Discussion
I really want today to end. Like, right now. Not only have I had a bad day at work, but also two potential Elise-based disasters.
Whilst driving in this morning, I noticed that I could hear and feel a clonking through the steering wheel. If you weave the wheel left and right whilst stationary, you can hear it then, but also you can ofter feel and hear it when the front suspension moves.
Then, to cap maters off, a stupid bint in a huge Merc nudged me up the back whilst we were in a queue of traffic a T-junction in Manchester. She was trying to clear a lane (after a misjudged attempt to get through) at the junction by sidling up right behind me, but instead firmly tupped the back of my car. Whilst there (fortunately) appeared to be no damage that I could see, she steadfastly refused to give her details, or even get out of her car to talk to me. Fortunately, I was able to record her number.
Looks like I'll have to drop my car in to have the steering checked over and also the back end (just to be sure all is well).
Right... where's the wine? :rolleyes: :D
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Whilst driving in this morning, I noticed that I could hear and feel a clonking through the steering wheel. If you weave the wheel left and right whilst stationary, you can hear it then, but also you can ofter feel and hear it when the front suspension moves.
Then, to cap maters off, a stupid bint in a huge Merc nudged me up the back whilst we were in a queue of traffic a T-junction in Manchester. She was trying to clear a lane (after a misjudged attempt to get through) at the junction by sidling up right behind me, but instead firmly tupped the back of my car. Whilst there (fortunately) appeared to be no damage that I could see, she steadfastly refused to give her details, or even get out of her car to talk to me. Fortunately, I was able to record her number.
Looks like I'll have to drop my car in to have the steering checked over and also the back end (just to be sure all is well).
Right... where's the wine? :rolleyes: :D
[k]
Bummer.
Look on the bright side, though: the construction of the Elise is such that if there was no visible damage when you were rear ended, it's pretty much inconceivable that there will be any hidden damage. The rear clamshell is basically non-loadbaring, so any impact heavy enough to transmit damage to the chassis etc. would have made a right mess of the bodywork.
Clonks from the front end, from your description, sound steering related. Hopefully it's just something needing tightening in the steering column, or worn track rod ends. Rack is the worst (most expensive) possibility, but anything will be easy to diagnose and fix. At least you are getting it checked over!
>> Edited by Mutant Rat on Tuesday 6th September 20:44
Look on the bright side, though: the construction of the Elise is such that if there was no visible damage when you were rear ended, it's pretty much inconceivable that there will be any hidden damage. The rear clamshell is basically non-loadbaring, so any impact heavy enough to transmit damage to the chassis etc. would have made a right mess of the bodywork.
Clonks from the front end, from your description, sound steering related. Hopefully it's just something needing tightening in the steering column, or worn track rod ends. Rack is the worst (most expensive) possibility, but anything will be easy to diagnose and fix. At least you are getting it checked over!
>> Edited by Mutant Rat on Tuesday 6th September 20:44
I'd get your insurance company to chase her up, and report it to the police - she didn't stop after an accident - all be it very mild. Do you have any witnesses that will back you up, just one person is worth more than their weight in gold in these circumstaces.
Once you've got the ball rolling, I'd make sure she pays for your steering issue too - I'm sure it was ok just before she bumped you, but it only really came to light at your destination afwards, right?
Once you've got the ball rolling, I'd make sure she pays for your steering issue too - I'm sure it was ok just before she bumped you, but it only really came to light at your destination afwards, right?
It's amazing how much better things look after a bottle of Veuve rich reserve '95 
.
So far as the potential steering issue is concerned, the car is only on a 54-plate, so it's still under warranty. By rights, it should cost £0 for this to be looked into and remedied if necessary.
Both my Father and I have had a close look at the rear clam now the car's home and in the garage. Despite going over the back end with a 500,000 candlepower torch, I have to say that we cannot discern any damage to the clam or paint finish - a quite remarkable turn of luck. I can only assume the low speed and nature of the collision ("nudge" rather than proper "impact"
, plus the fact that my handbrake wasn't on, saved the day.
I called up my local friendly plod to confirm their take on things. They concurred with my view that as there was no damage, there is no requirement under the RTA to exchange details, although that would of course have been an appropriate courtesy. If any damage is subsequently discovered, the other driver can be traced by my insurers via the DVLA, as I have her reg number, and proceeded against. Given her reluctance to exchange info, I wonder whether she was properly insured in any event?
There were other cars around, but no traceable witnesses. As for the steering issue being caused by a rear-end nudge, I think it might be a bit hard to argue that, even for me (see occupation in profile)
Now that gfun has reignited my paranoia, I'm off to check the back of the car again for crazing in the finish
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. So far as the potential steering issue is concerned, the car is only on a 54-plate, so it's still under warranty. By rights, it should cost £0 for this to be looked into and remedied if necessary.
Both my Father and I have had a close look at the rear clam now the car's home and in the garage. Despite going over the back end with a 500,000 candlepower torch, I have to say that we cannot discern any damage to the clam or paint finish - a quite remarkable turn of luck. I can only assume the low speed and nature of the collision ("nudge" rather than proper "impact"
, plus the fact that my handbrake wasn't on, saved the day. I called up my local friendly plod to confirm their take on things. They concurred with my view that as there was no damage, there is no requirement under the RTA to exchange details, although that would of course have been an appropriate courtesy. If any damage is subsequently discovered, the other driver can be traced by my insurers via the DVLA, as I have her reg number, and proceeded against. Given her reluctance to exchange info, I wonder whether she was properly insured in any event?
There were other cars around, but no traceable witnesses. As for the steering issue being caused by a rear-end nudge, I think it might be a bit hard to argue that, even for me (see occupation in profile)
Now that gfun has reignited my paranoia, I'm off to check the back of the car again for crazing in the finish
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[quote=[k]ar|]Nope - just checked again quite thoroughly. Looks like the Elise and I dodged a bullet so to speak with that one. No crazing in the finish that we can see. Phew.
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Yeah, make sure you wait a couple of weeks before finally assessing the damage... gelgoat cracks can sometimes take a week or two to show up.... I'd not be throwing away the piece of paper with her registration number on it just yet.... every day that passes with no cracks is a good day though
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Yeah, make sure you wait a couple of weeks before finally assessing the damage... gelgoat cracks can sometimes take a week or two to show up.... I'd not be throwing away the piece of paper with her registration number on it just yet.... every day that passes with no cracks is a good day though
Hi - as a long shot, re the steering. I had an similar sounding clunk on the steering with an amount of play when the steering was moved from left to right that I had not noticed before. I phoned the agent 1st up as I was on holiday in Scotland at the time in the car and worried about making it back. They told me to check for a loose nut on the universal joints on the steering column. (you can see these by lying in the footwell) Tightening a loose nut completely sorted the problem - still OK a year later.
However, the clunk related to the suspension may as folks have mentioned point to steering rack. Still, the above measures might be worth a try in the meanwhile.
Cheers
Andrew
However, the clunk related to the suspension may as folks have mentioned point to steering rack. Still, the above measures might be worth a try in the meanwhile.
Cheers
Andrew
Just to bring everyone up to date, I dropped the car into the dealer on Friday afternoon for a checkup.
Luckily, there's still no sign of crazing in the paint where I was nudged. One of the 'paint and body' guys at the dealer checked it out and said it looked OK to him - no damage to the rear grille or undertrays so far as he could see, and no spiderwebbing in the finish.
As for the clunk - apparently it's time for a new steering rack, so they want the car back for a day to swap it out and re-set the geometry. I'm told that whilst the problem is not dangerous, it is annoying and obviously shouldn't be happenning. Slightly disappointing as the rack's only lasted 12500 miles (including one trackday) but I suppose that means there must have been a problem with the part from the supplier.
At least it's going to be fixed under warranty and I now know that the wheel isn't going to come off in my hand Wile-E-Coyote style.
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Luckily, there's still no sign of crazing in the paint where I was nudged. One of the 'paint and body' guys at the dealer checked it out and said it looked OK to him - no damage to the rear grille or undertrays so far as he could see, and no spiderwebbing in the finish.
As for the clunk - apparently it's time for a new steering rack, so they want the car back for a day to swap it out and re-set the geometry. I'm told that whilst the problem is not dangerous, it is annoying and obviously shouldn't be happenning. Slightly disappointing as the rack's only lasted 12500 miles (including one trackday) but I suppose that means there must have been a problem with the part from the supplier.
At least it's going to be fixed under warranty and I now know that the wheel isn't going to come off in my hand Wile-E-Coyote style.
[k]
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