Fix it or don't? (Answer: FIX IT)

[Edit: Decision has been made to fix]

So... I haven't even put 3000 miles on my DC and I managed to get into a accident.

Full disclosure... Totally my fault and thankfully everyone involved is unharmed.

The truck took the impact to the front drivers hinge pillar and to the front wheel. Needless to say, the door and front fender are smoked. Additionally, the wheel and suspension were also damaged. This all adds up to be a pricey repair.



To add to it, the shop called me to inform me that they found additional damage, and this is the subject I am asking about. Turns out, the forward bushing for the upper control arm kissed the flange of the timing chain cover and snapped a tab off. My question is should I have this repaired or just leave it.


My gut tells me that everything will be fine with this if I just leave it alone. However, I'm not sure if I'm missing something. Having this repaired will increase the cost, and more important to me is the time it will take to get my truck back. If I leave it alone, I am likely to get my truck back at the end of next week.

Here is a better illustration of where on the cover the damage is.

Thank you for any and all opinions on this matter.

 

Wow sorry that happened. Additional cost and time?? Really sucks .

 

do you have GAP insurance on your truck ? if totaled you will get a new truck

 

If I am to have the timing chain cover repaired, it would mean that the body shop would finish their work, then the truck would be taken to Toyota to have the cover replaced.

I don't have a number as of yet, but I have a good idea that would NOT be a cheap fix. Insurance will cover the cost, but I would be with out my truck for longer, and the added cost of the repair would add to my increased premiums after this is all said and done.

As it stands, the the current estimate for repair (without the timing cover) is upwards of $14k.

 

They have no intention of totaling it. Even with the cover repair. I am just trying to figure out if the tab being broken of the cover is something I should worry about.

 

My concern with leaving it would be some possibility of future leaking or problems. Hard call. I think that I would want everything fixed personally.

 

^^^ agreed

 

I would say that tab is there for a reason, even if it is not any significant reason. I would have it repaired if it was mine. I doubt your insurance premium increase will be any different with or without this repair.

 

X3

Your premium is going to go up anyway. I would want everything repaired completely.

 

I'd say fix it, 100 percent. If you pass on it now and end up with problems later down the road due to the crack....you're gonna be on the hook.

 

No reason your truck with less than 3k miles should be missing parts. I'd opt for a full fix. To speed it up I'd contact your Toyota dealership and see if they can have somebody head to the body shop to take a look and get parts ordered sooner. Just a thought.

 

Y'all are probably right. I needed to just balance getting the truck back next week or after Toyota would be done with it. At the end of next week, I'll have been without my truck for almost a month and I really want to get it back. Plus, my rental coverage runs out pretty close to that as well.

I think the risk is low leaving it, but I do agree that if there is a problem due to this, I would be better to catch it now.

One stupid move has made for a whole world of suck.

 

Sorry that happened, glad to hear no one was hurt! I would also fix it.

 

Usually I am very picky about this type of stuff. I fix everything. But... but I would leave it unless it is significantly cheaper to do the repair now vs later.

At very worst if a leak , you can spend the same amount of money later to fix the leak. Right now it's only cosmetic.

 

I would get everything fixed to avoid potential problems down the road.

 

Without pulling the cover, you'll never know if there is additional concealed damage. If there is, unfortunately you'll own it later on down the road.

 

Thank you all for your responses. I decided to get it fixed. I'll be without the truck for at least an additional week. My body shop it making arrangements with the local Toyota shop to have the parts and a timeslot arranged to minimize the time it will take to finalize the repair.

More over, I'll be happy to know that there won't be any hidden damage.

Maybe I'll have my truck back by Christmas.

 

I would get it fixed. No way to know if something hidden is damaged which can come back to haunt you later.

 

Now the insurance will pay for it, later OP will have to pay for it out of pocket.

 

I’m a Doctor. Fix it.

 

As previously stated, your premium is going to up, regardless of the repair to the damaged tab. Just get it done and give yourself piece of mind.

 

Is it confirmed the insurance will pay for it? If yes, then why is it even a question?

Edit - I see it now. Insurance is covering it. I completely change my opinion. Fix it.

 

You made the right call. If it did leak down the road, that cost is on you and you’ll still be out the same amount of time.
I’ve been down this road a few times now. My wife is an extremely aggressive and oblivious driver with the insurance payment to validate it. In all fairnesss though she’s a lot better these last few years haha.

 

If insurance is buying absolutely. See if you can get a copy of how much it was to fix this. Reason being after they fix the timing cover take a good hard look at that number. Keep in mind if it failed it could potentially cause more components to fail and then you’d have to fix that as well. Get that number in your head and think insurance covered this now so I didn’t have to pay this later lol

 

There were more than a few that stated this very thing. That is exactly what made me make the decision to fix it.

Thank you all for your help in making the decision.

 

It "only" took 54 days, but she's finally is back in the driveway. The shop did an incredible job. Other than the smell of fresh paint, you'd never know it happened.

 

Looks good glad it’s back on the road. How did the body shop do? Finding a good body shop is sometimes hard to do.

 

Looks good and glad you got it back. FWIW, I think you did the smart move by getting it all fixed.

 

Looks great in that pic. It's amazing what a good body shop can do these days. Glad you finally have it back.

 

What body shop did the work? Looks great btw..