Car Question, but not Fiat

[davery]

OK, I am going to throw this out to all you experts that know a heck of alot more about cars than I can ever hope to know. My wife has a 2010 Mercury Mariner and was rear ended a couple of weeks ago. She was at a light with her foot on the brake when another car hit her. The damage included the bumper cover, lift gate, rear section of the exhuast and the passeneger side tire. All this was replaced, but the car is making a sound when braking. To me it sounds like a suspension issue (kind of a creaking sound), but only does it when under braking and slows down as the cars does. Today we went to take it back to the dealer who repaired it and it would not make the sound. We drove it around for an hour and it started making the sound again. We took it to the dealer and he took the rear driver side wheel and drum off and lubed. On driving it home it started again. I am at a loss as to what this might be. The dealer is going to contact the insurance company and call me back in the morning. Basically, he says that if they look at the car in the service department and the sound is being made from normal wear and tear, we will have to pay the diagnostic fee. Any ideas?

[spidernut]

File a complaint with the Bureau of Automotive Repair. Send a copy to the body shop and the dealership. Contact Better Business Bureau and file a complaint. If the work was through a new car dealership, also you can file a complaint with the district representative. Send the letters Certified Mail, Return Receipt requested. In the letter state that the vehicle did not make this noise prior to the accident. State the dates that you reported the problem to the dealership/body shop. Include documentation if you have it. State that they refuse to repair it under the warranty on the body work.

This won't be easy. Make the dealership/body shop locate the cause of the problem. It is their responsibility. There are too many potential causes to guess what's going on because it could be shocks, rear suspension, brakes, etc.

Be prepared for a battle.

[steve8462]

has anybody checked to see if the axle might have been slightly bend? with your foot firmly on the brake and then a tremendous blow from the rear it is very possible. the lube the dealer put on to quiet the noise will quickly wear off and return. just another line of thought to help you resolve your problem. have the dealer put the car on a lift that allows the wheels to hang free. put somebody in the car and put it in gear and stand behind the vehicle and watch the rear wheels closely. you might see an ever so slight wobble in one of the wheels. its all it takes, and it will lead to numerous future problems such as tire wear, axle bearing burnout, accelerated brake lining wear, or worst case, the wheel and axle taking off on its own little side trip while you are driving!