Garage / insurance poor service advice
Discussion
Vauxhall Astra 1.6 petrol Sxi was rear ended at 30+ mph while stationary. Full liability was taken by third party insurance. The electrics malfunctioned and a loud banging noise could be heard when slowing down/applying breaks on the short journey home. The car was towed away a few days later as the battery had burnt out and without the battery being charged or replaced and the car being tested a repair estimate was submitted and approved.
4 weeks later the rear end repairs had been completed but unsurprisingly the car would not start.; a new battery was required as the battery would not charge.
Once the battery was replaced electrical faults showed on the dash and were re-set by the garage .
The car was then taken for a test drive and immediately returned to the garage as black smoke was coming from the engine. This was not happening before crash. The car had just past it's MOT a week previously and has been fully serviced every year for the past 7 years.
This has since being diagnosed as crankcase compression and ruled to be non accident related.
A formal complaint has been made, however we are now being told we have to take delivery of the car and argue that regardless of whether the fault is accident related or not (we also dispute the decision made), had the vehicle been correctly assessed it should have been written off.
Essentially, we now have a car that is not road safe and requires > £1000 worth of repairs, after being rear ended through no fault of our own.
Any advice on how to proceed?
4 weeks later the rear end repairs had been completed but unsurprisingly the car would not start.; a new battery was required as the battery would not charge.
Once the battery was replaced electrical faults showed on the dash and were re-set by the garage .
The car was then taken for a test drive and immediately returned to the garage as black smoke was coming from the engine. This was not happening before crash. The car had just past it's MOT a week previously and has been fully serviced every year for the past 7 years.
This has since being diagnosed as crankcase compression and ruled to be non accident related.
A formal complaint has been made, however we are now being told we have to take delivery of the car and argue that regardless of whether the fault is accident related or not (we also dispute the decision made), had the vehicle been correctly assessed it should have been written off.
Essentially, we now have a car that is not road safe and requires > £1000 worth of repairs, after being rear ended through no fault of our own.
Any advice on how to proceed?
It is not really possible for a rear impact like this to affect the internal components of a front engine. They withstand G forces during normal operation thousands of times higher than anything that happens in such a crash. There may however be electrical or other issues that are preventing the engine running properly. Only an independent expert would be able to tell and the cost of this is probably not worthwhile for any party.
If it passed an MOT just a week previously I suggest you request it be repaired to a standard such that it still passes an MOT test and then any further problems are your own concern.
If it passed an MOT just a week previously I suggest you request it be repaired to a standard such that it still passes an MOT test and then any further problems are your own concern.
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