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Finally have the Jeep back after 5 1/2 weeks but...

2K views 17 replies 8 participants last post by  RubiconSS 
#1 ·
Well after being t-boned in June, got the Wrangler back, but upon driving home, noticed a few things still wrong. For the record, I was t-boned in the front driver's quarter, so dead straight on the front axle.

Engine idle seems very rough and is shaking on the interior. Only happens when I'm not moving. The dealer today said "it should work itself out and go away after driving a couple days". Really?

Also, I noticed my front axle (they had to replace with a brand new Dana 30 axle) is off center about 1-2". Noticed after I parked at home and the drivers tire tread was sticking out from the fender! I have installed the Rancho 2" Sport lift on it, however I remember correcting it prior to connecting the track bar back up. Dealer said all Jeeps are off center a bit and that i possibly need a new track bar. Shouldn't they just be able to disconnect, recenter, and reconnect as what we did with installing the lift? I'm not the most mechanically inclined, but I know it was centered before the accident.

And my cigarette outlet on my dash doesnt work for whatever reason. Checked fuses and they aren't blown.

Oh what fun to deal with all this. Any help or hints in explaining to the body shop manager tomorrow when I call?

Thanks,
Dan
 
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#2 ·
I'd say be fair but firm. Tone which communicates that you mean business.
Needs to be Perfect and you ate allowing him to accomplish that but.....
Clearly communicate, mutually agree on what/when and how. Ask if there are any questions and close with so we ste in agreement? Good.
Question: Did you use a body shop that is approved by the insurance company?
If so, you have the body shop by the tail for the life of the time you own the jeep if its a Natl company.
 
#3 ·
Yes, fortunately it's a preferred shop by the insurance company (Erie Insurance), so that's one positive. I'm sure they will listen further to what I have to say, and will take it in again to look at it. They were very nice to deal with over the phone, and even after we picked it up, to call them to let them know if there's something not right, as they could have overlooked it. Hopefully we'll get it squared away soon.
 
#4 ·
Submit the list of defects. Tell him to fix it. Ask for a rental. That shop wasn't paid all that money to give you back a broken Jeep. If he told me "it will just work itself out," I would have said, "How would you like to work my foot out of your ass?" I swear, the list of competent shops seems to grow smaller every day.
 
#5 ·
Personally, I'd drive it straight to a Jeep dealer, trade it in and get a new one. When you hear the offer (i.e. dimminished value because car fax shows accident), I'd calculate the difference between that and what you'd be offered if the car fax was clean and ask for a check for the difference to use towards the downpayent on your new Jeep. Personally, IMO, all that: if your axle is off center and the motor isn't running right, your Jeep needs some real troubleshooting. I wouldn't want to be chasing gremlins and be stuck with a car that took a hard hit like that. Good luck. I hope things turn out okay. :)
 
#6 ·
We figured we would give the dealer the benefit of the doubt and see if they can fix what is still wrong with the Jeep, however we have hired an outside appraiser to do a valuation of the Jeep after repairs are fully complete. We did this to get a diminished value and submit that claim to the other insurance carrier. Hopefully we'll get something back from that. Otherwise, if we are still not happy, we plan on trading it in for another Jeep.
 
#7 ·
Let them fix it completely, but I would get out of that Jeep, no matter what happens. Trade it in when they are done, and be done with the headaches it is sure to have in the future.
 
#8 ·
Seeing that we planned on keeping if for a LONG time, I'd hate to run into any headaches down the road. Just hate going through that whole hassle of buying another vehicle again. Not to mention all the work, time and money put into the current Jeep. Although if we go that route, I should be able to pull most of my mods off except for the lift.

Going to be calling the body shop manager after 10 today, so we'll see how that goes.
 
#9 ·
Our TJ was hit in about the same spot but passenger side. I was praying they would total it so this wouldn't happen - I just knew it wouldn't be right again (insurance ended up totaling it).

Keep after them and hope it works out for you.
 
#10 ·
After I spoke more today they are going to be looking at it beginning next week.

It's possible that the track bar could have been bent in the accident, However if it's not, can they still center the axle? I only have a 2" Rancho sport lift, and don't remember it being off center after I installed it. Worse case I'll have to break down and buy an adjustable track bar.

As far as the rough idling/vibrating, they are going to be looking into that further as well. Any other suggestions what else that could be?

Wish it was totalled, but $14k in repairs were not enough to total a 2013 JK sport.
 
#13 ·
If the track bar is not adjustable you can not center the axle as that is what adjusts the axle left to right. If you lifted it 2" and it has the stock track bar it will not be center it will be off and one tire will stick out a little and the other will be under the fender. you can look at the track bar and see if it is bent.
 
#12 ·
The day we can convince state / federal lawmakers (lol I know) to require insurers to reimburse for diminished value, there will be a lot more totaled cars being parted out. $14K in damage and a car fax showing a hard hit is likely to diminish the blackbook value upwards of 20%. No big / reputable dealer is ever going to sell that car on their lot and at auction every person bidding on it is going to know the history and see the signs of body work. It sucks you're in this position and i wish you the best. Whatever you do, don't sign off on the personal injury portion until the Jeep is right. That's the only leverage you'll likely have at this point. :-(

BTW we had a Honda Pilot that took a beating front and back in an accident on I-90 outside of Rochester. Lots of damage to both front and rear bumpers and body work (hood, DS quarter and both rear quarters). They were going to have to paint the whole thing but wouldn't total is out as it was only a year and a half old with 17,000 miles on it. I turned it in the day I got it back. Never did get an official diminished value check but they did cut me a check for $3500 to sign off on any injury claims. We were all fine and aren't ambulance chasers so I took the check and used it to offset my loss. Still pisses me off.
 
#15 ·
Well...another update as it has now been TWO months since the accident...

Got the Jeep back after the second time and he said they fixed the vibrations. They also fixed the axle centering issue by installing a JKS adjustable track bar (on them), and they confirmed the original track bar was bent a little, but didn't due much to center axle.

Well, the vibrations are just as bad, and I began noticing that the Auto transmission was not shifting properly and didn't want to downshift as it was getting "stuck" in 4th gear. I decided I was done with this shop and contacted my Adjuster and let them know I was taking it to another body shop (which also happened to be one of their direct repair shops). Icing on the cake was when I happened to look at the replaced wheel closer, and it had the WRONG backspacing compared to the rest of the wheels, so this was really the root why my axle was looking off-center.

New shop was very surprised the first one released the Jeep with that severe of vibration. They also confirmed the wrong wheel as well as transmission issues. Since this was a body shop and not a dealer they felt more comfortable sub-letting my Jeep to a 4wd Shop to take a look at it and diagnose what is wrong with it. They should hopefully be looking at it in the next day or two.

So the drama continues. Just can't wait to finally get it back so I can trade it in on a 2015.
 
#17 ·
Indeed...It's been pretty painful to not have it over these summer months to enjoy. We just have to remind ourselves that neither of us were hurt. I'm also back in a rental and am in a new Cherokee...sure beats the Corolla I was in previously for 39 days.
 
#18 ·
Uggh.... trying to think of conciliatory words, "weather hasn't been that great"
Maybe wait until spring to trade it (put it thru the winter here in Pa, just in case) Corollas are great cars (I have two) but they are for my kids - I wouldn't want to drive around in one either.
 
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