Mechanical fault after accident repair

[MyNewName]

I think I know the answer but...

Partner had a car accident about 6 months ago, car probably should have been written off (2017 C4 cactus) but I think because they only noticed a lot of the damage after starting the work they just continued, I think the claim was £7k.

Shortly after she got it back, it made a strange sound when changing gears (accident was front end, squashing radiator into the engine etc) and I assume this was as a result of the accident.

It has now gotten worse and she's looking at a £2k bill to fix, is there anything that can be done? Seems daft to have gone through the hit on insurance, only to now face a big bill because they did an awful job of fixing the vehicle.

Im guessing it's just impossible to prove but worth asking...

Thanks.

[andy43]

You need to prove a link to the accident damage to stand a chance, I would have thought.
What’s the fault - a damaged gear linkage?

[Catnip64]

How long since she got the car back from repair?

[Decky_Q]

What was the diagnosis?

The gearbox is unlikely to have been damaged internally so that just leaves the external linkage and cables, which is definitely not a £2k job. In my garage I would easily source a 2nd hand box and fit it with new clutch for £1100 total (I am a citroen specialist). Rerouting gearbox cables would be £100.

[samoht]

MyNewName said:

It has now gotten worse and she's looking at a £2k bill to fix, is there anything that can be done? Seems daft to have gone through the hit on insurance, only to now face a big bill because they did an awful job of fixing the vehicle.

Does the person who has quoted £2k to fix it have an opinion on (a) what part is damaged and (b) how it might have been damaged ?

Without some kind of theory connecting the accident to the current malfunction, it's hard to start considering accountability.

[Chubbyross]

The first thing I’d be doing is checking on any warranty on the repairs. Check in the insurance small print to see if there’s anything there, or check with the people who did the repairs.

[HustleRussell]

MyNewName said:

I assume this was as a result of the accident.

MyNewName said:

face a big bill because they did an awful job of fixing the vehicle.

Pure conjecture.

[LayZ]

Manual or one of those godawful EAT boxes? If its a manual then 2k bill is crazy as the other posters said. If it is one of those pretend autos they did then yes, get your wallet out - and it'll be near impossible to prove any link to the accident.

[Roadsideglory]

Absolutely zero chance of this fault being related to the accident.

For a front end smash to even get close to hitting the gearbox or cause enough inertial damage, the impact would have been significant enough to tweak the chassis rails in a major way, enough that would be writing a 2017 C4 off without second glance.

[nails1979]

I used to work in insurance for total loss and dealing with these sorts of issues.
Everyone who has said its pretty much impossible is right.
What you'd need is a main dealer or proper specialist (not your local indy garage) saying exactly what is wrong and how the accident caused it.
From my experience main dealers don't really like to get involved, and when they do the use of could/might is used too frequently in any written report from them to be used.