Motor Mount / Tq Converter damage after accident - how to prove?

[Meccanoble]

My car was recently hit in the rear (insurance acknowledges its 0% our fault) and besides damage to the body that is being repaired, the truck now makes a thud sound when accelerating out of first gear. The truck was brought to dealer to be inspected and they confirmed tq converter damaged along with motor mounts. Other guys insurance will do their due diligence by following up with dealer mechanic that did inspection but I want to make sure they dont try to skim out on this especially since they have showed evidence of being cheap throughout the repair process. Notes from dealer evaluation show below:


C/S AFTER COMING TO COMPLETE STOP, START TO ACCELERATE AND TRANSMISSION HAS BAD BUMP, CLUNK 1ST TO 2ND GEAR.

ESTIMATE TO REPLACE - 3,068.08

MOTOR MOUNT BROKEN AND TRANSMISSION SHUTTERS IN LOCK UP

ALSO RECOMMEND REPLACING BOTH COLLAPSED ENGINE MOUNTS ($985). RESPONSIBLE FOR ENGINE JUMPING OUT OF POSITION ON ACCELERATION; NEITHER CAN CONFIRM NOR DENY TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER RELACED TO ACCIDENT - CLIENT AWARE AND WILL REPORT FINDINGS TO INSURANCE CO

ALSO IN THE NOTES THEY MENTION - WATER PUMP STAINED WITH COOLANT, EVIDENCE OF LEAK.

I recently changed the coolant by letting it drain from the hose on engine side going to lower radiator. Could the left over spills from a few weeks ago give this concern?

Regarding the other issues, this car drove fine prior to accident. No bump sounds or thuds. Any suggestions on how to proceed if they give me trouble?

 

[iamdub]

I can see the mounts being damaged from being worn (and already a very weak design). A sharp shock from a collision could've finished them off. I can't see how the torque converter could be damaged, though.

 

[Meccanoble]

Could that clunk just be the mounts? I havent driven the truck much or hard since the accident so maybe they seen something I didnt see but that thump/thud is definitely noticed.

 

[iamdub]

Could that clunk just be the mounts? I havent driven the truck much or hard since the accident so maybe they seen something I didnt see but that thump/thud is definitely noticed.

Absolutely. Actually, I have experienced this personally as well as another member here where the clunk sounds and maybe even feels to be coming from the center or back of the car. This other member (I don't recall the name) was chasing a noise that he swore was coming from the rear- replaced shocks, bushings, etc. The clunk went away when he replaced his mounts.

The mounts are very fragile and wear out very quickly. A sudden shock jarring the drivetrain forward or aft a little bit could've finished them off.

BUT, there are a ton of other things that could clunk that are just as likely, if not more likely to have been damaged in the collision and could cause a clunk in acceleration and deceleration.

Does it clunk when you initially accelerate from a stop with medium to hard throttle? I know the notes say from 1-2 shift, but that could be misleading. The shuddering in lockup could be misleading as well. For lockup, you'd have to be cruising at a steady speed, which also activates AFM. When driving slow, easy and at a steady speed, these things go into V4 mode and shudder. Blown mounts will better transfer the vibrations so they're more noticeable whereas they may not have been before. Or, no one ever drove it easily enough before the collision to enable AFM at low speed and felt the shudder. Not saying your torque converter is fine. I just don't see how something rigidly supported between an engine and transmission could've been damaged in a collision and nothing else around it damaged.

 

[Meccanoble]

Absolutely. Actually, I have experienced this personally as well as another member here where the clunk sounds and maybe even feels to be coming from the center or back of the car. This other member (I don't recall the name) was chasing a noise that he swore was coming from the rear- replaced shocks, bushings, etc. The clunk went away when he replaced his mounts.

The mounts are very fragile and wear out very quickly. A sudden shock jarring the drivetrain forward or aft a little bit could've finished them off.

BUT, there are a ton of other things that could clunk that are just as likely, if not more likely to have been damaged in the collision and could cause a clunk in acceleration and deceleration.

Does it clunk when you initially accelerate from a stop with medium to hard throttle? I know the notes say from 1-2 shift, but that could be misleading.

Yes, the clunk happens exactly as you described, when you accelerate from a stop. Doesnt seem to happen during any other gear and I dont recall hearing/feeling anything while braking.

Have they improved these mounts? Suggestions on best mounts to get? Which mounts to avoid?

I'll definitely try to talk to technician to get more explanation on why the tq converter was even mentioned. I'm sure he tested something I could not. I would be happy if this was just a mounts issue.

 

[iamdub]

Yes, the clunk happens exactly as you described, when you accelerate from a stop. Doesnt seem to happen during any other gear and I dont recall hearing/feeling anything while braking.

Have they improved these mounts? Suggestions on best mounts to get? Which mounts to avoid?

I'll definitely try to talk to technician to get more explanation on why the tq converter was even mentioned. I'm sure he tested something I could not. I would be happy if this was just a mounts issue.

I was editing my post as you made this reply

No, the mounts have not been revised or updated. Many report having good service out of aftermarket replacements just as much as OEM brand (ACDelco) replacements. Yet, many also report aftermarket and ACDelco failing within 10,000-50,000 miles. I say it's a crapshoot either way. There are too many variables to follow in determining what mounts are good or bad- some of the people reviewing their replacement mounts may do a lot of towing or off-roading, some may drive hard and some may drive it like there's an egg on the accelerator pedal. If yours get replaced under the insurance coverage, then of course you should get OEM replacements. My driver's side is bad and my fix will be to build my own mount, modeled after the non-hydraulic mounts that have worked just fine on cars for decades.

 

[Meccanoble]

THanks for the feedback. I'll do the OEM route then. As far as the torque converter, I dont want to get stuck with that issue if it truly exists. It was a big enough hit from the back that some frame damage was found and the other truck (Ford F150 pick up) looks like it will be totaled. This was in stop and go traffic where I think the Tahoe was at a stop or may have just started creeping up. The other car looks like it hit my truck at an accelerated pace, almost like it was trying to run through the Tahoe. I would imagine stop and go traffic and impact with a car slowing down would not destroy a radiator, bumper, hood and who knows what else.

Considering how much damage was involved and the impact on the other car, there is a good chance the tq converter could have been compromised by the accident? Its just unfair that there is a possibility I could not get car back the way it originally was. That should be the disadvantage of the insurance company. Any issues found should be their responsibility if properly argued. I would be highly upset if my car gets in an accident and I have to cough up a couple thousand for an issue that started after I was hit.

 

[Jason_S]

Creeping along in traffic is not a situation where I would expect the shock from impact to result in damage to the torque converter. The frame was tweaked/bent, motor mounts broken, and possibly trans mount broken/damaged? I would look at the possibility of wires or connectors being damaged by the abnormal driveline movement.

You should probably look at having the damaged mounts and any associated damage repaired and have them re-asses the torque converter before signing off on completed repairs. Also make sure that the 4 link arms and track bar are perfectly straight. If any of those parts are not 'true' the suspension geometry will be off and will introduce some difficult to track vibrations and abnormal tire wear.

 

[Meccanoble]

Creeping along in traffic is not a situation where I would expect the shock from impact to result in damage to the torque converter. The frame was tweaked/bent, motor mounts broken, and possibly trans mount broken/damaged? I would look at the possibility of wires or connectors being damaged by the abnormal driveline movement.

You should probably look at having the damaged mounts and any associated damage repaired and have them re-asses the torque converter before signing off on completed repairs. Also make sure that the 4 link arms and track bar are perfectly straight. If any of those parts are not 'true' the suspension geometry will be off and will introduce some difficult to track vibrations and abnormal tire wear.

Creeping along in traffic is not a situation where I would expect the shock from impact to result in damage to the torque converter. The frame was tweaked/bent, motor mounts broken, and possibly trans mount broken/damaged? I would look at the possibility of wires or connectors being damaged by the abnormal driveline movement.

You should probably look at having the damaged mounts and any associated damage repaired and have them re-asses the torque converter before signing off on completed repairs. Also make sure that the 4 link arms and track bar are perfectly straight. If any of those parts are not 'true' the suspension geometry will be off and will introduce some difficult to track vibrations and abnormal tire wear.

Thanks for the feedback. Although the Tahoe was creeping, the car behind me showed signs of heavy accelerating prior to impact. This type of traffic you would think impact was with a slow down and not slowing enough. I think this situation involved not looking and accelerating into Tahoe.

I had the dealership look at car but they probably jumped the gun on some things. I'm worried how long insurance will drag this if they agree to some things getting fixed and new things are noticed. Its already a dog fight for some of the things that should be considered obvious from the impact (mounts).