omfg, i cant believe im posting this, its so damn embarrassing. i was in traffic (driving around 60) yesterday through concord, i was in the middle lane and a few cars in front of me was a tow truck. turns out the tow trucks lost one of its bars it uses to place behind the wheels of car it lifts up to tow. this bar looks like the lid to a work trucks toolchest, its about 5 inches tall, 2 feet wide and about 10 inches deep. anyway, this thing just dropped off the truck and into the middle lane. the two cars in front of me ran over it, blowing out their tires and braking hard. i was following a ways back and saw this happen, i just couldnt make any movement to the side because traffic was so bad. i proceeded to take the object right under the middle of my car. now, my car is slammed, so the object tore something, broke something, i have no idea. all i know is that all the plastic parts shot out the back and my car started to smoke white smoke out of the back and engine compartment. i immediately pulled to the side of the highway and stopped the car quickly turning off the engine. i popped the hood and walked away thinking a fire may erupt. as im walking back, there is a ton of fluid on the ground leaking out of my bay. it looks like power steering fluid and coolant, though im not a hundred percent sure. it hit my car hard, so im thinking it may have busted some tubing underneath, and hopefully just my radiator. i will get more info later. my car was towed to lithia dodge in concord and is currently being looked at. jesus, im so damn embarrassed this happened. i never get caught in these situations mainly because i stick to the fast lane and driving faster than anyone else. i was taking my time today and driving like an honest citizen....look what it got me.
sometimes theres just nothing you can do about it man...i had something similar happen to me...only instead of it being metal...it was a bear...and instead of it being an SRT8...it was a lowered mustang hahahaha.... happens to the best of us
im sick right now dude. all i could think of was moving my suspension and mods over to the new 08 black srt8 they had in their showroom. i dont want a damaged/fixed car.
Probably took out the lower radiator hose (hopefully that is all). Could have also taken out the tranny cooler lines??? I know the bar of which you speak. UGH!!!! I think you made the right choice in straddling the bar instead of trying to run over it with the wheels... Could have been much much worse. Smart thinking Steve. And, PLEASE, do not be embarrassed, you had no choice my friend. I know exactly how traffic can be in your area at that time of the day. Could have been a nice 50 car pile up... Keep us up to speed on the repairs.
just get that shit fixed dude, she'll be good as new! the first week of ownership with my baby (less then 100miles) i had to replace 2 doors and a bumper
just got off the phone with zach my service advisor. he tells me the subframe, oil pan, power steering rack and lines all have to be replaced. $1800 in parts, he doesnt know yet about labor. thanks for the worse comment. i too think it could have been much worse. i could have taken it off a wheel and broke everything down there including my frame possibly.
yeah, i was really shaken later. i could just see that happening too. shooting right through my windshield.... the plastic shield blew out the back of my car. this thing musta hooked it and tore it completely off. as far as being low, yeah, its as low as chris'. the frame is too low to even get a low profile jack underneath.
Wow, took out more than I thought. YIKES! I would think that the Tow company should be paying for ALL repair costs?
Yeah, those belly pans aren't much good for saving stuff, mine blew out when I ran over somebodys floormat.
Damn Steve, that sucks bro, sorry to hear that. Like others said tho, it could have been worse and at least you're ok. I know that doesn't help much but it's something, again, sorry bro. Were you on 680? All our fwys around here suck, thankfully I don't have to travel much so I get to avoid them but I have a friend out in Tracy and he commutes a lot, says 580 is the WORST. You should here the horror stories he has, and I'm not talking bout other drivers, I'm talking bout shiat falling off trucks and stuff. A matress off a minivan someone had strapped on with bungi cords. Plywood that flew off a truck in front of him and just skipped across his roof narrowly missing him. My fav is when he had some work truck in front of him have a door pop open and all the idiots tools and supplies flew out all over his car, said it was like driving thru gravel as it all bounced and banged off his car. Oh the joys of commuting. Dude, stay off the fwys, don't die before we meet up!! Lol!
haha, scott, most of my day is on the highways around here. i have been lucky so far and not had a single thing happen to me that i couldnt avoid. this is the first time its happened. i had a guy in a work truck do something like that to me, though he left his back door open and each time he would turn, the door would swing out in the other lane. he didnt hit my car, luckily for him. 580 is by far the worst. coming into the city from mountain house/tracy is extremely bad in the mornings. i need a new job where i can telecommute. this is ridiculous.
damn steve, that soooooo sux to hear!!!! i know you are running about the same height as me, so i can only imagine the feeling of hearing that piece going under the car!!!! i am sure it was/is a sickening sound/feeling!!! i have run into situations like that all to frequently during my days of commuting from the valley to the east bay when i lived in stockton. i must have had my rims straightened/welded at least a dozen times on one of my old bmw's from hitting crap like that on 205 and 580 over the altamont!!!! hope all works out for you on the positive!!
yeah dude, it really sounds bad. i totally sucked it in to see if i could lose weight enough to pass over it ok. yeah.....i didnt.
Call the CHP office in that area and get the officer's info who was taking the field reports. Since they missed you, I am sure they will add you to the report.
yeah, i called them this morning. they want me to come in and fill out an "encounter report". i dont even know for sure if theyre looking into this idiot.
