son of a...!!!

[Wiggles422]

I was coming back from class and there was a minivan ahead of me and a car to the right of me. I saw a rock (a little bigger than a softball (it was a big rock for this Floridian anyways)) come out from under the minivan and I had no room to move over in the other lane, so I just hit the brakes (doing about 40mph when I hit it) and it bounced right into my lower grill and hit the intercooler. Chips broke off the rock and one hit right under the headlight and everything else went under the car. I could only cringe at that point. I pulled over to check out the damage. I dunno where the rock exited (my guess would be the back, since it banged against everything under the car) but the only damage was in the front. There was no truck in front of us, so I have no idea where the rock came from (theres basically no such thing as rocks that big just laying along side of the road) so I have no choice but to pay to fix it out of my own pocket.

Pics are in the process of being uploaded.

 

[Mr. Win]

should have lied to insurance blamed it on a truck on the highway...

 

[Wiggles422]

wont my rates still go up if i make a claim?

 

[mazdaspeedpower]

that ****** sucks d00d,

 

[Wiggles422]

pics

 

[apocman]

wont my rates still go up if i make a claim?

From what I understand, yes...

 

[Mr. Win]

dont know... i dont know why its not your fault. depends on the cost of the damage the cost a new intercooler from the dealer could source your a fmic... maybe. Varies on your deductable vs cost of damage go get a free estimate then report it if it out ways your deducatable.

 

[Wiggles422]

Its a hiboost fmic (which probably costs the same, if not less than a stock IC from the stealership) so i'll give it a shot, thanks senor

 

[Mr. Win]

**** yea then id def report it... thats some money. Should work out for ya.

 

[iLisa]

sorry wiggles..

 

[mazdaspeedpower]

is that a hole RIGHT THROUGH the IC? thats ****** crazy man.

 

[mspdfreak]

Dude, you can straighten those fins out with a knife blade. The lower grille is about $185 from the dealer, and touch-up paint is five bucks. Much cheaper than filing a claim involving an aftermarket IC. Imo, of course.

 

[memo79]

is that a hole RIGHT THROUGH the IC? thats ****** crazy man.

no, it's not a hole. the black piece you see that looks like it could be a hole appears to be a piece of plastic from the lower grill.

 

[Wiggles422]

no, it's not a hole. the black piece you see that looks like it could be a hole appears to be a piece of plastic from the lower grill.

the only good thing that has come out of this so far is that i left the grill in, just in case something like this would happen. the fmic would be toast if i had left it out.

 

[memo79]

maybe you should try the Rice-a-rific metal mesh. If you think about it, had you had that instead of the plastic, it might've prevented the rock from penetrating. so that makes it seem not-so-Rice-a-rific after all. and it's cheaper than the stock plastic one.

 

[Wiggles422]

i think i'm gonna try to find a used one first. anyone know what other grills fit? regular protege? protege5?

 

[KpaBap]

do the chicken wire special

 

[02ESwBoost]

Sorry to see the damage, what year MSP do you have, because I have a spare lower grill (used) for a '03 MSP. It has no holes, just a small chip on one of the fins..... If you are interested.....and whoever said that it is 180.00 from the dealer ? I would shoot your dealer, I get them from Mazda corp. in So. Cal. for 28.00... I am already on my third due to rocks and pieces of blown tires on the fwy.

 

[Brian MP5T]

******* Ouch.


I'm glad you didn't Gheyto the MSP and take that plastic off. (It looks like s*** off IMO)

Sorry to hear. The FMIC and plastic will cost a bit to fix for sure, but it could have gone through your windshield...

Good Luck

 

[Wiggles422]

well the intercooler leaks like crazy. i'll just have to stay in boost so it doesnt suck unfiltered air in jk i'll wait til monday and see if i can get it brazed. my radiator is still holding up and it holds more than 7 psi.