jrl0027

Something hit my car while I was driving, bent a little piece of this bar and it seems to have punctured the radiator. Mechanic says I need to total the car, but I think this is an easy fix, as it seems to be just the crash bar, not any major frame damage.

Joshua White

I'd tend to agree with you, but we'd need more perspective to chime in accurately. What hit your "car", what does the frame look look like on each side of that "crash bar", what "car" is this?

jrl0027

i still don’t know what it was, something that either came off the back of the car in front of me or they drove over it and shot it up. I have a 2003 grand Cherokee, stock. The frame looks normal, that’s the only damage to it.

TrailerTrash

Holy hell that is more than "something hit my car"

That is some pretty gnarly damage

Saudade

"Something hit me while I was driving". "Crash bar", now that's funny. Better pictures are needed plus year and model. Is the curve really that bad or is that just the camera (fish eye effect).. That looks like a crossmember. When they bend to that extent, they pull in other parts of the unibody.

robsjeep

That piece will need to be replaced, cut it out and weld in replacement. What it attaches to on either side will likely be bent, so that will need straightening prior to the welding.

did you have a bumper mounted? If so what of its condition and condition of where bumper mounts to the frame?

Need to see more to assess properly.

good luck

jrl0027

2003 grand Cherokee. It’s the lower support I believe, and it’s about 3inches long of a dent.

TrailerTrash

Just post pictures of the front end so we can figure out what you ran into

DJeXeCute

Thats a grand cherokee ZJ

robsjeep

It aint so grand no more..

fb97xj1

Might be able to pull that back, somewhat, but id rather replace it. When one part gets pushed, it pulls whatever its welded to along with it to some degree. Parts can crack, even steel. Find a body shop. Let them take a look at it. Ask questions. Find another shop and do the same. Not all shops are the same. If a shop is willing to do the work you can pull parts to help save some labor. But they will need those parts to make sure it all lines up afterwards. Unless those parts are broken. Some of which may not be apparent until it gets torn apart. Sounds simple, but can get complicated and costly. Totaled? If that pic is the worst of it, then no.

Did the airbags go off? That alone can be enough for the insurance company to total it.

And post more pics. Im curious what the rest of it looks like.

Rogue4x4

Totalled, eh?
Let me guess...he's willing to relieve you of your troubles for a meager sum?

Definitely get a second opinion.