I hit a speed bump and broke my car

... well, I think I have.

Here's what happened, I turn into an empty quiet road and was looking around at the upcoming street names (as well as checking my sat nav which had no stand so I had to manually lift it and check it every few minutes. I'm going around 30 and never noticed a speed bump (it was the same colour as the road with no markings of any kind to show the gradient). I go over it and the bottom of the car smacks the bump with a fairly loud bang.

I get to my friends house and find what I believe to be water, leaking fairly fast from under the engine somewhere. The leaking continues for a good 20 minutes, and I then leave the car for a while. When I return, I fill up the water for engine coolant and check the oil, steering fluid and make sure the level of water is right.

I watch the car for a while and no leaking, I then driver a few miles and still no leaking, I then checked all fluid levels again and all seems fine. So I'm hoping that what ever was pouring from the engine was a wierd one off (the bump sending water upwards and out of the water container?

I'm going to ask my dad to look over the car at the weekend, really hoping I haven't done any lasting damage. Of course it was stupid to hit that bump, should have been going slower .. wasn't paying attention and have been driving for 7 days now.

Not sure why I wrote an essay, but do you think I've done any lasting damage?

Thanks

Reply 1

JC.

19

washer bottle?

was the "liquid" giving off steam or was it cold?

Reply 2

Fordie

the bump wouldnt have sent water up out of any of the bottles unless there was no lid on. coolant/radiator may not be leaking when the car is switched off as it wont be circulating the engine. if there is a crack, buy some "silverfish" from halfords or a petrol station and put them in and they temporarily seal up the crack until you can get it fixed or replaced. However this is just a suggestion. you may just want to get someone proffesional to come look at it.

Reply 3

AT82

If you have to lift a sat nav while driving are you aware this is driving without due care and attention? It could have been a child you hit :frown:

.

Reply 4

ElementWhat

OP

1

It was cold, no steam.
I think what happened was hitting the bump pushed the bottom of the car up and punctuned or otherwise impacted a container of water. I'm hoping it is something less important .. by washer bottle you mean the water to squirt onto the windscreen?

I'm not sure my car has the feature, although thinking of it now .. I do remember there being a blue cap with windscreen wiper picture so I'll have to check there.

Edit: AT82, I'm sure there's a word for your kind of comment.
The road was empty, no cares parked either side and it was clear ... I was aware of what was on the road and my surroundings, just noticed the bumper too late.

Reply 5

Fordie

i'm almost certain you will have a washer bottle. although don't just start adding screen wash to any old bottle under your bonnet. Are you sure you filled up the right bottles with the right stuff???!!!

Reply 6

Fordie

ElementWhat

Edit: AT82, I'm sure there's a word for your kind of comment.
The road was empty, no cares parked either side and it was clear ... I was aware of what was on the road and my surroundings, just noticed the bumper too late.

i'm, not having a dig, but when driving you've always got to expect the unexpected. you say youve only been driving for 7 days? your still learning. just cos youve passed your test dont mean you can drive. could a dog not have ran out in th road for example, just cos you think its clear, doesn't necisarily mean it is. think on.

Reply 7

ElementWhat

OP

1

Fordie

i'm, not having a dig, but when driving you've always got to expect the unexpected. you say youve only been driving for 7 days? your still learning. just cos youve passed your test dont mean you can drive. could a dog not have ran out in th road for example, just cos you think its clear, doesn't necisarily mean it is. think on.

^ I totally agree, I don't claim to be a good driver and I know I'll always be learning.
I just know for sure there was no one about, just mentioned the circumstance to build a picture of what happened.

Reply 8

AT82

Just be careful and get that sat nav fixed properly. I am still learning but I am always very very careful, I don't even wind a window down when I am driving as it can be distracting (one hand of the wheel, If I had to suddenly sweve and in south manc you often do you have no chance with one hand).

We all make silly mistakes, just put it down to that and learn from it.

Reply 9

ElementWhat

OP

1

AT82

Just be careful and get that sat nav fixed properly. I am still learning but I am always very very careful, I don't even wind a window down when I am driving as it can be distracting (one hand of the wheel, If I had to suddenly sweve and in south manc you often do you have no chance with one hand).

We all make silly mistakes, just put it down to that and learn from it.

^ Yup Yup, I (much like everyone) spent a hell of a lot of time and money to past my test and get a car so I'm really wanting to be careful. My sat nav isn't broken, I left the house without the holder that sticks to the windscreen, so rested the sat nav on the dashboard and checked it every now and again when safe.

Reply 10

Sync

14

Did you have the air conditioning on? If so, my guess would be that the 'leak' that you saw was just condensation from the air conditioning compressor. Happens on all cars when the AC's been on a while and you park it up. That would account for why the leak mysteriously disappeared.

Reply 11

ElementWhat

OP

1

It's a 1989 Honda Prelude, there's no A/C that I'm aware of. :frown:

... and wouldn't this mean the would be 'leaking' every time I park the car?

Reply 12

tomc87

1

ElementWhat

I'm not sure my car has the feature, although thinking of it now .. I do remember there being a blue cap with windscreen wiper picture so I'll have to check there.

Surely your car must have windscreen washers? 1989 isn't that long ago!

I know there's a leak in mine, it starts dripping when you fill it over a certain level.

Reply 13

Sync

14

ElementWhat

It's a 1989 Honda Prelude, there's no A/C that I'm aware of. :frown:

... and wouldn't this mean the would be 'leaking' every time I park the car?

Ah bugger. Assuming the AC had been running for some time, then, yes, every time you parked up there would be some condensation/water coming off the compressor which could look like a leak. But that can't be your problem since you don't have AC. :frown:

Reply 14

JC.

19

Fordie

the bump wouldnt have sent water up out of any of the bottles unless there was no lid on.

My washer bottle started life as a plastic mineral water bottle. :redface:

Reply 15

Ryan

10

I went over a speedbump too quick in mine (about 15 in a 30) and the exhaust snapped in half and fell off lol

Reply 16

JC.

19

15 mph!
IF I go over faster than 3mph my exhausts scrape. :frown:

Reccon 5mph would nock them off!

Reply 17

AT82

The ground clearence is so high on Fiestas you can go over them at 25mph and nothing happens :biggrin:

Sadly it also means if you go round a corner at speed it tips over.

Reply 18

Sync

14

I hit one that was completely unmarked at 45mph once (was in the middle of a forest and I thought that the speed bumps had ended and it was national speed limit again :frown:

). Apart from getting some air (no mean feat in a two ton Range Rover) and scaring the living crap out of myself and my passenger, nothing happened thankfully. Bastard things are speed bumps.

Reply 19

Chrrye

17

I dont quite understand

Apart from giving you a bigger bump, why does going over the bump faster hurt your car?

If its going to grind does it not do it regardless of speed?

I hit a speed bump and broke my car

Related discussions

Articles for you