A160 Hit A Badger...

[E55BOF]

The car is my son's 2018 A160 (automatic). He just called to tell me he hit a badger at about 70 mph on the way home, and now the car won't accelerate normally; it does so much more slowly than before. The front bumper is badly cracked, but there are no strange noises while driving, no warning lights, no increased exhaust noise, and apart from the acceleration, it drives normally.

I'm stumped; I haven't the faintest idea what it might be. My first thought was a damaged acceleration linkage, but I doubt a frontal impact with a relatively small animal like a badger could do that, and anyway, the poor creature went under the car, not up the bonnet, and the pedal feels normal. Does anyone have any ideas?

Just had a thought. Could the transmission have gone into limp mode? He said it went up to about 5000 rpm, though, so I assume not.

 

[neilrr]

I that a turbo charged car?

If yes maybe an intercooler hose or some other part of the air intake has been damaged or dislodged & the integrity of the air intake system has been compromised.

 

[GeeJayW]

I that a turbo charged car?

If yes maybe an intercooler hose or some other part of the air intake has been damaged or dislodged & the integrity of the air intake system has been compromised.

2018 Mercedes-Benz A-class (W177) A 180 (136 Hp) | Technical specs, data, fuel consumption, Dimensions

Mercedes-Benz A-class (W177) A 180 (136 Hp) Hatchback 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 | Technical Specs, Fuel consumption, Dimensions, 136 Hp, 215 km/h, 133.59 mph, 0-100 km/h: 9.2 sec, 0-60 mph: 8.7 sec, 5.5-5.8 l/100 km, 42.77 - 40.55 US mpg, 51.36 - 48.7 UK mpg, 18.18 - 17.24 km/l

www.auto-data.net

Seems to be turbocharged, so agree, it could be a damaged intercooler or dislodged hose.

 

[pcthrillrider2]

The car is my son's 2018 A160 (automatic). He just called to tell me he hit a badger at about 70 mph on the way home, and now the car won't accelerate normally; it does so much more slowly than before. The front bumper is badly cracked, but there are no strange noises while driving, no warning lights, no increased exhaust noise, and apart from the acceleration, it drives normally.

I'm stumped; I haven't the faintest idea what it might be. My first thought was a damaged acceleration linkage, but I doubt a frontal impact with a relatively small animal like a badger could do that, and anyway, the poor creature went under the car, not up the bonnet, and the pedal feels normal. Does anyone have any ideas?

Just had a thought. Could the transmission have gone into limp mode? He said it went up to about 5000 rpm, though, so I assume not.

im very surprised the airbag didnt go off!

 

[ToeKnee]

im very surprised the airbag didnt go off!

Do badgers have airbags??

 

[Petrol Pete]

Badgers are as solid as f*ck , the front lower end of small modern cars ? ...not so much. At 70 mph ? better get the underside of the car looked at.

I hope it's not too bad .

 

[ChrisEdu]

I hit a pheasant at 70 and it smashed the intercooler.

 

[Bellow]

2018 Mercedes-Benz A-class (W177) A 180 (136 Hp) | Technical specs, data, fuel consumption, Dimensions

Mercedes-Benz A-class (W177) A 180 (136 Hp) Hatchback 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 | Technical Specs, Fuel consumption, Dimensions, 136 Hp, 215 km/h, 133.59 mph, 0-100 km/h: 9.2 sec, 0-60 mph: 8.7 sec, 5.5-5.8 l/100 km, 42.77 - 40.55 US mpg, 51.36 - 48.7 UK mpg, 18.18 - 17.24 km/l

www.auto-data.net

Seems to be turbocharged, so agree, it could be a damaged intercooler or dislodged hose.

If so, then very probably able to draw unfiltered air. Needs investigation ASAP.

 

[st13phil]

Seems to be turbocharged, so agree, it could be a damaged intercooler or dislodged hose.

It's actually an A160, so must be a W176 model at that year, but it is indeed turbocharged so intercooler or hose damage causing loss of boost is the most likely culprit.

 

[DSM10000]

Accelerator is a drive by wire system so no linkage as such.

As said by others, intercooler or boost pipe issue most likely.


Glad he is OK

 

[E55BOF]

Thanks guys. It hadn't occurred to me for a moment that it was turbocharged, but that would certainly account for it. I'd have thought he'd have heard the boost leak, but maybe not; he has the technical appreciation skills of an orang-utan...

The car is a contract hire. He's had it from new, but when it came up to the end of the contract, he wasn't asked to return it, and he was happy with it, so he just let it run and kept paying. I presume that if it's a write-off, which at main dealer prices it probably will be, the insurance payoff goes to the hire company, and they ask him to pay any shortfall between the amount and the valuation?

He was thinking of a new car anyway...

 

[st13phil]

I presume that if it's a write-off, which at main dealer prices it probably will be, the insurance payoff goes to the hire company, and they ask him to pay any shortfall between the amount and the valuation?

Yes.

Hopefully any shortfall will be small - or (better) nothing at all.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Did he make sure he got the badgers insurance details?

 

[E55BOF]

It turns out it wasn't a badger at all...

Yes, he got the details:
Mr. B. Womble,
The Warren,
Wimbledon Common,
London SW19 0FK

 

[colinallcars]

Isn’t there a collision detection system that puts it into limp mode?
The car, not the badger!

 

[ToeKnee]

Isn’t there a collision detection system that puts it into limp mode?
The car, not the badger!

I'm sure the badger was limping too though

 

[ray_hennig]

Badgers are as solid as f*ck

Yes, my son's W201 found that out the hard way. And the 201 is probably much more solid than a A160 so a check is vital.

RayH

 

[st13phil]

I hit a pheasant at 70 and it smashed the intercooler.

About 30 years ago a friend of mine was on a test ride on a then new BMW K1100RS travelling at about 50mph when a pheasant flew out from a verge. He collected it on his shoulder (fortunately, not on his head). Net result was he had a broken shoulder, he lost control of the bike and the bike was written off.

Bottom line is that hitting any animal or large(r) bird at speed is likely to result in quite significant damage - and the death of said creature.

 

[DSM10000]

About 30 years ago a friend of mine was on a test ride on a then new BMW K1100RS travelling at about 50mph when a pheasant flew out from a verge. He collected it on his shoulder (fortunately, not on his head). Net result was he had a broken shoulder, he lost control of the bike and the bike was written off.

Bottom line is that hitting any animal or large(r) bird at speed is likely to result in quite significant damage - and the death of said creature.

But, on the other hand, a tasty meal

 

[E55BOF]

I hit a pheasant at 70 mph in a Rover 800 once. The only damage was to the passenger side windscreen wiper.