stevenleith

I was involved in an accident last week so i thought i'd get some advice from you guys to see what may need to be considered, while i wait for the specialist assessment from Honda.

There fairly major side impact on the passenger side between the wheel arch and the passenger door. I am quite worried about chassis damage as the impact was fairly heavy. I've been told that jig work will need to be done and i'll need a new wing, door and windsheld.

Anyone got experience with side impact accidents?
Or indeed, chassis work on an s2000?

I'm worried that the chassis will be weakened if any substantial work is needed - whats the deal with this??

smyroad

I hope you are ok, it sounds like you walked away from the accident.

If the frame/chassis needs to be straightened, the car will usually never again drive straight. Some of the torsional stiffness may be lost which could cause reduced handling ability and cowl shake over bumps. If that is the case, hope the insurance company totals the car.

marcucci

Agreed: Never own a unit-body vehicle with frame damage. Not only is it tough to get them "straightened," over time they typically "creep" back to the shape as damaged. I've physically watched it happen with a friend's vehicle at work.

You may not have "frame" damage, though. Be sure the garage has a laser-based alignment system and the proper frame dimensions (probably will require help from a Honda engineer). If you need this info, let me know- it's in the back of our "Helm's" factory service manuals in the states. I can scan it for you if needed.

I'd have them thoroughly check out the chassis. The S2k has one STIFF unit body and may have survived intact. If all you need is a wing (fender?), windshield, and door, I wouldn't worry terribly about that. If they want/need to straighten the frame, I'd start shopping for my next vehicle. Straightened unit-body vehicles are usually only trouble after that.

stevenleith

Well, the "dent" (massive!) is about 6-12 inches INTO the car from bonnet height to the bottom of the car - only between the door and wheel arch. Including the actual bottom line of the car.

Is this what you would say is the "unit body"?

marcucci

I don't think so (that that was part of the unit body structure). I believe the rocker panel (that bottom line) is a seperate piece. There should be unit body directly behind it, though.

Have the frame checked; from what you describe, if the only "visible" damage is to the wing, you should be OK. There might be actual frame damage, but I doubt it. They should be able to replace the rocker, at least what is visible. There may be some cosmetic damage to the unit body underneath, but I doubt it is anything significant enough to compromise the integrity of the "frame."

stevenleith

Thats sounding a bit less scary now - hopefully the body panel and that lower sill will have taken all the impact. It looks like a fairly average impact - so hopefully it won't have further repercussions..!!
Eventhough the auto cut-off activated - I know the tow guys got it started and drove it up a ramp, so the engine components/drivetrain should be ok.

I did notice that on the side of the impact the head lights were about 6mm 'out' from the wing panel. Do you think that is just wing panel misalignment? Or could the light compartment fittings have been affected and actually moved? I've read that misalignment of headlamps with side impact can imply chassis movement.....?

Triple-H

Originally posted by marcucci
Very Interesting!!!
A deer and I hit a while back in my truck. I know my truck is a ladder frame but the frame was not what was straightened, but several other things were. After 1 year I noticed my front bumper was no longer aligned, the front fender had moved in and the body trim under the bumper had a bend in it. There is no impact damage and the paint is still beautiful, but things are warped and out of alignment. Sounds like maybe you have solved the mystery. I never though something could creep back to the dented shape but that theory sure explains my truck. Very interesting.

stevenleith - good luck. If the insurance company does not total the car out, it might be a good time to get it fixed and trade it in on a newer model.

stevenleith

Look at "ricosuave"s signature - it has a cut through diagram of the s2k.

Here shows you what part of the lower frame i'm talking about. Right behind the front left wheel - that beam is pushed in about 6-12in, which in turn may have bent the beam running perpendicular across the width of the car - which may have then affected the opposite side?? What dya reckon?

I'm getting the quote tommorrow so i'll find out what they reckon -but i know that whoever works on it will probably have never worked on an s2k before

I'll let you know what they say.

marcucci

stevenleith-
All I can say is "good luck." Now that I know exactly what you're talking about (that pic is my background ), that beam is most definitely structural. The shop might be able to fix it, but I wouldn't trust it. They would have to cut and weld and more than that is likely damaged. I'd start looking for another car.

Triple-H-
I'm reminded of a story a friend told me about his grandfather, who bought a Dodge just shortly after the end of WWII. Metal was scarce, so automakers were taking any sheet metal they could find and recycling it. One day, years later, he was trying to "torch out" a ding on the drivers door on a cold winter morning... low and behold a large "Coca-Cola" logo pops out of the panel! It appears they flattened an old Coke billboard and reformed it. Don't know how true it is...

smyroad

Here are a few things to check for to detect major frame alignment problems.

1. Take a look at the gaps between the door and body on the opposite side from the crash. Look over the hood to body gap and the truck to body gap.
2. Open and close the passenger door and listen for squeaks/clinks when opening and closing. Is it easy to open/close?
3. Same for the hood.
4. Same for the trunk, unless it was crushed as part of the impact.

Even if these checks don't show anything, you could still have frame alignment problems.