Differential problem?

[kmac]

Hi Folks

This is my first post on this forum so hello to all. Spent quite a few years on an Alfa 33 forum while I was doing things with my 16V Sprint (must be something about boxer engines) but the Liberty has done everything expected of it without problems until now. Of course, there have been a few idle thoughts about supercharging, roll bars etc but not enough incentive to go further. I have owned the Liberty from new, December 2006.

On to the problem. I had a small crash at the front a few weeks ago - nothing structural or mechanical, just cosmetic and not enough energy to discharge air bag/seat belt (first car insurance claim in 45 years)- but when the car came back (and commented on by the smash repairer) there was loud clunking from the middle/rear with any significant turning angle. The car is an automatic so I understand it should have a VTD (Variable Torque Distribution) centre diff and an LSD at the rear. I have been on a number of forums and websites but cannot verify this for Australian cars. Similarly I have found a number of issues that sound similar for viscous centre diffs on manual cars but no info on autos.

With one rear wheel raised and the car in Park, the wheel can be rotated. With both rear wheels raised, rotating one wheel rotates the other IN THE SAME DIRECTION. This would seem to confirm an LSD but also that the centre diff is not locked. I can't see that the crash or subsequent handling by the smash repairer could have any bearing on this except maybe connecting and disconnecting the battery a few times may have damaged some electronics. My usual mechanic who has serviced the car since new (and the Alfa for many years before that) is closed until 07 January so this is an exercise in informing myself about the issues and possible reasons.

Any comments?

Thanks

[bigBADbenny]

Was the car towed or trayed at any time?

[kmac]

The car was put on a flat tray truck.

Thanks for your interest.

kmac

[alessandro132]

It could well be that it was chucked on the back of a tow truck and towed with two wheels still on the ground (what BBB was suggesting) - if this was the case, it could have stuffed the centre diff.

EDIT: you just responded before I posted

[kmac]

Unfortunately I didn't see it towed, but I think that arrangement unlikely. The truck was big enough to take the whole car on the tray. I will try to check but I doubt if the tow company will give me an answer. However, it went to a RACQ assessing centre first and was then trucked to the smash repairer so I don't know about that trip. More enquiries to make.

[bigBADbenny]

Longshot: towed in park?

[kmac]

Ben

Like the towing details, hard to confirm. If someone did the wrong thing would they admit it? - would they know they had done it? Best chance in that area is if my mechanic can make a confident statement that the damage is "consistent with the car having been...."

[bigBADbenny]

Plenty of good info here for you:
search.php?st=0&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&keywords=+diff&author_id=4185

[kmac]

Thanks Ben

Some interesting info but it is not clear if any of the posts were about auto gearboxes. They were mostly 3.0 B cars and I am guessing probably manual, therefore viscous centre diffs, different to mine. Appreciate the help.