Miata Mailing List: August 1999, Message #237

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Well, my miata got towed today, which was good news in itself, of
course.  But then, after I paid my $85 and tried to drive it off the
lot, I could immediately tell that the steering was messed up.  The
steering wheel was much easier to turn than before, and it felt like the
car had a bit of vibration, even though I wasn't moving more than 5
mph.  I new something was seriously wrong when I made a sharp left turn
and there was a terrible grinding sound.  It sounded and felt like the
tire was rubbing against some part of the car, but when I got out and
inspected, I couldn't see any place where the tire would be rubbing.

I talked to the owner of the towing company who said that he is not
responsible for anything wrong with my car.  He says that the car was
towed properly, and that there is no way that the steering or suspension
could be damaged by his towing it.  He says it was towed on a dolly
because it is a rear-wheel drive vehicle.  Now, I don't know much about
cars, so all he was saying doesn't actually mean anything to me.  I just
had to keep repeating that the car was fine when I parked it
(illegally), it is not fine now, so his company must have done something
wrong.

By looking at my car, the trained eye can immediately tell that it has
previously been in an accident.  The accident occured before I bought
it, so I don't know any details about what kind of damage it sustained
at the time.  Shortly after I bought it, though, I had a mechanic look
at it.  The mechanic told me that no frame damage was done.  That is all
I know about that accident.

The towing guy today was trying to tell me that whatever problem the car
is currently having must be a result of that accident.  He looked at my
car and noticed that the front wheels don't point in the same direction
anymore.  The passenger side wheel is turned slightly inward.  He looked
under the car and said the tie rod is bent upwards.  He insisted there
is no way this damage could have occurred while it was being towed.  He
said I must have done it.  I reminded him that there is no way I could
have damaged it while it was parked and I was nowhere nearby.

I left the car at the impound lot, and will try to get my mechanic to go
look at it tomorrow.

Does anyone know what might have happened to it?  I want this guy to pay
for the repair.  Anyone have suggestions on how I should procede?  Is
there anyting miata-specific that my mechanic should look for?

Thanks for the help and for giving me a forum to vent.

Kim