Sounds like they already know there are bigger problems then it looks like.

For future reference, screening a bodyshop by having them put a mirror inside a car, is like judging a mechanic by his ability to change a fuse for free.

Also, was that "fixed price" for the extra work, the same amount as the quote for the original repair? If a shop is giving you a big price break, the savings have to come from somewhere. Be it lower quality parts, cheaper materials, or less labor hours, they had to take shortcuts somewhere

Hope it is just an easy adjustment, but from the sounds of things... Good luck

 

I just went to the better local Chevrolet dealer. They can fix all the things the independent shop did wrong, since some repairs weren't right in the front and the back, in 2-4 hours @ $50/hour. I will bring in my HHR a week from Tuesday, on 4/26/11. Their staff feels that the headlight assembly is intact, so it simply needs to be reinstalled correctly. So, rather than aiming the headlight, they effectively will be aiming the assembly!

 

If there is no "normal" horizontal adjustment you have to aim the whole assembly, there's no other option..... Glad you got someone to do it right. You should present the bill to the other shop.... They told you to take it elsewhere and give them the bill.

 

Question about the headlamp assembly:
Was it a new (or used) factory Chevrolet part, or was it an aftermarket assembly?

 

I think it was the stock unit..... I don't think he had it replaced.

 

The headlight assembly was not replaced to my knowledge. I believe it's the original, factory unit.

 

Does the car look "bent"? side by side comparison to your girlfriends.... look real close. I bet that hay bail bent your ride..... either directly or landing from being airborne.

 

The hay bale distorted all the panels in the right front. It pushed the fog lamp out and cut off all its mounting points. There were mounting tabs in the bumper cover which were visible on top of the head lamp assembly where they should have been tucked underneath. So, the headlamp probably is not mounted straight and the body shop should fix it.

They also are going to substitute the factory fender liner for the aftermarket one. The aftermarket fog light is identical to the factory, but the fender liner is this cheap cardboard-looking stuff and doesn't sit flush inside the fender.

 

I got the car back from the dealer body shop. All better. Shop that screwed up immediately reimbursed me $125 cash for the work that was redone.

 

Happy days, right...