Kizashi Club

So today it snowed here, and as I was on my way home I had to drive down a hill that also turns to the right. I wasnt going very fast at all, but once it started sliding down the hill it was gone. It got up a little speed, went sideways, and slammed up against a curb where it stopped.(It hit the curb so hard, the gas filler door popped open). Luckily there wasn't too much (visible) damage but, after moving it away from the curb, the wheel (and tires) absolutely would not move to the left at all. It would move to the right and come back straight, but no left. Also, the traction control light came on and stayed on until I restarted the car.

It was in the middle of a fairly busy street, so out of desperation to move it out of the way as to not be hit by someone else, I gave it a pretty good shove and finally it moved to the left. But... I did hear something crack and grind the first time.

After that, it didnt make any more uncomfortable noises so I nursed it home (about 1 mile away). It moved just fine, but it felt like I was driving through molasses. I hoping its just out of alignment, something like this ---> / |

That doesnt explain the crack and grind though....

Anyone have any ideas what it might be? Or if its safe to nurse it to the dealer?

Sorry to hear that. I am pretty sure the alignment is gone. Control arms might be toast. axle shaft prob.....you better take it to a shop to have them take a look

Agree with the statements above.

If it hit that hard you almost have to have cracked or bent something. Wheel/wheels on that side may be toast as well.

How far is the dealer?

I wouldn't get it up to highway speed without taking it apart to look at it. A dealer will probably really rob you to fix something like this. A smaller local shop might be a better way to go. It doesn't sound like you have what you need to diagnose it yourself. If you know someone with some knowledge it would probably be worth your time to have them jack up the car and pull the wheel off so you can have an idea of what might be wrong.

Most shops will try to screw you over if you don't know anything about cars. If you tell them what you think is wrong before they get in there and you are right they might be less likely to give you the run around.

I'm not sure what the subframe looks like on the kizzy but hopefully you didn't crack any connecting points.

Good luck.
You will have to let us know how things turn out. It will be helpful for other members that curb wheels. As far as I know you are the first to have talked about it on the forum.

Moto wrote:Agree with the statements above.

If it hit that hard you almost have to have cracked or bent something. Wheel/wheels on that side may be toast as well.

How far is the dealer?

I wouldn't get it up to highway speed without taking it apart to look at it. A dealer will probably really rob you to fix something like this. A smaller local shop might be a better way to go. It doesn't sound like you have what you need to diagnose it yourself. If you know someone with some knowledge it would probably be worth your time to have them jack up the car and pull the wheel off so you can have an idea of what might be wrong.

Most shops will try to screw you over if you don't know anything about cars. If you tell them what you think is wrong before they get in there and you are right they might be less likely to give you the run around.

I'm not sure what the subframe looks like on the kizzy but hopefully you didn't crack any connecting points.

Good luck.
You will have to let us know how things turn out. It will be helpful for other members that curb wheels. As far as I know you are the first to have talked about it on the forum.

Well, he didn't curb the wheels so much as slamming into one lol. But yeah, I wouldn't risk driving the car to a dealership or a shop if it is too far. Get it towed.

I had it towed to the shop. Turns out I cracked a wheel and bent the steering set up.

Parts and labor, the damage comes to $4,277.

The SLS wheel is around 600, the alignment is 100, and the new steering set up is 3,300.

I just turned it over to insurance and I'm letting them handle it.

Moto wrote:I wouldn't get it up to highway speed without taking it apart to look at it.

I have never understood this. Either the car is safe to drive or not. The impact of, say a wheel coming off, in a corner at 25 is probably more severe than losing while going straight down an interstate at 55. I don't know many people who have the patience to drive at walking speed for any distance, so you need to get it towed.

I am a HUGE fan of AAA - one tow easily pays for several years of membership

~tc~ wrote:

Moto wrote:I wouldn't get it up to highway speed without taking it apart to look at it.

I have never understood this. Either the car is safe to drive or not. The impact of, say a wheel coming off, in a corner at 25 is probably more severe than losing while going straight down an interstate at 55. I don't know many people who have the patience to drive at walking speed for any distance, so you need to get it towed.

I am a HUGE fan of AAA - one tow easily pays for several years of membership

I guess the logic behind that is the slower you drive, even if you do lose control, the accident will be minor as compared to traveling at highway speed.

Unless you hit oncoming traffic, or a pedestrian, or ...

at high speed you still could hit oncoming traffic, just not pedestrians though lol