Front End Plastic Parts

Unless your time isn't worth anything to you, for $230 I wouldn't waste my
time on B or C...

Make sure you get fasteners!

 

As I reported,a coon attacked my Ion,long story short,Saturn
recommends 3 parts to replace broken/cracked up parts,one of these
parts goes completly around the wheel well,what a waste!,the parts guy
zipped me a copy of a exploded view of the Ion front end which wqas
very helpful,all 3 parts come out to $230.00.should I A) get the new
parts & move on,B) go to a junk yard & try there,or C) do a ''duct
tape job '' until im in the mood to really fix it?.

 

How could anyone else possibly answer that question for you?

$230 _to_you_ may be pocket change, or it may be a week's pay. I can't tell
from here.

_Only_you_ know that.

You can save a fair chunk of money by buying junkyard parts, but they won't be
new (which will be apparent), they likely won't have any warranty, and you
may have to remove them yourself (which means more time, compared to buying
new parts).

_Only_you_ can determine if that matters _to_you_, or if it's worth the
difference in price _to_you_.

Duct tape is even cheaper, but it will look like s**t, and won't last long
either.

_Only_you_ can determine if that matters _to_you_, or if it's worth the
difference in price _to_you_.

 

time or money, hmm, if you were gonna use duct tape you might get mistaken
for a honda <jk>.
The hardest part of the front end cap is lining them up properly. If you can
afford it, pay for it, if not, do it yourself, you already have the diagram.
See a junkyard or 6thplanet used auto parts.
marx404

 

Good advise. I just replaced simular parts on my daughters SC2.
(fender tub and a skirt). It was missing when she bought it and
without it road dirt and spray goes right into door hinge area which
is not good. Also on junkyard parts the plastic used in them tends to
get brittle with age and cracks or breaks easier so you really want
new. My parts did not cost that much and I got dealer to give me a
discount too (they were really pretty good about it). One tip, a few
of her fender clip holes were damaged too so it was not possible to
secure it properly so I rane a bead of clear silicone rated for
plactic between insert and fender lip in the questionable ares and it
yeilded a nice solid installation that still can be removed if need
be.

 

Another thing to consider is that some of the plastic parts support other
plastic parts and if you leave them flopping around more damage can
result... put another way, the parts rely on each other for structural
integrity. In the old days metal would bend but it generally stayed together
and you could get away without fixing things in a timely fashion. Today more
damage may result... Course the 36-37 I'm getting with my SL2 on the highway
is about 30 MPG better than I used to get with the 5,000 lb 455 CID equipped
behemoth I drove around town in the late 70s. ;~)

 

Geez thanks for the surmon!.My time IS valuable to me!,these 3 steps
were my way of making sure that would happen.These parts are obviouslt
inter linked,as i was saying abut the wheel well part.$230 is a
sizable amount,thats why i was cosidering alternates.I guess I'll go
with getting those pieces,I take pride in my Ion.

 

Very true indeed and good advise!

 

this is a crazy idea, but if you can squeeze it in your budget, this would
be an opportune time to think about a front end body kit part. I know they
can be expensive, but maybe a front spoiler lip? Just an idea. Best of luck.

marx404

 

thanks gents for the insights,like I said,i was weighing my options.I
live in ne ohio & am traveling to Missouri for Tgiving,i definatly
want my ''parts'' togeather before I leave.My insurance won't pay for
part of this,will they?.

 

Comprehensive would but your deductible would come off the top. Most
companies would argue that you should have reported it before now though...
If you submit a claim it would probably make sense to have a body shop do
the work.

 

I dont know about your local Saturn shop, but a good one may take thier own
initiative and work with you and your ins. co. to get a speedy repair and
get thier retribution back from the ins. co. My old shpo in Stuart di this
with many ppl after the last 3 hurricanes.

marx404

 

Depends on the cause of damage. If it was while driving down the road
or from another car impact it would be collision. If it was storm,
fire or vandal damage it would be comprehensive. Both have their own
deductable though depending on your policy.

 

As I recall he hit a raccoon.... that's comp like it would be if you hit a
deer (gotten a couple of them over the years).

 

I could be wrong but that is collision. ALso while most people do not
know it you can sue the state (most do it if you ask them enough)
because if it was a regulated animal for hunting, the state is
responsible for the damage it causes. They di not tell you that though
unless you push the issue. You will need a police report at time of
damage.

 

This might be dependent upon the state... I know that my claims were paid
under comp. In fact, the first time it happened I didn't have collision on
the car as it was rather old. It's one of those "act of God" things.

 

Most states do not tell you that they are liable but they are. The key
here is if you hit a regulated animal. If it is a animal that the
state names as controlled for hunting or to not hunt, you have grounds
to file a claim against them because they "control" or "manage" it so
they are responsible for it.

 

Interesting. My understanding was (at least in the state I was in when I
heard this) that the opposite is true -- you kill a deer with your car (at
least outside of hunting season; maybe even during season if you don't have
a license), you pay a fine for violating the game control law.

 

Law or not I cannot see how that could stand in court if you hit a
deer. Something very fishy here. If the state did not regulate the
animal then they can claim they are not liable.

 

I can't imagine that's correct. Anywhere.