I brought it in already for that and a headlight that has condensation. I told him about the motor mounts and he said they replaced all of them but brushed off the idea of it being them. He tried to tell me it could be the spark plugs but I told him that was ridiculous. i'm bringing it in when they get the new headlight delivered and he said he will look over everything and it could possibly be a vacuum line? Not to worry, I definitely won't let this go until the problem is resolved.

 

I'll try to remember to look it up for 2003, but I remember in the 1998 Helm book there's a procedure for positioning or adjusting the engine mounts. Depending on what order you bolt them up, one mount may be carrying more than it's share of the engine's dynamic forces.

 

I'd appreciate that so I can bring them something they can see and hopefully fix this annoyance.

 

Check your email. The file's too big to attach here.
This is a USA Accord?
The book basically says exactly what order to install & tighten each bolt on all the engine mounts.

 

I printed out the procedure and gave it to them when I brought the car back. The car still vibrates excessively. They told me they redid the mounts according to the procedure. The guy said it may be low idle (which I doubt because it appears to idle at the same spot it always has). The shop told me to take it to a Honda dealer, see what they come up with, and bring them the bill. I don't feel like paying more out of pocket so I will be calling my insurance tomorrow to find out what I should do.

I was also reading that you should get a diminished value settlement because the car is worth less now. I didn't know this and didn't pursue it, will it be to late to bring it up now?

 

It seemed to me that the procedure for tightening the engine mounts wasn't rocket science, just a particular order. What if something's still bent, so all the mounts don't line up right? That can still cause the mounts to share the load in different proportions than what's intended.

Don't let it drop until it's really fixed. Hidden damage can't be that rare.

About the diminished value stuff, ask your insurance, & hopefully Jon (00AccordLX5spd) will chime in.

 

I called about the diminished value and they said the adjuster is supposed to handle it, even though i had already asked him and he told me to call the "home office", hmmm

I have an appointment on Tuesday at a shop in the Bronx. The guy took a quick look and said something seemed off a bit. He pointed out the battery was mounted properly but appeared to be crooked and said that something just didn't seem right. Hopefully he can figure it out (and hopefully it's not a serious issue) so I can be done with this accident.....

 

Around here, it's not every shop that can really measure & straighten unibody cars. You basically need a big steel table that the whole car sits on, with hydraulic rams that can be fastened every which way to bend the car back to straight.

 

If the car is more than 1 year old, insurance companies generally do not give "Diminution of value." Besides, if it is your insurance company paying it and not the other guy's, you'll probably cause your rates to go up (or get dropped) for asking for something like that on top of your claim. I know the standard ISO Commercial Auto policy specifically says the insurance company does not pay for diminution of value for our own insured's vehicles. But if it was the other guy's insurance: I'd tell you to jump all over it.
If I were you, I would be a lot more worried about getting my car repaired correctly than adding a diminution of value claim.

 

As far as I know there wasn't frame damage. The insurance never mentioned it but I guess I will see. And I guess since it is unibody design and the fenders were replaced it is technically frame damage?
I am more concerned about getting my car fixed, but what else can I do besides bitch to the insurance and take it to a shop? I am not a mechanic and can't diagnose a problem like this; believe me if I could I wouldn't waste my time and money mechanic hopping.

I mentioned the diminished value to them and they haven't given me a straight answer about it still. My insurance is paying, simply to speed things up. They will be reimbursed by the other person's insurance at some point at which time I will recoup my deductible.


THis is all very frustrating. THe shop just called me and said all they can find is that my alignment is slightly off. So I aksed them what this had to do with a vibration at idle and they said they will have it looked at again. I'm not holding my breathe........