Thread: New trunk

once the trunk is open you'll see the extent of the damage. if your lucky its all the trunk lid and hinges and the body stayed straight.

for it to be totaled id be thinking it would need a quarter panel or both at least.

I bet a.bodyman could straighten and adjust that to a point where it looks and works OK with just a few tools and strong hands. I am one and believe I could. Try yeah pushing it back into place to un-bind the latch to open it. The striker (part on car side of latch) probably bent or scooted over, as well as the hinge to lid bolts. The lid probably isn't hurt as bad as it looks. I am in AR and have a 40th lid and spoiler if you're into those.

He did you a favor by busting that taillight.

Originally Posted by stealthee

He did you a favor by busting that taillight.

I wasn't going to say it, but that's the truth!

id take it to the shop for a new est. then submit it. dont look to bad really.

see that screw/bolt looking thing in the hinge. pretty sure thats an adjustment right there. you might be able to lower the lid on the one side with it.

the hoop might be bent ( no pic of it) or the locks adjuster got pulled down if you open the trunk and look behind the key/lock you'll see whats going on better.

if the trunk stays up the lifts are still good, at the ends is a sleeve. use a pic to pop it free and the lift comes off its little boll joint there.

Originally Posted by Jaredthefail

I forgot to mention the most important thing so far. I called my insurance and the won't insure a vehicle with a salvaged title. So now what?

It doesn't have to be totalled. Go read my original post.

Originally Posted by Jaredthefail

The problem with that is this is some random business insurance. It's not car insurance so to do all that they contact other companies and it would take at least a month but I could do it and drive this car by this afternoon

It doesn't matter. This is all a negotiation. You tell them "You value my car at $3,000 and you show salvage value is $500. Write me a check for $2,500 and I will sign a release". You never give them your title. It is impossible for them to give it a salvage title if you never sign it over. The insurance company will always tell you what they want you to do and guide you that direction. You have to stand up for yourself. Been there done that several times.

I do not suggest swapping hinges yet. You'll crack the seam sealer and have a trunk leak. If the front corner sticks up too high, gently overextend that side's hinge (open lid too far) a little to bring the front corner down. If the striker holds the lid to one side, whack it with a 2x4 to bump it back.

Originally Posted by Jaredthefail

It's not the brackets that make it off....

I see we were simul-typing. Adjust the striker as mentioned, or pull the sill trim piece and look to see if it slid under the bolts. Don't forget the height adjusters too.

My words were not clear so I went to my car for a pic. This is the striker. It controls the position of the rear of the deck lid-



One bolt is visible here, the others are behind the bumper. Car doesn't have a sill plate, just the trunk carpet so woops. Pull the weatherstrip back a ways and work the carpet over the striker if you want to see it. Your new lid looks barely off side-to-side, so thats the part where I suggest a 2x4 block against the striker then thumping the wood with a hammer. Or hitting the striker directly. Its probably sitting where it should be but just bent a little.

It is possible that the rubber screw in type bumpers on the lid are holding it up. If so, screw them in until it sits level. That should set the height unless the striker has moved upwards.

Is it hard to close? I'll check back after dark. Good luck.