Damaged Sills

[mikeohope]

Hi all,

 

I see there is a thread elsewhere about damaged sills to which I have contributed but I wondered wether anybody can advise me how the damage apparent in my pics below would be repaired and what a likely cost might be? I am certain this was caused by a tyre fitter as it is right behind a wheel that had a new tyre just before I collected the vehicle and I missed this in my pre collection inspection. Mind you I do have the dealers description which graded the car at A1 and he emplyed the fitter!

 

Many thanks

 

 

Mike W

[NikpV]

this appears "repaired" :lol:

[chromedome]

Mine have been bent 5 or 6 times by the main dealer so they have always paid for it. I even put a big poster in the car and instructions are on the mechanics work sheet "Take care not to damage the sills". Not much hope here............

 

I know the guy in the repair shop quite well, surprise surprise, I think he said about

[mikeohope]

this appears "repaired" :)

 

 

Hi

 

What do you mean "appears repaired"

 

the paint is broken, no rust yet, the flat flange or seam is pushed upwards and the belly of the sill is distorted.

 

Anyway I am taking it to the body shop in the morning for a quote and will hit the dealer with the bill.

 

Whoever lifted the car used the wrong jack point I think.

Edited March 11, 2007 by mikeohope

[chromedome]

As you can see from my post I am well up to speed on this subject.

 

You would of thought a Ford authorised main dealer would get it right, no................had three Galaxys and they've bent the sills on every one. I've even written to Ford Cutomer Services about their incompetence.

 

Apparently when a four point lift is used, it's the arms of the lift that bend the sills. It's cost them about

Edited March 11, 2007 by chromedome

[NikpV]

-

this appears "repaired" :)

 

 

Hi

 

What do you mean "appears repaired"

 

d the car used the wrong jack point I think.

 

 

when ours was bent the seam was crushed flat - folded over so there was a kink in the line of the seam - to me it looks like someone has unfolded the seam here as if go conceal the problem - which is why I used quotes - it is obviously damaged but looks like someone has had a go at bending it back :)

[mikeohope]

Thats what I think beacuse the vehicle had a tyre fitted just before I collected it from the dealer I purchased it from and I reckon the fitter did exactly that.

 

Thanks for your reply.

 

Mike

[steelblue ghia]

I've just taken a look at your photo's and when you enlarge the right hand picture you can actually see the little imprints that have been left in the paint that the mole grips or pliers they've used to bend the sills "straight" again !!!."muppets"

[mikeohope]

OK so the dealer has acknowledged responsibility and agreed to carry out a full repair. Can't ask for better than that really. My only worry now is to ensure that it is done by a fully qualified and approved bodyshop. Thanks for all replies and now I can concentrate on my next task which is the upgrading of the ice system.

 

Kind Regards

 

MW

[NikpV]

good result - post some pics when is done so we cans see what sort of job they can do

 

 

:)

[gregers]

it amazes me on how thick the dealers are when it comes to cock ups and hoping that the problem will not rear its ugly head and come back and bite them on the arse,thats the power of a little bit of information gleaned from this forum,GOOD RESULT :)

[mikeohope]

Hi all,

 

Here is an update, we are now arguing about who does the repair, I have quotes from pucker insurance approved body shops, the dealer who supplied the vehicle (not Ford) wants to use some back street guy who he has known for 20 years. There is

[mikeohope]

Latest news,

 

car is booked in tomorrow for repair by Ford Authorosed and insurance approved body shop.

 

Pics will be uploaded of repair when its done.

 

Just came back from weekend trip to spain and every Galaxy/Seat/Sharan I saw had horrendous sill damage. Its amazing that this weakness was allowed to carryon being built in to these vehicles for so long.

 

Mike

[mikeohope]

All completed,

 

Here is the result

[daddyfixit]

All completed,

 

Here is the result

my car went into insurance approved bodyshop in skelmersdale, lancashire for new rear bumper and a mudflap only;

 

2 weeks later it was brought back and you could see the black plastic bumper clearly through the paint!!! they gave me some free paintruns for good measure as well. they didnt get the car off their transporter---it went back and they gave all sorts of reasons why it was crap.

 

2 days later they brought it to my works un-announced and dropped it off.

 

couple of days later i decided i would refit the mudflap they had ballsed up!!! what a nice surprise to see both front sills caved in and nsf mudflap broken off its brackets.

 

seems they put it on a 4 poster ramp to replace rear bumper, but used a k-nob head to actually do the job. complained to insurance, got nowhere so repaired sills myself as do not believe the bodyshop would have the competence/intelligence to do it properly. now swapped insurance to sainsburys and saved

[Joey P]

so repaired sills myself as do not believe the bodyshop would have the competence/intelligence to do it properly. now swapped insurance to sainsburys and saved

[sparky Paul]

Anyone know if this is a MOT fail issue!

 

It shouldn't be, but any subsequent corrosion will.

Edited November 16, 2013 by sparky Paul

[seatkid]

Mot fail if corrosion causes structural weakness (i.e. the metal punches through when tapping with a hammer, leaving a hole/split etc) within 30cm of any safety related load bearing point e.g. seat runner mounting points, seat belt mounting points etc,

 

To repair, clean thoroughly, unroll/unfold squashed bits (slowly) with pliers, footprints etc, maybe a little hammer bashing to straighten things up etc, clean up again, make sure to remove corrosion with wire brush, file, or light grinding and treat if necessary/possible.

 

Any holes in the sills/ underbody will need plating over - see your local bodyshop/welder.

 

Prime with zinc based anti rust primer or something suitable for galvanized steel, paint, and seal if required.

 

Sounds more difficult than it is in practice as the metal is pretty malleable.

 

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Painting+Decorating/Spray+Paints/Industrial+Primer+500ml+Grey/d150/sd2737/p92867

 

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Painting+Decorating/Spray+Paints/Industrial+Paint+500ml+Jet+Black/d150/sd2737/p12268

Edited November 16, 2013 by seatkid

[Scorpiorefugee]

It is difficult to be sure how many times they can be crushed and straightened but mine have survived 4 times now. The second time was just 2 days after I had paid

[xavier]

I got an advisory on mine for crushed sills. Need to get round to fixing that at some point, but for a 12 year old car, I'm not sure I can really be bothered.

[SilverBeast]

It really does make one wonder how these garages stay in business.

 

Fixing crushed sills ?