My 04 SXT 0344 is a PITA!!!!

jrumann59 · Post by **jrumann59** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:20 pm

Damn who is your insurance company?

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:20 pm

I was with some subsidiary of Nationwide

jrumann59 · Post by **jrumann59** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:10 pm

That explains it. There is a reason why higher premiums are sometimes worth it with some of the big boys like State Farm or All State

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:07 pm

Well, got a little bit done today that I've wanted to do for a while.
Before:

After:

No lights:

Following the how to's on this site I swapped the wheel and clockspring that I got from Quicksilvr in and all is now awesome!

glasswars · Post by **glasswars** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:53 pm

why would you swap down?

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:54 pm

Because I wanted leather and this is what I came up with for cheap.

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:20 pm

Plus I like this wheel better. It suits my driving position better than the other one.

LowNSlow · Post by **LowNSlow** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:21 pm

i like the old mo'

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:23 pm

Seems to be the common consensus... what is it about the old one you like more?

LowNSlow · Post by **LowNSlow** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:45 pm

New one just looks like something in an old beat up caddy.... I don't know.. it's just old man looking...

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:46 pm

Is your car running yet, John?

LowNSlow · Post by **LowNSlow** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:11 pm

Yea...somewhat.

Still working on minor stuff =/

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:15 pm

If it's not DD worthy then STFU!!!!!

Or at least update your thread...

Pocahontas · Post by **Pocahontas** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:43 pm

Jeebus, I'm glad you're ok! I hope things with the insurance patch up nicely!

SOKADAO954 · Post by **SOKADAO954** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:33 pm

no sure i like the new one.
but leather is A+.

and i have the same wheel and yea to drive is a bit better then the other one.
i rest my arm on the door, hold the botton of the cros thing.

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:38 pm

Finally figured out what the shaking above 75 was... passenger side inner tie rod was shot. When pulling on the threads, the joint moved roughly 1/2". My dad told his mechanic to fix it for me, so thats 175 bucks I didn't want/need to spend that my dad picked up for me.

Now I need an alignment, however. Steering wheel is on a 45 degree angle to the left, and the pass. front tire is toed in a good bit. There's another 65 bucks gone that I WILL have to pay.

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:14 pm

So, I should have done this a LONG time ago, but I finally had the alignment done today and got some good information from the mechanic as well.

My drivers side toe was 1.40 degrees positive, the passenger side was 1.55 degrees bringing my total toe to a plus 2.95 degrees. No wonder the car was handling so damn shitty!

He also informed me that my rack and pinion is going bad, showed me where my seals were leaking (which is why I was having ps fluid issues last year where the pump kept losing all its fluid) as well as a few small leaks, including my oil pan gasket. Nothing major.

However, the VERY interesting part is this: the under car cradle that everything is bolted to... is pushed roughly 1" to the drivers side. So, couple THAT with the fact that nothing lines up properly, and there is still a good bit of wrinkled metal underhood, and we have a final answer on what was done at the body shop.

Abso-fucking-lutely NOTHING. They slapped on a new bumper and fender, painted it up (crappy job, BTW, it's flaking already) and claimed they put it on the frame machine 3 times.

It may have been on that machine, but the machine was never turned on, that's for damn sure.

Not sure what the statute of limitations is on them for really bad work that they are NOT going to fix (my choice not theirs at this point) but I may be talking to my sister in law (lawyer) about options. I think at this point them paying my car off (and I'll give them the car afterwards, I don't want it) is not too much to ask for, is it?

Ntyvirus1 · Post by **Ntyvirus1** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:29 pm

damn, that really sux. u have any other cars lined up for after the neon?

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:32 pm

Depends on what I can afford.

My hopes are either an MS3 or Genesis coupe

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:59 pm

Talked to my sister in law (who is a lawyer) today, and she advised me to give the insurance one more chance. So I called them, explained (again) what happened, and how I want them to pay for the repairs to properly be done elsewhere.

I'll have more information on Monday about it.

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 5:33 pm

Wow, I've slacked this thread, haven't I...

Well, the (old) insurance company has looked into the claim some more and I'm now waiting on a call from an adjuster to come out and take a look at the shoddy repair work so he can see exactly what I'm talking about, and approve my request of having the car fixed elsewhere.

That's progress, right?

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 4:21 pm

OK, got off the phone with the claims adjuster a little while ago, and here we go…

They’ll pay for repairs, but only at one of their “authorized” shops. Basically that means it’s a shop that they send work to, so they get a discount. Meh, whatever. I’m going in to a shop tomorrow that’s on their list, and we’ll start this process over.

I’m a little worried now, however. When I talked to the adjuster, he was very rude about the whole deal (saying things like, why did you wait a year, how do I know this isn’t from a new accident, etc etc etc in a very rude attitude) and then… when I called the body shop he told me to try, the girl answered the phone, talked for a minute, then when I said that I was referred there by the insurance… she said “Oh… can you call back in a little bit? I’m on my break.”

Oi… at least the car is going in, and another shop can tell them that Martinez is a bunch of fucksticks, and my car wasn’t done right!

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 4:32 pm

Wow... I hope they fix it but damn does that insurance company suck.

I don't know what Illinois's laws are, but in WA. you have the right to take your car to any shop you want regardless of what the Insurance Co. says.

Good luck with the repairs. Seriously.

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 4:50 pm

That's what I'm being told as well. I'm going to talk to my sister in law (lawyer) today about this, cuz that doesn't sound right...

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:06 pm

Alright, well I'm going to try the insurance company's recommended repair facility one more time.

Went in today for an estimate. The lady looked around the car, called out her mechanic and a body man to point out what repairs are plain to see need to be done, and will write up an estimate today. The insurance will have it today and will approve it (hopefully) either today or Monday. I work Mon-Weds next week so I'm hoping to drop the car off Monday morning the 28th, and they can fix it that week, maybe the next week and I'll have a car back in good shape.

We shall see.

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 1:21 pm

Hopefully all is well, and it gets fixed up properly this time around. By chance, how many miles are on your car?

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 2:31 pm

Just under 62K now.

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:55 pm

STILL waiting on insurance to approve the claim so I can take the car in to get fixed.

However, in the meantime, since I'm keeping the car at least another year, I figured I'd do a mod or two... first one is ordered.

You all will get details when they arrive!

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:56 pm

YAY mods

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:57 pm

If only you knew what they were...