Picture Request: Can someone please post a picture of their rear undercarriage...

[smurfy]

need a small favor to ask of the forum.... I recently was involving in a rear end collision, where the SUV travelling behind me crashed into my Vibe, as I was waiting to turn left. Anyhow, to make a long story short, there was extensive damage to the rear bumper, bumper brackets, bumber bar AND crumpling of sections in the two structual rails which ran parallel from front to back of the car. I just came back from the autobody today, and when I looked underneath the car, I can still see two very visible crease marks on the side of each of the two structural rails which run from front to back. I was assured by the bodyshop that they had put the vehicle on a frame-puller, and everything was to spec, but I do not remember if these crease marks were ever there, although truth be told, I've never paid much attention to that area of the car. I was wondering if someone would be kind enough to post a picture of their undercarriage. Specifically, I would like to see a picture of the section of the structural rails, where the muffler assembly is attached onto the rail (on my car, the creases are just immediately to the left and right of where the muffler attachments connect onto the rail). Ideally, I would greatly appreciate it if someone can take a side view (from the wheel well opening) and a bottom-up view from underneath of the beams. I will try to see if I can get a picture of the repaired part on my car. I am really kicking myself for not taking a picture of the undercarriage when I first got the car. The repair was certainly less than stellar in other regards as well. I am kinda bummed out about this, as this is the first accident I've had involving the Vibe.

[Katscan]

Who do you get your insurance with? Im suprised that they didn just total your vehicle. I was told by my Insurance(USAA) and StateFarm that if the frame is damaged, the car would be considered "totaled" due to the integrity of the frame being compromised. I am no expert in car repair, just thats what the insurance damage assesor guy(not sure the exact title of the person) informed me when I was rear-ended once.

[smurfy]

I am in British Columbia, Canada, and all of our insurance is purchased through a "public" company operated by the provincial government.... Unlike being in the US, we have no choice but to buy from this one company.

[ZubenElGenubi]

Here are some pics from Mavrik's exhaust install...one of these is bound to show what you're looking for:http://smg.photobucket.com/alb...%2006/I've got my camera on me, but don't know if I can get a good picture with my car on the ground.Good Luck...and keep us posted on how it goes.

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by smurfy »I am in British Columbia, Canada, and all of our insurance is purchased through a "public" company operated by the provincial government.... Unlike being in the US, we have no choice but to buy from this one company. One more reason to be glad you were "Boooorn in the UUUU S A . . . "?

[Mavrik]

Quote, originally posted by ZubenElGenubi »Here are some pics from Mavrik's exhaust install...one of these is bound to show what you're looking for:http://smg.photobucket.com/alb...%2006/I've got my camera on me, but don't know if I can get a good picture with my car on the ground.Good Luck...and keep us posted on how it goes.You beat me to it lol... yes hopefully one of those pics helps you. I got a couple from my exhaust and rear swaybar install.

[JohnC]

I can post some tomorrow if you still need em. Just for piece of mind (or proof of a problem) you can take it to a trustworthy alignment shop and have the check the 4 wheel alignment. Cost is usually under $50 US.

[JohnC]

Good eye...it does look like a damaged area not fully repaired. But it is normal, I think they are put there as a "crumple zone" for a rear collision. The unibody would bend at these areas in the correct dirrection. Here is the picture of mine.

Attached files

[smurfy]

Thanks for the picture and advice, much appreciated! Here are two pictures of the "repaired" rail, showing the same area... as you call tell, the repair fore and aft of the buckled area is not properly aligned.