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

Re: Accident / treating air bag burn?

well that's the price of a moment of inattention.

i agree go with the payout and buyback, and hey why not take advantage of this to turn it into a mazda b series... never get a parking ticket again!

Maybe you might even be better off just paying for the repair of both vehicles out of pocket.

Think how much is your deductible? How much would you end up paying in the long run if your rates go up? Is it really worth it?

Your truck can probably be repaired pretty cheap with second-hand parts, and it sounds like the damage to the other vehicle is pretty minor (although there may be hidden damage you're not aware of).

Anyways, just another option to think about.

FWIW, insurance company "claims" my rates will not be affected because of this. It's my first at fault accident, ever. I didn't get hurt and neither did the other person.

I'm just rounding the numbers to the nearest $100. Adjuster said something about the truck being worth $4200 but because of some rust and high mileage, he will give me $3500 (it's totalled). After $500 deductable, I can buy it back salvage for $250. So I'd be getting $2800 and change back to get it fixed.

Called one repair shop and they said I will need an inertia sensor, control module, and the two airbags. Cost: $3000.... called another, and they stated similar quote.

I understand in the cases where if someone scratches my car and I have their insurance company cut me a check for $1500, I can make out in the deal, but I don't see how I'm going to make out in this instance? Unless this stuff can be purchased online? I only see driver side and passenger side airbags for about $100 each on ebay. I don't know where to buy the other stuff.

All the repair shops I spoke with stated it's illegal in NY to buy used airbag parts.... so is downloading torrents...

so why is it worth more than the market value they are paying you, exactly?
you can buy another rusty high mileage example and be square. If you bolted on 1000 worth of accessories then buy the wreck and unbolt them and sell it back to another scrap yard for 200 bucks.

I've done probably 3000 in repairs to it. Runs better than it ever has.

I had another dealer quote me 1600 for all airbag parts. They will call me tomorrow about labor cost.

Can't I go to the auction with people I know who go, buy a Ranger for 1500 and take the airbags and bumper out of it then scrap it for 400?

The adjuster said since it's New York State, any vehicle after 8 years old will just get a salvage title and it does not need a re-built title or something like that. Do I still need to re-register the vehicle at DMV? Do I have to get it re-inspected to make sure it meets applicable standards?

Do I need to go through with this over-regulated state BS?
»www.dmv.ny.gov/salvexam.htm

That essentially prevents me from using used airbags.

Why don't you just find a junkyard and go there? Bring someone who can take the part out or they usually will take the part out for a fee.
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No Victim=No Crime

Why not just cut the airbags out and screw down the the door. Buy a new light housing, total cost 100$.

I never meant to imply that it would look like it rolled off of the show room floor. But it would be a far more cost effective measure, as the op doesn"t appear to want to let it go, but is bulking at the repair price. The air bags are not required for operation, and given the choice personally, I would rather pocket the extra 2 grand.

He should just check with his local DMV, I'm sure they will know best.

If I could skip the airbags I would but I think both are required. I do need to ask dmv about that stupid inspection program since I think it only applies to vehicles 8 years and newer.

Check online for Certi Fit. They may be cheaper parts than OE but after all it will only have salvage title. i have used numerous non body parts(lights, grills, mirrors) and have not had a problem

If the vehicle turns up for the inspection and the vehicle has intact airbags from an auto wreckers, how is the inspector going to know?
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The talented hawk speaks French.

Receipts must be turned over. Plus used airbags will look older (the housing) compared to new. DMV police aren't stupid.

If I buy the headlight housing, what goes inside? Just high beam, low beam, and turn signal? Or are they all in one? Pretty much what I am asking is what else I have to buy...

Would I need to buy:
1. »www.amazon.com/Ford-Ranger-Repla···tomotive ($44.90 with shipping)
2. »www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SY···tomotive ($12.47)
3. »www.amazon.com/Sylvania-3157NA-4···nal+bulb ($5.23)
4. Looks like the first link supplys low beam, so do I just need turn signal and high beam? Can someone post links to what else I need or is this all?

If it was pa and im stating pa because i dont know how new york works. But in pa the insurance company is going to require the title being marked as salvage but since your the current owner there is nothing stopping you from keeping on registering and driving the truck. Yes the law says it has to be inspected to restore to reconstructed title. But the way we look at it if they are willing to keep sending the tag who is ever going to know. As far as the air bag for some strange reason air bags isnt even considered a safety item for inspection so i would probably cheap out and buy a cheap knockoff from ebay and call it a day. If its not working the light will be on but that wouldnt bother me. Im not sure about the inertia switch but i sure wouldnt be plugging any airbags in without checking for sure if once the switch goes off if it can still be used.

As far as the 4200 getting dropped to 3500 i think ide at least argue the 3000 you put in the truck offsets the rust and high mileage. To be honest tho 35 sounds fair to me. Ide still pay the 250 and get it back tho. I really think if you took it to a corner body shop and if you got the two air bags off ebay you could have it repaired for 1200 or so max.

If I am exempt from that stupid DMV investigation since the vehicle is over 8 years old, then yes, that is what I will do. If I am not, then I don't have much of a choice.

When I talk to the adjuster again, I will tell him it's $4200 without rust/high mileage OR any additional work, so the $3000 in receipts I provided him need to be factored in. I'll tell him I'm pricing the stuff and $3500 isn't fair. I will ask for $4200.

NY/PA are apples to oranges comparisons unfortunately.

Ok how about my next idea. Spend a day and come down here and get all you parts for a total of 136.00. Yep thats two air bags, bumper, headlight bucket and headlamp assembly at harrys u pull it. »www.wegotused.com/wp-content/upl···List.pdf As far as the inertia switch feel free to throw that little bugger in your pocket as its probably only going to cost a buck anyway. take the parts back and let your little hokey pokey body shop install everything for about 2-3 hundred bucks. Rangers are a dime a dozen down here. Air bags are 35 bucks a piece and even in new york its not like a salvage title is going to tell that cop if the air bags ever did or did not go off. Scroll down on the price list as your parts are listed further down. Your truck is something i could have looking like new in about two hours time. I go there to shop gems all the time. Thousands of cars and where else can you get a 32 valve 4.6 engine with 16000 miles on it for 150 bucks. I can get to new york city in about two hours or less so your probably not that far. As far as new york being so bad i dont know about that. Its pretty common belief around pa not to buy cars from either new york or new jersey because they are generally in pretty dam bad shape compare to pa cars.

Yes, but if you don't tell them that the airbags were replaced, and you show them the photo of the front end, I can't see them assuming that the bags deployed.
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The talented hawk speaks French.

That doesn't look like something they would total... just based off this pic.