Tech / Special Interest → Automotive > Accident / treating air bag burn?

Accident / treating air bag burn?

I was driving my Ford Ranger earlier and a light was turning yellow and then red. I thought the truck in front of me was going to go, but didn't. They slammed on their brakes to stop. I, in turn, slammed on my brakes and rear ended them. Dumb move on their part, but 100% my fault, regardless. I accept that. Anyway...

1. I DO NOT WANT THIS TRUCK TOTALLED OUT. All these insurance companies and repair shops are scam artists and will try. It's probably worth $2500 but I probably put $3000 into random stuff in the past 2 years to make it a decent and dependable truck since I drive a lot of miles. It also has 179k miles. Any advice so it doesn't get totalled out? If they want to total it, what should I do?

2. The damage: Needs new airbags, front bumper (it hit their tailgate), passenger side lighting house/light and maybe a new grill. I see the lower radiator hose looks like it got squooshed on impact, but it's still intact. Nothing at all is leaking and the truck drives fine. The truck I hit only had a little plastic piece off their bumper that was bent. Could probably be bent back. Other than that, one would never know it was in an accident if you didn't tell someone.

3. Where is the best place to take this? Dealer or many shops will probably charge an arm and a leg to the insurance company, who will then in turn want it totalled out.

4. I actually DROVE it home after the impact. I just folded up the airbags best I could. Smells really really bad from the airbags deploying.

5. I have minor "air bag burns" on my arms. What is the best way to treat these? I have some allow vera gel I used this summer on my sunburn. Can I rub that on it? The "burns" have already gone down some.

6. How does one get the smell out of the vehicle from the airbags? Smells bad. Is breathing that in harmless?

7. First at fault accident ever. How much will Geico rape me now? My rate for the truck is $25 a month, and for my 2012 Subaru it's $50 a month. I also had a defensive driver course which lowered my insurance 10%. Back in July or August 2011, I was rear ended in a Suzuki Grand Vitara, which was totalled. That accident was not my fault at all. Only two accidents I bring to the table, and like I said, it's my first at fault.

if the insurance company wants to total it you can buy it from the salvage yard. It will then have a salvage title and you'll have to get it back roadworthy again.

In the end, if the payout is significantly less than the value of the truck, you've inadvertently been under-insured and they're going to try to take that course of action to discharge their responsibility.

I'm worried the air bags will cost a significant amount which will bump it over what it's worth. For some reason the passenger side airbag went off too. I think I've always had it set to on. Older vehicles must not sense that nobody is sitting there. Or it's FAD and if one airbag goes off, all go off.

An airbag is expensive, $1000. They will look at the market value of a truck of the same year and mileage and if the assessor gets close to that figure they'll total it and pay out. You should tell the insurance company to keep you in the loop on every decision or change in the file.

It can cost $1000-1200 per bag to repair deployed airbags.
If they deployed you hit with enough force to require inspection for hidden damage, the truck frame may be bent.

PrntRhd,
It should be that way, but...
Some fords of that vintage have an airbag sensor right behind the grille. A tap turns into a deployment and scrapping of the car.

Also, there is a decent chance that the main module will need replacement as well.

Best of luck though.
--
The talented hawk speaks French.

How much room is behind the license plate and what is there that could have been damaged? The license plate damage was likely from the trailer hitch on the other truck. Not sure how my light got it.

I'm looking on Edmunds.com for appraisal info. I don't agree that I'd get $1500 private party for it. There are beater Rangers that the lister states have problems on Craigslist going for $2000.

It may have had some reshaping of the frame section between the suspension mounts and the bumper support on the right side. That frame section is designed to absorb energy by bending during a collision. The good news it may not have bent much since the hood and fender seam looks to be reasonably intact. The headlight and surround were probably struck by the top of the bumper.

New air bags yes they are expensive, but used air bags are not so expensive. I just got one for a 1994 Buick for $25 shipped using eBay. It has the horn contacts inside it under the padding on the style that I purchased.
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What’s the point of owning a supercar if you can’t scare yourself stupid from time to time?

The bags were hot for awhile so I had to wait to put them back in.

I put the truck in my garage and rolled the windows down. The whole garage smells like air bag deployment.

6. How does one get the smell out of the vehicle from the airbags? Smells bad. Is breathing that in harmless?

OdoBan® - Odor Eliminator this will kill any smell

What are some estimates so far on the damage that I've described?

My guesses:
1. Headlight/headlight housing - $100
2. Airbags/sensors, etc - $1500
3. Bumper - $250
4. Lower radiator hose (I'd replace this just incase, since it looks like it got compressed momentarily) - $30

Throw in whatever else, I'm sure we're talking $2000 to $2500. Can I use Craigslist ads as arguments for the POS Ford Rangers that $2000 would get me? I'm thinking it's going to be close if there is no hidden damage.

Considering the amount of money I've put into this truck (the engines can run over 300k miles easily since they're Japan made), if there is slightly more damage than what I can see (and they DO total it out), what would your next course of action be?

KBB private party is $2500 with dealer retail being $3500. I'd somewhat agree.

Since the airbag costs will likely be the deciding factor in whether or not it gets totalled (again if there is no hidden damage), then would ebay be a good place to grab the parts? I see I can get the whole setup for less than $300.

Depending on your insurance company, they might even total it when the repairs reach 75% or more of the value of the truck. So, even if they put a value of 3k on it, if it is more that $2250, they are going to total it. However, like someone said above, you can buy it back but it will have a salvage title. If you have receipts of what you have done to the car, you can submit that to your insurance adjuster to try and raise the value of the car so it's harder to get totaled, but it's not always guaranteed to work. Good luck
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No Victim=No Crime

Does Ford have a fuel pump shut off after air bag deployment? I drove 12 miles back home, so I'm guessing I can drive another few miles to have a shop look at it. I just don't want any unexpected "features" of the car to leave me stranded.

Most fuel pump shutoffs are intertia based and not tied into the airbag system. Normally a simple push button to reactivate and will be found in either the drivers or passengers side footwell.

Had one mechanic look at it. No frame damage. He stated insurance will probably total it because of the air bags. He said buy it back salvaged.

Few questions:
1. Let's say the insurance company gives me $2500 for it. How much will it cost for me to buy it back?
2. Will NYS DMV give me issues re-registering a car with a salvage title?
3. Will my insurance up my rates (separate than from the accident itself) because I'm driving a vehicle that is "salvaged"?
4. Will ebay air bags suffice? I see them going for about $100 each. What other parts do I need?
5. Do I even NEED to put airbags in it? Or is it the law or something?

Based on these, what should I get? $3000 sound fair if it's totalled?
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3 years ago when my 1988 5.0 Mustang was hit hard in the rear while parked the insurance carrier totalled it. I had owned it since new and over the 5 years before being hit I had it repainted, rebuilt the motor and upgraded the original 15" wheels with 16" Pony style wheels. Obviously, while repairable, the cost would have probably greater then book value.

Adjuster did take the facts that the engine had less then 10,000 miles on the rebuild and the fresh paint. I was offered $4,800 and could have bought it back as salvage for $250. I was very tempted, since the motor, transmission and wheels were not damaged and I could have sold off the parts. In the end I decided I didn't want to go into the "parts" business and sadly waved goodby when the tow truck contracted by the Insurance Company came to take it away.

Show the adjuster all the recent work you did, they will probably give you a better number.

I have a journal with dates, mileage, and work done, with the associated receipts on file. Hopefully my meticulous documentation will help. I'd say $4000 would be more than fair if I show them everything, although I doubt they'd give that. I know pushback is a good thing. I'm not jumping at their first or second offers.

With documentation you should be able to get 4000. You have to remember they pay retail value. Not craigs list or wholesale value. If you decide to buy it back i would expect to have to pay less than 500. Meaning you should be able to get 3500 plus the vehicle. The truck would actually be a easy fix. Ide buy it back. Just be prepared to show them the receipts for the repairs in the last two years.

As far as airbags off ebay. From what ive heard many are actually cheap chinese knockoffs that may or maynot work when needed. Do you care, because i wouldnt?

Ha, in this case, I'd rather Ford have put defective airbags into the vehicle that didn't work.

Thats kind of the way i feel. Ide rather not having any. You can probably pick up a bumper, grill and headlight assembly pretty cheap for that. keep in mind pretty well from 1993 to well into the 2000s are all interchangeable. Be aware tho that the grills have a couple of different styles. Some are one piece and some are three pieces. looks like yours is the xlt since you have that bumper. Doesnt really matter tho as the main difference is in whats chromed. But the xl usually has a one piece grill where the xlt has three piece chrome grill. Doesnt really matter tho as they all fit. Just have to move some of the body clips. But keep in mind if you get the xlt grill you are also going to need the part that goes around your right headlamp since that looks to be gone.

I do have the XLT.

I talked to the adjuster today and he's coming out tomorrow. He said it will likely be totalled based on the airbags. Any other way to fight it without salvaging it? I feel I'm going to lose a lot of money if it gets salvaged.

what you're asking is if through the power of just words you can get an insurance company to spend more money than they have to. I'd say they are experts at resisting that. Nevertheless I don't understand the problem, they give you a decent payout, you go buy the Ford for a few hundred bucks, you spend a few hundred more fixing it up with spares and you're back where you started except with a grand or two in your back pocket?

Back where you started but with a vehicle with a salvage title.

It is an old POS. As long as it can be licensed, I would venture that the OP doesn't care about a salvage title.
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The talented hawk speaks French.