wrecked '05 Sti, I need help!
05-14-2005, 06:53 AM
#1
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wrecked '05 Sti, I need help!
I purchased a black '05 Sti in Seattle June '04.
I moved to Illinois, driving it there.
2 months ago, I was rear ended at a stop light (camaro @ 40mph)
The left rear of the car was destroyed, the rear end tweaked to the left, exhaust line crushed, left rail, left rear door, bumper, decklid, etc.
After 6 weeks (!) at the body shop, I have it back (wingless of course) and now the exhaust rattles badly up toward the motor (muffler and center section replaced) and the car pulls hard to the left under acceleration. It drives straight at cruise. The pulling under acceleration, and subsequent right pull under decel is a real problem. The shop that did the work had never done an Sti before
My question is, Is the pulling under acceleration due to the frame or the alignment, or both. Who can help me get these problems fixed in Illinois, St. Louis, even Indy.
I don't want to take it back to the shop that did the work. 6 weeks and nothing but problems now.
Please help.
I moved to Illinois, driving it there.
2 months ago, I was rear ended at a stop light (camaro @ 40mph)
The left rear of the car was destroyed, the rear end tweaked to the left, exhaust line crushed, left rail, left rear door, bumper, decklid, etc.
After 6 weeks (!) at the body shop, I have it back (wingless of course) and now the exhaust rattles badly up toward the motor (muffler and center section replaced) and the car pulls hard to the left under acceleration. It drives straight at cruise. The pulling under acceleration, and subsequent right pull under decel is a real problem. The shop that did the work had never done an Sti before
My question is, Is the pulling under acceleration due to the frame or the alignment, or both. Who can help me get these problems fixed in Illinois, St. Louis, even Indy.
I don't want to take it back to the shop that did the work. 6 weeks and nothing but problems now.
Please help.
Last edited by wrecked; 05-22-2005 at 07:37 PM.
05-14-2005, 07:25 AM
#2
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Car Info: 02 WRX WRB
It's impossible to tell you over the Internet what the cause of the pulling is since there are many possibilities. However, it is imperative that the frame alignment be correct before checking the suspension alignment. Since you don't want to go back to the original shop (can't blame you there), find another one and have them go over the car. Document everything that is not right and provide it to your insurance company (assuming you went through insurance for this repair). Tell them the car was not repaired correctly, they should help you get it straightened out.
For local shop recommendations ask in your local forum, try NASIOC as well.
Good luck.
For local shop recommendations ask in your local forum, try NASIOC as well.
Good luck.
05-14-2005, 10:18 AM
#3
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^ What he said. First get a frame check. If it's not the frame or alignment, it could be anything. Check alot of your suspension components because they could aid to the pulling.
05-16-2005, 11:30 PM
#5
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Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 26
Originally Posted by wrecked
After 6 weeks (!) at the body shop, I have it back (wingless of course) and now the exhaust rattles badly up toward the motor (muffler and center section replaced) and the car pulls hard to the left under acceleration. It drives straight at cruise. The pulling under acceleration, and subsequent right pull under decel is a real problem.
Also please provide more details on decel pull. Where do you feel it -- your butt, your hands? How bad is it?
From the pictures it looks like your car was seriously tweaked. It may turn out to be that it should have been totalled. How are the panel fits, the gaps around the doors/hood/trunk? Do the doors and trunk work smoothly? Any difference between these things from left side to right side? Have someone follow you down the road and report on whether your car is running straight or if it is 'crabbing' sideways. Check tire wear carefully.
Good luck!
-wdb
05-17-2005, 09:53 AM
#6
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This only gets better!
1. Left rear tire was replaced with new (p zero nero, new in november) it now resides on the left front - possible cause?
2. body work is poor, bad gaps, warps in front fenders from frame straightening with fenders mounted (my opinion)
3. scratches, sanding marks, fish eyes, blobs, runs, metal flakeless paint!
4. decklid is crooked, left rear door doesn't sit flush.
5. The noise I thought was the exhaust hitting a heat shield behind the motor........wrist pin / connecting rod / valve damage.
The car is at a subaru dealership right now getting the motor disassembled.
Subaru thinks the impact caused a stretch in the timing belt, causing a valve to stay open long enough to contact a piston. Folks here at work, former and current racers think the impact may have caused a momentary loss of film on the main bearings, causing one or more to spin. Wait, this gets better. My insurance agent insists this is a warrently issue that subaru should cover, his boss thinks the motor was toast prior to the accident and neither of them have met me, seen or heard the car, or met anyone who's worked on it! You're NOT in good hands with Allstate.
The pulling issue. This is not torque steer. Any pressure on the accelerator causes pull to the left, the harder you push the worse it is. The pull to the right upon decel is likely caused by the manual compensation for the left pull. The feeling starts with the seat, then pulls the wheel out of my hands (handy if I'm making a left turn!)
Best case scenario when this is said and done
1. $20,000 damage paid by insurance
2. $10,000 medical paid by insurance
3. $3,000 car rental mostly paid by me
4. 3 months+ without car
5. photograph of black sti, wingless, badgeless, tinted, with classic Hayward & Scott muffler, priceless (it really does sound the best)
when the motor work is complete, I have to give it back to the same body shop
what's my car worth now?
I'll keep y'all posted
Thank you
1. Left rear tire was replaced with new (p zero nero, new in november) it now resides on the left front - possible cause?
2. body work is poor, bad gaps, warps in front fenders from frame straightening with fenders mounted (my opinion)
3. scratches, sanding marks, fish eyes, blobs, runs, metal flakeless paint!
4. decklid is crooked, left rear door doesn't sit flush.
5. The noise I thought was the exhaust hitting a heat shield behind the motor........wrist pin / connecting rod / valve damage.
The car is at a subaru dealership right now getting the motor disassembled.
Subaru thinks the impact caused a stretch in the timing belt, causing a valve to stay open long enough to contact a piston. Folks here at work, former and current racers think the impact may have caused a momentary loss of film on the main bearings, causing one or more to spin. Wait, this gets better. My insurance agent insists this is a warrently issue that subaru should cover, his boss thinks the motor was toast prior to the accident and neither of them have met me, seen or heard the car, or met anyone who's worked on it! You're NOT in good hands with Allstate.
The pulling issue. This is not torque steer. Any pressure on the accelerator causes pull to the left, the harder you push the worse it is. The pull to the right upon decel is likely caused by the manual compensation for the left pull. The feeling starts with the seat, then pulls the wheel out of my hands (handy if I'm making a left turn!)
Best case scenario when this is said and done
1. $20,000 damage paid by insurance
2. $10,000 medical paid by insurance
3. $3,000 car rental mostly paid by me
4. 3 months+ without car
5. photograph of black sti, wingless, badgeless, tinted, with classic Hayward & Scott muffler, priceless (it really does sound the best)
when the motor work is complete, I have to give it back to the same body shop
what's my car worth now?
I'll keep y'all posted
Thank you
Last edited by wrecked; 05-22-2005 at 07:39 PM.
05-17-2005, 12:32 PM
#7
Sorry to hear about your car trouble... 
But I think I found your problem...
I used to have them, and they suck **** like a b!tch! I soon changed to 21st centry and haven't have a problem since...
I wish you luck my friend...
But I think I found your problem...
Originally Posted by wrecked
Allstate.
I wish you luck my friend...
05-17-2005, 01:32 PM
#8
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why didn't the insurance total it?
i would complain to the insurance company day and night until my car is near to how it was. the problem with cars in accidents... is that they rarely ever feel the same again.
its incidents like this- where i can see why people sue in accidents like this.
i hope that you resolve this- i hate to see stuff like this happen...
good luck!
aloha from the summit of *-^-Mauna Kea-^-*
i would complain to the insurance company day and night until my car is near to how it was. the problem with cars in accidents... is that they rarely ever feel the same again.
its incidents like this- where i can see why people sue in accidents like this.
i hope that you resolve this- i hate to see stuff like this happen...
good luck!
aloha from the summit of *-^-Mauna Kea-^-*
05-17-2005, 11:33 PM
#9
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Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 26
Originally Posted by wrecked
This only gets better!
[...]
what's my car worth now?
I'll keep y'all posted
[...]
what's my car worth now?
I'll keep y'all posted
The pulling thing certainly could be from one odd tire on the left front of the car.
Please do keep us posted.
-wdb
05-20-2005, 09:29 AM
#11
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This has gotten surreal.
The motor is now stripped down to the crank. There is evidence of an overheated rod bearing, which will be replaced. All measurements came up in tolerance. No obvious reason for the knocking, no evidence that points to the accident. This means allstate won't likely pay for the rebuild. When I asked the dealership if the rebuild would be covered under warranty (less than 10,000 miles), he said we would have to wait for Subaru to respond. When Subaru is told the car was just in a wreck......
$2500 for the rebuild and no guarantee the problem will be gone.
The motor is now stripped down to the crank. There is evidence of an overheated rod bearing, which will be replaced. All measurements came up in tolerance. No obvious reason for the knocking, no evidence that points to the accident. This means allstate won't likely pay for the rebuild. When I asked the dealership if the rebuild would be covered under warranty (less than 10,000 miles), he said we would have to wait for Subaru to respond. When Subaru is told the car was just in a wreck......
$2500 for the rebuild and no guarantee the problem will be gone.
05-20-2005, 04:10 PM
#14
the body shop should totaled the car. Insurance companies are morons they don't know if a car is fixable or not. The body shop could have told the insurance company that it's fixable so they could pocket the money. When I had my accident, the bodyshop did a half *** job on my car. I slapped their *** with a lawsuit, two days later they call me and tell me they'll get my car fixed right. Talk to a lawyer and find out your options, that's my 2 cents
05-21-2005, 10:38 PM
#15
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Originally Posted by c279a
the body shop should totaled the car. Insurance companies are morons they don't know if a car is fixable or not. The body shop could have told the insurance company that it's fixable so they could pocket the money. When I had my accident, the bodyshop did a half *** job on my car. I slapped their *** with a lawsuit, two days later they call me and tell me they'll get my car fixed right. Talk to a lawyer and find out your options, that's my 2 cents
The whole auto repair business has a bad rap and this is exactly why. Bunch of f***in' crooks. Makes me mad because we rely on them in our times of terrible inconvenience and sometimes physical and emotional injury. And they have the heart to take us up the ***. It's a great thing you did for retribution. I betcha you enjoyed seeing them tuck their tails between their legs when they offered to fix your car properly. I hope everyone in your town found out about those guys.
I also have a similar story about a friend who also got rooked by a local shop.