[Tydeocean]

Hey fellas,
I'm wondering if I should buy a 2009 escalade which has been in a front end collision. The air bag has deployed for the drivers steering wheel and I've been told that their are mechanical issues with car. I haven't seen the car yet, so what should I look out for.

 

[K9Caddy]

If you've been told about all those issues, why pursue it? I'm more worried about all the mechanical issues, than the air bag deploying. I'd stay away and find something else.

 

[denaliguy]

Could have frame damage as well. I would stay as far away as I could from it.

 

[Tydeocean]

How would I tell if their is frame damage, the mechanical damage is fine I can fix that, but if I inspected the car what should I look for that are tell tail sign that the car is to Much to fix. By the way I'm looking for an escalade with damage to it, I can't afford won with out it.

 

[K9Caddy]

Take it to a reputable body shop to get it checked out. IF there was frame damage, most cases it would ofbeen replaced. It will be as good as new.

 

[2kflhr]

Take it to a reputable body shop to get it checked out. IF there was frame damage, most cases it would ofbeen replaced. It will be as good as new.

Although I've not been in the auto body business for years; but all of my family still are and it's 99.99% unlikely that the frame would be replaced as the vehicle would most likely be totaled if it couldn't be pulled and straightened on a frame machine. I ran hard into the back of an F250 (with a trailer hitch) some years back with my new Yukon. The frame was bent and was successfully pulled out. I drove it over 100k miles after the wreck and it always drove good, tracked true and the tires always wore even.

It all depends on the amount of damage and the quality of the repair and if you can get it for a song.

If you are interested in the vehicle and the price is really good the first thing I'd check is the distance between the rear of the front tire and the inner fender (where the wheel well molding would go if it had them). Check it on both sides and make sure they are the same distance. Then I'd park it on level ground and get down and in front of it head on and look to see if the front end is level with the ground left to right. Also raise the hood and look at the core support and mounts and see if it all lines up. If it has new tires on it that is usually a dead give away of tire wear and alignment issues.

Good Luck!

 

[K9Caddy]

Actually, it's cheaper and easier to replace the frame on these trucks, than straighten it. I've had mine replaced once. A reputable shop will almost never straighten a frame. A new frame for these trucks run about $1500.

 

[wesyder]

Actually, it's cheaper and easier to replace the frame on these trucks, than straighten it. I've had mine replaced once. A reputable shop will almost never straighten a frame. A new frame for these trucks run about $1500.

I beg to differ on the cheaper and easier to swap the frame, although pulling the frame is very tedious and time consuming i believe its far less book time therefore not so costly, I've done the frame swap and its a pain

 

[K9Caddy]

Let me ask this, would you rather have a truck with a straightened frame or a new frame? IMHO, it's not worth the trouble and time straightening a frame on these trucks. It better be very minor and even then, I'd rather have it replaced. As another poster said above; it all depends on the damage and quality of work done.

 

[wesyder]

Let me ask this, would you rather have a truck with a straightened frame or a new frame? IMHO, it's not worth the trouble and time straightening a frame on these trucks. It better be very minor and even then, I'd rather have it replaced. As another poster said above; it all depends on the damage and quality of work done.

yes it does depend on the extent of the damage, the reason why i had to swap the frame was because it could not be straightened without affecting the structural integrity, of course the new frame would be the way to go i was jus disagreeing on the comment that it would be cheaper... Most vehicles that involve that type of work are automatically totaled due to cost

 

[K9Caddy]

Ok, I might be a little off on cheaper, as in work. I just feel the value versus replacing the frame on resale, would be my biggest factor. But yes, unless you have a 2013 or 2014 model, I'm sure they would total it. Mine was over 30k to fix, but my truck was only a year old and had less than 10k miles on it.

 

[big rob 1]

How would I tell if their is frame damage, the mechanical damage is fine I can fix that, but if I inspected the car what should I look for that are tell tail sign that the car is to Much to fix. By the way I'm looking for an escalade with damage to it, I can't afford won with out it.

If you don't know what to look for you shouldn't be looking for a damaged Escalade.

If you can't afford a normal one, you shouldn't be looking for an Escalade.....

 

[daddyboy5]

Replace a frame rather then repair?? That's Nuts. I have been an auto appraiser for years and have never replaced a frame.

 

[wesyder]

Possibly the vehicles appraised were not hit that hard