My 850 Turbo wagon was side swiped, now won't move.

Nick777 · Post by **Nick777** » 24 Mar 2020, 16:42

So at fairly low speed (5-10mph) i was side swiped by a CRV. It left a healthy dent in the rear drivers side door, and pushed my wagon a short distance before stopping (5 or so feet probably).

My vehicle cranks, starts, and shifts just fine as far as i can tell, yet when i shift from park to other gears the car doesn't move at all. Furthermore, when i shift from P to D i hear a temporory bearing/gear type noise something similar to what you might hear when mis-shifting on a manual transmission.

Any thoughts on what it might be? Keep in mind that nothing even close to engine bay/tranny suffered any direct impact --> any visible damage was totally limited to the rear drivers door. I dropped it off to my mechanic who guesses (before proper diagnoses) it is a damaged front axle, but what are your thoughts?

Thank you very much.

Post by **scot850** » 24 Mar 2020, 17:11

It may have dislodged on of the axles from the transmission. It is most likely the LH/driver's side one.

Did the front fender or wheel get hit in the process?

Neil.

Post by **erikv11** » 24 Mar 2020, 17:14

Sounds like it got pushed sideways to the right. Left front wheel dragging on the pavement may have popped out the LH axle. In that case I might expect control arm damage too, not sure how you can pop the axle without dislodging the control arm.

Or, "What Neil said."

Nick777 · Post by **Nick777** » 24 Mar 2020, 17:38

Thanks for the replies.

Absolutely no visible fender damage or wheel damage of any kind.

Hey here's a thought to add to your thoughts. Is it likely the damage wasnt impact damage but "dragging" damage? When my car was dragged the short distance it was (and keep in mind it was dragged in a somewhat Diagonal / jacknife fashion) the tremendous friction of the dragging tire pulling on the suspension components and axle is what did the damage -does that make sense?

Post by **abscate** » 24 Mar 2020, 18:40

I would guess lower control arm damage and possible a new/used axle needed

$200 in parts

Post by **erikv11** » 24 Mar 2020, 22:19

Nick777 wrote: ↑24 Mar 2020, 17:38 Hey here's a thought to add to your thoughts. Is it likely the damage wasnt impact damage but "dragging" damage? When my car was dragged the short distance it was (and keep in mind it was dragged in a somewhat Diagonal / jacknife fashion) the tremendous friction of the dragging tire pulling on the suspension components and axle is what did the damage -does that make sense?

Yes - as per the post right above yours. Control arm and/or subframe would be damaged, good chance the axle is fine just dislodged.

Nick777 · Post by **Nick777** » 24 Mar 2020, 22:24

Goodness you're 100 percent correct and I just realized that. I wasnt trying to take credit for your input erikv. I'm chronically sleep deprived and its been a really trying day, so im not exactly thinking as clearly as I otherwise would.

Post by **Eddystone** » 26 Mar 2020, 18:29

Nick777 wrote: ↑24 Mar 2020, 22:24 Goodness you're 100 percent correct and I just realized that. I wasnt trying to take credit for your input erikv. I'm chronically sleep deprived and its been a really trying day, so im not exactly thinking as clearly as I otherwise would.

Whenever I want to steal someone's insight and take credit for it, erikv is one of my top choices.

When Chrysler designed the Omni/Horizon and it was virtually identical to the VW Golf/Rabbit, I always gave them credit for stealing only the best design available to be stolen at the time. It speaks well of you for stealing only the best.

Nick777 · Post by **Nick777** » 27 Mar 2020, 10:05

Eddystone, at least my subconscious thieving instincts choose, as you say, the best eh?.Lol.

Thanks scot, erik, and abscate. It was indeed the axle with the lower control arm being ok fortunately. Replacement and she's good as new (almost, but im going to generate a second thread for that).

Post by **E Showell** » 27 Mar 2020, 10:10

If there is an insurance claim involved and you get grief over it, reach out by PM. I am well versed in NJ auto claims, but in the interest of full disclosure, my experience relates to adjusting a total loss.