When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Yep, driving home today from vacation, 65mph+ and right in the middle lane where I couldn’t get out of (vehicles to the left and right) was a rock, about 6 inches high and boom! right over it. Needless to say, I lost the front air dam center but there doesn’t seem to be any other body damage. The problem is the air bag light came on (there was a strange, acrid odor in the car) but they didn’t deploy and the seatbelts tightened up and when I released them to get out and access the damage, they pulled tighter into the post and I can’t get them out. Drove to the closest Chevy dealer, seatbeltless ,and they put the code reader on and attempted to reset the system but to no avail. So I’ve driven about 75 miles without belts and still have another 700 or so to go. Everything is fine, oil level/pressure, temperatures, steering/braking, ac/other systems, just no belts and the airbag light is lit. Any ideas on how to get belts to free up? I’m positive that the end result is an expensive trip to my local dealership but I’d like to get there safely and without fines for no seatbelt use! Dealer thought worse case scenario is complete change of belts and the module that operates the belt/bag system. Yikes, that sounds pricey $$$.
Dealer thought worse case scenario is complete change of belts and the module that operates the belt/bag system.
Find a competent dealer. If the airbag light is on there’s a code in the system. Sounds like the dealer you went to either has no clue or doesn’t want to help for some reason.
I am only offering this as a possible reason on the seat belts. I'm assuming that since the air bags went off (or at least maybe the computer thinks that they did),
there might be a safety override, not allowing the seat belts to be used (air bag related). It might be a liability situation. Again, I have no background or experience on
this, just thinking it might be a reason. Good luck.
Here's a photo of the front "engine cradle" that was hit by the rock. This is pretty much the extent of the damage except that the ripped piece is wearing into the front spring. The rest is just scrapes on the exhaust, oil pan and "center reinforcement" and purely cosmetic. As I posted earlier, I drove it home 600+ miles without issues, no leaks no temperature issues, nothing at all. Guess I got lucky. Seat belt pretensioners did deploy so that's another parts/labor issue. And there's absolutely no body damage! Rock sheared off the deflector below the splitter but never touched the nose piece/paintwork.
that cradle new is like $1k, used like $350... splitter depend on which one can start around $100 - $200...
the seat belt with the pretensioner could be found for $200
maybe you are lucky after all and can avoid using the insurance for these
I am sorry to read this! I am glad no one was injured.
Honestly, as squirrely as the insurance companies have gotten, I would not present a claim fot that amount of money, if I could afford to avoid it.
We had a small water leak that we reported and the hassle we went through to keep our home owner's insurance was not worth the $2,000 they paid out. Finding other insurance was also going to be expensive. jmho
Sadly if you use your insurance expect a rate increase so you can either pay once out of pocket or use insurance and pay until you no longer own the car.
that cradle new is like $1k, used like $350... splitter depend on which one can start around $100 - $200...
the seat belt with the pretensioner could be found for $200
maybe you are lucky after all and can avoid using the insurance for these
OP: Was the rock moving or standing still when you hit it? That makes a difference to insurance. If it was moving, the incident is chargeable on the Comprehensive Part of your policy, and if it was standing still, it is chargeable on the Collision part of the policy. Charges against the Comp Insurance aren't chargeable accidents and don't impact your rate or erase safe driving discounts. If you selected a lower deductible for Comp Coverage, then you may have a lower payment to the body shop.
That cradle needs to be replaced. It isn't safe to drive the car with it that way, which means the shop doing the work needs to have an engine support fixture and a traverse spring compressor to hold the engine in place while the cradle is out of the car.
At least you didn’t get hurt. Sorry this has happened to your Corvette and caused you all this trouble.
I must say that some people are idiots when it comes to hauling stuff in their trucks or their utility trailers that they’re pulling.
That 6 inch rock probably originated from someone’s utility trailer and it bounced out onto the road.
I met a guy who had a titanium arm. He told me that he was riding a motorcycle and there was a contractor in a pick up truck ahead of him on the interstate highway and a 2x4 board bounced out of the truck and hit the guy’s arm and amputated it. He would’ve bled to death if there had not been a medical doctor who was following him and stopped and put a tourniquet on his arm.
At least you didn’t get hurt. Sorry this has happened to your Corvette and caused you all this trouble.
I must say that some people are idiots when it comes to hauling stuff in their trucks or their utility trailers that they’re pulling.
That 6 inch rock probably originated from someone’s utility trailer and it bounced out onto the road.
I met a guy who had a titanium arm. He told me that he was riding a motorcycle and there was a contractor in a pick up truck ahead of him on the interstate highway and a 2x4 board bounced out of the truck and hit the guy’s arm and amputated it. He would’ve bled to death if there had not been a medical doctor who was following him and stopped and put a tourniquet on his arm.
OP: Was the rock moving or standing still when you hit it? That makes a difference to insurance. If it was moving, the incident is chargeable on the Comprehensive Part of your policy, and if it was standing still, it is chargeable on the Collision part of the policy. Charges against the Comp Insurance aren't chargeable accidents and don't impact your rate or erase safe driving discounts. If you selected a lower deductible for Comp Coverage, then you may have a lower payment to the body shop.
That cradle needs to be replaced. It isn't safe to drive the car with it that way, which means the shop doing the work needs to have an engine support fixture and a traverse spring compressor to hold the engine in place while the cradle is out of the car.
Bill
Very useful and detailed information!
Looks labor-intensive, so I hope the OP's insurance covers the replacement.
OP here. Yes, it is covered by insurance, unfortunately Collision, the rock was stationary. And my carrier will have to bear the brunt of the bill as this is mostly labor, the parts are only a small portion of the bill. I'm 78 YO and not about to crawl around on the garage floor or find the special tools necessary to support the engine and release spring tension to swap out the cradle. I've already sheared almost $2200 in parts off the estimate plus their labor charge (another $1000+) for parts with MINOR scratches from the rock that the estimator included in the original estimate. Thanks for the well wishes, it certainly could have been worse, perhaps fatal, had it been bouncing. I'll keep you posted on the final bill $$$.
Hit a Rock!
