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You guys are a bright bunch so I figured it couldn't hurt to ask here. I hit a deer a few weeks ago in Woodville and am trying to get my truck fixed. I have comprehensive insurance from allstate and they came out and cut me a check.

Well I took my truck in and it came out looking pretty decent. Not like new but close enough. A few minor details I can "live with."

The problem came when I tried to leave. I got in my truck and started to head off and it promptly died. Its totally not safe to drive. I took it back and they look at it and told me its an electrical issue most likely and they will have to take it to a dealer to be looked at. They said that if the dealer determines the issue was not caused by the wreck they will have to charge me a diagnostic fee and the insurance won't fix it.

My truck has some decent mileage on it, like 2 hundred thousand miles I believe. I drive it all the time. Its had a few issues as any vehicle has at that mileage. My question is, since my truck was working before I hit the deer, shouldn't insurance make it work after hitting the deer? If my truck was going 45 down the highway when it hit the deer then obviously it was working at the time. I didn't drive my truck because it looks pretty, I drove it because it was very reliable.

Thx for all input.

What does your "good hands" guy say?

Ask the body shop that question. It was running when you put it in their hands, wasn't it?

BTW, old people and old machinery sometimes know when their time is up and they just croak.

Yea, we even got a deduction on my deductible because I drove it up on my trailer and delivered it to them. I don't know how well it drove after hitting the deer, we just drove it up on the trailer and parked it since the radiator was gone.

Yes the insurance is responsible for getting back in working order. They will just cut another check to the mechanic. I'm sure with a good front end hit there are all kinds of things in the engine damaged and knocked out of alignment that they didn't see on the first inspection.

Well, I'm praying it was just a loose connection.

Most body shops aren't mechanics(or vice versa). They told you that by telling you that they would have to take it to a dealer to check it out. At this point they are just guessing. Get it checked out by mechanics--then talk to your insurance

You didn't sign any kind of release in exchange for the check....did you?

I don't believe so. They just handed me a check and gave me some papers to give to the body shop.

Check and see if your truck has a fuel shut-off that triggers on impact; it may just need to be reset. Many vehicles have these and it disconnects the battery from the fuel pump to keep it from running gas all over if the fuel line is damaged. I know our 2005 Suburban has it, and it was the same back to 2001.

Keith B wrote:Check and see if your truck has a fuel shut-off that triggers on impact; it may just need to be reset. Many vehicles have these and it disconnects the battery from the fuel pump to keep it from running gas all over if the fuel line is damaged. I know our 2005 Suburban has it, and it was the same back to 2001.

That's a good point Keith. I had forgotten about that, but it happened to a friend of mine.

That's a great idea. Thx.

They did say its not idling high enough. I'll tell them to check it.

Well they say it's a solynoid under the throttle body. Idk maybe it is coincidence. Ive got some research to do lol.

Not sure what make and model your truck is and the engine, but they may be refering to your throttle solenoid itself. That may be why the idle speed was low as you mentioned in one of your posts.