Small Accident

[Haybails1980]

My g/f's brother has driven his Clio (W plate 1.4 S) into the back of someone. The bonnet is severley bent, the passenger side arch is cracked, passenger headlight is smashed and the radiator looks pushed back a bit by the impact.

Having had a look under the bonnet nothing engine related seems to broken/leaking however when trying to start the car it jsut won't fire up. Is there any sort of kill switch that the impact may have triggered? Any suggestions to see how I can get it to start?

 

[Terry172]

Sorry to hear that mate....

Don't know if it's the same on all models but there is a fuel cut of switch (RED RUBBER PUSH SWITCH) on the sports which is located between the battery and coolant bottle. Press it and it should click, which should then let you start the car if that is the problem of course.

 

[fUbAr]

Terry's right, the impact would have tripped the fuel cut off valve.

 

[avit]

Terry's right, the impact would have tripped the fuel cut off valve.

yeh i think so to.

 

[Haybails1980]

Great stuff lads - I'll look for this when I'm home from work and fingers crossed it fires into life!

My g/f's brother has just heard from the guy he hit......he needs a new rear bumper for his Mercades....£619

 

[fUbAr]

insurance FTW

 

[Haybails1980]

^^^^He's 17 with a £500 excess - but is fully comp! What is likely to happen to his insurance come renewal time?

 

[nickl360]

I'd hunt for a cheaper bumper to make sure he's not ripping you off. I'd probably pay it cash too, if the Merc driver would allow so that my insurance isn't blemished.

Depends on his financial situation..

 

[Poopensharten]

I'd hunt for a cheaper bumper to make sure he's not ripping you off. I'd probably pay it cash too, if the Merc driver would allow so that my insurance isn't blemished.

Depends on his financial situation..

+1

He will really have to kiss arse on this one.

If the Merc driver decides that hes not happy with the bumper/spray job then hes obliged to report it to the insurance firm. Although im not sure once hes entered a verbal agreement of the lad to have it fixed privatley without insurance assistance then theres nothing they can do?

Anyone confirm?

 

[Haybails1980]

The guy is now saying he will get it sorted by the end of the weekend and send the bill to my g/f's brother. As it is probably going to go through the insurance can he just go ahead and get it done?

He may be at it though as my g/f's brother had said his bumper was only scratched.

 

[Josh2005]

Surely if he's hit this Merc hard enough to push the radiator back and smash his own headlight etc he would have done more than just scratch the Mercedes? Also dont Mercedes use some odd paint system which makes them more expensive to repair?

 

[nickl360]

Merc parts aren't cheap though, Renault is bad but Merc is far worse. It might have reversing censors that are knackered.

As a precaution I'd go to the local Merc main dealer with the registration plate (you must have this if you swapped details) and price up a new bumper to make sure he's not pulling a fast one.

 

[Brett]

^^^^He's 17 with a £500 excess - but is fully comp! What is likely to happen to his insurance come renewal time?

He'll a very large renewal quote. Not good to claim under 21 tbh, obviously not atall but a lot worse under 21.

 

[Struggler]

He'll a very large renewal quote. Not good to claim under 21 tbh, obviously not atall but a lot worse under 21.

if he setles up outside of insurance,
whats he going to do with his car??
also, normally the £500 excess only applys if your claiming your own damage,
ive claimed twice when i was 18,
my renewal will be 700 (0 excess 3rd party) on a 1.2 n ill be 20
with mods declaired,

 

[Haybails1980]

Sorry to hear that mate....

Don't know if it's the same on all models but there is a fuel cut of switch (RED RUBBER PUSH SWITCH) on the sports which is located between the battery and coolant bottle. Press it and it should click, which should then let you start the car if that is the problem of course.

^^^Update - I located the red button on Friday evening, pressed it and was successfully able to start the car. Thanks again!