dickens Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 Help. I was hit near the right wheel by a car that required a new right front panel, new right front headlamps and alignment. My 1999 Subaru Legacy Outback Ltd. was so tweaked I couldn't drive it from the accident site). One month later my check engine light came on with PO483 message. Subaru dealership found that radiator fans were unplugged and plugged them back in, saying to me "That's why your engine has been overheating" (When actually, I had never noticed that it was overheating). I subsequently drove to CA, car overheated on Cajon Pass, was towed back to Vegas and told that I needed a new engine. Question of the day: could the collision company have failed to unplugged those radiator fans after they repaired my car? They are saying they did not touch them. But if I can prove that they had to touch them to repair my car, then my car was running without radiator fans for one month and I'm thinking the engine could've been damaged to the point that when the check engine light came on, it was already compromised. Which is why it made it all the way downhill to Los Angeles but didn't make it uphill home. Anyone have any thoughts? I need expert advice on this, think the collision company is hoping I won't have the knowledge to nail them... ms.dickens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlelegacy Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 Help. I was hit near the right wheel by a car that required a new right front panel, new right front headlamps and alignment. My 1999 Subaru Legacy Outback Ltd. was so tweaked I couldn't drive it from the accident site). One month later my check engine light came on with PO483 message. Subaru dealership found that radiator fans were unplugged and plugged them back in, saying to me "That's why your engine has been overheating" (When actually, I had never noticed that it was overheating). I subsequently drove to CA, car overheated on Cajon Pass, was towed back to Vegas and told that I needed a new engine. Question of the day: could the collision company have failed to unplugged those radiator fans after they repaired my car? They are saying they did not touch them. But if I can prove that they had to touch them to repair my car, then my car was running without radiator fans for one month and I'm thinking the engine could've been damaged to the point that when the check engine light came on, it was already compromised. Which is why it made it all the way downhill to Los Angeles but didn't make it uphill home. Anyone have any thoughts? I need expert advice on this, think the collision company is hoping I won't have the knowledge to nail them... ms.dickens I'm betting they did disconnect them. If you were hit hard enough, they likely removed the radiator to do some work, and out comes the fan too. No offense to body shop employees/owners, but many of them are snakey. Request a itemized bill from them (or the insurance company) and it may be on there. Good luck, that's BS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiny Clark Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Proving that might be difficult, but get all your facts straight about the repair, and get the itemized bill. If you think you have a good case, send them a registered or certified letter stating you are taking them to small claims court. They may come around at that point, because they know those connectors don't just come apart. I'm surprised it didn't overheat climbing that hill from Stateline going into CA. Cajon is a bugger tho, verrrrry long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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