[s-cars] S4 Smashed

[Charlie Smith]

Earlier, Karl N. Matthias wrote:
> After all that, I tried to drive it and the transmission won't
> really go into 1st or 2nd gear, without a lot of effort.
>
> I am now dealing with the insurance @$$holes who insist that the
> transmission couldn't possibly have been damaged in this way by the
> impact.  I called 9 shops in town (including both dealers--who wouldn't
> take it) before I found one who would actually open the box for the
> insurance company to examine.  The insurance jerks are insisting that they
> see the damage and "determine whether or not it was caused by the
> accident" before they will pay to have it repaired.  Like the guy who
> comes to look at it will know what could or could not be caused by an
> accident...  And he's predisposed to thinking it's not from the accident.
> So the shop that's looking at it tells me "I just don't see how this
> problem could have been caused by an impact, it sounds like a bent shift
> fork from power shifting."  I don't power shift and the car worked fine,
> without a single transmission problem before the impact.  Anyone had to
> deal with this mess before?  Any advice, evidence, etc is much
> appreciated!

First, I wouldn't let a transmission shop take it apart unless
they have have the tools to work on and adjust an 01E transmission.
And, unless they have a significant amount of experience working on
these transmissions - that means more than two in the last 5 years.
If they take apart and put it back together without the adjustment
tools, they may screw it up worse.

I'm also in Columbus.  What shop did the insurance company want you
to take it to?  You might call me tomorrow,  271-1418, and we can
discuss this.

It sounds to me like the transmission has shifted position with respect
to the body, and that your shifting problem is 'probably' a linkage
out-of-adjustment problem.


>
> On a side note... The car was in pristine condition when I bought it, with
> 110,000 miles but more or less factory condition.  The leather seats were
> a little scuffed, but everything else was flawless.  The insurance company
> thinks all the damage (minus the transmission) can be repaired for $3450
> which includes used doors since new ones are not available.  I think they
> are high on something.

I completely agree, the paint will run you over #$3000.  Insist that the
repair be done at the MAG body shop, their estimate will certainly be way
different.

    - Charlie

--

 Charlie Smith   charlie at elektro.cmhnet.org  614-271-1418
 http://elektro.cmhnet.org/~charlie/  Columbus Ohio   USA
 SMS: charlie.sms at elektro.com