PSUGreySreet

I was on my way home from work when I took an S turn and my back end started to slide out on me (both traction skid controls were disabled). I counter steered and gave some gas to straighten back out, but my back end had to much speed and I couldn't re-align the body. My front end went face first into a grassy embankment on the other side of the road. Luckily no one was hurt (just me in the car) and no airbags were deployed. Now is where I need help from all you that know so much about front bumper components...

Below are descriptions & questions about each picture.

Picture 1: The whole under carriage broke off the car. It is visibally cracked!
Picture 2: The front bumper is obviously toast & I am in the process of figuring out which one to purchase.
Picture 3: These are the two wheel well guards. The piece that is directly in front of both front tires and connected to theother plastic with those plastic screw bolts.
Picture 4: This is the passanger side plastic piece to the inside of the passaneger oil cooler. It is cracked on the bottom angle.
Picture 5: The same piece as picture 4, but on the driver's side. This seems to be in ok shape.

QUESTIONS:
What pieces in all am I looking to replace? If I get an aftermarket kit... I still have to purchase new plastic wheel well guards and under carriage correct? Do I need the plastic piece in picture 4 as well, or as long as it can be bolted back to the new plastic, it'll be ok. I am looking to get the rmagic kit, is there any modding I have to do to the front bumper to make it fit. I remember reading somewhere that you have to take something off the front bumper or something....

Next post concerns the radiator...

PSUGreySreet

When the accident happened, I looked under the body to see green coolant flowing from my radiator. It was a steady pour (not a drip), but nothing overwhelming.

Here is a picture of my radiator. The leak was coming from the left screw at the bottome of the radiator. The screws where there is one on the right and one on the left below the radiator. SIlver screws. It was leaking right at that bracket.

I am most likely gonig to be needing a replacement and going to purchase the Koyo Radiator, but is there a chance it leaks ALL of its coolant without being destroyed?

I am going to take more pictures tomorrow when it is light, so if anybody has ?'s or needs better pics, just ask.

PSUGreySreet

Also, my passenger fog light bracket cracked. All lights still work! If I were to get an aftermarket kit, I won't be needing the lights anymore will I?

edit: And oil coolers still look fine to me. Tell me if any of you see something suspicious. Look at the passenger oil cooler in Pic 4... the plastic wheel guard was rubbing my tire before I took it off, so I'm afraid the whole mount there is bent.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

1. Its gone, Replace
2. Its gone, replace
3. The one on the left is gone, Replace, you might be able to reuse the right side one, get some plastic bolts back from one of our online vendors.
4. Get a replacement from our online vendor.
5. Same as above

For the second post, the Front piece is NOT Radiator, is your A/C Condenser. The one BEHIND the Condenser is your Car's Radiator. but if its leaking coolant right now, I suggest you to have a shop to look at the damage. a new Radiator is not that expensive, 200 something. but the A/C condesner in the *front* cost more. and you dont even have the Screen to protect it ....

PSUGreySreet

Where do I begin to look for the plastic parts I need to replace? And which vendor has those plastic bolt clips I need? All the coolant leaked out already... no more dripping... best bet to get it towed to a shop?

Also, how will the shop tell if it's the radiator or the A/C Screen or both without having to undo the a/c hoses and such? Do they slide the radiator out from behind to check? I am just trying to think of the easiest way to get all this accomplished, b/c I will be ordering all the parts and it would be better if I could do most of the work myself (the stuff I am capable of doing).

Also, as you can see in the picture, does that mark on the right side look like its damaged the a/c screen or just bent the fins? Will I know if that piece is broken by running the A/C in my car? Any way for me to check that... I will be getting the protective screens with all these purchases.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

if u could, tow it to a shop. You already know its leaking coolant, its not a *wise* choice to try to drive it to a shop. Hmm I have a question, if it was leaking not *dripping*, how did you make it back home without overheating ?

Radiator sits behind your A/C condesner, there is a chance that your condenser might survive the hit but not your radiator, but its best to have it compression test by a garage.

First you might want to get a copy of the service manual and start looking.

After you get the part number from the service manual, then you can order the parts thru our online vendor like Tommy @ Rosthenal Mazda or Jason @ OnlineMazdaParts.Com

PSUGreySreet

Thanks bud, you've been a huge help!

I was less than a mile away so I drove it home... the minute I pulled into my driveway, the needle started to rise (so it must have stopped leaking just then).

Will those vendors have the plastic parts as well for the underbody? I will be getting on all this tomorrow, reinspecting the parts and damage and calling my bodywork guy... Thanks again!!

PSUGreySreet

One more question... if anyone can help... I am thinking about going and doing a DIY for the condenser and oil cooler screens. Going to home depot or wherever and buying the heavy duty mesh and cutting it... can someone tell me the dimensions of the three screens? or if someone has done this already!

NoRotorNoMotor

Did you wreck on that steep / tight down hill S- turn on Horshoe Trail?? The one a bit before you hit rt 113. ( heading east ) ???

What tires were you on? Still the stock dunlops??? I found those to be pretty scarry the way they would just all of the sudden loose all grip w/out warning.

PSUGreySreet

It was on Lower Pine Creek Rd. If you keep going on 113 past Horseshoe and then keep going past the post office and the street right after the one coming out at Hallman's General store on the right. I was coming the opposite way though... not the S turn at the white church on top the hill, but the one after it.

I am on Avon Tech M550 all season tires. I drive that road multiple times a week, but for some reason, this time going through did not fare so well for me.

ashwins

Did it rain recently?

PSUGreySreet

The road was dry... but to my defense, there were leaves all over b/c of it being so far back in the trees. That is the only thing I can think of. Granted I did have my traction controls disabled, I had neverhad my tail whip out this far before and not have control.

dmc27

Wow. that's a nice mess. Glad there was no damage to you.


Shinka213 has the wire mesh from the hardware store on her aftermkt nose (tho that may change soon w/her new kit). The stuff is called "hardware cloth" - it's basically a hard wire screen w/the same size squares as the RB ones. I bought a roll of it 2 weeks ago at Lowe's for $25 IIRC. *Note* it was in the garden section - not sure why, but that's where it was when I went. What size to cut out depends entirely on the nose you choose, but it's a great big roll so you can just cut as needed when you have the new front. Same goes for the fog lights: depends on the kit and personal choice. There may be a place to mount the fogs if you want them but most kits don't necessarily have some set place for fogs to be mounted.

PSUGreySreet

Thanks dmc27... yeah, it just sucked b/c the bank I hit was sooo steep. If it was gradual, I would have just ran off the road and maybe scratched up the bottom. The slope had probably a 70 degree angle with the road. i have an appointment to take my car in tomorrow morning to get the A/C Condenser looked at the radiator checked out. I have removed all broken parts and am looking now to purchase all the plastic guards and underlining under the front, but can't find pricing... waiting back to hear from Rosenthal.

dmc27

You can cut it at an angle for a "diamond" shape look, and should probably paint it black.

PSUGreySreet

Tell me this... when people make the screens DIY, do they cut the cloth to cover the oil cooler and condenser individually and directly (like the RB screens), or do they cut them to fit a body kit and act as the same purpose...?

dmc27

That I don't know.

I was going to do mine last Sunday (the 23rd) but got tix to the Patriots - Bills game so I got drunk & tailgated instead.


I think Shinka was able to cut the screens and squeeze them in w/o taking the nose off at all - but that was with an aftermarket nose. I poked around and found that I would not be able to do that w/the stock nose by the oil screens. Since the condenser is buried behind the grill I have to take the nose off for that anyway. Once I do I'll cut & fasten based on what looks like the best option.

PSUGreySreet

Keep me updated & I'll do the same if I do this within the next few days. My nose is already off (well.. obviously. haha) so it'll be easier fo me to look at now...

4me2

What's wrong with insurance?

PSUGreySreet

You know I haven't really even considered that deeply yet. I am waiting to hear back and see what the damage is to the front. I jsut feel like maybe I can fix everything for cheaper if there isn't too much wrong and I can do most of it.

machfive

Good luck with your repairs. The only suggestion I have would be to get the racing beat screens to cover your oil coolers and a/c condenser.

PSUGreySreet

Thanks! Yeah, I am definitely going to either get the RB screens or make them myself, but nonetheless, i will be protecting the oil coolers and condenser.

PSUGreySreet

Does anyone else have information about the plastic pieces I am looking for? I just want to know the general prices, but can't find them anywhere b/c I either don't have the right part # or I don't know what they are called. Thanks in advance. [Pictures in Post 1 will show what pieces I need]

StewC625

I'm going to avoid my usual rant about the abject stupidity of driving with the TCS shut off anywhere but on a pure race track, and then it's still not smart.

Nope, not going to go there or say how dumb that is, and you're just flat lucky all you did was mush up the nose of your car rather than kill someone.

Nope, not going to say that.

DarkBrew

For the price of the screens don't try to make them yourself. Not worth it IMO.
I think your oil cooler(s) have been pushed back and will have to have the supports checked/straightened.
Good luck with the repairs.