I drove someone elses VX, and had a similar unexpected acceleration. I didn't hit anything, only scared myself.
The cause? Aftermarket pedal covers.
John C.
Super VXer
I drove someone elses VX, and had a similar unexpected acceleration. I didn't hit anything, only scared myself.
The cause? Aftermarket pedal covers.
John C.
Super VXer
Oh, and become familair with the term: "Diminshed Value"
A crashed and repaired vehicle is not worth as much as one that was never hit.
Start a folder, and write a note every time you call them. Time, who you spoke to, and summary of what whas said.
John C.
Super VXer
ughsorry man.. definately sucks.. my guess is hitting the gas and the brake at the same time.. i used to have that problem in my boots, then i removed the pedal cover and put a new one on as far from the go pedal as possible so that helps.. and new pads and lines make it so my brake pedal rarely gets down far enough to be even with the gas...
Super VXer
Aftermarket pedals surely are part of the issue. I even brought it up while we were looking over the damage. I had said to the guy that being a shop, his work boots were probably too bulky for the coverage down there, as I stopped wearing mine when driving because it so so tight. He still had a chip on his shoulder and denied it. Stuck by his word that the brakes simply did not work for him.Originally Posted by etlsport
ugh
*enter my disrespect for liars HERE*
However, I worked in many shops over the years and we see all makes, models, and years go in and out of there everyday, so they have to always be prepared for different owner ride and comfort packages. If there is ever an issue or concern with any MOD that anyone has done to their vehicle, the operating tech or porter needs to declare this to management BEFORE the vehicle is even touched. Its simply a matter of covering your butt and making your insurance happy.
And yep, second time she will be getting bodywork. Luckily none of it ever involved frame damage and ALL parts were replaced with new. This damage is far lighter than the previous, so I am keeping fingers crossed on coverage for new panels. If not, she stays in the garage until I wrangle up the difference between bondo-bucket and fresh panels, heh. Her track record will house 2 eye sores on her record, but thats something I can live with, and it helps to be a "retired" bodyshop tech because I know what to look for when the work is done and I dont accept it unless its done 110%.
Gary Noonan
'01 S/C VX / '18 Forester XT
Super VXer
I hope they can find right and left fenders for you. When I replaced my driver's side front, Merlin told me there were only 7 remaining in the country, and that was 1.5 years ago.
Good luck,
Brian
'01 Proton 1416
Super VXer
New parts have been punched since then. Plenty available.
Super VXer
Damn, WormGod! I am late to the show, but still pissed off for you! I don't think I would have been able to control myself in front of that douche bag! At the very least, I would repeat everything he was saying to me as if I had down syndrome, and then I'd ask, "Where's Arnie, Gilbert?" and maybe smack him upside the head!
Good luck with everything, Gary.
Sent from my "two hands on a keyboard"
Super VXer
That's a good point. My VX had some aftermarket pedals on it when I got it, and all they seemed to do was get in the way of my shoes. Taking those things off in the name of safety was one of the first "mods" I made.
Super VXer
That was the first thing to pop into my skull too. I learned first hand from my Fiero when it happened to me skidding up to a deer...braking & accelerating at the same time! When I put pedals on the IronMan, I made every effort to space them apart! So far, so good.
How very true! Fear of this kind of crap results in why I lay out on the cold, cold ground (that, and no garage!) to do scheduled maintenance. Even my trusted mechanic only sees her for the bigger jobs (trannie filter change).
A variation on this idea...they probably were so infatuated with the eye-candy (underhood mods) they got "sloppy" in doing their job.
I've done some underhood mods on my Ram (14" chrome Edelbrock "carb style" air cleaner, chrome Gibson headers, MSD ignition, new wires&belts&hoses) and now when the oil change gang opens the hood to do service...they stand there like they are in a trance...and things begin to get hairy after that! A couple changes ago, they put the wrong oil in! I caught them in the act and they fessed up but I let them off the hook and just made sure they billed me accordingly. (I asked for synthetic and they put in dino.) I still go there because: U drive it in and U sit in the vehicle while all service is done and U drive it out!
A few years back I would have admitted to the tech that the pedals & boots could have been part of it...but, now... I wouldn't give them any leg to stand on. It could only complicate matters leading up to you getting your VX returned to you in the proper condition.
This is how I feel about it too. I would explore what your options are to try and get them to pay it all though. To me, your vehicle SHOULD be returned to you as humanly possible to the condition it was when it entered their oil change shop! That means NO Bondo!
Hope you hear good news and things go smooth. At least you still have the Subie to get you places until spyhunter returns!
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]"If its fast and reliable, its not cheap;
if its fast and cheap, its not reliable;
if its cheap and reliable, its not fast."
If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
Super VXer
I would tell them bondo is not an option. Tell them you want new or your getting a lawyer. I would not worry about the carfax thing. Take pictures to document the damage and the repairs so you can prove no major damage. shawn
1COOLVX
Super VXer
Going in for a final estimate tomorrow. Sadly, I am back to work, but my lovely sister has volunteered to run these errands for me. This next shop is the shop that did the repairs on it years ago and they are familiar with it, so I am a LOT of confidence in them.
I think in the end, I will just take the vehicle history hit and collect the check. I am sorry, but I am not so generous to left this tech make a mistake and get away with it. They are a good shop and I always appreciated their business, and they will continue to get business from me, but I may rethink things some and start doing my own oil changes again. Probably time to get the "lazy" out of my system and stop relying on other people to do my "simple" things, heh. Be nice to get back in the garage some anyways. :gring:
VXer
I am the office manager at a body shop and deal with these issues everyday.
There will be NO Carfax history hit. Are you going to tell them? The 1994 Driver Privacy Act prevents insurance companies from sharing claims info with 3rd parties. Only the vehicle owner can release that information to ANYONE, including the body shop he choses to make the repair. Carfax is a joke and will never have accident claims information, only public DMV records. IMPORTANT QUESTION: Who is the insurance company? That will determine, more than anything else, how your vehicle is repaired.
Don't just accept a check and walk away. Every repair has the potential for additional damage upon tear down and the need for more parts. This becomes a "supplemental damage request" and is reviewed/reinspected by the insurance adjuster, documented and okayed. You can't write what you can't see, it's technically insurance fraud. Also, what's listed as a "repair" on the original estimate can easily turn into a "replace" once work has begun and it's determined to be more cost effective to replace instead. That could easily happen with your fender. You also have 12 months from the date the claim was filed to submit any supplement requests for additional accident damage that surfaces after the fact. And, of course, the old "diminished value" allowance that has already been mentioned. Don't be afraid to wheel and deal with that: replace my fender instead of repairing it and I won't ask for diminished valve money. Got the idea? Good luck!
Super VXer
Good to know about the car history details. I worked in a body shop LONG, before the intar-webs were given to us by aliens, so tracking anything in any manner was stone-age and nobody cared.
Travelers Ins has been very cooperative, surprisingly. The notation on the estimate about "other possible damage TBA upon teardown" had to be signed by me and the body shop. It dictates that an immediate check for damages visible will be cut now, to begin repairs, and the body shop is to inform them and the me of any damages uncovered during repairs, of which then they will send out an adjuster to review what was found. Pretty typical from what I remember (even though I was a painter and rarely dealt with adjusters).
Its all covered though. She has been torn down since last Wed and is probably hitting the NEW spray booth (thats right, my VX will be the 1st vehicle to christen their downdraft, haha).
And just for the sake of it, I took it to a shop previous to going to the body shop to have the brakes and the coolant system looked at. No issues anywhere. They found no coolant leaks and brake pressure/rotors/pads were fine. It was worth the day and the $20 to have them look it over with a fine toothed comb. These guys were recommended to me by, of all people, my sister.... and they were great. Even more impressive was the entire row of 1/4 mile cars and offroad vehicles they had sitting in the bays. I think I found my new shop. They loved the VX. Never seen one before.... and they wouldn't shut up about "you know, if it was mine I would do this and this and this and....". Enthusiastic techs can be scary and reassuring at the same time, heh.
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