Help Me Please

[Mr_Black]

Here's the problem folks....Ok about 3 weeks ago this guy backed into my car and damaged the drivers side head lamp and cornering lamp. So I talked with him and he gave me his info of his ins. and so I proceeded to get estimates for what I assumed was only minor body damage and a little paint work. But a week after the accident my cars temperature guage srating coming on and also my check engine light as well and then as I continued driving down the road smoke started rolling from under the hood and also I would hear a clanking noise until my car came to a complete stop after stalling on the highway. So I called teh guys insurance and they came and picked up the car and took it to their bodyshop and looked over the damages. They told me that by the accident the guys car had shifted my front end to the right and taht so it dislocated the clamps to my radiator and thats what they think went wrong. So then a couple of days ago the body shop calls me up and tells me that the body work is finished but they can't seem to get the car started at all and that they are approx. 85% sure tat it is the timing chain b/c my car has over 100K miles on it (110K to be exact) and that this problem is common among the buicks with the 3800 engine in it. So then today I get a call from the Insurance guy who tells me basically the same thing the body guy says and that they don't feel that this damage is or was caused by the accident and taht it was simplya coincidence that the timing belt went out the same time taht I happend to have the accident and that they weren't liable to fix it and I told them that my car was running just fine before the accident and that I didn't have any problems with the car until afterwards. So if there is anyone out there that could please tell me if they can help me or think what the problem might be I would greatly appreciate it. I just purchased the car in april.

[DrJay]

I'm not familiar with the "common" 3800 timing chain issue. You should hook it to a scantool and see if you have a history code related to the cam position sensor. If not, see if you can get it started using starter fluid. Don't use it in excess though.

You might be in a tight spot as far as the insurance goes. They'll probably say not only was it a full week later but you continued to drive the car after the "temperature guage srating coming on and also my check engine light." I can picture them pulling out the "driver responsibility" handbook on that one.

There's a whole host of things that could have been jiggled loose by the accident and probably twice as many that could have been damaged by overheating. It's really something you should give to a reputable shop to diagnose.

Good luck with it though, hope it all works out.

[Flatrater]

Well I have been a Buick tech in a dealer for 14 years now and I have only replaced a handful of timing chains due to the cam gear breaking (these are the old 3.8 "L" engines). I have never had a bad one on the "K" engines.


I have my doubts about what the Body Shop states is wrong since they have no training or experience on engine problems. Have the car towed to a service dept or indy shop and have them look at it. If it is found that it was caused by the body damage then call the insurance company and have them look at it.