Rear ended someone yesterday

[SwissCheeseHead]

I was sitting at a stop light in traffic, waiting for the light to turn green to get onto a state highway. Wind was blowing snow everywhere, it was efffin' cold and the roads were slippery. Light turns green and traffic starts moving. I'm going about 25 and approaching the exit ramp and some douche in a red ford explorer decides to speed by in the lane left of me and cut off the van in front to me. The van slams his brakes, I slam on mine and I slide into him.

I didn't do any damage to his van (it was a Chevy Express cargo van) because I ended up hitting his trailer hitch. My front bumper has a nice square crack and hole and some other scratches and scrapes. The front distance sensor, which I paid the cost of labor for, is malfunctioning again (see my Adaptive Cruise Control thread). All because some A-hole couldn't wait his turn.

I will be PO'd if insurance gives me a hard time about getting everything replaced as new. They wanted me to take it to one of their installers to get a quote, but I told them that I was going to go to the dealership anyway, which the rep said I could do, but they throw in the disclaimer that State Farm has to agree to any and all work performed. I am concerned the distance sensor would be the only thing. So PO'd right now.

[Debonair]

Ouch. Sorry to hear about this misfortune. I can't see myself living in a place where it regularly snows after reading so many accounts like this and see the videos. Spoiled Californian I guess. Does not sound like the damage is too bad. I doubt your insurance will give you grief over it.

[SmoovC]

That totally sucks, all because some a$$ thinks he is more important, and has to get where he is going ahead of you. On a "silver lining" side, perhaps you noticed that hot air does not blow out of the passenger side vents after the accident or accident repair? ....just sayin'

[Ilya]

Sucks man.

[SwissCheeseHead]

That totally sucks, all because some a$$ thinks he is more important, and has to get where he is going ahead of you. On a "silver lining" side, perhaps you noticed that hot air does not blow out of the passenger side vents after the accident or accident repair? ....just sayin'

I was just thinking the same thing! How did you guess???

Thanks for the words fellas. I haven't had an accident in 14 years. This has been my first weather related accident and I've lived in WI for most of my life. I usually have a set of snow wheels that I put on for the winter but was short on cash this time around with the timing of the purchase and the holiday season so this is a first for me.

I do have an older BMW that has snow tires and I think I may just drive that the rest of the season. That's why I bought the car for! but I was getting sick of scraping windows and jumping into a freezing cold car. Ahhhh...such is life.

[DoN_BLaZe34]

Wow Swiss that REALLY sucks, so so sorry to hear about this, but glad you're ok man.

[SwissCheeseHead]

Wow Swiss that REALLY sucks, so so sorry to hear about this, but glad you're ok man.

Thanks man. I'm over it now. Now I just gotta get it fixed and all will be swell again. I'm going to probably garage for the rest of the winter and take my e34 with the snow tires. That car is much more planted on slippery/snowy roads than my M with all-season tires. Next season will be a different story

[szh]

Ouch!

Sorry to hear about this ...

Z

[Larz]

So sorry to hear about this, Swiss. I'm sure that with bumper damage, the appraiser would normally include replacement of the radar gizmo, but since the dealership found nothing wrong and blamed it on the steering rack, I reckon you will need to tell the appraiser that the steering felt 'wrong all the way home from the accident. Even though it's a old steering unit, they may include repairs for that - and then your radar will work. It's worth a try, but you never heard it from me (wink wink).

[SwissCheeseHead]

So sorry to hear about this, Swiss. I'm sure that with bumper damage, the appraiser would normally include replacement of the radar gizmo, but since the dealership found nothing wrong and blamed it on the steering rack, I reckon you will need to tell the appraiser that the steering felt 'wrong all the way home from the accident. Even though it's a old steering unit, they may include repairs for that - and then your radar will work. It's worth a try, but you never heard it from me (wink wink).

I tested the front distance sensor extensively and it seems to be working OK now. It does not work in SNOW mode, which I didn't know when I originally made the posting.

My CEL did come on though, on the way to the adjuster, so that should be included. It kinda sounds like the body and service shop at the dealership have a lot of freedom to add any additional damages that may have occurred per the insurance policy. I'm hopeful (but still annoyed) that the car will return to its prior shape and performance prior to the accident.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[SwissCheeseHead]

Used the Torque app to pull fault codes on my car and it said the engine was running lean. Looked under the hood and it appeared that my intake tube popped off the throttle body from the collision. Reattached and cleared the code. Should stay off. Now it's just cosmetic repairs and the heater vents; alignment seems off too.

[withomps44]

Used the Torque app to pull fault codes on my car and it said the engine was running lean. Looked under the hood and it appeared that my intake tube popped off the throttle body from the collision. Reattached and cleared the code. Should stay off. Now it's just cosmetic repairs and the heater vents; alignment seems off too.

Noob question here... What do I need to buy to work with my iphone and OBD-II app to monitor this stuff?

[SwissCheeseHead]

Used the Torque app to pull fault codes on my car and it said the engine was running lean. Looked under the hood and it appeared that my intake tube popped off the throttle body from the collision. Reattached and cleared the code. Should stay off. Now it's just cosmetic repairs and the heater vents; alignment seems off too.

Noob question here... What do I need to buy to work with my iphone and OBD-II app to monitor this stuff?

You will need to get a bluetooth OBDII adapter that you can find on amazon and ebay. If it is a decent bluetooth adapter, your phone should be able to connect to it. There are some brands that have a harder time connecting to some phone vs others but you'll have to do some research for that.

I bought the BAFX one on amazon and it's worked with both of my LG phones that I've had so far.