Help; 2004 Odyssey; replaced motor and now having problems

Discussion in 'Odyssey' started by TWW, Dec 26, 2005.

  1. TWW

    TWW Guest

    My one experience with Allstate was as a victim -- the other guy who hit me
    had them. Convinced me that that was one company to stay away from. If I
    ever have to deal with them again, I'll get a lawyer first.
     
    TWW, Dec 26, 2005
    #1
  2. TWW

    testertoby Guest

    I rear-ended a very nice lady in an old Ford Bronco and about 25 MPH.
    The front end of the minivan looked totalled, but my insurance
    appraiser said that it was a very straight-forward procedure to replace
    the existing enine with another from a different Odyssey. He told my
    wife that we would "never know we were in an accident". Since then (9
    months) we have had to have the van back into the shop 3 times because
    the serpentine belt keeps coming off. There is a bolt near the
    alternator that mounts to the engine block and the bolt has broken
    twice now. And, the last time, our trans fluid was completely gone and
    we had a leaky shift shaft seal. I can clearly see that the belt
    *wheels* are not aligned and that this is why the serpentine belt keeps
    shredding.

    Anyway, I think the insurance appraiser messed up and missed that the
    frame was bent in the original accident. But, I am not sure that I can
    prove this. I am wondering if anyone has had thier engine completely
    replaced and whether or not they are having similar problems. Also, any
    general advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!!!!
     
    testertoby, Dec 26, 2005
    #2
  3. TWW

    Woody Guest

    Insist that the insurance adjuster and shop fix it correctly. Did you sign
    off on the fix? You should not have. It may be time to get legal help.
     
    Woody, Dec 26, 2005
    #3
  4. TWW

    testertoby Guest

    We did sign off on the fix...but what option do we have otherwise? I
    mean, the appraiser assesses the damage and tells us what they will
    cover. So, we say, "Go do it. But, hey, are you sure there isn't some
    frame damage?" He says, "No, you never even know your were in an
    accident."

    Anyway, I am hoping that if the shop goes back and says yep, the
    appraiser missed some frame damage, that the insu co (Allstate) will
    step up.

    We're in Good Hands ,eh? (sarcasm inserted)

    Thanks!
     
    testertoby, Dec 26, 2005
    #4
  5. I, in an 04 Ody, tboned a car that ran a red light going 45. The officer
    and I both thought the van was totalled. But no, in my case the engine and
    tranny were untouched but the entire front end was a gone. They did have to
    drop the engine and tranny to rebuild the front support.

    I have Farmers and had the work done at an Farmers approved Acura
    dealership. I have had no major problems with the workmanship and the
    dealership fully backed all their work for one year. My biggest complaint
    was that my agent did nothing to help speed up the process. We were without
    a van for a full month and didn't have rental on the policy. That sucks.

    I would say that the shop is incompetent or the replacement engine was junk.
    Hopefully your insurance will help out.

    Scott
     
    Scott Van Nest, Dec 26, 2005
    #5
  6. Hard to say what is going on without seeing it, but all of the pulleys
    are mounted to the engine, not the frame. It is hard to see how a
    frame problem would cause the belt to jump or shred unless it was
    making contact with the vehicle.

    Taking a wild stab, I would guess that the new engine was in an
    accident in the original vehicle. (Pretty good bet because otherwise
    it would still be in the original vehicle.) In that crash, the engine
    was impacted and something on that engine was bent or broken. The
    shop is missing it because they are looking for damage from your
    accident. I would also guess that they are dishonest, incompetent or
    both. If you can see that the pulleys are out of alignment, it should
    be easy to figure out why. Take it to a honda dealer and ask them to
    look at it.
     
    Gordon McGrew, Dec 26, 2005
    #6
  7. TWW

    testertoby Guest

    Thanks. I didn't realize that all of the pulleys are attached to the
    engine. Very interesting. Yes, I think we were kind of suspecting the
    engine frame was the problem. I will ask about the history of the
    replacement engine. Thanks for the info.
     
    testertoby, Dec 26, 2005
    #7
  8. Let's see here: someone else caused your car to be out of commission,
    and you didn't make that person pay for your rental?

    Sure, you subrogated the collision claim to your insurance company (not
    necessarily the right thing to do). But that doesn't mean you can't go
    after the other guy separately for a rental, does it?
     
    Elmo P. Shagnasty, Dec 27, 2005
    #8
  9. TWW

    Seth Guest

    Should have been able to. I have when I've been hit.
    I always go after the other drivers insurance directly. I don't want my
    insurance company to pay out, possible not get all their money back form the
    "other guy" and then raise my rates as a result.

    I simply inform my agent of what happened in the event I need to get them
    involved, but then go after the other company.
     
    Seth, Dec 27, 2005
    #9
  10. I always go after the other drivers insurance directly. I don't want my
    insurance company to pay out, possible not get all their money back form the
    "other guy" and then raise my rates as a result.[/QUOTE]

    Bingo.

    The ONLY reason to subrogate to your own insurance company is if the
    other guy has no insurance, AND it's a large claim.

    Nowadays, even that can raise your rates.

    Keeping your own agent completely out of the loop is the only safe thing
    to do.
     
    Elmo P. Shagnasty, Dec 27, 2005
    #10
  11. TWW

    Seth Guest

    Bingo.

    The ONLY reason to subrogate to your own insurance company is if the
    other guy has no insurance, AND it's a large claim.
    Nowadays, even that can raise your rates.[/QUOTE]

    I've never heard of that happening. Basically, if the insurance co doesn't
    have to pay, as far as they are concerned it didn't happen. At least this
    is how it worked for me in the past first using All State as my co, and then
    (and still) as a customer of NationWide.
    I keep him in the loop just in case any difficulties arise, he isn't new to
    the game and already knows what's going on.
     
    Seth, Dec 27, 2005
    #11
  12. I've never heard of that happening.[/QUOTE]

    Believe me, it happens. The insurance companies are ruthless.

    Never even call to ask if you're covered on something that happened,
    unless you're comfortable with your rates going up.

    Not anymore. If they know that it happened, it's a mark against
    you--whether they pay or not. The simple fact that it happened is
    enough for them.


    You'd think that would be a wise move, but not in this day and age of
    in-your-face business attitude toward the customer.

    It's all about how much money they can put in your pocket.
     
    Elmo P. Shagnasty, Dec 27, 2005
    #12
  13. Believe me, it happens. The insurance companies are ruthless.

    Never even call to ask if you're covered on something that happened,
    unless you're comfortable with your rates going up.

    Not anymore. If they know that it happened, it's a mark against
    you--whether they pay or not. The simple fact that it happened is
    enough for them.


    You'd think that would be a wise move, but not in this day and age of
    in-your-face business attitude toward the customer.

    It's all about how much money they can put in your pocket.[/QUOTE]

    I'm sure you mean how much money they can put in their own pocket.

    I love the way some service companies raise rates under the banner of
    value. My cell phone company (Cingular) tells me that slamming me
    into a new plan is a good value because I now get 200 minutes for $30
    instead of 75 minutes for $25. Of course, in four years I have never
    used all 75 minutes. Same thing with cable. You can get four
    channels for $15 or 120 channels for $55. If you only want ~12 of
    those channels you still have to pay for all 120.
     
    Gordon McGrew, Dec 27, 2005
    #13
  14. No drivers license and no insurance.

    Scott
     
    Scott Van Nest, Dec 27, 2005
    #14
  15. Did you follow him to the ends of the earth?
     
    Elmo P. Shagnasty, Dec 27, 2005
    #15
  16. not worth it. The Honda saved my life. I am just glad I was able to see my
    kid again.
     
    Scott Van Nest, Dec 27, 2005
    #16
  17. Your choice is to take it to a shop you trust. Then they do an assesment of
    the damage. They then compare that to what the appraiser wrote up. If they
    don't agree, they call up the appraisser. It is quite possible that there
    was damage that was not obvious until things were taken apart.
    They should.
     
    Alex Rodriguez, Dec 28, 2005
    #17
  18. You're half way there. You found the source of the problem. Now you have
    to fix it.
    I don't see how a bent frame would cause the problem you describe. All the
    components are mounted to the engine so a bent frame should not be the cause
    of the problem. I would find a better shop to look at the car.
     
    Alex Rodriguez, Dec 28, 2005
    #18
  19. TWW

    testertoby Guest

    Thanks Alex. Yeah, now that I know that all of the components are
    attached the engine, I am thinking that the replaced engine must have
    had previous damage or something. The shop seems to agree, but I
    haven't heard back definatively. If that is the case, I am going to ask
    Allstate to replace the engine (again) with a NEW 2004 engine. I think
    that I can probably demand that from them. Or, alternatively, they can
    take my van for parts or resale and buy me an undamaged one. If they
    fight me I'll be calling my lawyer. I've been back to the shop 3 times
    since May; and twice my family was stranded (both times on vacation!).
    I live in Colorado, and it's not pleasant getting stranded in December.
    Anyway, the appraisal that we signed states that Allstate fully
    gaurantees all parts. So, I'll be asking them to to so.
     
    testertoby, Dec 30, 2005
    #19
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