'94 Defender with early gear box got towed on Sat. (due to my parking like an idiot) luckily they were smart enough to use a roll back. Picked it up that afternoon and found that:

1. they'd bent in both recovery points on the ARB (which is no great surprise but still pisses me off)

2. the transfer case was popped out of gear

3. Check engine light was on for the stepper motor.

Going in to talk to them tomorrow, but what does anyone think the chances are that the stepper happened to go south when it was towed by pure coincidence. The transfer case seemed to be okay after I ran it through the gears, though being that the drivetrain was loaded up from the 10 - 15' pull onto the rollback. Any thoughts would be great.

Thanks,

Tony

Tony:
I feel for you. I've had it happen to me too many times.

I doubt the stepper motor indicator light was lit as a result of the towing.

Could they have opened your truck and put the transfer case in neutral to limit damage done when pulling it onto the flat bed?

Good luck, let us know what they have to say. It has been my experience that they won't accept any blame for anything that happened.

Paul

Yah, it's really my own fault at the end of the day, but still . . .

Nope, it was locked up when I left it and locked when I picked it up, so they hadn't gotten into it. I really doubt that there's any way you could screw up the stepper with a tow, but these guys were from an even shallower end of the gene pool than most wrecker drivers. My greatest concern is the transfer case (obviously), guess I'll just put some miles on it and see if she stays in gear, maybe do a fluidectomy as well.

They're already trying to shirk responsability, we'll see what happens. I'd at least like to get the $120 :eek: back. (Don't get towed in Old Town Alexandria!)

Tony

Don't be so sure they didn't go into your truck-you might ask them if they did. I was towed in Chicago once and they slim-jimmed my car and then locked it back up to keep it safe(r) in the impound lot. They may have done the same for/to you.

Having lived in Balto, I can just imagine what you're running into in Alexandria. I made it a point to remain in Maryland! Even so, I got really good at getting lost in DC.

Fight the good fight!

Paul

I have some experiance on this. I worked for a towing company for a couple of years.

Item 1. Yes they are responsible for damage, even if were in the wrong for parking it where you did.

Item 2. I imagine that you also had the parking brake on. Was it still on when you picked it up? Most likely they popped it out of gear. They opened up your truck, put it in neutral, and locked it back up to keep your personal effects (radio and other stuff) secure. Even so rollback/flat bed drivers often keep a spray bottle of soapy water with them to spray on the bed to allow non-rolling tires to slide up easier.

Item 3. Unrelated.


This being said, you will never get your $120 back, part of that ammount may actually go back to the city. If they caused damage it will be handled separately. You will need to go to their office and file a damage claim with them.

-Jeff

Damn Tony that sucks but you should have known better in Old Town that place is as bad as Annapolis. They are definately responsible for anything that happens to your truck mechanically and usually it's an insurance company that is paying for the damages so they usually aren't too difficult to deal with. I'd bet though that the transfercase was popped in nuetral good luck on getting it taken care of. Oh yeah I'll probably stop by later this week I might need to store something in your garage it's rover related so it belongs here. Also gotta borrow the sawzall. I'll give you a call

-ben

Cool, lemme know when you want to come by. I'm gonna swap out the stepper tonight and see what happens. No way in hell I'm calling my insurance yet.

So what are your plans for your radius arms, anyway?

After a week the dealership got back to me with an estimate: in their words the transfer case is "shattered"! $3600 for the case and installation Granted, ashcroft has them for about $500. I'm off to call the attorney now. FAWK

They were also kind enough to point out that my hub seals are leaking -- thanks, guys, was it the hypoid stain on the wheel that gave that away . . .

ill buy that shattered case for a dollar :D

ABrooks,

3600 clams! Holy Shite!!! File a claim with the tow companies insurance, get a letter from an attorney threatening small claims action, and hopefully you'll get somewhere.

Take whatever money you get, call BCB and have them ship you a t-case. They have a few now that they've rebuilt, and I think that they might even have a few part-time cases done now too.

You could bet one of their cases and have it installed for under $1500 I'd think.

BTW, what is a stepper motor??? (fawkin' newbie)

:flipoff2:

Good call, Mike, thanks -- military LT230 with 1.4 and part time for a little more that half the price of the dealer. That'll work :D

Just an FYI for you, some states have statutes that will allow for teh recovery of your attorney fees if you are forced to make a claim for a small amount of money for property damage. In oregon if teh claim is $5,500 or less, you can recover your attorney fees and costs. Might ask your lawyer about that. Go to someone who is in teh personal injury auto accident line of work. As much as I hate to say it, they will be the best to help you as they deal with property damage stuff often as a part of the personal injury work.

Good luck

Simon

I have a relatively new LT230 (circa 2000 Disco2 (and yeah, yeah it has the right output flanges now)) that would look great in your truck. Would let it go pretty cheap as I did not pay alot for it. Email me if you are interested.

Billster
billnsandi@kingwoodcable.com

Thanks for the offer on the case, I'll have to see what happens with the attorney -- luckily, my family attn'y is a Healey collector and has ogled the defender numerous times, so he understands the situation.

(Hijacking my own thread) Looking at a '90 Classic -- solid mechanically, cosmetically is OK, though of course it needs a liftgate -- GBR the best source? Galvanized and powdercoated frame is $400, but you've gotta switch over the guts -- any experience out there?

LOL

Make sure to get the "shattered" t-case back. I will happily double Adam's bid.

If you are really looking to get the most bang for their buck I do know a friendly dealer who would install a factory new 1.4 case if you like, or at least provide you with a quote for such.

Ron

Am I the only one thinking that a simple pull onto a flat-bed caused an LT230 to "shatter"? Or better yet, get damaged in any way? Sounds like a bunch of BS (from the dealer) to me.

Now tell me they towed it with the diff-lock in, on two wheels, for 100+ miles and I *might* believe that an intermetiate gear bearing is toast.

I've heard of horror stories of rig's driving from Boulder Co. to Santa Fe NM. (470 miles) without having the t-case filled with oil...The rig made it...Fried the case, but it still made it.

The LT230 is a very stout case...If Timm C. can't break one with 350+ hp, 38.5 SX's, and a heavy right foot (on pavement), then a tug onto a flat-bed is NOTHING.

Inspect the damage yourself, then decide.

--D

BTW, what is a stepper motor??? (fawkin' newbie) It is a part of the idle speed control circuit. It opens and closes a valve that bleeds air into the engine to control the idle speed. The valve is notorious for getting gummed up and causing uneven idle and low speed stalls - sometimes the motor itself goes south causing the same problems.

Thanks George,

Yeah, I couldn't remember what it was called, but last summer I removed mine, cleaned it, cleaned out the chamber in the plenum and put it all back together.

For some reason I couldn't remember what the heck the stepper motor was! Like I said, fawkin' newbie!

Do you still want that detail shot of the dash? I can shoot one today I'll be working out there all day.

I'll put up some pics of the steering column and wheel too.

Mike,

I would love a close up of your dash, I hope to get some ideas for mine. but I really need some ideas for my steering wheel which is starting to head south.