Hello Jag-Heads, thanks heaps for the welcome, just wasn't sure if this was the right pidgeon hole to post. The car in question is a 2001 S-Type, 3L V6. Anyhow, my problem is that I have just received a phone call from our biggest Insurance Company's assessor (NRMA), telling me they will not entertain a claim that I have lodged with them, after being hit up the back side. The boot and rear tail light will need replacing, so there will be no problem with the panel beaters claim, but my problem comes from the Transmission specialist, who will need to do major surgery on the gear-box -- as ever since being hit up the back side, I am no longer able to engage the top two gears, or so it feels (auto trans). It now revs at well over 4500 rpm @100km/h, whereas it used to hover around just above 2000. It has engaged in a kind of limp home mode, to get me out of trouble temporarily. As Insurance companies by nature welcome Premiums, but hate Claims -- I am expectinng a long, drawn out battle with them. Being a mechanic by trade, who has hung up tools almost 25 yrs ago now, my knowledge on these fandangle transmissions is somewhat rusty, to say the least. For those of you who can remember what a carburettor, distributor, contact points or coil was, you will know what I mean! This is a question for all the younger (or up-to-date) whips in the trade on this Forum, who have a much better (and current) understanding on this matter than I do: I am assuming that the auto transmission in the Jag has more solenoids in it, than The Terminator and Robocop combined? If this is the case, surely it is possible after the shunt, that a number of them (or at least one?) may no longer work as they should, after being subjected to the shock of being hit up the back side? To my way of thinking, this would be entirely possible, esp. given the fact that the car was driving like a dream immediately prior to the accident. We had just returned from a 1400 km round trip, where she didn't miss a beat, and the transmission was as smooth as a baby's back side. I also drove to work that very same day, not a sign of 'Gearbox Fault' on the dash! This only lit up when driving home, so immediately after the impact! I have seen a major Department Store special off batteries (AA, AAA, and the like) at 90% off rec. retail that have been subjected to 'shock', after being dropped by shop-lifters from pocket height of less that a metre, after being chased by Security Staff. So my question is: can this feasibly happen to a solenoid, to dis-engage the top two (or three?) gears? Even if it is just remotely possible, I believe if there is any doubt, that the decision should lean towards the Premium payer? A bit like cricket, where the batsman gets the benefit of the doubt.......but something tells me that Insurance companies don't play cricket........ They are of course claiming that there was no connection between the gearbox failing, and the accident. It was all due to wear-and-tear, eg.: gearbox burn out Now, as someone who likes a bit of a punt, I look at things in odds. I simply cannot get my head around the fact that it failed on EXACTLY the same day as the accident. Or to put it in %ages, as the car is about 4750 days old (give or take a handful), this equates to a 0.02% chance of them being right, and a massive 99.98% in my favour. Mind you, this figure admittedly does not take into account wear-and-tear, as there is 130,000 klms on the clock. We all know that wear-and-tear starts the minute you leave the show-room, but still this is a massive %age in my favour, I think I would have better odds of winning lotto. Unfortunately, Imported Luxury cars are quite expensive here, as some years ago our Government imposed a hefty tax on such vehicles, to protect the local car market. Tragic thing is that this didn't work, as from 2016/17 there will no cars manufactured in Australia. Many jobs will be lost, but will the tax be scrapped so we can get a fair deal on o/s luxury cars?? Me thinks not....., but that's another thread! This tax in turn of course has put up the price of anything associated with the car, somuchso that the bill I am looking at could be in the vicinity of $5,500 (approx. GBP 3,000). Possibly just another reason the Assessor has said 'No'? It is an auto transmission, 5R55, which I believe is also in the Ford Explorer. However that model might not mean much to residents in the northern hemisphere. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Also, the assessor has said that this is a very common fault in these transmissions, that they burn out around this vintage. Can anyone verify or dispute this?? Many thanks in Advance, Kris P.S.: Thanks Peter for your advice, I will do that and start keeping a log. And believe me Mick, I don't really want to let the b***ards win, but they have A LOT more money than I do....
