Hurt my Jetta last night ?

[2004LB7]

Taking a late night run to the post office. Was raining. Yellow street lights and a yellow curb/center divider that blended in with all the yellow reflections in the wet road. Didn't see it until I was too close to stop. Drifted just enough outside my lane to have the driver front front tire hit it square on. Damaged the rim and pushed it back a good several inches. Was able to limp it into the nearest parking lot and get it off the road

Add insult to injury. While I waited for the tow truck, I walked the remaining distance in the rain to the post office only to find out their kiosk was down and no way to mail the package ?

Hopefully it's just damage to the suspension and steering components and the body/frame isn't bent where they attach

Going to have to pull the wheel and get it up on jack stands to get a better look at it. If there is underbody damage, I'll probably be looking for another used TDI

 

[gmduramax]

Sucks, hopefully it’s easily fixable.

 

[Dozerboy]

I've been there. That's the nice thing about a truck though a new tire and a aliment and your probably good to go.

My FIL did that with a media, but it cost him 4 rims and tires on his Vue. I think.

 

[kidturbo]

The lower control arm sure looks shifted.
If it any consolation, that engine is probably worth just as much without a body. At least that's how it used to be with the TDI's. Good engine last ya at least 2 bodies..

 

[2004LB7]

The lower control arm sure looks shifted.
If it any consolation, that engine is probably worth just as much without a body. At least that's how it used to be with the TDI's. Good engine last ya at least 2 bodies..

Prices have come way down ever since that VW emissions scandal. Used TDIs are selling for about $4k or so around me with about the same milage and year range. So if it comes to it, it would be another TDI. Even if I found one with a bad engine, I could swap mine in

 

[gassux]

shoulda took the payout! jk

i hit a raccoon with my accord beater and didn;t think much of it. i go to wash it a couple days later and the fenders were pushed in by the bumper.

 

[TheBac]

Sorry to hear, Jason. It could have been worse.

 

[shakenfake]

My buddy did something very similar on his 2013 Jetta. One brand new transmission and suspension later he was good to go.

 

[1FastBrick]

Is there a sub frame that the lower arms attach to? If so, It's likely bent too. You Should be able to swap it out and replace all the damaged suspension on that side and get it back on the road for a few hundred bucks.

 

[2004LB7]

Is there a sub frame that the lower arms attach to? If so, It's likely bent too. You Should be able to swap it out and replace all the damaged suspension on that side and get it back on the road for a few hundred bucks.

There is a subframe. But it doesn't fully attach to the lower A arm. It's also cast aluminum. So it would more than likely crack before bending. The rear of the A arm bolts into the body. So, hopefully it's no damaged and it's just the suspension parts.

I did see that my local pick-and-pull yard has several Jettas in the lot. So, more than likely I can find everything I need to repair it. One is even the same color. In case I need a front fender or bumper

Only issue I am worried about other then bent frame, is the airbag light came on but none of the airbags deployed. So hopefully it was just some wire or sensor that got damaged up front and not a bigger problem. I do have VCDS so I can scan the codes and see what up

 

[1FastBrick]

Read the code. You may have damaged the sensor on that side. Some times the sensors trip but not enough for a deploy.

You can put the car level and see if the rail is up or down compared to the other side.

You would be surprised what you can't see. Typically in a hit like that it would push that rail up and twist the sub frame.

The cast one may be stronger. You may not have any damage there at all. You tell us when you get her torn down. Also Check the cradle mounting bolts, They can also bend from the impact.

Measure across top of the front fenders in an X form. Use the front and rear fender bolts and see if its still square. If its not, You have frame damage guaranteed.

On a hit like that make sure you replace the strut, The knuckle, and the hub. I don't care if used from the junk yard. The bearing will Fail if its not already Fu bared... The other parts may look ok but they will affect the alignment for sure.

 

[2004LB7]

Dug into it a bit tonight. Other then some of the plastic bits and that tweaked fender. It doesn't look like anything else, other than the lower control arm. There's always the chance the bearings are toast. So might get me a replacement. Same for the ball joint. Also the possibility of some airbag stuff too

All the bolts came out without binding or excessive tension. Couldn't see anything on the body that looks like it bent or creased. Will have to get under it later to measure like Mr Brick mentioned.

Had to call it for the night as it was getting close to midnight and I couldn't get that last forward control arm bolt out without lifting the engine. So need to remove a bunch off the top to access the engine mounts to allow enough room to clear the control arm bolt when pulling it out

And everyone's favorite. Photos!




This is the bolt blocked by the engine/transmission. You can also see it in the photo above

 

[TheBac]

Wow. You really did a number on that. Hate to say it, but you may be replacing the subframe. Looks like the rear control arm mount tore out, and the front one is bent. If its somehow still good, replace everything you see, bolts and all. Really surprised you didnt take out the oil pan or crack the trans case.

 

[2004LB7]

Wow. You really did a number on that. Hate to say it, but you may be replacing the subframe. Looks like the rear control arm mount tore out, and the front one is bent. If its somehow still good, replace everything you see, bolts and all. Really surprised you didnt take out the oil pan or crack the trans case.

Control arm mounts look fine to me. Might be the angle of the picture. Lighting or something else. But that is how they are supposed to be. Subframe looks untouched too

Here is a picture of the rear mount that might be easier to see

 

[1FastBrick]

Anything Mechanical on that Side should be replaced. inner outter/tierod, balljoints, Wheel bearing, Axle, Strut and Mount, The Knuckle.

Even if its good used stuff that you replace it with. Still should replace it.

I used to do collision work. It was always funny when an insurance company tried to save money on a hit like that and then it wouldnt take an alignment or it would make a noise. For other companies, it was a liability thing and they would replace it.

I recall doing mechanical work and a car came in for an oil change and brakes. I could physically see a ball joint that was bent. We notified the owner and Physically showed her. I even Documented it on the work order. She Declined the repair obviously stating she couldn't afford it and would do when she could. We even offered to do a payment plan for that specific repair and she still declined.

About 2 weeks later it came back on a flatbed with the wheel folded up under the car...

 

[2004LB7]

Anything Mechanical on that Side should be replaced. inner outter/tierod, balljoints, Wheel bearing, Axle, Strut and Mount, The Knuckle.

Even if its good used stuff that you replace it with. Still should replace it.

I used to do collision work. It was always funny when an insurance company tried to save money on a hit like that and then it wouldnt take an alignment or it would make a noise. For other companies, it was a liability thing and they would replace it.

I recall doing mechanical work and a car came in for an oil change and brakes. I could physically see a ball joint that was bent. We notified the owner and Physically showed her. I even Documented it on the work order. She Declined the repair obviously stating she couldn't afford it and would do when she could. We even offered to do a payment plan for that specific repair and she still declined.

About 2 weeks later it came back on a flatbed with the wheel folded up under the car...

I'll do that. Doesn't look much more expensive to acquire all those parts when purchased together.

After a little reading, I'm pretty sure the seatbelt restraint activated and that is the source of the airbag light. So I think I'll need another SRS module and seatbelt system. I'm checking with the guys at the TDIclub to see if that module is coded to the vehicle or not and if anything special to replace it. Doesn't look like there is any sensors other then ones in the doors for side collisions and in the SRS module itself.

 

[1FastBrick]

I'll do that. Doesn't look much more expensive to acquire all those parts when purchased together.

After a little reading, I'm pretty sure the seatbelt restraint activated and that is the source of the airbag light. So I think I'll need another SRS module and seatbelt system. I'm checking with the guys at the TDIclub to see if that module is coded to the vehicle or not and if anything special to replace it. Doesn't look like there is any sensors other then ones in the doors for side collisions and in the SRS module itself.

Cool. Keep us posted. I have some stuff to post in the fuckery thread...

 

[TheBac]

Jason, I was basing my post on the third pic you put up, but now I see you may have taken that pic after you started tearing things apart. The separate pic in the next post confirmed that for me.
I had something similar happen when I was rebuilding the Regal. The fucktard who had it before me hit something on the passenger side, and he too bent the aluminum lower control arm (surprisingly similar design to the VW one, I might add), but it also bent the bolt holding the arm to the knuckle, and the bolts holding the rear mount were all loose. I got lucky the knuckle wasnt hurt.

As for SRS module, I also had to replace the Regal's. Something caused it to no longer register the passenger in the seat. In my case, there were two different airbag configs on the Regal, so I had to find a module from a car with that same option. Dealer refused to program it to my car, but it did work without, just tripping a VIN-mismatch code without a CEL.

 

[2004LB7]

Got all my parts today at pick and pull. Swapped most everything. Fender, strut, control arm, hub, etc

Tomorrow, I'm going to swap out the SRS module and inspect the seatbelt restraint system. Likely going to need to clear the codes and see what comes back

Also need to repair the brake pad sensor wire.

Once those are done, take it to the tire store for a replacement tire, then check alignment

 

[2004LB7]

Got her put back together. Changed out the seatbelt and SRS module. Airbag light is now off.

Took it for a test drive around the block. Definitely needs an alignment. Pulls a little to the right so I have to hold the steering wheel at the 11:00 position to drive straight. Debating wether I take it in to some place like Les Schwab or do ot myself. Not sure I trust too many people with VWs as they are notoriously mis serviced and repaired due to the misunderstanding of weird German engineering