bmwohio Posted December 7, 2013 Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 My wife slid her 09 MDX into a curb last night and knocked the car out of alignment and now the VSA light keeps turning on. I jacked it up and checked it last night and didn't see anything bent, but when you drive down the road straight the steering wheel is crooked. All the Acura and Honda dealerships can't get the car in today. Anyone recommend a place that is open TODAY to look at and work on the car. She is traveling next week for work and we need the car in working order.... Any recommendations???? TIA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DKilbourne Posted December 7, 2013 Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 Most of the tire shops do alignments. see if derek's shop does them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copperhead Posted December 7, 2013 Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 Tire Discounters in Reynoldsburg, in front of the Lowe's at Broad and Waggoner. Ask for Derek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallard Posted December 7, 2013 Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 The VSA light is most likely on because the wheel is so far out of alignment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief8one Posted December 7, 2013 Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 Ya go see Derek. he did my miata this summer and is a real straight shooter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmwohio Posted December 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 Thanks guys. I'm going to try and just get an alignment done and see if that helps. I was most worried about the VSA light being on and possibly that she broke a sensor or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE-O Posted December 7, 2013 Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 Be prepared to have bent steering or suspension components, but I will add another vote for Derek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRTurbo04 Posted December 7, 2013 Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 Sounds like she needs to go kyles school of driving Hope nothings too busted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Jones Posted December 7, 2013 Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 Thanks guys. I'm going to try and just get an alignment done and see if that helps. I was most worried about the VSA light being on and possibly that she broke a sensor or something. The light could be on as a result of the wheel being turned, and the car not actually turning, therefore causing a mash up of information for the stability system.I had it happen on the A4 when we gutted and did the entire suspension, including inner/outer tie rods. The ESC would try to kick in randomly at certain angles and it almost scary to drive. The other possibility might be a wheel speed sensor, but you'd typically lose ABS when that happens as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Karacho1647545492 Posted December 7, 2013 Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 Good thing she's alright, hopefully she learned that ABS and AWD are not magical traction acronyms. Another vote for Derek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruizin01 Posted December 7, 2013 Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 gf slid her rsx off the road a couple weeks ago into a small ditch. slit the rr tire and bent the suspension. Didn't realize it until she said the steering was off. I spent an hour trying to figure out what was bent, never found it. Ended up buying the whole knuckle and rear arm used for $110 shipped on ebay. Swapped it all out. Good as new. Hopefully nothing bend but I for see it needing something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmwohio Posted December 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 Well......something is bent, but it's nothing obvious like the tie rod assembly or control arm. The front passenger side has an extra 1.5 degrees of positive camber right now and the only way they can fix it is by elongating the holes to put the camber back to where is should be. Anyone see a huge red flag of why we shouldn't do this? I'm wondering if its the spindle or the actual shock tower that may be bent. Guy said I would need to take it to a body shop to put it on a 'frame rack' to see what is actually bent.....can anyone chime on on this? They need an answer from me in the next hour or so. Thanks again for everyones help so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallard Posted December 7, 2013 Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 Well......something is bent, but it's nothing obvious like the tie rod assembly or control arm. The front passenger side has an extra 1.5 degrees of positive camber right now and the only way they can fix it is by elongating the holes to put the camber back to where is should be. Anyone see a huge red flag of why we shouldn't do this? I'm wondering if its the spindle or the actual shock tower that may be bent. Guy said I would need to take it to a body shop to put it on a 'frame rack' to see what is actually bent.....can anyone chime on on this? They need an answer from me in the next hour or so. Thanks again for everyones help so far! They should use camber bolts, also called crash bolts, instead of elongating any holes by hand. Every thing Jones said is accurate too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeesammy Posted December 7, 2013 Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 Drillling holes for things is NEVER a good idea in my opinion. Frame racks arena expensive endeavor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallard Posted December 7, 2013 Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 Example from a quick Google search. http://www.americanmuscle.com/eibach-proalign-bolts-9404.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE-O Posted December 7, 2013 Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 Claim it on insurance and get it fixed correctly on a frame rack will be the best option in the long run. Do it right or don't do it at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmwohio Posted December 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2013 Well, I talked to a couple of family friends that work/own body shops(and read your posts). They said that newer cars typically have suspension parts now that will bend and break before the actual body does. So they said that, more than likely, a suspension piece is bent and I just need to determine which one. So we just picked the car up yesterday(no cutting was done) and will be taking it to Acura of Columbus to have them find which piece is bent so either they or I can replace it. Anyone have an qualms with Acura of Columbus Service? I'm kind of out of options at this point. I just want someone who KNOWS the MDX and can recognize what is wrong and tell me what needs fixed, no guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordell Posted December 8, 2013 Report Share Posted December 8, 2013 Well, I talked to a couple of family friends that work/own body shops(and read your posts). They said that newer cars typically have suspension parts now that will bend and break before the actual body does. So they said that, more than likely, a suspension piece is bent and I just need to determine which one. So we just picked the car up yesterday(no cutting was done) and will be taking it to Acura of Columbus to have them find which piece is bent so either they or I can replace it. Anyone have an qualms with Acura of Columbus Service? I'm kind of out of options at this point. I just want someone who KNOWS the MDX and can recognize what is wrong and tell me what needs fixed, no guess. Sounds like a good plan. I have to agree with whoever you talked to, usually there is a weak link in there that bends first and hopefully a tech experienced in that vehicle will have no trouble pointing it out. Subarus seem to bend control arms, same with Mazdas, seen plenty of bent inner tie rods, and GM seems to bend struts sometimes. Even still some cars will have the cradle shift, hopefully yours is not a big deal. I wish you the best of luck getting that fixed up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallard Posted December 8, 2013 Report Share Posted December 8, 2013 Yeah, a lot of cars have a weak link that acts as a mechanical fuse. I've heard stories of BMWs breaking from hitting a bad porthole, but the car is repairable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruizin01 Posted December 8, 2013 Report Share Posted December 8, 2013 If the car was brought to our dealership we would sell the majority of the front suspension to insurance. Especially if you can't see what's bent. Ends up saving time and money because you are only r&r'ing parts once and only doing one alignment. I would think most shops would do this knowing you are going through insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmwohio Posted December 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2013 If the car was brought to our dealership we would sell the majority of the front suspension to insurance. Especially if you can't see what's bent. Ends up saving time and money because you are only r&r'ing parts once and only doing one alignment. I would think most shops would do this knowing you are going through insurance. We are not going through insurance....yet. Have a $500 deductible, so I'm going to see what they come back with. I'm having trouble following what you're saying.....? ^^ (What dealership do you work at?) Wife and I drove the car to Acura Columbus yesterday to drop it off. I live in Westerville and we took Powell road to Riverside to 161 to drop it off so I wouldn't have to drive on the expressway....yea, it's that bad, but still 'driveable'. Went in the this morning at 745 to get it checked in, and then they will let me know what they find. I'll keep you posted on this wonderful adventure as soon as I have fun.......:fuuuu: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruizin01 Posted December 9, 2013 Report Share Posted December 9, 2013 We are not going through insurance....yet. Have a $500 deductible, so I'm going to see what they come back with. I'm having trouble following what you're saying.....? ^^ (What dealership do you work at?) I work at Kelly. We've met/spoke a few times. Im just saying typically if we cant physically see what is bent we try and cover our bases with whatever parts will fix it the first time. For example if its a front end curb hit. We might price, -strut -strut top -knuckle -lower control arms -check wheel -outer tie rods (sometimes even a steering rack) -alignment This makes the job a one and done vs doing one part at a time and then an alignment each time you add an additional part. Hope that makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyM3rC Posted December 9, 2013 Report Share Posted December 9, 2013 I had a car I slid into a curb and wrecked the control arm. Replaced it and things were still off. Turned out to be subframe was bent as well. Sometimes sacrificial parts are good enough, sometimes they aren't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supplicium Posted December 9, 2013 Report Share Posted December 9, 2013 u work with my cuz Stephen. I fucked up my CC on Friday ill be doing the below @ MAG. I am hoping they dont rape me to bad. -strut -strut top -knuckle -lower control arms -check wheel -outer tie rods (sometimes even a steering rack) -alignment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supplicium Posted December 9, 2013 Report Share Posted December 9, 2013 I had a car I slid into a curb and wrecked the control arm. Replaced it and things were still off. Turned out to be subframe was bent as well. Sometimes sacrificial parts are good enough, sometimes they aren't. Was the car totalled? I bent my control arm pretty bad. My front wheel is sitting about 4" closer to the inner wall then normal. Im afraid something else bent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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