southsidecatac

Take the insurance check and buy another vehicle. Replacing body panels and related parts is a job where you can be a bit of an amateur and get away with it. But replacing airbags and bringing the control module up to proper function is something I would not do if I wasn't absolutely sure it was 100% right. Your life literally depends on it. There are plenty of XJ's out there that need a new home. Go get another one.

Lowrange2

Man, ya'll give up quick.

I'd fix that Jeep in a heart beat. Assuming there's no major body damage it looks easily fixable.

DrMoab

If you decide not to fix it (I wouldn't) let me know. I'll buy it from you if the price is right

94JeepCherokeeMan

Hell, see if you can't legally run it without airbags. I hate the airbag steering wheel anyway lol

Firestorm500

My daughter wrecked my '97 Grand on July 5th. She hit a Tahoe.

When I arrived on scene, I figured it was totalled. Air bags did not blow, but the front face was smashed worse than yours. Hood bowed and twisted. Unable to open it. Radiator support was up against the fan and engine. Smashed left front fender. Bumper cover and insulator torn off and laying in the road. Beam bent and split. Right front door was dragging on opening. That means unibody twist. Front centerlink was pushed up against front differential housing. Tires were toed inward about 30 degrees.

I had full coverage insurance. But I thought about rebuilding it. I checked salvage yards. I found one good hood. Every other 93-98 had damage similar to mine, but mine was worse.

In the end, I took the settlement. I really didn't want to spend the time and money on it. I would have more in it than I could ever recover. Plus sweat equity. There's too many decent Grands out there with less miles and years.

I got the Pioneer stereo and Kicker speakers out of it, plus the nearly new all-terrain 6 ply tires and the factory alloy wheels. The insurance company was OK with this, as I had asked permission beforehand. I put some rollers on '78 T-bird wheels, put the stock radio ( which had problems) back into it, and let them come get it.

She went into labor a little over 2 days later. Delivered her baby boy--my grandson--at 4:30 AM July 9. The Jeep sacrificed itself to protect them.

southsidecatac

It's not an issue of giving up, y'all. Airbag deployment on a 13+ year old vehicle with little value is not usually something ppl spend big money to fix. Maybe YOU have the skills and resources to do it at a reasonable cost but that's not the case with everyone. The OP asked the question so it could be assumed that he doesn't have the background to do the type of repairs necessary to make the vehicle safe and legal to drive without laying out series coin. Maybe it was a nice XJ prior to the collision. Now it's a wreck with major body damage and an inoperable passive restraint system. Some you can save and some you need to recycle. These ain't rare machines. Get another one.

Lordnikon

Couldn't get to it today but snapped another photo.
They weren't open today or for that matter the weekend.

Firestorm500

Even wrecked it looks better than that S-10 Blazer beside it.

extrashaky

No way. Those boxy old S-10s are great little trucks that can be kept running pretty much indefinitely. They're getting harder to find, too, because Mexicans were coming up here, buying them and taking them back to Mexico by the truckload.

southsidecatac

Truck should never be used to describe an S-10. I think the early ones had something like a 600lb cargo limit. I think a subaru Baja is stouter than that.

Lordnikon

My 2001 Jeep Cherokee is Totaled. Ins paid me some cash. So i asked if i could but it back. Salvage price is 600.00 Should I do it. My buddy said he'll tow it for me.
Going to check today after work to see if the frame is bent.

Lowrange2

Definitely buy it back. Even if you don't want to fix it. You have an open offer above from DrMoab who lives in your state to buy it from you.

southsidecatac

Well that all depends on what you want to do with it. Are you going to try to sell it for a profit? Repair it? Part it out? Start your own salvage yard? You already have lots of opinions on repairing it. Including the insurance company's decision that the cost of repairs exceed the majority of a reasonable retail value. Will keeping it require you to get it certified as a rebuilt vehicle so that you can put it back on the road? Lots of things to consider. Unless you have a discounted way to get the thing repaired I would say just walk away and get a new ride.

Lowrange2

You're thinking too logically. I see $600 worth of parts in this one picture. You must live in the city.

southsidecatac

Go back and re read the post. I believe I mentioned the option of parting it out. Which is just fine if you want to spend a whole bunch of hours dismantling your wreck, storing parts and marketing them on craigslist, eBay or other sites. Maybe the OP wants to take on that business? Personally, I've got better things to do than spend a couple weeks or months dealing with wrenching and selling components off of a wreck. How long do you want to wait for the break even point? The major value is in the drive train. That's a major effort for someone who does not have the means to yank that stuff out and move it around. In the end, let's say a couple months from now, maybe you managed to part out enough to make a couple hundred bucks. Ya gotta consider if that's worth the time, hassle and mess. It doesn't matter where you live, it's a PITA for limited returns.