Stolen & Recovered What to Check

[F-15I Ra'am]

Truck in sig {04' 3500} and 25' flatbed gooseneck trailer were stolen in Oklahoma first week of August. They were recovered about a week or two later. After a long fight with the insurance {Farm Bureau} they are going to have the truck hauled back here to New Mexico and checked out at a dealership in Albuquerque. So far all I know is that the truck has some body damage. What all should we have the dealer check?

 

[TFucili]

We had an F350/6. 9 stolen in the early 90's. When they recovered the truck the dome light was busted out for stealth and the steering column was pretty much wrecked from when they broke the lock and yanked the switch. Soon after we got it out of impound a u-joint failed which I believe was from the tow company dropping the driveshaft. Other than that the truck was no bigger piece of Navistar powered junk than it was before being stolen. I'd make sure they check the front end for damage and proper alignment in case they were hopping curbs or something. I don't know how accessible it is, but it may be worthwhile to check the parking pawl for damage in case they drug it or jammed it in Park.



Good luck with the insurance company. That can be a real battle.

 

[Grizzly]

I'd have the truck completely checked out for drugs. Maybe the thieves were in the drug business and using your truck for transporting. It could show up years later in a routine police check or crossing a boarder and your the one that's going to be in trouble.



In addition with what TFucili has already covered, have the electrical system, tires, brakes and under carriage checked.

 

[GaryOwen]

Obviously check engine codes.



Would also have all fluids sampled (oil, differential, fuel, etc. ).



Also check air filter (dust), tires (broken belts, wear, cuts), hitch, shocks, ball joints, etc.

 

[cdnredneck]

Re: stolen truck...

Hi.

Sorry to hear about your misfortune.

Dadgum thieves cause so much trouble, but you know that already. #@$%!

Anyway, getting the fluids checked is a good idea, as mentioned before.

I see you have an auto trans.

Every recovered truck with a manual trans ALWAYS needs a new clutch.

Hopefully getting the oil analysis done will indicate any abuse that may not show now, but definately later.

Well, best of luck.



Randy

 

[Cattletrkr]

Don't stop with checking for codes. Doesn't the computer store various maximum values such as boost, engine temp or ???

 

[cahammer]

also make sure the frame is still strait

 

[WM-300]

I'd have the truck completely checked out for drugs. Maybe the thieves were in the drug business and using your truck for transporting. It could show up years later in a routine police check or crossing a boarder and your the one that's going to be in trouble.



In addition with what TFucili has already covered, have the electrical system, tires, brakes and under carriage checked.

Ditto on the Drug check. I would have the State Police there when the truck arrives with a drug dog. Even if you have to pay for the service. It could haunt you in the future if a drug dog wiffed some drugs stashed somewhere. This is the first thing that came to my mind when I read your post, and probably more important than any damage on the truck. Try to get it in writting that the truck was checked 'clean'.



WM-300

 

[Grizzly]

Ditto on the Drug check. I would have the State Police there when the truck arrives with a drug dog. Even if you have to pay for the service. It could haunt you in the future if a drug dog wiffed some drugs stashed somewhere. This is the first thing that came to my mind when I read your post, and probably more important than any damage on the truck. Try to get it in writting that the truck was checked 'clean'.



WM-300

Looks like you and I are the only ones concerned with having the truck checked out for containing drugs. I agree with you, it's the most important thing I'd have checked.

 

[Rotty]

I would find the local accident investigation office in charge. (the ones that investigate auto fatalities) They can pull all of the information from the computer for the last few minutes/hours.

It is amazing what they store in the memory now days. My niece is one of these types (auto fatal accident investigators) in maryland.

Last max speed, rpm, gear(auto), etc. If you have a GPS (factory) they even might have all of this tied together?

Memory is very cheap now days and ours computers are black boxes...

 

[Cattletrkr]

Try to get it in writting that the truck was checked 'clean'.

... and hope like heck they didn't miss anything.

 

[F-15I Ra'am]

I would find the local accident investigation office in charge. (the ones that investigate auto fatalities) They can pull all of the information from the computer for the last few minutes/hours.

It is amazing what they store in the memory now days. My niece is one of these types (auto fatal accident investigators) in maryland.

Last max speed, rpm, gear(auto), etc. If you have a GPS (factory) they even might have all of this tied together?

Memory is very cheap now days and ours computers are black boxes...

Can I have the dealer pull this info from the computer or are they just gonna be able to read the codes?

 

[CKESSEL]

Here in So Cal, we've had a few blue ovals to check out that have been theft recoveries. The dirtbags have added leaves to the spring packs to carry more weight, interior has been gutted to carry more cargo, beds have been warped LENGHTWISE which means they had something VERY SUBSTANTIAL in the back, wiring hacked, dashes hacked, lock cyinders beat, junk in the fluids, etc. etc. Its going to be a lengthy check out for all the damages that it may have. Most of the ones we've had here at the body shop ended up getting totaled by the insurance carrier because of the extent of the damages. After you get it back, your carrier will most likely have an adjuster check it out that handles their theft recoveries. Even after they write it up and it looks like a fixer, your repair shop will need to go over the estimate that the carrier provides and then give it a full check out front to back to see if there is more damaged than what was initially written up. Sometimes we get adjusters that try to write it up with their eyes closed so you will want to be there when the adjuster is going over it. The ones we had got across the border and were used by smugglers carrying people, drugs or both. Since its not theirs you can imagine how they were treated. If you are able to save it, one thing you will want to do regardless if the locks were damaged or not is to change the key cut code for your truck. You should have gotten a key code with the truck if you bought it new. It will have a letter then 4 numbers like K1234. You can mix it up so that if they got your keys, they will not be able to use them on your truck. Your dealer can supply you with your key code if you don't have it but you will need to prove the truck is yours. Drivers license and registration. The advantage of having the dealer get you the code is that you can pick one in that K series and your vehicle information relating to your key code can be changed in the Chrysler computer system. This way, if you lose a key you can get a duplicate cut to the correct new code. Any other keys that they might have gotten, you will want to change out whatever they fit also in a similar manner. If your carrier opts out to total it, that might be in your best interest since after the repairs, it may never be the same to you again. Good luck... ... .....