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1997 Honda Accord: Can it be salvaged after it was stolen and smashed?


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tsarstruck
New User

Aug 5, 2010, 11:07 AM

Post #1 of 7 (1850 views)
1997 Honda Accord: Can it be salvaged after it was stolen and smashed? Sign In

My 1997 Honda Accord was stolen recently. When it was recovered, it had received damage to the front driver fender, the passenger doors, and, most importantly, the rear passenger side, including decimating the taillight Oh, and they ripped out the ignition switch.

I had no vehicle insurance and fixing the car completely would be putting more money into it than it's worth. The car still runs fine, however. However, without fixing the passenger taillight, the car isn't street legal. A picture of the rear passenger damage can be found here: http://noisenarcs.com/...10/08/0802001151.jpg.

I don't use the car much (live in Philly, public trans to work), but it'd have some use to me as a around the town beater if I get it street legal and safely functioning.

My questions:

1. Would it be possible to get a replacement taillight cover into the now smushed frame?
2. Can I just cut the part of the damaged bumper off?
3. Is this worthwhile, given that I have no plans to fix the rest of the damage (yes, I'll be starting my car with a screwdriver).

(This post was edited by tsarstruck on Aug 5, 2010, 11:08 AM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 5, 2010, 11:27 AM

Post #2 of 7 (1842 views)
Re: 1997 Honda Accord: Can it be salvaged after it was stolen and smashed? Sign In

You have some pretty serious damage there. The big issues you have are that first, your going o have a trunk full of water because of the trunk lid being all bent. As far as the light is concerned, you need a whole tail light but the bigger problem is that the body is so severely damaged that you wouldn't be able to put a new light in. Your going to have to do some structural body straightening before your going to be able to fix the light and use that car on the highway.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



tsarstruck
New User

Aug 5, 2010, 1:38 PM

Post #3 of 7 (1837 views)
Re: 1997 Honda Accord: Can it be salvaged after it was stolen and smashed? Sign In

Yeah, I know, they did a real number on the car. Couldn't the little joyriding punks just have done cosmetic damage?

If the lights are working (I think they are: can't tell about the brake light until I get somebody else), would it be possible to cover the lights with plastic? Really just looking for enough of a solution to not get pulled over...

As to the trunk, I'd probably just seal it up as best I could and stop using it...

Increasingly looking like I just need to junk it.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 5, 2010, 1:53 PM

Post #4 of 7 (1826 views)
Re: 1997 Honda Accord: Can it be salvaged after it was stolen and smashed? Sign In

No, you can't cover it with anything. You can cover small holes with red transparent tape but that is too far destroyed. You have to keep the water out. You can't let the hot bulb get wet and it can't show any white light through at all.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



re-tired
Veteran / Moderator
re-tired profile image

Aug 5, 2010, 2:40 PM

Post #5 of 7 (1820 views)
Re: 1997 Honda Accord: Can it be salvaged after it was stolen and smashed? Sign In

It would involve a little of your time but you could advertize in local paper as a parts car. Somebody ,somewhere has a like car in fair shape but a blown eng , broken seats instrument panel not working ,you get the idea. The sum of the parts is more than the cars worth. You can even have buyers do the disassembly . I would try going for the take it all option. that way you dont have to worry about zoneing people telling you to remove it . You then can look for a nicer car with the cash helping out.


LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH


tsarstruck
New User

Aug 6, 2010, 8:10 AM

Post #6 of 7 (1813 views)
Re: 1997 Honda Accord: Can it be salvaged after it was stolen and smashed? Sign In

Will I really get enough more to justify the hassle than I would driving it to one of the many autoparts scrapyards in my area? They've offered me a few hundred...


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 6, 2010, 9:18 AM

Post #7 of 7 (1806 views)
Re: 1997 Honda Accord: Can it be salvaged after it was stolen and smashed? Sign In

Your call - The car is worth more in parts than a salvage yard is ever going to offen. Of course a PITA to list good stuff for sale and the time, storage of a wreck and so forth.

www.Craigslist.com has local ads and no doubt several others,

T







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