A minor incident in the snow - some advice required

[dillinga]

Hi Guys,

I had the pleasure of having to drive back home after it had really started snowing hard on Sunday. In a case of driver over-estimation and weather under-estimation, I understeered off a roundabount and mounted a curb luckily almost fully stopping once I had. Infortunately, I've scuff the front bumper and headlamp surround but hopefully it will be a simple job for a paint shop.

However, I also noticed that the splitter on the passenger side is now not flush with the rest of the bumper:

http://www.walkerhome.eclipse.co.uk/stuff/splitter-small.jpg

I reached under the wheel arch and found this loose:

http://www.walkerhome.eclipse.co.uk/stuff/screw-small.jpg

However, I've had another look under there and can't seen anything obviously missing and certainly nothing around the join of the splitter to the rest of the bumper..

Can anyone help?

Thanks,

Tony

[Teutonic_Tamer]

It doesn't look anything major.

Perhaps the best advice would but to go to a bodyshop for a quick look over.

The loose screw has probably just poped ou from a speed nut or plastic nut (pennies each), or at worse, snapped a plastic lug on the bumper.  Plastic and speed nuts can be replaced, but if it is a plastic lug snapped off, then these can be 'plastic welded' back in place.  Any decent bodyshop should be proficient in this kind of work, along with ensuring the correct 'flexible' plastic primer is used on the bumper.  I would guess somewhere around £250 to sort that - so it would be a bit daft to claim on the insurance.

One other thing to check though - being as you 'kerbed it' - you would be well advised to thouroughly check your alloy, and also get the wheel alignment checked too.  Does the steering wheel still sit level when going straight ahead?

HTH

[dillinga]

It doesn't look anything major.

Perhaps the best advice would but to go to a bodyshop for a quick look over.

The loose screw has probably just poped ou from a speed nut or plastic nut (pennies each), or at worse, snapped a plastic lug on the bumper.  Plastic and speed nuts can be replaced, but if it is a plastic lug snapped off, then these can be 'plastic welded' back in place.  Any decent bodyshop should be proficient in this kind of work, along with ensuring the correct 'flexible' plastic primer is used on the bumper.  I would guess somewhere around £250 to sort that - so it would be a bit daft to claim on the insurance.

One other thing to check though - being as you 'kerbed it' - you would be well advised to thouroughly check your alloy, and also get the wheel alignment checked too.  Does the steering wheel still sit level when going straight ahead?

HTH

Hi T_T,

Thanks for the advice. I'm taking it along to a place I used a couple of times when I had my liz so hoping they'll know what to do if I can't fix myself.
Wheels wise I was worried about that too but it checks out visually and there were no obvious signs of steering issues/judder for the rest of the drive.
She's due some boots pretty soon anyway so I'll definitely get it done.

Cheers,

Tony

[mortygt140]

The lower splitter is not actually screwed on it will go back in with a bit of pressure exerted on the area where it has come away. The bolt has probably come from the arch at the bottom where the lower splitter meets the arch?

Darren

[dillinga]

The lower splitter is not actually screwed on it will go back in with a bit of pressure exerted on the area where it has come away. The bolt has probably come from the arch at the bottom where the lower splitter meets the arch?

Darren

Cheers Darren. I did try giving it a damn good press at the join and there was a bit of movement but no positive 'click' into place if you know what I mean. It doesn't seem to want to budge much but I'll have another go tomorrow when its light (and hopefully less snowy!).

Tony

[wellzee]

It doesn't look anything major.

Perhaps the best advice would but to go to a bodyshop for a quick look over.

The loose screw has probably just poped ou from a speed nut or plastic nut (pennies each), or at worse, snapped a plastic lug on the bumper.  Plastic and speed nuts can be replaced, but if it is a plastic lug snapped off, then these can be 'plastic welded' back in place.  Any decent bodyshop should be proficient in this kind of work, along with ensuring the correct 'flexible' plastic primer is used on the bumper.  I would guess somewhere around £250 to sort that - so it would be a bit daft to claim on the insurance.

One other thing to check though - being as you 'kerbed it' - you would be well advised to thouroughly check your alloy, and also get the wheel alignment checked too.  Does the steering wheel still sit level when going straight ahead?

HTH

Sorry to thread hijack, but TT my friend hit the kurb today also in a similar incident and noticed when we got out that when the wheels are straight the steering wheel is slightly to the right. What is the problem/cost usually associated with this? Many thanks in advance!