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Post by chances on Jun 6, 2020 16:09:46 GMT
I need help to figure out what to do about expensive car repairs. Also because all if this was supposedly caused by a pothole, do you think car insurance will cover some of it? Most of the ppl Ive talked to have been condescending af. Thanks for any help.
Short version-- Ive been feeling my car veer and pull since around Oct. Diagnoses at various visits
1. Alignment
2. Air pressure
3. Tires need to be replaced
4. Shocks need to be replaced.
Ive been to the dealership 3 times and AAA twice. I do everything they say between the shops. Put money I dont have on a credit card. Both shops say everything is good! We've done all the test.
Now, both say that my rear beam is the problem both quote $1700. The car is basically un driveable to me. Even though right before the dealership diagnosed the rear beam a technician went on a road test and said "i dont really feel anything"
I need a car in the city I live in but am still paying off the first repairs.
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Post by freecharlie on Jun 6, 2020 16:14:53 GMT
What kind of insurance do you have?
Some insurance will cover pothole damage. But if this has been going on since October, can you remember which pothole you hit?
As for the rest, I could be that continuing to drive the car has bent the axel even more making it undrivable. Or maybe you've hit a curb or a rock or something recently.
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CeeScraps
Pearl Clutcher
~~occupied entertaining my brain~~
Posts: 3,831 
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Post by CeeScraps on Jun 6, 2020 16:26:02 GMT
Do you have photos of the pothole? What does your city say? Maybe talk to them and see if you can get anywhere that way.
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kibblesandbits
Pearl Clutcher
At the corner of Awesome and Bombdiggity
Posts: 3,305
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Post by kibblesandbits on Jun 6, 2020 17:02:19 GMT
What kind of car, and what year? Front wheel drive? Do you have an assisted driving option on your car? Lane keeper?
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Jun 6, 2020 17:49:38 GMT
In South Carolina you can file a damage claim with the SC-DOT and get reimbursed for damage to your car caused by a pothole. Perhaps your state has something similar?
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keithurbanlovinpea
Pearl Clutcher
Flowing with the go...
Posts: 4,277
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Post by keithurbanlovinpea on Jun 6, 2020 17:59:36 GMT
Model, make and year of car? I'll ask DH if he knows of anything specific with your car that goes wrong and causes that symptom
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freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927
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Post by freebird on Jun 6, 2020 18:10:04 GMT
Rear beam? Like the subframe?
Even if you turn it into insurance, it's going to probably go against your collision because you hit a "stationary object". Found that out the hard way. Hit a flat bar of metal covered in snow. It had been pulled out of the ditch by the road grader. They decided to widen the road in winter. So basically, I stepped on a landmine and it was all my fault according to Geico.
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Post by mom on Jun 6, 2020 19:01:14 GMT
DH says he has never heard anything in the rear bean causing it to pull.
He said find an independent shop - not a dealer shop or Midas. Someone that can look at it and can do 4 wheel alignment.
He says do not go to a parts changer but an actual mechanic.
(DH restores cars and works on them all the time)
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Post by MichyM on Jun 6, 2020 19:11:18 GMT
I need help to figure out what to do about expensive car repairs. Also because all if this was supposedly caused by a pothole, do you think car insurance will cover some of it? Most of the ppl Ive talked to have been condescending af. Thanks for any help. Short version-- Ive been feeling my car veer and pull since around Oct. Diagnoses at various visits 1. Alignment 2. Air pressure 3. Tires need to be replaced 4. Shocks need to be replaced. Ive been to the dealership 3 times and AAA twice. I do everything they say between the shops. Put money I dont have on a credit card. Both shops say everything is good! We've done all the test. Now, both say that my rear beam is the problem both quote $1700. The car is basically un driveable to me. Even though right before the dealership diagnosed the rear beam a technician went on a road test and said "i dont really feel anything" I need a car in the city I live in but am still paying off the first repairs. I'm very sorry you're having car issues. The fact that you've been dealing with this since October without notifying the city or your insurance is working against you. 1. Do you know the exact location of the pothole and date and time you went over it? Did you feel something wrong with the car right away? Did you take it into the shop right afterwards? If so, here in Seattle you can ask the city to pay for your repairs. it's a conversation that has come up in my neighborhood NextDoor in the last year as there was a huge pothole in the 'hood and apparently several people had damages and the city covered them. 2. You can try running it through your insurance. It should be covered by most of not all policys in the collision coverage. But, what is your deductable? And is the difference between the two enough to make it worth your while? I'm really confused about "the car is basically un driveable to me." Have you not been driving it since October? I sincerely wish you luck with this. |
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Post by christine58 on Jun 6, 2020 19:57:22 GMT
If you hit a pothole in October--you are up the creek without a paddle. Way to long to wait.
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Post by Sparki on Jun 6, 2020 20:01:40 GMT
DH says he has never heard anything in the rear bean causing it to pull. He said find an independent shop - not a dealer shop or Midas. Someone that can look at it and can do 4 wheel alignment. He says do not go to a parts changer but an actual mechanic. (DH restores cars and works on them all the time) I totally agree with this. I took my truck to the shop 4 times. The first time, they updated a sensor and charged me $500. The next three times they told me that nothing was wrong, and implied that it was either the trailer I was pulling (really? you think every single trailer I've ever pulled has exactly the same problem, but it's not a problem with our other truck?) or that I was crazy. I took it to a shadetree mechanic - not a pro. He took five minutes to diagnose a blown fuse. $7 for a fuse and a few bucks for him later, and the problem is solved. |
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Post by chances on Jun 7, 2020 1:27:47 GMT
Thank you! for all your replies. To answer a few questions: my car is a 2015 Honda Fit. I have State Farm with a high deductible, so I'm not sure if it's worth a potential rate increase  . I guess my next step is to see if I can find a shop, but I don't know anyone in this state. Here is what the shops said: - “Solid rear is bent. Recommended new solid rear axle” (AAA)
- “driver rear toe is way off and not adjustable due to solid beam rear axle.” Recommend new rear suspension beam and realignment to start. (Honda Dealership)
Honda told me on repeated trips and inspections that everything was fine. Now they want to charge me $1700 to start. AAA told me it was my shocks and nothing else. Now they want to charge the same 1700. I don't have a lot of faith in either. But I live in an area where I don't know anyone who can make recommendations. |
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Post by chances on Jun 7, 2020 1:41:31 GMT
I'm very sorry you're having car issues. The fact that you've been dealing with this since October without notifying the city or your insurance is working against you. 1. Do you know the exact location of the pothole and date and time you went over it? Did you feel something wrong with the car right away? Did you take it into the shop right afterwards? If so, here in Seattle you can ask the city to pay for your repairs. it's a conversation that has come up in my neighborhood NextDoor in the last year as there was a huge pothole in the 'hood and apparently several people had damages and the city covered them. 2. You can try running it through your insurance. It should be covered by most of not all policys in the collision coverage. But, what is your deductable? And is the difference between the two enough to make it worth your while? I'm really confused about "the car is basically un driveable to me." Have you not been driving it since October? I sincerely wish you luck with this. Thank you. It's calming to hear nice word in the middle of these repair shops condescension. The past months I've been worried but felt mostly in control of the car. Both shops say it's fine to drive, but I want the problem to be fixed before I'm comfortable. I have been going into the dealership almost once a month, but I probably should have contacted insurance before now. My deductible is 1000 and the cost is 1700, so it might not be worth it. For those asking about potholes, maybe I'm using incorrect language. The roads are littered with holes in the roads, I couldn't even begin to guess which one caused the problem. Are holes about 6-8 inches potholes? or just regular holes? Both shops told me it was a car accident or pothole. I haven't been in an accident (Honda ran a Carfax! I guess because they didn't believe me?) What kind of insurance do you have? Some insurance will cover pothole damage. But if this has been going on since October, can you remember which pothole you hit? As for the rest, I could be that continuing to drive the car has bent the axel even more making it undrivable. Or maybe you've hit a curb or a rock or something recently. Do you have photos of the pothole? What does your city say? Maybe talk to them and see if you can get anywhere that way. In South Carolina you can file a damage claim with the SC-DOT and get reimbursed for damage to your car caused by a pothole. Perhaps your state has something similar? If you hit a pothole in October--you are up the creek without a paddle. Way to long to wait. |
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Post by Lexica on Jun 7, 2020 1:50:26 GMT
I used to work for a neighboring city taking their board meeting minutes. Several times throughout the years I worked with them they received claims from drivers that had an incident with a manhole cover. Those are the responsibility of that city to make sure they are properly maintained and they approved the claims of every single one of them. I would imagine a pothole would be the responsibility of the department in charge of roads in your area. Document the pothole with photos and put in a claim for damages. Unless this was a private road somewhere, they should pay your damages and get the darned pothole fixed.
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Post by Really Red on Jun 7, 2020 14:45:20 GMT
Ask your neighbors and friends for good mechanic recommendations. I (personally) would never bring it back to the dealer, unless it were under warranty. Oftentimes you can pay $70 or so to get an estimate of what is wrong.
I hope you get it fixed.
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. I guess my next step is to see if I can find a shop, but I don't know anyone in this state.
