Small fender bender... Need to fix a gap on my bumper

[dorlow]

So, my wife was backing out of the garage and didn't notice someone moved the basketball hoop. So, as she turned the back end so she could turn the car around, she caught the basketball hoop on the front driverside bumper. For the most part, I've put the clips back in and it looks OK right now. I got most of the scratches out with rubbing compound. But the gap between the bumper and the side panel under the light is off. (I'm attaching a pic.)

Looking at the back of the panel, there's a piece of metal on both panels that goes out at a 90 degree angle with a bolt through it. That part that goes 90 degrees out right by where it meets the panel side it bends up so when clamping the two pieces of metal together, it's not pulling the gap closer.

So, I think the only "right" way to fix it would be to take the whole bumper off and then bend the piece of metal so the bend isn't there anymore. (I can't over bend it on the car because I hit the other piece of metal it screws into.)

So, a few questions...

Are there any tricks of the trade to fudge it where maybe auto body shops have special clamps just to hold it together? If I put vice grips on it, it holds the gap nice, but obviously I can't leave those there. I'm sure they would fall off from vibrations in driving. I didn't know if there were special clamps people used that were made just for this type of thing?

If not, I take it I need to take the whole bumper off, over bend it until it's close to where it was before and put it on. But I'm very weary of doing this because I'm not sure where the airbag sensors are on the car. I'd imagine they have to be around the bumper. It's the first thing you hit in a head on collision so it would make sense that's where they're at. So, I'd hate to take off my bumper and hit the sensor and blow my airbags. Any suggestions? I'm sure I could disconnect the negative terminal on the battery, but still if I bump the sensor and then later have it back together and put the negative terminal back on, if the sensor is not 100% perfect, it may still blow? I don't know. I don't know a lot about air bags. Wondering what other's thoughts are on it.

[1999montana]

Originally Posted by dorlow

... (I'm attaching a pic.) ...

So, where's the Beef and the Pics?

[dorlow]

Originally Posted by 1999montana

So, where's the Beef and the Pics?

Ok, can't explain why the image isn't showing up. Everytime I pull up this page on my iphone, the pic is there. But now I see on my PC the image doesn't show. I'm attaching more.

I'm attaching an image of the side gap that is off, one showing the gap of the otherside that's perfect. Also, I have some scratches in the plastic I don't know if anyone has any suggestions on how to remove or make less noticeable. I believe the right thing with the plastic is to either replace it or leave it alone. I already used rubbing compound and got it looking as good as it does now in the pic. Anything I do will probably make it look worse than me leaving it alone... unless someone has suggestions. Also a crack in the headlight, but I'm sure I'll have to replace the headlight assembly.

[dorlow]

Still doesn't appear the photos are showing up. Here's a link to my flickr account that has the photos...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2309162...7634228209921/

[1999montana]

Originally Posted by dorlow

Ok, can't explain why the image isn't showing up. Everytime I pull up this page on my iphone, the pic is there. But now I see on my PC the image doesn't show. I'm attaching more.

I'm attaching an image of the side gap that is off, one showing the gap of the otherside that's perfect. Also, I have some scratches in the plastic I don't know if anyone has any suggestions on how to remove or make less noticeable. I believe the right thing with the plastic is to either replace it or leave it alone. I already used rubbing compound and got it looking as good as it does now in the pic. Anything I do will probably make it look worse than me leaving it alone... unless someone has suggestions. Also a crack in the headlight, but I'm sure I'll have to replace the headlight assembly.

Did the bumper surround come off or pull away from the wheel opening? If so, it looks like a clip under the headlight assembly or in the corner below it may not be connected properly. The HL assembly should come out easily, leaving you with a better view of what is happening beneath it.

[dorlow]

Originally Posted by 1999montana

Did the bumper surround come off or pull away from the wheel opening? If so, it looks like a clip under the headlight assembly or in the corner below it may not be connected properly. The HL assembly should come out easily, leaving you with a better view of what is happening beneath it.

I believe when you say "bumper surround," you're refering to the grey trim around the wheel that goes to the bumper. Yes that part came off. It didn't come completely off the clips some came off. I took the wheel out, took the inside of the wheel well out and clipped all that back in. I really think that gap on the wheel well being off is because the two panels that connect with the bolt, the piece of metal there is bent. But I don't think I can bend it back without taking the bumper off so I can get a tool in there and bend it back. But I'm hesitant to do that not knowing where the airbag sensors are at. Does anyone know where the airbag sensors are at before I take something off and really regret it?

I'll try taking the headlight out when I get home and see if I see anything else not connected right there though. I've had the headlight out in the past so I know it comes out easy, but I didn't think to do that when looking for clips.

[1999montana]

Originally Posted by dorlow

... I believe when you say "bumper surround," you're refering to the grey trim around the wheel that goes to the bumper. ...

No, I was referring to the bumper fascia or outer skin of the bumper. The actual bumper is a steel re-bar attached to shock absorbers bolted to the chassis, combined with heavy density foam between the bumper surround and the re-bar. It looks like the color-coded bumper cover, not the black/grey trim got caught on something and moved forward?? (not sure which direction the vehicle was traveling in relative to the basketball hoop).

[dorlow]

Ok still haven't had time to take the light out. I think I understand what you're saying. I'll let you know what I find out.