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Font end collision damage - how to check for bent frame

B

bamx2

Senior member
Any auto body repair people around ? -

A family member recently had a front collision in his Gen 1 2000 Honda CRV. The collision impact was more or less above the bumper - grill.hood, headlights, both fenders
damaged, radiator support pushed back, ps pump pulley bent, no airbag activation or glass damage. The engine runs and the car will move (eng and trans ok I presume) . We might try to DIY fix, because it is one owner car and we have a cheap donor parts source. Looks aren't important but safety is. Other than looking for bent /crimped metal how do perform some basic checks (measurements with a tape measure) to determine whether there is frame damage ? - Thanks

See photo -



more - http://s33.photobucket.com/user/rkpatt/library/crv
 
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I don't believe the CRV has an actual "frame" - it's a unibody vehicle. Look at the door gaps to the front fender and see if they've changed. It's probably mostly sheet metal damage.
 
Chances are good that if it still drives straight it will be fine. Wheels/tires crooked/not aligned? Corner damage or was it a classic lock em up rear ending?
 
find a point in the back that is equal in distance from both ball joints in the front and measure them to see if the frame (uni-body) is square.
 
That was my first thought - measuring front to back and diagonally from those points.

The door to front fender gaps are different but the rear of front door door edge to door to jamb/post gaps seem to be the same

I guess if the above measurements check out, we will start taking thinks apart to look for more damage . (control arm mounts, engine mounts etc).

If everything looks good from my crude measurements , we might tow it to a nearby alignment shop for a precise check before we go further with any repairs. Money well spent I think.

Any more suggestions on what to do next are appreciated.


master_shake_ said:
find a point in the back that is equal in distance from both ball joints in the front and measure them to see if the frame (uni-body) is square.

-Thanks
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I got the hood open and found that some crinkles on the front member rails as well as a dimples in a couple of places. At this point it does not seem worth repairing I see that it is not worth repairing ( body shop estimated 4K based on pix) and DIY would be a real pita if I had to send it out for frame straightening. More trouble than it is worth . Time to sell for parts or scrap.

Oh Well.......


ThatsABigOne said:
Your front number rails will be slightly pushed down.
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I thought about that but just don't think that I could get it right. Maybe someone with lots of experience could get it close doing that. I sm going to let friend who builds dragsters take a look before I let go of the car.

thedarkwolf said:
A big tree and a come along will fix that right up.
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That is totaled; if the core support is pushed back, odds are the frame rails buckled. Isn't that like a $4K car tops? The parts you'll need will run more than that.
 
Yes, it is done for (frame rails bent). I will sell it for salvage (whole car as I have no place to part it out ). I listed the car on CL and will wait a week. Most likely, I will probably wind up selling it to a "we buy junk cars" outfit or through www.damagedcars.com (their offer was $550 and they tow). That seems a little low (but not unrealistic) and I don't have much choice. Any suggestions ?

I kind of wish that I had not dropped collision insurance on it. I had no idea that the car still had that much value (insurance person said $4500 which is about $2k more than I thought). The cost was $ 80/yr !
 
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bamx2 said:
Yes, it is done for (frame rails bent). I will sell it for salvage (whole car as I have no place to part it out ). I listed the car on CL and will wait a week. Most likes, I will probably wind up selling it to a "we buy junk cars" outfit or through www.damagedcars.com (their offer was $550 and they tow). That seems a little low (but not unrealistic) and I don't have much choice. Any suggestions ?

I kind of wish that I had not dropped collision insurance on it. I had no idea that the car still had that much value (insurance person said $4500). The cost was $ 80/yr !
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I dunno what it's like at your location but $550 for a totalled 14 year old car seems pretty decent.
 
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