Adaptive chassis control issue (help needed)

[raffoul232]

Well as most of you know, i got into a small accident .
Now i asked the dealers if the acc would still work and they said yes. I dont trust them much do to many factors, but they promised me that it would work. But i prefer teting it myself, just to make sure.
So, does anyone on here have any idea on how i would know if its still working????? Am i suppose to drive it a certain way or something????????? All help appreciated
Heres the car so you get an idea:

[Evil Derboy]

.

[Spiney]

Just find any less than perfect road, the difference through your pants between Sport and Comfort should be quite obvious, you should also notice the steering assistance is noticably less in Sport mode. Is this what you meant?

[Nobby]

As Spiney says, i think you'll notice if it doesn't work

the difference between sport & comfort is flagrant

However, I can't help agreeing with Evil Derboy either, kinda seems obvious no ?

[maddogdave]

With that amount of damage to the body / suspension I'd be more worried about the overall alignment of the wheels / suspension following repairs and any effect it may have on tyre wear and handling. I wouldn't be suprised if a whole new bodyshell is used and new rear suspension components fitted. Whatever repairs are carried out, a reputable body shop will get the correct alignment data from the manufacturer and check the measurements are within tolerance to ensure the car tracks straight and drives correctly. As stated in the other replies the difference in settings of the active suspension is easy to feel with a drive at a fixed speed on a slightly uneven road surface (all the UK roads are uneven, so very easy to test here). Whether you could actually tell if one 'corner' suspension unit is working correctly may be more difficult, perhaps someone a better knowledge of how the active system works and any diagnostic functions there may be could advise you further on this.

[alanstead]

I would have thought if it wasnt working properly that it would throw up a fault warning. I for no other reason than to make you take it to the dealers to have it fixed. Seem to have a memory that the button flashes when its not working right, but cant remember for sure. Everything diagnoses itself tho, so its bound to put up a warning.

Alan

[raffoul232]

Thank you all for the advice. ED I know everything will be fixed, but you can never be too careful really or stop worrying after such a crash I hope that you're right though and that everything would work like it did . Also about taking the car to less perfect roads, it’s been 2 months without me having my rocc, so it would be hard for me to determine if it’s working or not. And to be honest, I never felt a change when i had the car and use to switch chassis's (sports, comfort) dunno why .
Maddogdave, the alignment is still the same everything is ok with that, I made sure about it. Also, made sure that the axel, chassis and engine aren’t broken, so that’s good news as well .
BTW they are getting me a new body shell, new brake discs, interior, etc .....
Anyway thank you all for the help really.....................cheers
ps: hope this does not happen to anyone on here.

[ZephyR]

I guess that if you couldn't tell if the ACC was working before then it won't make much difference if its not working afterwards.

[willu]

SELL IT! After banging a new car it will never be the same, whoever repairs it, even if it is reshelled. If you are lucky it will just be rattles and squeaks, if you aren't you will be back reguarly for things to be fixed.
W

[johnjm]

That'll buff right out

[raffoul232]

SELL IT! After banging a new car it will never be the same, whoever repairs it, even if it is reshelled. If you are lucky it will just be rattles and squeaks, if you aren't you will be back reguarly for things to be fixed.
W

Well, at first the insurance tolde me that the repair has to be more than $30k for them to purchase me a new car. So i was adding things that didnt happen during the accident to it for it to be more than 30k. Well the final price was 21K. So no new car , although i was aming at getting the mk6 gti bummer. Also there is another issue, i didnt buy my car. My dad bought it for me, i mean i am only 19 and had the car for 2 months and crashed it, so i wouldnt dare tell my dad to get me a new one . BTW if after the repair i have to go back to the shop do to mechanical failure or anything else i will sell my car, and i shall give the people at vw a peice of my mind .

[Nobby]

Don't worry, if the car is reshelled it will be as good as new,

In a past life this was my job for nearly 10 years, so I've done quite a few

I'm sure the VW mechanics will do a good job and all the parts will be new genuine VW,

The new shell & any new or re-used pannels will all be painted together, just like at the factory, so no colour match or texture issues

You even keep the same chassis number

[alanstead]

My friend crashed his new car with me in it a few years ago, they reshelled it and painted etc, and it was never the same again! Rattles, squeaked, had numerous alighnment issues, months later, the gearbox died and had to be replaced after much arguing, the shunt of the impact had damaged it, but they didnt pick this up during the the repair, the cost of that would have probably have written the car off! Nothing fitted properly, the paint was very poor, and this was all done by the manufactures franchised bodyshop! I'll admit this was Inverness and as I've mentioned in a thread before, bodyshops up here seem to be pretty poor! Well, the main dealer ones anyway. I'd get your car back, and if your not 100% happy just refuse, look into your consumer rights.

Alan

[fimael]

Ooooooo...that's one poorly Roc! Mine was in an accident about 9 months ago (the car was 3 weeks old)...the accident wasn't my fault...although it's just gone to court cos the little sh**e who hit me's denying it. Anyway...I had damage to the drivers side. It cost about £2500 to fix (the insurance paid), but I had seriously less love for the car and didn't feel too confident with it when I got it back. It wasn't really helped by the fact something happened to the control panel in the drivers door when it was being fixed which resulted in some serious electrical probs which are now fixed....but I now love it again and have had no more problems (I've jinxed it now). My advice would be when you get it back if you're not 100% happy with anything, regardless of how small and trivial you think it is...take it back! I found that once the bodyshop had done their bit, the dealer was actually more helpful with ironing out the little problems (p.s.....I would hate to think what you're insurance's going to be!!). Good luck.

[scottyroc]

raff, just a quick test to make sure the acc is working : park up with car started...select comfort mode and then turn your wheel, then select sports mode and do the same. you should notice that the steering is alot heavier in sports mode..

[Deacon]

raff, just a quick test to make sure the acc is working : park up with car started...select comfort mode and then turn your wheel, then select sports mode and do the same. you should notice that the steering is alot heavier in sports mode..

However turning the wheel with the car stationary is not a great idea if it can be avoided as it's not great for the steering system.

Deacon

[scottyroc]

hmmm Deacon know where your coming from can also grain tyres but tbh think everyone does it at some point and it gonna do no harm for a quick test.

[raffoul232]

Thank you all for the help ill try every thing you have all suggested. I did realize something tho, that some ppl are having bad experiences after repairs (alanstead) while others it seems to be better than usual (fimael), i wonder why ? Maybe each area has different type of mechanics. Some are bad and some are just plane good . Hopefully in my country they will be better than good . Anyway my car is getting fixed (went to the bodyshop they already started changing the interior) and ill tell you all how it turns out and ill post some pictures so you can see for yourselfs if they end up doing a good job or not. BTW ill try your advice scottyroc first thing and again thank you all for the help......Cheers

[scottyroc]

thanks raff, keep us posted with a many ongoing works photos as you can, it would be interesting to see it taking place in various stages of rebuild, hope it all turns out well...