Cant select Park after rear end hit

[mark2]

Hi guys, my wife's VE Calais was hit up the rear today by a 4WD. Will need a new boot lid and bumper, but the rear quarters arent creased and door gaps seem ok. Tail lights not broken either. Maybe the towbar helped, or maybe it made things worse..
The strange thing is that the auto transmission selector is now out of alignment. The dash indicator shows the correct position, but the pointer at the lever is out and the lever wont move far enough up to engage park.
My first thoughts were that the whole car was completely bent, but panel beaters who did the quotes dont think so and think its something to do with the selector and the impact. Its outside their scope however.
Anyone come across this before or have any ideas?

 

[DavesSV6Tonner]

Have you checked the engine and transmission mounts?

 

[mark2]

Not yet, will probably have to get it on a hoist to check properly.

 

[krusing]

I would say since the Towbar had taken most of the brunt,
Its moved the whole rear end, and pushed the running gear forward, the engine mount/s would be a good indication, as they are oil filled, and it would of knocked the engine forward,
I hate to say this, but if the damage is that bad, don't be surprised if its written off, because rear suspension will need to be pulled back so it wont crab down the road, because the whole running gear is out alignment, and would probably need to be put on a rack.
Sounds like it was hit with a Bullbar on the front of the 4WD.

 

[mark2]

Yes, there was a bullbar involved...

 

[vc commodore]

Hi guys, my wife's VE Calais was hit up the rear today by a 4WD. Will need a new boot lid and bumper, but the rear quarters arent creased and door gaps seem ok. Tail lights not broken either. Maybe the towbar helped, or maybe it made things worse..
The strange thing is that the auto transmission selector is now out of alignment. The dash indicator shows the correct position, but the pointer at the lever is out and the lever wont move far enough up to engage park.
My first thoughts were that the whole car was completely bent, but panel beaters who did the quotes dont think so and think its something to do with the selector and the impact. Its outside their scope however.
Anyone come across this before or have any ideas?

Maynot be helpful, but the panel beaters don't know how to do their job properly.....I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if parts of the rear suspension are bent, the tailshaft is bent, the gear selector rod and the gearbox is bent and the engine/gearbox mounts are stuffed....

All these components point to pushing the gearbox forward and causing the selector positioning issues you describe.

If you were to get any of these panel beaters to repair the car, my money would be on you still having the issues after the repairs have been completed.

Best of luck with the outcome

 

[mark2]

I'm not sure where to go from here. I suppose I could try more panel beaters but they dont seem to understand the mechanical aspects. If we take it to a mechanic it starts getting complicated..

 

[VS 5.0]

I'm not sure where to go from here. I suppose I could try more panel beaters but they dont seem to understand the mechanical aspects. If we take it to a mechanic it starts getting complicated..

What does your insurer say ?

 

[Asmodai78]

you might find the whole drive train has been shunted forward check to see if the engine looks like its moved, get them to do the repairs and just report back to your insurance company that its not fixed, the gear selector wont go into park and any other little things that you notice (rattles, vibrations), how fast was the 4WD going when it hit the car, have you got photos we can look at?

 

[mark2]

It doesnt look that bad in the pictures, the towbar inside the bumber has taken the impact (tongue was unbolted at the time). We only have 3rd party property insurance, so have to pursue a claim form the other party.