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HAIL DAMAGE!!!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by cireecnop1, Aug 27, 2007.

  1. cireecnop1

    cireecnop1 New Member

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    Hi all!,

    I haven't posted in a while, and I am sad to report that this Post is about the near death of my Baby.

    Here in Pueblo, Co, we had a wicked hail storm that destroyed my roof and my car.(as well as the rest of the neighborhoods)

    I now need to get the windshield replaced and I don't know if I should go with a non-factory windshield ($620) or the OEM ($950), My main concern is that the non-factory won't have the High Solar Energy-Absorbing (HSEA) glass. When I got the quote for the glass they didn't know what the HSEA glass was. then she told me that it will have the 'blue tint band' across the top, In my opinion it will look cheap since the car didn't come with it originally.

    any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

    pics below.

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  2. Michgal007

    Michgal007 Senior Member

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    If your insurance covers for "comprehensive", which in my understading covers all weather related stuff, you should get authentic stuff.

    Sorry to hear about your baby.
     
  3. cireecnop1

    cireecnop1 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Michgal007 @ Aug 27 2007, 12:16 PM) [snapback]502805[/snapback]</div>
    thanks

    I just found a Toyota Collision Center in Northern Colorado, anyone have any experience with the Toyota body shops? should I just take it there and let them use all OEM stuff?
     
  4. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    awww, that sucks!

    first priority: they have to know how to work on a prius. make sure they've got experience. second priority: recommendations and general reputation in the community.

    we took our car to the local body shop where the dealership used to outsource their work. they have lots of experience with prius and a good reputation for quality and standing behind their work. the dealer's new body shop had a 4-month backlog and we have yet to see many examples of their work.

    like toyota service shops, your experience depends on who runs the place and who's working there.

    your car is pretty new... push for all OEM. if you've got comprehensive insurance that will pay minus whatever your deductible is. good luck!
     
  5. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TomorrowMatters @ Aug 27 2007, 01:58 PM) [snapback]502791[/snapback]</div>
    Holy crap! Given the 2 choices, I would choose the Toyota glass. How much is it going to cost to get all those dents out?
     
  6. Tom6850

    Tom6850 Retired

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    You should look into what you would get on a trade on a new one. With insurance you might come out OK if you shop around.
     
  7. cireecnop1

    cireecnop1 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tom 6850 @ Aug 28 2007, 04:36 AM) [snapback]503143[/snapback]</div>
    I thought about that,..... But I have not seen any tourings since I bought mine. I would have to have the same exact car.

    she is gonna get in spected this afternoon, I'll let you know how much they estimate it at (I'm sure less than its gonna cost)
     
  8. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    OEM.

    Man, that sucks. I am so glad I have a garage. Not like we get hail like that in San Diego.

    Is there no choice but to park on the street? Is there no kind of cover that can protect a car on the street? Something that is firm enough just on the top side to protect glass, hood and roof? Seems like there's a market for something like that. Even the Sunshade roll up stuff seems like it would offer some protection if it was rolled out over the top of the car.
     
  9. RobertG

    RobertG New Member

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    Hail Caesar!


    [​IMG]
     
  10. MaulWalker

    MaulWalker New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Aug 28 2007, 01:00 PM) [snapback]503271[/snapback]</div>
    I lived in Colorado Springs for four years. While there, I noticed that most hail storms occur during the day. If you are driving, you head for the nearest overpass, covered gas station, or car wash. If you are are work, well, not many companies offer parking garages or covered parking. Car covers are likely to get ripped off by the winds. (Our office sent around a memo reminding us to use the parking brake on our cars as the Chinook winds could push your car out of a parking space.)

    The damage to the OP's Prius isn't too bad, compared to some I have seen. A co-worker had a two-day old Acura that had to be totaled after a hail storm. It looked like someone had attacked the car with a ball peen hammer. That storm also broke out the skylights in a local mall. The mall also had to use earth graders to remove the hail stones from the parking lot.

    Lynn
     
  11. cireecnop1

    cireecnop1 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Aug 27 2007, 08:40 PM) [snapback]503012[/snapback]</div>

    Ok just got back from getting the estimate,
    drum roll please............

    .
    .
    .
    .
    $6209.23
    they won't pay for the OEM glass, since they state Toyota doesn't make their own glass and the aftermarket is all the same....we'll see about that.
    they also quoted the clear bra replacement at $150. It cost $500 to put it on, so I mught have a fight on my hands.

    to name a few other things
    they will replace the front hood
    replace rear passenger door skin
    replace the passenger roof rail
    then paintless dent repair on everything else.

    what do you guys think? Has anyone had repairs done that cost more than the 'estimate' you were given?

    this is my first ever claim, can you please help!@
     
  12. dandeman

    dandeman Junior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TomorrowMatters @ Aug 28 2007, 08:54 PM) [snapback]503529[/snapback]</div>
    Based on my experience with having replaced two Toyota windshields due to stone damage, I no longer insist on Toyota OEM windshields.. Reason.. Toyota original windshields are great, but Toyota and most other manufacturers route their production "seconds" with minor defects into the supply chain as replacement windshields.. I was told this by a reputable local windshield replacement business and my personal experience confirms it..

    The Toyota OEM windshield (that I insisted on) for my '85 Cressida some years ago, had a blemish on the passenger side. It looked as if the inner plastic sheet separating the laminated glass had been touched by something and marked it before it was put into the windshield..

    A non Toyota windshield replaced by SafeLite (and made in Safelites own factory here in North Carolina) was flawless.. Every thing was perfect, no distortion, tint matched, black masking around permeter of the windshield perfect.. The guy who did the work (at my home) did a very nice job.. got to watch the whole process... Very pleased with it......

    If I were you, I would talk direct to some of the non OEM people like Safelite if they are in your area and see if that have the HESA glass and whether their glass matches in all respects.. I imagine there could be a lot of variation between different non OEM suppliers...

    My particular insurance company subs all their glass work (including the reps you work direct with on a claim) to Safelite.... Maybe I just happened to get a very informed rep when I called in, but when I played 20 questions with them on their glass regarding the tint, trim pieces (that also had to be replaced), black masking, etc. they had all the right answers..
     
  13. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TomorrowMatters @ Aug 28 2007, 07:54 PM) [snapback]503529[/snapback]</div>
    Aside from the glass I think it borders on stink. First the bra. NO way $150.00. You may need to have it installed and then present them with the bill.

    I am also wary of the paintless dent repair. They're going to bang out those dimples and it's going to look like new? I don't think so.

    And I have NEVER had any car work done that hasn't gone over the estimate except having my oil changed at the dealership.
     
  14. Jim1eye

    Jim1eye Shaklee Ind Distributor

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    I feel your pain. Locutus was pummeled by a hailstorm back in June. Fortunately the glass was left intact. My tab was $5100 with a $500 deductible.

    Interesting how well you were able to photograph the dings. They didn't photograph on the black car. I went to a Toyota repair shop and they had the car for 4 weeks. They did do a nice job, but 4 weeks driving a Matrix was driving me crazy. I've seen a couple of the "dentless" repairs and you can still see ripples.

    The sad thing is you can't leave it, it devalues the car.

    Good Luck.
     
  15. abq sfr

    abq sfr New Member

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    OUCH! That is painful to look at. I got into a hail storm last week while 4 blocks from home... about pea size, started getting bigger the closer I got to home. Lets see, what do you do. Gun it and head for the garage fast, turn around and book-it the other direction, ??? I hurried into the garage. In retrospect, I should have turned around, especially now knowing that the storm was heading at right angles to my intended path. Fortunately the hail only got to about penny or nickel size, and I can't see any dents. But it makes you think about what you will do the next time.

    My Nissan Pickup got nailed a few years ago by quarter to golf-ball size hail and I collected a few thousand from the insurance but never got it fixed. It's parked outside in the sun all day every day. I can't see the dents anymore, they fixed themselves somehow. I think the expansion and contraction from daily temperature changes fixed them. Glad I kept the insurance money, but if it's damaged by another storm I can't collect again.
     
  16. cireecnop1

    cireecnop1 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(abq sfr @ Aug 29 2007, 03:02 PM) [snapback]503961[/snapback]</div>

    just another update
    .
    .
    .

    The Toyota collision center I am taking it to is ordering the parts and they will be in within the coming week, and once they come in My car will be gone for 4weeks. :(
    .
    also the tech told me that the Prius is made with a certain type of alloy on the body panels that doesn't respond well to Paintless Dent Repair....so this will make the car more expensive to repair and apparently I mis understood the estimate paper work. The 'entire' roof of the car needs to be replaced, both passenger door skins, the hood, the rear right quarter panel, front right fender and possibly the front left fender if they can't get the dents to come out right.


    all because of hail!!!!
    lets just say I am kicking myself for deciding to not build a garage this year!
     
  17. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TomorrowMatters @ Aug 31 2007, 08:08 PM) [snapback]505222[/snapback]</div>
    You mean you *could* have a garage? Well, at least put a carport up or something. But at least with a garage you can also have power for the EBH.
     
  18. lowbone

    lowbone Junior Member

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    I just had a windshield replaced. Toyota does not make their own glass but contracts it out to various companies. My new windshield is made by PPG and much to my surprise it seems to keep the car from getting as hot as it did with the OEM glass. The darker top is also easier on the eyes in bright sun and helps with headlight glare at night.
    As far as the mechanic who mentioned paintless dent removal problems, he was probably referring to the hood and hatchback. These parts are made of aluminum and stretch when they are dented. It is very difficult to smooth these out. The rest of the body is made out of steel and paintless dent removal should work quite well.
    As far as insurance companies paying for various things, the next time you get insurance quotes make sure you ask about accident replacement. Many companies approve ill fitting chinese made parts and or used parts. That seductive low insurance rate is rarely a good thing.
     
  19. cireecnop1

    cireecnop1 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Aug 31 2007, 08:05 PM) [snapback]505231[/snapback]</div>
    Actually a carport wouldn't have protected me from any damage since the Hail was falling practically horizontally.


    as for the windshield, The collision center assured me that the Safelite auto glass they will be using is identical to the original (minus the toyota emblem) so that makes me feel better, I was never a fan of the dark tint band across the top of the windshield.
     
  20. migelito

    migelito Junior Member

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    Re: HAIL DAMAGE!!!

    I just had the same luck here. My Prius got hit pretty badly during a hail storm a week ago here in Austin. Both the roof and hood are being replaced at a collision center and PDR is being done for the rest.

    I should be getting the car back tomorrow or the day after, and I have a couples questions for you all:

    1. Is there anything important in the stickers on the hood? I meant to take a picture of it before taking the car to the shop, but forgot about it. Can anybody share any pictures or information about them?

    2. Is there anything in particular that you recommend me carefully inspect when I get my car back?

    Any other advice is very welcome. Thanks!