Fiesta Accident

[vivafoxpro]

I made a search here for any topic "Fiesta Accident". Finding none prompted me to start one that would not only narrate the accident itself but the process towards the remedy.

Accident occurred yesterday 4:30 PM. I had the right of way while the Lemon Square delivery tricycle was merging in from my left. It turns out his vehicle was designed that the container was to his right and it blocked his view. The pics below tell most of the story.

[niky]

A banged up door is painful, but not hard to fix.

That gaping hole in the doorsill, however, is a nightmare. The dealership will probably have to cut and patch there, and that might eventually lead to rust problems unless they do the work properly.

Feel sad for your Fiesta!

[erj22]

damn! i feel you, TS. i had an accident (Accent) with a trike and ran the hell off from me! anyways, change of door and doorsill / running board was repaired. almost the same with yours but you have a hole! tsk! they should repair that properly to avoid rust.

[vivafoxpro]

A banged up door is painful, but not hard to fix.

That gaping hole in the doorsill, however, is a nightmare. The dealership will probably have to cut and patch there, and that might eventually lead to rust problems unless they do the work properly.

Feel sad for your Fiesta!

I was under the impression that the door sill is replaceable like the door. Looking more closely, I see it is part of the structure.

Thanks for the expert observation Sir Niky. I might not have it cut and have them just do some rust protection of the "wound" then cosmetic reshaping with putty.

The way I understand it, cutting with acetylene burns up the surrounding rust protection.

[OTEP]

They will cut a large part of the lower door sill aka rocker panel up until it clears the edges of the hole then put in a repair panel in its place. But you have to rustproof the rocker panel again. Or at least tell the repair facility to do so again.

[vivafoxpro]

They will cut a large part of the lower door sill aka rocker panel up until it clears the edges of the hole then put in a repair panel in its place. But you have to rustproof the rocker panel again. Or at least tell the repair facility to do so again.

Thanks Doc!

Will talk to the casa regarding the options and post the finished work. I tend to lean towards functionality rather than cosmetics. If the procedure you mentioned will increase risk of rust, I would rather have a small "scar" and retain original "dipped" rust protection.

I have no means to confirm if they indeed apply such rust protection and if they did, if it is at par with the original.

[OTEP]

Having that hole there is an invitation for rust already. Most oem repair panels are prepped the same as your present body panels. Most are even primed already when shipped. You can have aftermarket rustproofing if you want to be sure. They might need to drill a small hole in an inconspicous area for the rustproofing gun. But the will put a rubber plug to seal it off again afterwards.

[airolynx]

Having that hole there is an invitation for rust already. Most oem repair panels are prepped the same as your present body panels. Most are even primed already when shipped. You can have aftermarket rustproofing if you want to be sure. They might need to drill a small hole in an inconspicous area for the rustproofing gun. But the will put a rubber plug to seal it off again afterwards.

Doc, by "oem repair panels" you mean that the casa can order certain parts of the car's body that's already pre-shaped so that the repair shop just welds it into place? Like in the case of sir viva, the doorsill is part of the car structure itself and is not removable unlike the fenders and bumpers.

[niky]

Doc, by "oem repair panels" you mean that the casa can order certain parts of the car's body that's already pre-shaped so that the repair shop just welds it into place? Like in the case of sir viva, the doorsill is part of the car structure itself and is not removable unlike the fenders and bumpers.

Yup. That's how they fixed my spare tire well and rear fender... welded in a replacement panel.

Either way, you're screwed with regards to the stock rust protection. The panel has to be fixed and re-rustproofed no matter what you do, and I don't think putty will do for a tear of that size.

If they do it right, there should be no problem. My rear fender was damaged five years ago, and still no rust at the weld, though the join has to be refinished (putty issues, I think... but it's not bubbling)

[vivafoxpro]

"Cut" , "Weld", "If they do it right" are words I'm not too comfortable with considering all the casa horror stories.

Having seen the hole close up and having an inclination to perform DIY projects, it appears easier to protect a 2cm puncture from rust than several inches of cut and weld.

The hole would allow a brush or applicator of considerable size to apply even melted asphalt . then putty for cosmetics.

Well... I guess I'll cross the bridge when it goes over the water.

[airolynx]

Thanks Niky for that. I see, so when the repair is done, 'parang walang nangyari' yung appearance niya.even the original curves and folds are restored. I guess a good coat of rustproofing after the work has been done is necessary just to be sure.

[niky]

Yup.

"Cut" , "Weld", "If they do it right" are words I'm not too comfortable with considering all the casa horror stories.

Having seen the hole close up and having an inclination to perform DIY projects, it appears easier to protect a 2cm puncture from rust than several inches of cut and weld.

The hole would allow a brush or applicator of considerable size to apply even melted asphalt . then putty for cosmetics.

Well... I guess I'll cross the bridge when it goes over the water.

Better to let them cut and weld. Standard procedure naman yun. And think of it this way. It's easier to clean and rustproof the inside of a hole several inches wide than one that's that small.

[vivafoxpro]

Yup.
Better to let them cut and weld. Standard procedure naman yun. And think of it this way. It's easier to clean and rustproof the inside of a hole several inches wide than one that's that small.

Being respected members of this forum, I will consider yours & Docs's advise seriously and decide finally right before our Little Monster goes into the operating room for surgery.

Each case is unique therefore, requiring a unique solution.

[AKI125]

Normally insuran e companies will only allow a rePlacement of part/ parts if its not 70% damaged or more. In your case if ever your insurance company disapproved the rewr door panel to be replaced you can easily point out to them that majority of the damages at the door panel are located at the edges meaning it would hard to have it repaired without the issue of rust built up in the near future.

With regains to the nasty cut located at the running board panel. I strongly agree with nilky to just have it repaired by cut, re straigthen and weld back again and you will be needing a after market rust proofing to insure a sound mind against rust in months to come after the repair.

HTH

[OTEP]

Doc, by "oem repair panels" you mean that the casa can order certain parts of the car's body that's already pre-shaped so that the repair shop just welds it into place? Like in the case of sir viva, the doorsill is part of the car structure itself and is not removable unlike the fenders and bumpers.

Yes, they even stock floorboards. In other markets it is more expensive to have a tinsmith make a new panel from scratch. Here, i just gave my guy Php2000 to fix the huge rust in my floorboard. If not the passenger's foot might go through.

[airolynx]

Yes, they even stock floorboards. In other markets it is more expensive to have a tinsmith make a new panel from scratch. Here, i just gave my guy Php2000 to fix the huge rust in my floorboard. If not the passenger's foot might go through.

Thanks Doc that's good to hear. I was under the impression that even casa just uses typical tin and shape it according to need.

[vivafoxpro]

Finally talked with the contractor who will be doing the repair.

He proposed to "pull" the dent and close the hole which I agreed to.

The casa pays the contractor per job and not on a daily or monthly basis. He would be financially motivated to have a quarter panel replaced if he could. Despite earning less and still recommending a simpler procedure, I surmise this is the best honest solution for my case.

I expect to have our LiMo "admitted" for surgery by Tuesday morning. Will post pictures when done.

[airolynx]

Finally talked with the contractor who will be doing the repair.

He proposed to "pull" the dent and close the hole which I agreed to.

The casa pays the contractor per job and not on a daily or monthly basis. He would be financially motivated to have a quarter panel replaced if he could. Despite earning less and still recommending a simpler procedure, I surmise this is the best honest solution for my case.

I expect to have our LiMo "admitted" for surgery by Tuesday morning. Will post pictures when done.

Will the casa replace the door that was damaged by the impact? I mentioned this to my brother-in-law and he suggested you get the chassis alignment inspected as well as this may have been affected because of the impact.

[shadow]

The hell!? Who's limo?

[airolynx]

The hell!? Who's limo?

Sir Shadow, i read somewhere in his posts, 'LiMo' is short for Little Monster.