adversary

Sorry for the caps, I'm just really sad.

So I left my car keys in the trunk and did not unlock the car doors. I closed the trunk and basically locked myself out of the car.

I had to call for Roadside Assistance to help me open the door. When the guys came, I asked if they've opened my car before, and they said "many times."

He massacred my passenger side door. The window is all scratched up (I am really hoping just the tint was scratched...can you guys tell?), and the part of door in the interior is heavily dented. Also, the molding inside that hugs the window is cut.

I'm really depressed. I was not expecting this kind of dmg to the car. Does anyone know how much it would cost to fix?

MrOtocinclus

I feel your pain, and also some anger at the people who unlocked your car.

adversary

i'm going to try to remove the window tint tomorrow with a hair dryer. i am so hoping that the window isnt all fucked up.

nj2pa2nc

sorry to see that. I can relate as I locked my keys in the trunk once. Called AAA as my car is out of warranty. The locksmith did not cause any damage what so ever. Do not have tint.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

i hope you were taking pics as the guy was doing it.

i would make the company who sent that guy out pay for the damages.

Acura_Dude

Sorry about your car OP.

ceb

If you called Acura roadside assistance then they are responsible for the damages to any OE part.

Do NOT remove any part of the damaged items but go directly to the Acura dealer and calmly explain the problem.

Fixing the tint is on your dime.

adversary

i called AAA (my insurance). i had to pay 65 dollars for the jackass to do the unlocking too because i didnt have roadside assistance membership.

what's the best route for me in terms of fixing it? do you guys know what the part numbers are?

Mercedes>BMW

Oh Em Gee.

niebur3

Don't you have a second key and/or valet key? That would be a lesson learned here. If you do, then you should have had someone bring it to you or have someone take you to get it. If you lost both, or never had them in the first place, then you should have had one made ASAP.

BTW, you can try a hairdryer, but a fabric/garment steamer works much better!

Chenw87

iTrader: (2)

That's awful. Have you tried contacting AAA?

nazrat

say adversary if u happened to call AAA towing let them know about your problem

adversary

niebur: i live in SF but i was in san jose. there was no other choice.

i jsut tried removing the tint with a hair dryer and i think i completely fucked up. a lot of the adhesive is still on and i wasnt able to remove the tint in that area. fuck me.

Chenw87 & nazrat: i have not. would it matter?

my friend took a look at the window and he shined a flashlight around the area. he thinks it's just the tint. i'm hoping the same thing.

cris_crozz

It's looks like they just scratched the tint and not the glass. also, there are only few things that can cause scratch to a glass.. diamond is one well known glass cutting tool. if they used a metal slimjim, i doubt they scratched the glass. there's still a chance though that glass could've been scratched but small.
i'm concerned more about the door trim that you said was damaged. they should've been more careful. I once locked my self out and called for a locksmith, and not one scratch or damage. I would think that the guy they sent wasn't well trained/experienced. try to call AAA and tell them the issue, they have a shop in Santa Clara, who knows maybe they'll send you there to get the car fixed. I hope they do.

niebur3

Did AAA make you sign anything regarding potential damage before he started?

Try Goo Gone to remove the adhesive.

adversary

i did sign a waiver. the more i think about it, the more upset i get. the godamn dude spent 5 min wrecking my door and still couldnt get it open. the other guy came and did it in one shot.

but the good news at least is that after removing the tint, the window is NOT damaged.

will follow up in a bit.

adversary

ok. so the window does not have any scratches on it. what a relief. i just spent the past hour with my girlfriend getting the adhesives off but there's still some left around the edges of the window. it's a complete pain in the butt to get out. you guys got any advice?

niebur3

Have you tried Goo Gone?

PyroDave

i woulda went after AAA, not removed shit. they can fix it if the company they contracted out to did that.

i locked my keys in my trunk on my 2010 a few years ago, guy came and did it with no problem

niebur3

Not if he signed a waiver, which he said he did.

Chenw87

iTrader: (2)

Did the waiver give them permission to fuck up your car?

PyroDave

waivers are void unless they cover gross negligence. many say "this absolves so and so from any charges that the person who signs this can bring about" that is to anything reasonable. you sign a waiver to play paintball, but if their netting rips and a metal pole comes down and breaks your leg, guess who you get to sue? yes, thats right, you are allowed to sue CEB

niebur3

And you don't think AAA would cover their ass with the variety of experience they employ? I'm sure the waiver gives them the right to break whatever they need to to open that door. I would say most of us wouldn't read the waiver much or care until something like this happens. You are authorizing them to break into your car. Stuff will or could get damaged. Luckily in all reality, its not that bad.

ceb

Both of you are partially right.

A waiver does not absolve AAA from negligence or stupidity. The waiver probably says in essence "by breaking into your car we may cosmetically damage some trim pieces"

However, it seems that two guys showed up - the first that did the damage and the second who opened the car without additional damage (did I read that right?)

If that was the case then the OP could argue that the initial tech was poorly trained and never should have attempted the unlocking. He validated that by apparently calling a second tech. In this case, the waiver may not mean much.

If I go to the hospital to get a frontal lobotomy I have to sign a waiver freeing the hospital of liability should I die - but - if it turns out that surgeon had never done that procedure and was badly supervised then my heirs can certainly sue - and win.

ceb

Correct. The waiver absolves them of inevitable damage.

I'd suspect that some damage to the tint may be inevitable but the door panel damage appears to be caused by negligence - and the waiver doesn't cover that.

I believe that the important part is the fact that tech #2 was able to open the door without doing additional damage, so the firtst tech was just inept - and that is - waiver or no waiver - AAA's responsibility.

However, now that the OP has messed with the door and window that may be a moot point.

adversary

i did remove the tint, but the dent on the trim and window mold cut is still there. anyone know how much it would cost to fix? is it one entire piece?

do you think i should speak to AAA?

cris_crozz

go for it man. no harm in trying. just explain it to them nicely.

So_fresh

at least try because that isnt right for dude to be that destructive

adversary

Well, just an update. I called AAA and I couldn't even file a complaint because even though I am insured by them for the past 9 years, because I am jointed to my dad's insurance policy and I do not possess a roadside assistance membership, I am not in their records.

The best I could do was post a yelp review about the Alongi Brothers of San Jose. I'm not going to bother calling them.

I've been doing some research and it seems a new OEM interior door trim would cost about $350. Someone was cool enough to post a video on youtube on how to take the door panel off; it looks super easy to do.a

My question is, what is that rubber thing called that hugs the window? Is it called a weatherstrip? How do I replace that? Would I have to take the window out?

Thanks

atsx1313

this is the only reason i am so pissed off at acura for not having a push button start... ;(

nj2pa2nc

just wondering how that would help with unlocking the door if the remote is in the trunk.

JDMaccord3.5

I'm not sure if Acuras are like the new Hondas with the smart keys. If you were to leave the smart key in the trunk and you close it... trunk will automatically open and car will beep, letting you know the key is in the trunk

My friend's 2013 accord does this, very cool feature

Rocket_man

In the future... steam is the best way to remove window tint.