, posted (4 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 248 times:

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Second of all, I DID look for damage and just didn't see this dent.

How can you not see a dent like that??!!???!!

A almsot full beer glass is better than a almost empty one

Dlx737200 From United States, joined May 2001, 1468 posts, RR: 23
Reply 11, posted (4 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 244 times:

Think pic brings out the worst in the dent. If you look at it from the angle I first looked at it from and with certain sunlight, it can be difficult to even find. The color of the car also has a lot to do with it.

"I hope we don't die today."

Dlx737200 From United States, joined May 2001, 1468 posts, RR: 23
Reply 12, posted (4 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 202 times:

Ok... went for an estimate today at Car Crafters in Apopka, FL ( http://www.car-crafters.com ) and got a quote of :

$1,000!!!!

This may not be a lot to some but to a $4000 annually earning 16 year old, this isn't cheap! So I gave up on that REALLY fast and moved on. I went home though and got all the scratches off with some rubbing compound. I was really glad how it looked after that. On top of that, I opened the trunk and took a hammer. I put the rubber end in and was able to get all of the dent out except for the initial hitting point. It looks much better and I can live with this. I might still try the $20 dent removal thingy because if it doesn't work, I can still return it and get my money back! It's worth a shot! Thanks for everyone's suggestions throughout this time of semi-crisis for me!

-Justin

"I hope we don't die today."

L-188 From United States, joined Jul 1999, 28158 posts, RR: 70
Reply 13, posted (4 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 200 times:

Well, if it is just a little area, dented in, dare I suggest "Bondo"? and then the touch up paint.

Like I said, the parts are actually the cheap part, it is the labor that kills you on the bill.

OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.

Dlx737200 From United States, joined May 2001, 1468 posts, RR: 23
Reply 14, posted (4 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 178 times:

Here is the new picture of it with the dent being banged out as much as I could get it to and all the scratches being gone:

"I hope we don't die today."

CPDC10-30 From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2000, 4618 posts, RR: 23
Reply 15, posted (4 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 163 times:

Hey, nice job with a little effort Smile/happy/getting dizzy

I would just leave it like that if I were you and only get it fixed if you are selling the car. It is barely noticeable.

N766UA From United States, joined Jul 1999, 6728 posts, RR: 41
Reply 16, posted (4 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 162 times:

Hey maybe now you can use a dent popper. Looks pretty minute by comparison.

If God meant man to fly, He'd have given us bigger wallets.

Dlx737200 From United States, joined May 2001, 1468 posts, RR: 23
Reply 17, posted (4 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 148 times:

CPDC10-30, that's exactly was I was thinking. I'm ok with the small dent thats in there now. I can live with that.

N766UA, I also was considering this. The other dent was too large for it I think but maybe now it's small enough for a dent popper. There only $18 and if it doesn't work, I can send it back and get a full refund so what is there to lose?

"I hope we don't die today."

JFKTOWERFAN From United States, joined Sep 2001, 1061 posts, RR: 13
Reply 18, posted (4 years 5 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 139 times:

AIRLINERS.NET CREW
DATABASE EDITOR

If you want it completely gone call these people....amazing what they can do.
http://www.dentwizard.com/locationsusen

Corey

BRILLIANT!

MD11Engineer From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 9480 posts, RR: 62
Reply 19, posted (4 years 5 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 139 times:

Sand it, fill it up with polyester potting compound, sand it smooth to the original contour, ending up with 400 grade wetz sand paper, then spray it with the original paint.

Jan

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