should I be getting worried?
 

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Dropped car off after accident 5 1/2 weeks ago and was told that parts were ordered and arrived and going to paint booth 2 weeks ago, Now being told that they are waiting for special frame clamps so they can measure on the frame machine. Should the frame not have been checked prior to ordering and prepping the car for paint and if the frame is bent will they just straighten it . This is being done at a Chevrolet Colission center,Im Very confused at this point

Be worried......be very worried.

This is unacceptable, I feel bad for ya man but I would be on the phone everyday all day until you get some resolution. I wish you well.
I agree with checking frame first, then proceed, makes you wonder what kind of service advisor they are listening to.

Did the shop find something hidden after the panels were removed? I would be getting a little nervous myself :(

:iagree:

At 1st blush, sounds kind of strange. I would concur that the integrity of the frame would have been #1 on the checklist; before ordering any replacement parts.

That said, w/o some additional info, kind of hard to know for sure. Were you hit... i.e., is someone else's insurance pushing this claim along? Are you handling this through your insurance (i.e., accident was your fault) or are you paying cash? I only ask b/c it does have a bearing on the selection of the collision shop and the strange checklist of items to-do.

They likely ordered the parts before they removed everything based on the initial adjusters estimate. Upon removing the panels to do the work, they saw more potential damage. That' fairly typical, they'e not taking the car apart for free.

Worried depends on what outcome you wanted. If you didn' want it totaled under any circumstances, yes it' time to start getting worried. They may find frame damage, and they may find it in spec. Your hit doesn' look that bad, so they probably won't fond any frame damage, but they may.

Why are you worried, everything but the hood is off the front end. If it was all put together then they said we need to check the frame that would be a problem.

I would be worried.

frame rail ends may be bent where the reinforcement bolts on? if so, no big deal.

I would be worried and VERY pissed off:eek:

I got hit while stopped at a red light. The back end of my car was pretty messed up and I would have bet my bottom dollar the frame was bent.
Collision Center had my car nine weeks. They kept telling me they were waiting for parts. I was upset and pissed off thinking there was frame damage and they were hiding it from me. I had several meetings with my adjuster and also the project manager at the collision center. I was repeatedly told that the car would come back to me looking and feeling like new. I had my doubts.

Got the car back several days ago and it not only looks great, but it rides great. They say the back end was hit high and no frame damage. The car tracks straight ahead hands off the steering wheel. I'm happy and I think I did a lot of worrying for nothing. Only one minor problem when I got the car back and it involved the FM antenna not being properly connected.

If your car is not right, do not except it. Hire a lawyer if you need to but wait until the car is done and save some worry time until you have to.

I would definitely call your insurance company right away and get them more involved. Let them know the situation and if your insurance company is worth a darn they will monitor what is going on along the way.

I use to own a body shop, I would be worried. 1. A qualified dealer should have all the necessary equipment to put your car on a frame machine and tell instantly if the frame is out of spec. 2. It should not take 5.5 weeks to come to this determination. The first steps in the repair process are to break down the vehicle and order any supplemental parts not already on the estimate. This should happen within 1-2 days of arrival at the shop.

Your damage does not look that severe but I would highly recommend that you meet at the shop with the Insurance claims rep to go over the planned repair, parts list and time line. You can always chose to have your car moved and repaired at another shop also. It's not the best option at this point but it can be done.

Dealers are not necessarily the best option for body and paint. However some folks believe that it gives them piece of mind upon any issues that may arise with faulty repair. Lastly, make sure the Dealer is a certified repair shop with your Insurance company and if they are not, then move your car unless there are no other options in your area.

Good Luck!

I was told today that panels were installed and now the hood won't line up correctly

This they use original OEM parts or aftermarket?

So they didn’t even check the frame before attaching new parts? I was assuming it was left unassembled to check the frame. I would be talking to the insurance company about your options. Can I take it to a different shop? What if I don’t accept the work they done? How does this affect the value?

All OEM parts were supposedly used

Thats what I have been told, The insurance adjuster is getting more involved now that I called