New Car Question

[Ngtflyr]

Last night on the way to work, winding mountain road, raining(yes here in AZ), I was passing a semi in the passing lane, with oncoming traffic, big rock. Unable to manuever due to the traffic and straddled the rock at about 55 mph. It was a pretty hard hit, enough to bounce the change in my ashtray everywhere. Car still ran and seemed to drive fine, I knew I needed to pull over but unable to due to the stretch of road I was on. Before I could pull over I got a warning that I was losing oil pressure, that warning came on twice prior to me having a safe area to get off the road. Figured I would get ran over on the blind corners I was on if I stopped. Took about two miles before I had a place to get off the road. I also got the low oil symbol on the computer prior to pulling off the road. Finally got stopped and looked under my engine, oil was still pouring out(I use synthetic).
The car is a 2005 VW Jetta with 78500 miles. The car got towed to the VW dealership and they are waiting for the insurance adjuster before proceeding. Fortunately I have towing and labor, rental reimbursement and a full coverage. The dealer rep said the engine oil pan and transmission pan will need replaced at a minimum. He said they will of course look at the eng with the pan off to see if there is any internal damage. He said the insurance protocal is to replace the pan, start it up and see what happens. I don't like that approach but don't have much say in the matter. The rep said that since I was using synthetic oil that will be a plus as far as limiting damage. He will also have it aligned. Ironic thing was I put new tires on it that morning and had an alignment done, damn. They also assured me they will thoroughly check out the suspension for damage. I haven't had a good look at the underside other than peeking under it as it sat alongside the road this morning. Couldn't see much, sits pretty low to the ground.
I'm of course hoping the block is cracked from the hit and I need a new engine. If they slap the pan back on and call it good I will be selling it pronto. I don't want to take a chance that everything is okay. Anyone want to buy a just broken in Jetta, I'll even throw in a brand new set of tires, less than 150 miles.

Any advice on what to do in this situation. Anything I should ask or demand? Others on that piece of road had bigger problems last night so it could have been worse. So hows your week going? thanks

[Charley Lillard]

After getting it back, drive it for awhile then cut the oil filter apart. Probably OK with Synthetic.

[Kim_Howie]

Screw the insurance Company as usual!! And then be the first one to complain when yours rates go up. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif

[sYc]

I hope it is was not a rental. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif

[njsteve]

&quot;He said the insurance protocal is to replace the pan, start it up and see what happens.&quot;

Really? Have him put that in writing because if they do that and then the engine blows up, the insurance company is going to say the garage did it and the garage is going to say the car came in that way. And then you're going to be stuck in the middle when the insurance company refuses to pay for the repair and declares that the garage's insurance company is responsible.

It's similar to the situation when you get your car towed from a front-end accident, photos are taken at the scene and then the tow truck driver rips off the back bumper dragging the car on the ground. The damage didn't occur as a result of the original accident, it was due to the tow truck driver's actions. You wouldnt believe how often this occurs.

[Xplantdad]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">&quot;He said the insurance protocal is to replace the pan, start it up and see what happens.&quot;

Really? Have him put that in writing because if they do that and then the engine blows up, the insurance company is going to say the garage did it and the garage is going to say the car came in that way. And then you're going to be stuck in the middle when the insurance company refuses to pay for the repair and declares that the garage's insurance company is responsible.

It's similar to the situation when you get your car towed from a front-end accident, photos are taken at the scene and then the tow truck driver rips off the back bumper dragging the car on the ground. The damage didn't occur as a result of the original accident, it was due to the tow truck driver's actions. You wouldnt believe how often this occurs. </div></div>


Steve nailed it right on the head...Steve's exact scenario above happened to me a year ago with my truck (Steve knows this...as he and I talked about it a few times). My truck was hit in the right rear...but the rest of the truck was fine. But when it got to the repair facility, it had pretty severe front end damage as well.

I ended up paying TWO deductibles because in the eyes of the insurance company...they were two separate claims...the second one...I had nothing to do with at all.

To compound matters, the truck was towed from the scene to a holding lot(police recommendation)...then from the holding lot to the repair facility. Neither tow truck driver filled out the form which shows damage already on the vehicle...so the insurance company (which is SUPPOSED to act on my behalf and litigate to recoup $$) basically told me that they wouldn't pursue either towing company as it wasn't worth their time and effort (but I was welcome to do so at my own expense)...just pay BOTH deductibles...and all is good!

BTW, I had pictures of my truck and the other vehicle 10 seconds after the crash happened...from every conceivable angle...which CLEARLY showed that there was no damage to the front end of my truck


Unbelievable...33 years of paying insurance premiums to the same insurance company (23 with one agent and 10 with another) and no prior accidents or tickets...and the end result was a huge headache!

&quot;Like a good neighbor...State Farm is there&quot;...

Yea right! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/bs.gif


(Sorry Kim)

[Ngtflyr]

Screw the insurance Company as usual!! And then be the first one to complain when yours rates go up.


Edited by Kim_Howie (12/17/10 04:13 PM)

Who said anything about screwing the insurance co? I just want my car to be made whole again. I don't want something that is going to start coming apart 3, 6, 9 months down the road because of this. I pay the insurance company a lot of money, and haven't had a claim for 7 or 8 years.

Kim, maybe I am misinterpeting your comment. I'm guessing you are talking about hoping the block is cracked, I only said that because a new engine would not be coming apart in a few months. If they just stick the pan back on I may have internal damage that will only manifest itself at an unknown later interval at which time I end up holding the bag.


The oil filter is a paper filter, sorta like an old school filter. Should be easy to check.

I've seen a coworker go thru the back and forth finger pointing in the past. His wife had the oil changed in thier van, couple miles down the road the oil filter comes of, eng lite comes on and she pulls over. The tow truck drags one side down a sign breaking out several windows. It was 4-6 months down the road before it was all resolved, no one would take responsibility.

Good Idea on getting everything in writing from the insurance co and the shop concerning the protocals. I just see problems down the road that I get stuck with. If they do that this car will be up for sale, I'm not willing to take that gamble.

thanks for everyone's input.

[Pulnaway]

dave, your advisor should not be telling you what your insurance co is going to do. He has no clue what they will do! what they will do is send you an adsjuster. the adjuster will ask that they have it pulled down and the filter cut open to show anything that may be in the filter before he gets there. when he gets there he will look it over and take photos. you should be there at this time to see what the adjuster sees. the adjuster is the eyes and ears for the insurance co! he will understand that there is possible internal damage to the bearings and should request that they pull one or two to be checked. if there is any bearing damage he will go from there. your advisor and the shop will do whatever the adjuster tells them to do. if the adjuster will not ok the bearing check then call the insurance co and demand the bearings be checked. let us know how it goes.

[Xplantdad]

Like Scott said...make sure there's an unbroken &quot;chain of responsibility&quot;. If I'm ever in another accident, I will take pictures at the accident site, then accompany my vehicle from the accident site DIRECTLY to the repair facility....and take photos there as well. I will also demand that I be present any/every time that an adjuster comes to inspect the vehicle.

It sucks that I will have to do this...but there is no other way to make sure that anyone has an &quot;out&quot;...or a denial of responsibility. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[Ngtflyr]

Thanks guys I appreciate it. I am off this week and will be at the shop pretty near the dealership so I will definitely go there when he is there.

[Xplantdad]

BTW Dave...glad that you weren't hurt in the accident!

[miket1]

Tell the insurance adjuster you are not in a hurry to settle the claim, ask them to keep the claim open for at least 30 days so everyone involved will know if more problems show up,the car needs to be driven a while to know for sure that all is repaired,
I have done this before with my insurance co. without any argument.
good luck.

[Kim_Howie]

Dave my point was if it has damage it's damaged now ,not 6 months from now. Also I was just kiddin. Kim

[Ngtflyr]

Kim,
No worries, I am a little sensitive when it comes to insurance companies, had to get a lawyer and take one on in the past. They finally settled over a year later and paid a significant amount extra so we did not countersue. It's not paranoia when they really are out to get you. I am just concerned about unseen internal damage showing up at a later time. I will probably just sell the car so I don't fret about it, its a shame it's a nice commuter car and I had planned on keeping it a couple more years. Still haven't had a meet with the adjuster and dealer yet.