worldweb Posted November 3, 2005 Report Share Posted November 3, 2005 I posted this on another forum I frequent, but found this forum through a link there. I would greatly appreciate any advice. I had my White Diamond Deville DHS burned pretty bad due to someone else's vehicle next to mine in a parking lot catching fire and blowing up. I have been reading up on the White Diamond paint jobs and want to avoid some shops that will not do it right. I would appreciate any advice or recommendations for a good and honest paint shop that could actually repaint the damaged part of the car properly. The paint is not melted (though the bumper is melted on the drivers side, which is the side next to the burning vehicle), but the paint is yellowed on 3/4ths of the vehicle. The passenger side looks fine as far as I can tell, but it was on the opposite side of the fire and blast. Even my stupid Onstar antenna is burned down to the primer (it was on the passenger side of the vehicle). I believe I may have some glass damage because lots of stuff flew off the vehicle onto my car. Thankfully my car did not decide to burn like the vehicle next to it. :-) Another question, since the fire, which occurred yesterday, my vehicle now drives "bumpy" and bounces after the fire. The tires look alright, but something is wrong. It does not have that Cadillac feel any longer. Does anyone know of anything that could have been damaged in the tire area by the heat of the fire, though not actually burned itself? I have racked my brain for explanations for the weird drive since there is no burns or real melting that I can tell on the tires. I thought maybe the heat may have expanded the tire pressure and maybe stretched out or damaged the tire internally (though I am not sure this is probable). I also thought that the shocks might have been damaged from the heat. I hope someone here will be well informed and help me avoid bad auto body shops thus keeping me from getting a poor paint job and missing potential problems that the fire could have caused (that might be missed by the claim adjuster). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
worldweb Posted November 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2005 I failed to mention that I live in the Denton Texas area, but any shop in the Fort Worth/Denton and surrounding areas would be fine. I just want to find a reputible shop to take my Caddy to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Nunnally Posted November 3, 2005 Report Share Posted November 3, 2005 You should still make a claim against the other person's insurance I guess. I would take it to a Cadillac dealer first and get a complete checkup and a written, detailed estimate. Take photos of the car as well. Bruce 2023 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing Follow me on: Twitter Instagram Youtube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marika Posted November 3, 2005 Report Share Posted November 3, 2005 You should also notify your insurance company. Even if you don't have fire insurance for the vehicle, they should still be notified of what happened. When you claim against the other guy's insurance, they will routinely contact your insurance, that's why they need to know what happened. If you really want to make people safe drivers again then simply remove all the safety features from cars. No more seat belts, ABS brakes, traction control, air bags or stability control. No more anything. You'll see how quickly people will slow down and once again learn to drive like "normal" humans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regis Posted November 3, 2005 Report Share Posted November 3, 2005 Another question, since the fire, which occurred yesterday, my vehicle now drives "bumpy" and bounces after the fire. The tires look alright, but something is wrong. It does not have that Cadillac feel any longer. Does anyone know of anything that could have been damaged in the tire area by the heat of the fire, though not actually burned itself? I've only been around three cars that either caught on fire or were already on fire. It's amazing how fast fire can spread on a car. The intensity of a car fully engulfed is really something to behold. With that kind of heat next to your car I think it's a safe bet that at the very least your tires were affected. Your claims adjustor should be able to pick up on most if not all of the problems. And the body shop can always contact the adjustor if more problems are discovered while work is being done. "Burns" rubber " I've never considered myself to be all that conservative, but it seems the more liberal some people get the more conservative I become. " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted November 3, 2005 Report Share Posted November 3, 2005 Did you check to see if you are getting any codes? Has the check engine light flashed at all? I am not sure if you have rear air shocks but the rubber ballast may have been damaged on the shock or some of the associated wiring for the suspension, damaged wiring would set a computer fault code however. Rather than play guessing games I would have the car fully gone over as Bruce recommended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted November 3, 2005 Report Share Posted November 3, 2005 I would bet that the heat "remolded", so to speak, your tires to now have a flat spot. The white diamond is a tri-coat paint system (base, tint & clear). Just be sure the shop is familiar with it and has done it before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CadiKing Posted November 3, 2005 Report Share Posted November 3, 2005 Did you check to see if you are getting any codes? Has the check engine light flashed at all? I am not sure if you have rear air shocks but the rubber ballast may have been damaged on the shock or some of the associated wiring for the suspension, damaged wiring would set a computer fault code however. Rather than play guessing games I would have the car fully gone over as Bruce recommended. Adding to Scotty's wisdom... Just random thoughts.. What about the wiring and such in along that side of the car? Computer(s) up front, driver side... Door window motors and wiring, etc. Best of luck... Don't sign off on the repairs until you are really sure! You should be able to drive it for a while to check it out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
worldweb Posted November 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2005 Thanks to everyone for the advice and words of wisdom. I am not driving the car now, I have a rental 2006 DTS for up to 30 days. I plan on getting my car in a shop Monday since no one I talked to can get to it then anyway. Everything tests fine except for the bizzare handling, which I believe would likely be a tire issue (but the shop will figure it out for sure). I was given an estimate by my insurance company today, but they said the handling issue will have to be examined and repaired by the repair shop and billed separately as supplemental. Hopefully my car will look right and not look bizzare. I guess now I just need to park farther out in the middle of nowhere in a parking lot to avoid anyone. I was only 2 spaces away from being at the very end of the parking lot and they still parked next to me with their van on fire and damaged my car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thu Posted November 4, 2005 Report Share Posted November 4, 2005 Depending on how hot the fire was, it may even have heated the struts on the fire side. Hot enough for the oil to bust out or damage the seals. Make sure you mention this to the dealer or whomever you have inspect your car. Also make note of this to their insurance adjuster. Also, consider the brake fluid also got heated up, etc etc etc. The glass may have gotten cooked and may have been compromised..... 2003 Seville STS 43k miles with the Bose Sound, Navigation System, HID Headlamps, and MagneRide 1993 DeVille. Looks great inside and out! 298k miles! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poobah Posted November 5, 2005 Report Share Posted November 5, 2005 My first thought was that the heat likely warped the body panels on that side. With the suggestions of heat related damage to the tires, suspension, and brakes being the cause of the eratic handling, I keep going back to my original concern - did the body panels on the side closest to the fire survive? Happiness is owning a Cadillac with no codes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devin O'Conor Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 Maybe just me but I would find a good expensive body shop whose estimate is high enough for the car to be totaled by the insurance company. Damage could be very extensive below the surface and many hidden problems could pop up later. If your bumper melted, how much hidden wiring might be melted and on the verge of shorting out? Glass may be weakened. Just a thought but is it possible the wheels may have heated up enough to weaken them therefore causing a safety hazard? K.O.T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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