Last week, I slid into a curb in my '95 993. I hit sorta hard but when I got out it looked like only the botton right of the front bumper was cracked and the grill work was loose. So I thought, whew, dodged a bullet. Today, I go out to drive it and it wouldnt crank. I opened the hood to check the battery, to find the battery had been pushed back and cracked open by the metal box,with tubes coming out, that sits behind it. Also, the jack is wedged in front of the spare and the battery is wedged between the tire and the metal box thing. So it seems I cant get anything to move to get the battery out and inspect for more damage. So, my question is, do I attempt to drain and break the battery up to make room to get everything out, cut the rubber off the spare to make room, or is there anyother way to get all that stuff out? Also, what else should I be worried about that could have broken? Thanks in advance, and please no laughing at me...I know I'm stupid.

russell
in athens GA

 

I wouldn't cut the battery. I would call my insurance company--I suspect you have structural issues.

edit-spelling

 

Get thee to a body shoppery...

Welcome to Rennlist! You're not a moron; we all make mistakes.

 

Yep . . . there's definitely some issue to iron out.

Scott

 

Russel,

Don't tackle the battery yourself with the acid and all. If the impact split the battery you have potential frame damage. I tweeked my front end pretty good last April and the battery compartment was still intact. Sounded like the hit was more severe than you realized.

In shopping for body work, look for a frame specialist more so than someone who does perfect cosmatic work. You want your frame to be true and de-stressed after the hit. Not all body shops knows, or are equipped, to do you a good job.

Good luck.

CP

 

Don't lift.....Don't ever lift!!!! Don't apex early......Never apex early!!!!

I suggest you get your car to a HIGH END body & frame shop and have them get you car on a frame jig to see how bad the damage really is.

Although 993's are kind of built like little tanks that handle well, they still can be bent and twisted with impacts like yours.

My friend hit a curb with his 911SC at approx 35mph and ended up pushing the frame in around three inches and destroying his right strut & wheel too.....cost him a few G's to get it fixed.

Hope yours isn't as bad and you get it fixed correctly.
ZP44

PS: You're not a moron, you were just unlucky

 

Remember the battery acid will ruin everything it comes in contact with including, carpet, wires, paint, corrosion to metal....To avoid such damage I would start by cleaning the area then decide what to do. Where you able to remove the bolt that holds it down??

 

russell, i would probably start taking pictures before you disturb anything, for insurance and reassembly purposes. you need to get the acid removed and the tub and parts nuetralized. i am not sure i would wait for the body shop to do it unless they are doing it right now. you might gingerly use a large pry bar to try and remove the spare tire, everything should be accessible then. there are rubber plugs in the bottom of the tub for draining purposes, how you decide to nuetralize it is up to you.(h2o,hose, spraybottle,garden sprayer??) . the metal box with lines you described cracked sounds like the brake control box. ($$$) disconnect all the electrical connections effected by acid or nuetralizer to dry and lube them. good luck

 

Presumably, something alkaline would help to neutralise the acid or else a lot of water to dilute it? Do you have photos that you can share to show what you mean?

Do get photos prior to doing anything and do get the tub checked by a proper bodyshop that has a chassi jig where they can check that, hopefully everything is aligned properly. This happened on a prior car of mine (had an arguement with a barrier at 80mph) and the tub twisted but was able to be straightened out - you just need to use people that know what they are doing, have a decent jig and that have all the technical info/ measurements.

 

Man, tough first post Russell. Like everyone else has already said, get it to a shop that knows what they are looking at and how to fix it right. Definitely sounds like you've tweaked something that will need to be fixed for the car to handle correctly and safely. Good luck.

 

You can use baking soda and water to neutralize battery acid.

 

Everybody can have a bad day....ask me how I know....I bent a door last autumn trying to get the car out of the garage using foot pusing pwoer rather than engine....all better now though as yours will be too.......you dont say where you are located but if you are anywhere close to Maryland go to Europros in gathersburg, ask to talk with Jack, great shop have Porsche jig.....and get your insurance co involved soon....all the best
David

PS no affiliation blah blah

 

Russell,
Hang in there. You made a good move by getting hooked up with Rennlist. Have the experts handle the car and remember we all make mistakes..........it is life.

 

Gents,
Sorry to hear about anyone's accidents. Hope the repairs will superior and help ease the pain(s).
Now for the how could ya??? Please be careful! Stop hurting my favorite cars!
David, I going to make note of "Europros", one just never knows when these thing will happen.