98 Intrepid

My 98 Intrepid I too have the blinking interior lights, falling door insulation, and driver side power window problems that I would love to get rid of, but in August I was plowed by someone from behind at about 25 mph and knocked into the car in front of me. Right after the accident the front-end started squeaking loudly at all times (not just when braking). We can't find the cause of this problem and to top it off, after extensive work on the backend and a new radiator, two weeks after getting my car back, it catches on fire. The mechanic that has my car cannot find a real cause he says he is totally baffled. He says the battery cable cap wore off, created an arc and started the fire. Can anyone give any insight on this? I need to find out if possible, what caused the fire and if it is a cause of the accident, the mechanics that did the work on the radiator, or god playing tricks on me. I am told that my children and I are very lucky that the car didn't engulf or blow (a 3 minute span of driving the car before it caught on fire) and that they have never seen anything like it. I did smell some type of burning when I got the car back but was told it was probably from the radiator being changed, not to worry about it. BTW, I love my Intrepid, but am getting a little worried about driving it.

It sounds like it should have been totaled. Did you opt to keep a totaled car and have it fixed yourself?

It sounds like it should have been totaled. Did you opt to keep a totaled car and have it fixed yourself?

No. It was well over a total but the insurance company and the autobody shop worked out a deal so that the estimate ended up at $20 under the total price. I preferred to have my car back since I only had $1000 left to pay on it, but they didn't ask me my opinion. I surely didn't expect it to catch on fire 2 weeks later.

Sorry about your trouble.
I've had two vehicles totaled for me by reckless drivers. On the first one, I discovered that the shop I took my van to was a preferred body shop to the rival insurance company (the one who payed for the damage). They estimated $6700 in damages for a $15000 van. After the estimate and a "Guarantee" that they could fix it, I had it towed to another shop for a second estimate. It turns out the the first shop did not remove the side door that was hit to inspect the damage, they just figured that they would replace the sliding door and repaint. The Caravans have a safety bar that runs through the door, on the ends are "hooks" that if the door as collapsed the "hooks" grab the front and back door support and prevent further intrusion into the cabin. The side door had to be cut off and what do you know... The floor was buckled, enough to break two bolts off of the drivers seat mounting pedestal, the front and back door post (where the hooks locked in") were distorted beyond any repair. Needless to say if the van had been "repaired" by the first shop, it would never have been safe to be in another accident. After that incident, if a shop thinks that it should be totaled, because it would never be good as new, I don't argue. BTW we were recently in another accident that the other driver ran a red light, I was glad that I wasn't driving a Caravan held together with putty. The other driver was doing about 45mph when she hit us.

I am sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I agree with you on the total. I wish I would have known what they had done (by making it just under a total) to "fix" the car because I would have fought for the total. I am glad that you and your family survived this second accident too. It is really scarry to think that "reputable" mechanics are really screwing us over. I can't wait for the day when my therapy, etc is over and I can hold my 20lb. niece for more than 10 minutes or spend fun time with my kids. All because someone wasn't paying attention.

BTW, they said the reason the fire started was a corroded positive battery cable. This was apparently a bad factory part but would still be a fight that I don't have time or the money to do if I wanted to. The good news is that there wasn't any other electrical damage because of the fire. I will still need to replace the air filter housing and the inner wheel well housing, but should be able to drive it after that. Although I could still claim it on my insurance, I think I can fix it with my brother and save the hassle and frustration of dealing with the insurance company.

Sorry about your trouble.
I've had two vehicles totaled for me by reckless drivers. On the first one, I discovered that the shop I took my van to was a preferred body shop to the rival insurance company (the one who payed for the damage). They estimated $6700 in damages for a $15000 van. After the estimate and a "Guarantee" that they could fix it, I had it towed to another shop for a second estimate. It turns out the the first shop did not remove the side door that was hit to inspect the damage, they just figured that they would replace the sliding door and repaint. The Caravans have a safety bar that runs through the door, on the ends are "hooks" that if the door as collapsed the "hooks" grab the front and back door support and prevent further intrusion into the cabin. The side door had to be cut off and what do you know... The floor was buckled, enough to break two bolts off of the drivers seat mounting pedestal, the front and back door post (where the hooks locked in") were distorted beyond any repair. Needless to say if the van had been "repaired" by the first shop, it would never have been safe to be in another accident. After that incident, if a shop thinks that it should be totaled, because it would never be good as new, I don't argue. BTW we were recently in another accident that the other driver ran a red light, I was glad that I wasn't driving a Caravan held together with putty. The other driver was doing about 45mph when she hit us.

No. It was well over a total but the insurance company and the autobody shop worked out a deal so that the estimate ended up at $20 under the total price. I preferred to have my car back since I only had $1000 left to pay on it, but they didn't ask me my opinion. I surely didn't expect it to catch on fire 2 weeks later.

I am sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I agree with you on the total. I wish I would have known what they had done (by making it just under a total) to "fix" the car because I would have fought for the total. I am glad that you and your family survived this second accident too. It is really scarry to think that "reputable" mechanics are really screwing us over. I can't wait for the day when my therapy, etc is over and I can hold my 20lb. niece for more than 10 minutes or spend fun time with my kids. All because someone wasn't paying attention.

I got 3 words for you, CALL A LAWYER!

For starters, the car was a total loss and the Ins Co AND The Body Shop conspired to give you a car that is IMO unsafe as hell! You have no idea what kind of shoddy workmanship went in on the repairs or what kind of junk parts went in it to make it look pretty again. The plain facts is, it should of been totalled! The car goes to scrap, you get a check, find another ride, end of story. Instead 2 people benefitted, a body shop scheister who probably got the cheapest parts he could get to fix it egardless of quality and an insurance company adjuster that paid out probably less than what you would of gotten for the car if it was totalled and made him/her look good to the company! Sorry you got screwed over like that, and to add insult to injury the sudden car fire after the repair makes things even more suspect! No man, somebody is liable and it isn't you, I'd be going after the shop AND the ins co. Reckless endangerment sounds like a good place to start.

Secondly you are in physical therapy because of the mess, you can't do any heavy lifting, you can't enjoy time with your family the way you are accustomed to, your obviously in some sort of pain, they call that "Pain and Suffering" and a good lawyer will get you money for that without going to the courts in some cases. And that also includes sueing the person that hit you and put you in this pain, and suffering.

Also, if your state has provision for it, even if your car is fixed to your satisfaction, you can demand cash from the insurance company to compensate you for the "loss if value" of your car. If your sell it, the buyer will usually check the "CARFAX" and see that it was in a major accident, this will lower the value of your car to just about....nothing. If the car is totaled and you owe more than the INS pays, some states allow you to take the "at fault" driver to small claims court and sue for the remaining amount up to $5000.
Most "pain and suffering" claims are made based on medical costs. Medical costs x 2 is the usual P&S demand. If you get an lawer they will usually demand MCx3, and then they take 1/3 which leaves you MCx2 for your pocket. The person who hit us injured 7 people and only has $50K INS coverage total with $25K max per person. My wifes claim on Medical is $32K. After the rest of the claimants turn in their MC, the owner of the vehicle will probably get sued and lose his home and business because he chose to under-insure his vehicle.

Also, if your state has provision for it, even if your car is fixed to your satisfaction, you can demand cash from the insurance company to compensate you for the "loss if value" of your car. If your sell it, the buyer will usually check the "CARFAX" and see that it was in a major accident, this will lower the value of your car to just about....nothing. If the car is totaled and you owe more than the INS pays, some states allow you to take the "at fault" driver to small claims court and sue for the remaining amount up to $5000.
Most "pain and suffering" claims are made based on medical costs. Medical costs x 2 is the usual P&S demand. If you get an lawer they will usually demand MCx3, and then they take 1/3 which leaves you MCx2 for your pocket. The person who hit us injured 7 people and only has $50K INS coverage total with $25K max per person. My wifes claim on Medical is $32K. After the rest of the claimants turn in their MC, the owner of the vehicle will probably get sued and lose his home and business because he chose to under-insure his vehicle.

I have an attorney and work for good attorneys, I am just waiting for the rest of the medical part of it to be done. I also get to play the single mother factor, loss of car, etc. I just can't wait for it to all to be over.