My son had an accident in my S.

It was an right-turn avoidance maneuver that turned into a hard spin, with impact first on the front bumper against a rounded asphalt curb, then the driver's side came around and the rear driver's side wheel slammed the curb then the whole car hopped up into a shoulder area landscaped with big rocks (6-8 inches in diameter). The body damage was limited to the lower section of the front bumper and driver's side, as well as some good crumpling of the rear wheel well area. The rear wheel is pretty thrased, but doesn't appear bent.

He said the CEL came on right away - the car died after the spin, most likely because he didn't keep the clutch in.

I drove it today just to see how it sounded, and the CEL was still on. I drove it for about 5 minutes, and just as I was driving back into my neighborhood, the power steering started to go out, and the EPS light came on. Then my Valentine 1 radar detector started going nuts - obviously the power to the unit was not functioning right. Then the ABS light came on. Then the dash lights went out.

I came home and checked the fluids, and it smelled like gas in the oil. Now the car won't start at all - it just makes a nasty noise when the start button is pressed.

I'm trying to remember something I read or heard that this might have been due to reverse wheel spin caused by the car spinning - but the search is broken.

Any ideas what might have transpired here?

Thanks.

 

A lot of bad stuff "could" have happened in that episode. Best to pull all the codes and then begin diagnosis from that point.

 

Thanks for the quick reply, xviper. Unfortunately I don't have the stuff to pull codes myself. Guess it's going to have to be a tow to the dealer before I will know.

 

the CEL is for the secondary air pump. its located in the front driver sides just behind the front bumper. since you got hit there, the pump and/or wiring is smashed. the pump is $500-ish and the wiring harness...well its quite expensive to have the dealer replace it

 

^ This is most likely true. However, it's probably only one of many issues with the car. Even with the airpump gone (and the subsequent CEL), the engine can run. With all those electrical things going out, there is some other very serious issues going on to prevent it from starting and running again.

 

[QUOTE=xviper,Dec 16 2005, 06:38 PM] ^ This is most likely true.

 

It was a failed alternator and the codes show 02 sensor failure and airflow meter failure. We'll replace the battery and alternator and recheck the CEL for those codes to see if those items were damaged or just need to be reset.

The car undoubtedly needs to visit a body shop - just needed some advice on these mechanical issues first and foremost.

A sad, sad day for my S.

(By the way, I'm a "she" ... and it was my son who had the accident - he deserves to be in intensive care in the hospital if I could have done what I felt like doing to him ... but he wasn't hurt in the accident, fortunately.)

 

That's all that really matters. Your car will be back to normal soon enough.

 

I'm sorry to hear about the accident but its good to know only property was damaged. I am sure your son feels really bad about it.