Repair question after hitting a deer

cosmetic external damage only but the condenser is bent pretty good. Will the collision shop leave it alone since it’s still functioning? If they do, should I pay the extra coin to replace it anyway to avoid problems down the road. Wwyd?

Depends.  If insurance is involved, they probably will replace since it is part of the collision in question.  If insurance isn't involved, that's something you lay out when you have them do the repairs.

I have customer with an Accord where the condensor and radiator are bowed in a good 4-5 inches in the middle after some collision.  (It's an early V6, the fans are almost in contact with the engine!)  If they ever need a radiator, the condensor will also need to be replaced.  For now, the A/C is holding pressure and the radiator doesn't leak so they're just going to run it until it needs to be addressed.

Insurance job. 

In reply to rustybugkiller :

Then your insurance should give you sufficient money to put the car back in the condition it was in before the accident. 

But you don't have to authorized the shop to do the work. You can keep the money, if you want. 

It's a 14 frontier and my "good vehicle" so I want it fixed right.

This is the price I pay for living out in corn field country. I hardly drive the truck, usually just the weekend. I wish I was driving the DD so I'd have an excuse to get rid of that car. :)

For insurance, you will need an estimate.   Should include the condenser and all other damaged parts.

Use the insurance money to buy a big honkin' fabricated full width  "bro" bumper. Never lift again. If a suicidal deer wants it, send it to hell. 

Or maybe that's what I plan to do. 

Appleseed said:

Use the insurance money to buy a big honkin' fabricated full width  "bro" bumper. Never lift again. If a suicidal deer wants it, send it to hell. 

Or maybe that's what I plan to do. 

Last week at work I delivered a F250 with a heavy "Bro Bumper" to the auction and I thought "maybe that's what I need for the frontier". 

I'm curious if an aftermarket grill bar would have cut down or eliminated the damage.

A lot of the crappy brush bars will cause more damage in some cases and not prevent a whole lot in others.  They aren't often enough to prevent bumper damage and they sometimes bend and hit the headlights, etc. too.  Something like an ARB bumper is a bit more deer-proof. 

rustybugkiller said:

Appleseed said:

Use the insurance money to buy a big honkin' fabricated full width  "bro" bumper. Never lift again. If a suicidal deer wants it, send it to hell. 

Or maybe that's what I plan to do. 

Last week at work I delivered a F250 with a heavy "Bro Bumper" to the auction and I thought "maybe that's what I need for the frontier". 

I'm curious if an aftermarket grill bar would have cut down or eliminated the damage.

If done properly, yes, it would cut down or eliminate damage.  An Ebay special...not so much.

I'm going to disagree with Klay in a rare instance.

I have yet to see an aftermarket brush guard thing do much more than shift the damage to somewhere else. It may protect the cooling parts but will usually ruin the hood, fenders and possibly damage the frame horns. Plus, 99 times out of 100 you won't be able to open the hood after impact. I hate the things.

The photo you posted is of the trans cooler unless you mean the condenser behind it is also bent. We would pay to replace any damaged part, even if it is still functional. There is the rare occasion when a bowed condenser can simply be flattened out again if it isn't too bad. I've done it on occasion with a shop willing to give it a try. If it is just bowed and the tubes aren't dented it can be worth a shot.

That's the trans cooler that's bent. A/C condenser is the aluminum  unit behind the Trans cooler, which, at least from you picture, looks fine.

Yes, I would fully expect that to be replaced during the claim. 

Appleseed said:

Use the insurance money to buy a big honkin' fabricated full width  "bro" bumper. Never lift again. If a suicidal deer wants it, send it to hell. 

Or maybe that's what I plan to do. 

I was going to say you need to get a 'roo bar.