Got Lucky!!! in encounter with a truck retread.
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Got Lucky!!! in encounter with a truck retread.
Last Monday was cruising west on I90 in NY. Doing about 80, I pulled out and started to pass a truck. Suddenly spotted about 5 foot of retread sitting in the road taking up about 3/4 of the lane. Truck on the right no breakdown lane on the left with a gulley. This was not a good situatuation.
I pulled as far to the left as possible. Could not clear the tire, right wheel and bumper took a hit. Car is moving fine, thankfully no blow out.
I pull into the 1st rest area and assess the damage. Not as bad as I thought, and I guess I was lucky I don't have an air dam or ground effects. The damage appeared limited to a nice sized black area on the lower bumper
The driving light had been knocked loose from it's mount
I had a slight buckle to the bumper at the wheel opening and the wheel well lining popped
As I said I got lucky. Today I went in to see what I could do about the problem. I removed the 2 retaining clips from the wheel well lining and was able to pry it out far enough to pop the driving light back into its' mount - which was not broken.
The black on the bumper was just rubber, a bit of Meguiers #9, glaze and NXT Wax and it looked great
As to the slight buckle on the wheel well opening, I tried leaning on it and that seemed to take care of most of it.
I pulled as far to the left as possible. Could not clear the tire, right wheel and bumper took a hit. Car is moving fine, thankfully no blow out.
I pull into the 1st rest area and assess the damage. Not as bad as I thought, and I guess I was lucky I don't have an air dam or ground effects. The damage appeared limited to a nice sized black area on the lower bumper
The driving light had been knocked loose from it's mount
I had a slight buckle to the bumper at the wheel opening and the wheel well lining popped
As I said I got lucky. Today I went in to see what I could do about the problem. I removed the 2 retaining clips from the wheel well lining and was able to pry it out far enough to pop the driving light back into its' mount - which was not broken.
The black on the bumper was just rubber, a bit of Meguiers #9, glaze and NXT Wax and it looked great
As to the slight buckle on the wheel well opening, I tried leaning on it and that seemed to take care of most of it.
Last edited by EJC; 07-06-08 at 08:45 PM.
#5
Instructor
Thread Starter
Thanks.
I had a similar encounter back in 1978. I was in a '70 Barracuda when I watched the truck in front of me send a complete retread at me. I wasn't quite as lucky then, I swerved to avoid it, the grass was wet in the early morning I slid into the guard rail and the guard rail flipped the car. I came to rest hanging by my lap belt, no harness back then (2 separate belts and I was only wearing one). BTW, I was doing the speed limit this time.
I walked away with a couple of scratches and the car was totalled.
#7
Super Moderator
Nice job! Looks pretty close to perfect. I didn't realize that the fog lamps had a snap-in mount. The pictures that others have posted (when removing their front bumpers) made it look like it was permanently attached.
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#8
Instructor
Thread Starter
The outboard side has to tabs that fit into holes in the bumper cover. I could not see or feel the inboard side that may have a screw down. But the lamp is solid in place. The tire must have flexed the bumper enough to pop the lamp with minimal damage to the car.
#9
Hey I had the same situation happen to me when I drove past nyc, except it was a gasoline jug and it hit be smack in the middle of my bumper and deformed the lower lip + bumper
#11
Lexus Fanatic
Glad you not only fixed this, but posted a positive story as well. These things happen to the best of us and I am happy you prevailed and fixed this on your own. Road debris is inevitable and very dangerous.
#12
Super Moderator
Thanks for the info!
#13
Instructor
Thread Starter
Sounds like you're lucky it was empty and vented. I would think otherwise you had the possibility of explosion, closed can, a bit of gas and fumes = not a good mix.
#14
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: CA
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AMAZING!!! I just had the same thing happen...
I was driving on the I5 in Orange County last week and had the exact same thing happen to me while in my 06 IS350. Exact same damage to the passenger-side fog light and rubber left on the bumper cover in almost the same place. Only difference is my fog light housing actually broke.
I had to open it up as you did, pull the housing out, fix it up with some super glue, and put it all back together. Looks pretty good, but I still have to get the rubber off the paint.
Funny thing is, I had just bought the car the weekend before. Also, my car is the exact same color as yours. Weird.
Anyway, your cleanup looks really good. Nice job. It gives me hope that mine will cleanup as well.
Thanks.
Don
I had to open it up as you did, pull the housing out, fix it up with some super glue, and put it all back together. Looks pretty good, but I still have to get the rubber off the paint.
Funny thing is, I had just bought the car the weekend before. Also, my car is the exact same color as yours. Weird.
Anyway, your cleanup looks really good. Nice job. It gives me hope that mine will cleanup as well.
Thanks.
Don
#15
Lexus Test Driver
Last Monday was cruising west on I90 in NY. Doing about 80, I pulled out and started to pass a truck. Suddenly spotted about 5 foot of retread sitting in the road taking up about 3/4 of the lane. Truck on the right no breakdown lane on the left with a gulley. This was not a good situatuation.
I pulled as far to the left as possible. Could not clear the tire, right wheel and bumper took a hit. Car is moving fine, thankfully no blow out.
I pull into the 1st rest area and assess the damage. Not as bad as I thought, and I guess I was lucky I don't have an air dam or ground effects. The damage appeared limited to a nice sized black area on the lower bumper
The driving light had been knocked loose from it's mount
I had a slight buckle to the bumper at the wheel opening and the wheel well lining popped
As I said I got lucky. Today I went in to see what I could do about the problem. I removed the 2 retaining clips from the wheel well lining and was able to pry it out far enough to pop the driving light back into its' mount - which was not broken.
The black on the bumper was just rubber, a bit of Meguiers #9, glaze and NXT Wax and it looked great
As to the slight buckle on the wheel well opening, I tried leaning on it and that seemed to take care of most of it.
I pulled as far to the left as possible. Could not clear the tire, right wheel and bumper took a hit. Car is moving fine, thankfully no blow out.
I pull into the 1st rest area and assess the damage. Not as bad as I thought, and I guess I was lucky I don't have an air dam or ground effects. The damage appeared limited to a nice sized black area on the lower bumper
The driving light had been knocked loose from it's mount
I had a slight buckle to the bumper at the wheel opening and the wheel well lining popped
As I said I got lucky. Today I went in to see what I could do about the problem. I removed the 2 retaining clips from the wheel well lining and was able to pry it out far enough to pop the driving light back into its' mount - which was not broken.
The black on the bumper was just rubber, a bit of Meguiers #9, glaze and NXT Wax and it looked great
As to the slight buckle on the wheel well opening, I tried leaning on it and that seemed to take care of most of it.