dmonteau

Update: Melloy Dodge in Albuquerque replaced the rear differential and viscous unit. The total cost with labor was about $1,850. They used new Mopar parts. Last Friday morning I filed a claim with State Farm. They contacted Melloy Dodge Friday afternoon and Dodge provided them with an estimate and pictures. On Monday morning an adjuster from State Farm showed up at Melloy Dodge to look at the rear bumper????? Dodge told him the vehicle was there for damage to the rear differential and viscous unit and told him the damage was due to the vehicle being towed improperly. They also informed him that they sent an estimate and pictures to State Farm last Friday. Monday afternoon I received an email from State Farm advising me that they were mailing me a check for $670 for the repairs. I logged onto their website to look at the details and noticed that the adjuster prepared an estimate to have my rear bumper replaced. FYI - there is nothing wrong with my rear bumper except for usual wear and tear (scratches). I called the claims department and they advised me that since the repairs to the rear differential and viscous unit were complete the adjuster couldn't do an estimate. He did an estimate for non-existent damage to my rear bumper. I think they were trying to throw me a bone to make me go away. On Tuesday I called my agent Don Mason and gave him the background story. 20 minutes later I got a call from the claims department advising me that they were depositing $1,986.28 into my checking account to pay for the repairs to my rear differential and viscous unit. My agent called me back and advised me they would recover their money from the company they contract with to provide Roadside Assistance and/or the wrecker company. He told me the check for $670 to cover the repairs to my rear bumper was in the mail. I just picked up the car and it drives great. Melloy Dodge was outstanding. The service manager, techs and mechanics were amazing. I'm not sure what is going on at the State Farm Claims Department. I told my agent I thought I was in the twilight zone when I was talking to them. With that said, my agent did a great job assisting me with my claim. 

Locosiete, I understand your point. I moved a few miles but in the same zip code State Farm increased my rates for no good reason. With that said, my vehicle needs a new viscous unit and rear differential that will cost approximately $1,800. This was as a result of the tow company mishandling my vehicle - the tow company that State Farm dispatched. I pay State Farm extra money for Roadside Service so they should cover the damages. I believe they will recover their money from  the tow company. If they increase my rates I will find another insurance company. 

Update: Melloy Dodge in Albuquerque replaced the rear differential and viscous unit. The total cost with labor was about $1,850. They used new Mopar parts. Last Friday morning I filed a claim with State Farm. They contacted Melloy Dodge Friday afternoon and Dodge provided them with an estimate and pictures. On Monday morning an adjuster from State Farm showed up at Melloy Dodge to look at the rear bumper????? Dodge told him the vehicle was there for damage to the rear differential and viscous unit and told him the damage was due to the vehicle being towed improperly. They also informed him that they sent an estimate and pictures to State Farm last Friday. Monday afternoon I received an email from State Farm advising me that they were mailing me a check for $670 for the repairs. I logged onto their website to look at the details and noticed that the adjuster prepared an estimate to have my rear bumper replaced. FYI - there is nothing wrong with my rear bumper except for usual wear and tear (scratches). I called the claims department and they advised me that since the repairs to the rear differential and viscous unit were complete the adjuster couldn't do an estimate. He did an estimate for non-existent damage to my rear bumper. I think they were trying to throw me a bone to make me go away. On Tuesday I called my agent Don Mason and gave him the background story. 20 minutes later I got a call from the claims department advising me that they were depositing $1,986.28 into my checking account to pay for the repairs to my rear differential and viscous unit. My agent called me back and advised me they would recover their money from the company they contract with to provide Roadside Assistance and/or the wrecker company. He told me the check for $670 to cover the repairs to my rear bumper was in the mail. I just picked up the car and it drives great. Melloy Dodge was outstanding. The service manager, techs and mechanics were amazing. I'm not sure what is going on at the State Farm Claims Department. I told my agent I thought I was in the twilight zone when I was talking to them. With that said, my agent did a great job assisting me with my claim. 

Update: Melloy Dodge in Albuquerque replaced the rear differential and viscous unit. The total cost with labor was about $1,850. They used new Mopar parts. Last Friday morning I filed a claim with State Farm. They contacted Melloy Dodge Friday afternoon and Dodge provided them with an estimate and pictures. On Monday morning an adjuster from State Farm showed up at Melloy Dodge to look at the rear bumper????? Dodge told him the vehicle was there for damage to the rear differential and viscous unit and told him the damage was due to the vehicle being towed improperly. They also informed him that they sent an estimate and pictures to State Farm last Friday. Monday afternoon I received an email from State Farm advising me that they were mailing me a check for $670 for the repairs. I logged onto their website to look at the details and noticed that the adjuster prepared an estimate to have my rear bumper replaced. FYI - there is nothing wrong with my rear bumper except for usual wear and tear (scratches). I called the claims department and they advised me that since the repairs to the rear differential and viscous unit were complete the adjuster couldn't do an estimate. He did an estimate for non-existent damage to my rear bumper. I think they were trying to throw me a bone to make me go away. On Tuesday I called my agent Don Mason and gave him the background story. 20 minutes later I got a call from the claims department advising me that they were depositing $1,986.28 into my checking account to pay for the repairs to my rear differential and viscous unit. My agent called me back and advised me they would recover their money from the company they contract with to provide Roadside Assistance and/or the wrecker company. He told me the check for $670 to cover the repairs to my rear bumper was in the mail. I just picked up the car and it drives great. Melloy Dodge was outstanding. The service manager, techs and mechanics were amazing. I'm not sure what is going on at the State Farm Claims Department. I told my agent I thought I was in the twilight zone when I was talking to them. With that said, my agent did a great job assisting me with my claim. 

The first tow company that State Farm dispatched never showed up. As a matter of fact, I originally contacted them at 6:00 PM. I followed up at 7:00 PM and that's when they dispatched the first tow company. at 7:45 PM I called the tow company and they were rude and said they were not dispatched. I called State Farm again and they dispatched a second company that showed up about 30 minutes later. I'm pretty sure State Farm did not tell them. It was cold and dark as well. It was a very large wheel-lift tow truck so the driver probably had no idea when he started pulling it. I'm sure they have insurance so State Farm will settle my claim then go over the tow company for their money. 

I pay State Farm for  Roadside Assistance service. State Farm has my vehicle information and they should have provided that to the tow company when they dispatched them. As far as I'm concerned State Farm should pay for the repairs and they can recover their money from the tow company. After talking to the State Farm claims agent I believe that is how they are going to handle it. I know a State Farm agent who used State Farm Roadside Assistance for his own vehicle and the same thing happened to his car. He filed a claim and State Farm paid for the damages. He advised me that State Farm was liable since they dispatched the wrecker. Had I contacted my own wrecker this matter would be between me and the wrecker. We shall see what happens. 

I pay State Farm for  Roadside Assistance service. State Farm has my vehicle information and they should have provided that to the tow company when they dispatched them. As far as I'm concerned State Farm should pay for the repairs and they can recover their money from the tow company. After talking to the State Farm claims agent I believe that is how they are going to handle it. I know a State Farm agent who used State Farm Roadside Assistance for his own vehicle and the same thing happened to his car. He filed a claim and State Farm paid for the damages. He advised me that State Farm was liable since they dispatched the wrecker. Had I contacted my own wrecker this matter would be between me and the wrecker. We shall see what happens. 

Update: While travelling across country on December 20 near Longview, TX my transmission pump went out and the end result was a blown transmission. The tow company which was dispatched by State Farm roadside service towed my vehicle with a wheel-lift tow truck. That is a big no-no for AWD drive vehicles. They should have used a flatbed tow truck. The local Dodge dealer in Albuquerque, pulled the rear differential and viscous unit yesterday and confirmed that the rear differential is toast. They advised that the damage is most likely the result of the towing company pulling it behind a wheel-lift tow truck. I spent $5,700 for the new transmission and will spend another $1,400 for a new rear differential. I will be filing a claim against State Farm today.  

Update: While travelling across country on December 20 near Longview, TX my transmission pump went out and the end result was a blown transmission. The tow company which was dispatched by State Farm roadside service towed my vehicle with a wheel-lift tow truck. That is a big no-no for AWD drive vehicles. They should have used a flatbed tow truck. The local Dodge dealer in Albuquerque, pulled the rear differential and viscous unit yesterday and confirmed that the rear differential is toast. They advised that the damage is most likely the result of the towing company pulling it behind a wheel-lift tow truck. I spent $5,700 for the new transmission and will spend another $1,400 for a new rear differential. I will be filing a claim against State Farm today.  

Mechanical-idiot, I have a 2013 Dodge Journey RT AWD. One month ago while travelling across country my transmission pump went out which resulted in a catastrophic transmission failure. I just had a new transmission installed and 2 days later I started getting a thumping/rumbling sound from the rear of my vehicle. I just took it to Dodge and the drive train tech told me he is pretty sure it is the viscous unit. There is a small amount of fluid leaking from the seal between the viscous unit and rear differential. I will take it back on Thursday so they can pull it apart to confirm the problem. Your posts were very helpful. Thanks!

Mechanical-idiot, I have a 2013 Dodge Journey RT AWD. One month ago while travelling across country my transmission pump went out which resulted in a catastrophic transmission failure. I just had a new transmission installed and 2 days later I started getting a thumping/rumbling sound from the rear of my vehicle. I just took it to Dodge and the drive train tech told me he is pretty sure it is the viscous unit. There is a small amount of fluid leaking from the seal between the viscous unit and rear differential. I will take it back on Thursday so they can pull it apart to confirm the problem. Your posts were very helpful. Thanks!

Mechanical-idiot, I have a 2013 Dodge Journey RT AWD. One month ago while travelling across country my transmission pump went out which resulted in a catastrophic transmission failure. I just had a new transmission installed and 2 days later I started getting a thumping/rumbling sound from the rear of my vehicle. I just took it to Dodge and the drive train tech told me he is pretty sure it is the viscous unit. There is a small amount of fluid leaking from the seal between the viscous unit and rear differential. I will take it back on Thursday so they can pull it apart to confirm the problem. Your posts were very helpful. Thanks!

Mechanical-idiot, I have a 2013 Dodge Journey RT AWD. One month ago while travelling across country my transmission pump went out which resulted in a catastrophic transmission failure. I just had a new transmission installed and 2 days later I started getting a thumping/rumbling sound from the rear of my vehicle. I just took it to Dodge and the drive train tech told me he is pretty sure it is the viscous unit. There is a small amount of fluid leaking from the seal between the viscous unit and rear differential. I will take it back on Thursday so they can pull it apart to confirm the problem. Your posts were very helpful. Thanks!

Parts finally arrived late this pm.  Being installed tomorrow.
 
I took it for a run yesterday afternoon and after about 15 minutes of driving, it started clunking like crazy on left and right turns, but not going straight.  The transmission mechanic came with me for a run and confirmed that it was the bdorc 68058066AB Rear Axel Viscous Unit. 
 
Remember, it is a 2012 RT AWD.  Front wheel drives don't have this part.
 
I now feel much better about getting it fixed properly.  I was a bit worried that the repair might not fix it, but he is absolutely positive that he has now pinpointed the problem for sure.  He wanted to hear it before installing parts to make sure that he puts the proper parts on and doesn't charge me for parts that I don't need.
 
mechanical-idiot