My Car is fixed

[aidan80]

I got my car back and I hate to say it but, it just isn’t the same as it was. Maybe I’m being too picky but they put in a used “recycled” otherwise from a junk yard seat in to replace my broken driver’s seat. It isn’t the same at all, it’s the same type of seat but it feels like it’s had a lot of use. I’ve asked my insurance to replace it with a new seat and their response was that I should pay the difference. I’ll have a different insurance company next month after I’ve found a way to get a new seat out of them.

Another thing I’ve noticed and again I’m bad for noticing the smallest details… It’s the rear bumper looks to me (and I could be wrong) like it isn’t fully lined up or fully flush with the body it’s off by just a few millimeters. Inside the boot/trunk the one of the plastic clips (right under the hatch lock) that holds the plastic on to the metal is missing behind it I see half a hole! It looks like that don’t line up properly to get the clip back in. I also noticed for what it’s worth lol the Nissan logo on the back is off center but I’m not worried about that.

Should I see the fuel line (running from the gas cap) behind the right rear tire? I don’t remember ever seeing that before but now I see it. I was also told there was no frame damage to the car yet the insurance report mentions:

Unibody-Frame >> Setup, BUCKLED (listed was) 4 hours

There are some circular type tracks under the car near each of the wheels but I don’t know if that’s been there or new. Body shop has claimed time and again no frame damage everything is ok. I just have my doubts after seeing those tracks and what’s on the insurance report.

That body shop will hate me after this I’m sure. I feel like I’m being critical of their work with appears good over all. I just feel like I’m being too picky but I have to be honest I didn’t buy a car with a used seat or a crumpled back end. I’m just annoyed with my insurance company right now but I suppose I should expect them to penny pitch.


Right Side

Left Side

[sooner4x4]

After the accident repairs on my Sedan, the seams shown in your photo, have been somewhat problematic on mine also. They line up pretty good, but the lower piece will pop loose from the upper piece every so often. There are little clips that try to hold the upper piece together with the lower piece. I just hit the lower piece lightly with my fist and it pops back in for a few days.

The gas line is visible when you look up in the area behind the passenger rear tire, normal.

A few months after mine was repaired I took it to AutoMax and talked with them about trading it on something else. They do a pretty detailed inspection and came back with a report. They wouldn't trade for my Versa because of the frame damage, that had been repaired.

When I got mine back, the little rubber band thing that held the jack into it's little slot was gone so the jack just sits in the spare tire well with the spare. The Hatchback may have a different set-up for the tire changing tool storage than the Sedan.

It's sad to admit, you never seem to come out perfect on collision repair, you will always view your car a little different. I do anyway. It's just one of those life-isn't-fair moments when we have to keep everything in perspective - its just a car. I keep having to tell myself that.

[aidan80]

Thanks for the response, good to know this is considered "normal" after an accident. I'd seriously never noticed the gas line there before but if that's how it is then I'm fine with that.

Maybe your right maybe I should take it to a place and have it appraised and find out once and for all if there's been work done to the frame and what it's current value is. That is keeping in mind trade in value would be lower than side of the road value. That's interesting they wouldn't trade your car because of the frame damage? I'm kinda annoyed that I can't claim from the other persons insurance for the diminished value of my car because of this accident. The spare tire appears to be in place normally with the jack stored alongside it parallel to the rear hatch.

Your right it isn't fair and it is just a car but still frustrating that it happens, that it isn't 100% as it was. I think for me the most annoying thing right now has to be the drivers seat. I honestly expect the insurance company to not want to cover it. I've no idea how long they will fight with the other insurance company to claim back the cost of repairs which came out at just a bit under $4,000 in total before adding in rental car costs plus medical.

[sooner4x4]

The seat would probably bum me out the most because that is where you interact with your machine.

What would the difference have been to get a new seat? Could you check out the local junk yards, there may be a slightly used seat, or maybe you got the best seat that was at the local junk yard already in the repair. Another option is to find a good old fashion auto upholestry shop. A shop that has been in the same location forever, that looks like a hole in the wall but where they work on people's classics. Ask what they would charge to add new padding and maybe new cloth. Might be the cheapest route. Wouldn't hurt to ask.

[aidan80]

The seat would probably bum me out the most because that is where you interact with your machine.

What would the difference have been to get a new seat? Could you check out the local junk yards, there may be a slightly used seat, or maybe you got the best seat that was at the local junk yard already in the repair. Another option is to find a good old fashion auto upholestry shop. A shop that has been in the same location forever, that looks like a hole in the wall but where they work on people's classics. Ask what they would charge to add new padding and maybe new cloth. Might be the cheapest route. Wouldn't hurt to ask.

I think the body shop I took it to found the best seat they could from the junk yard. To their credit they did go above and beyond for the customer even though the customer was pissed lol. They skinned my old seat for lack of a better word and put it's guts on the frame of the new/used seat. The frame is where the problem is it feels quite used. The seatbelt sometimes sticks in place, it won't recline the same as the old seat and there isn't as much tension in it when snapping forward. It's like a really large person had spent a few years laying on it. That's really the only way I can describe it. That and small scuffs/scratches all over the seat belt lock and recline leaver both look aged next to the passenger seat. I know this is small things in the grand scheme but it seems I'm a bit of a freak for details.

[aidan80]

I forgot to add these..


After the crash


After being fixed...

[robaustin]

You're not a freak for details, your car should be restored to as close to the way it was as possible. If they took the seat out of a car that had 100,000 miles on it, that means someone sat in that seat for that long, and if your car doesn't have that mileage on it - then the seat did not get as much wear.

If it is not to your liking then keep fighting it.

The reason I say this - is I compromised once on a repair on my old Sentra. A lady barely t boned me - basically her bumper ran across the whole passenger side of my car. They needed to re-do both passenger doors, and the front one took the brunt of the damage.

So - the body shop did a nice job making it look great - but ever since I had gotten it back - the door didn't line up quite right, there was some gap along top vertical area. The door also had an extra "clunk" when it closed because it wasn't lined up right. I took it back once and they adjusted it a bit and it was good for a while but then it loosend up again and I never took it back. I regret doing that because it got worse as time went on. The door got stiff and sagged more, and it was never easy to close.

So this is why I say - make sure you get it taken care of to YOUR satisfaction. And even if the insurance company eventually won't relent - spend the extra $$$ out of your own pocket to get it the way you want it, because you WILL regret it every day you drive that car - it will be that much less fun, and that much more annoying.

--*Rob

[aidan80]

You're not a freak for details, your car should be restored to as close to the way it was as possible. If they took the seat out of a car that had 100,000 miles on it, that means someone sat in that seat for that long, and if your car doesn't have that mileage on it - then the seat did not get as much wear.

If it is not to your liking then keep fighting it.

The reason I say this - is I compromised once on a repair on my old Sentra. A lady barely t boned me - basically her bumper ran across the whole passenger side of my car. They needed to re-do both passenger doors, and the front one took the brunt of the damage.

So - the body shop did a nice job making it look great - but ever since I had gotten it back - the door didn't line up quite right, there was some gap along top vertical area. The door also had an extra "clunk" when it closed because it wasn't lined up right. I took it back once and they adjusted it a bit and it was good for a while but then it loosend up again and I never took it back. I regret doing that because it got worse as time went on. The door got stiff and sagged more, and it was never easy to close.

So this is why I say - make sure you get it taken care of to YOUR satisfaction. And even if the insurance company eventually won't relent - spend the extra $$$ out of your own pocket to get it the way you want it, because you WILL regret it every day you drive that car - it will be that much less fun, and that much more annoying.

--*Rob

I intend to fight on until I get a proper seat. I've no intentions of being nice anymore with the insurance company or accepting what they tell me. I again called today and asked about the seat only to be told per the policy the seat I had was all that I was entitled to. I explained my car being near new with only 16,000 on the clock and only being 17 months old.. their response was "you car is used and your entitled to a used seat".

I have to admit at that point feeling insulted and disgusted I hung up. So I called the body shop and asked them where the seat came from what vehicle. After some pressure was applied I got a number and name of the junk yard. I called the junk yard and after being transferred to at least four people all of whom stuttered when I asked for the VIN to the vehicle the seat came from. They said they couldn't release the information on the VIN as it was protected information under the privacy act and told me to go back to the body shop. I called the body shop again and they remained quite on the line then told me they didn't have my file at hand right away and that they where closing. They'd call back monday? I've a funny feeling they won't because I'll be there at 8am Monday morning waiting for a copy of everything in that file.

My final call of the day was to my lawyer. I'll get my seat if I have to drag these people kicking and screaming through the courts in order to get it. I pay my bill every month without fail, never complained when they increase the bill every 6 months and now I get treated like this? Maybe it's just me but wherever that seat came from I've a feeling didn't meet a good demise. For all I know someone died in that seat they stuck in my car. I can't think of any good reasons why no one will give me the VIN?

If anyone happens to know where I can find a serial number, ID Tag, VIN?.. on the seat and how I might track it back to the car it was installed in so I can identify that vehicle I'd be very happy. I want basically want to run a carfax on that VIN, see the real age of the car and how many miles where on it when it bit the dust.