Bumping under Forester

[bkundla]

Hi, I'm new to the forum and hope someone can help me. On October 10th of this year I purchased a pre-owned 2010 Forester X 2.5, Premium package.  24 hours later I was hit on the passenger side of the car, causing extensive damage to both the side of the car and parts underneath. Some of the damage was to the front suspension and steering gear and linkage. The repair shop is still trying to get my car running correctly. I've taken it back four times. This time, when I got it back, there are a couple problems and I think they believe it's my imagination. When turning the wheel sharply, in either direction, (as in backing from a parking space) there is a lot of screeching. The power steering fluid is fine. When making fairly sharp turns (as in turning from our drive to the main road) we sometimes feel a bumping under the car. Just one bump, not a series of bumps. It's definitely not under the tires; it's somewhere under the body of the car. Three times in the past couple days I've also felt this same bump while driving straight, on the highway. Could anyone provide me with some idea of what is going on. I have no faith at all in the repair shop, even though they're part of a Subaru dealership. Thank you for any help.

[1 Lucky Texan]

Since it seems a Subaru dealership is involved, I'd like to think you are driving on 4 tires all the same brand/model and wear? no - 'donut' spare - right?best thing, find a way to demonstrate the problem with a body shop guy inside.

 

next, you could have a different dealership diagnose the car - document and save you receipt to show the other repair shop.

 

a severe hit to the front side COULD damage the front differential or other internal trans parts. I'd suspect examining axles, lower control arm bushings and even exhaust parts would be in order.

 

you can also contact the insurance company and take the adjuster for a test drive to demo the remaining problems.

Edited December 16, 2015 by 1 Lucky Texan

[bkundla]

Thank you for your reply. My problem is that I had the car towed to a body shop owned by a man who has several different dealerships... Subaru, Buick, Honda, etc. I thought certified Subaru mechanics would be repairing the mechanical damage. Nope, the body shop guys have been doing it.  I've been telling them since October that they shouldn't have replaced only the tire that was blown out. It's the same tire, but one step newer. I'm suspecting that's why I now have road noise that I didn't have before, and that the same tire is causing the pulling that still exists, after three alignments. At least they SAID they've aligned it three times. Once everything else is taken care of, I'll end up replacing all the tires. 

 

It's funny you mention the exhaust. The first time they returned the car to me I told them there was a noise from the exhaust. According to them I didn't know what I was talking about. This latest time I returned the car, they suddenly discovered they needed to replace the exhaust.

 

As for taking either a mechanic or the insurance adjuster for a test drive, I can demonstrate the screeching, but the bumps happen randomly. I couldn't guarantee they would feel it. 

 

This time the car is going directly to the Subaru service center to be checked out. I'll ask them to check all the different things you've mentioned. Hopefully they'll find the problem that the body shop guys think is in my head.  Again, thank you.