Oil Change by Toyota Dealer gone wrong
#61
Do NOT give in, I repeat, do NOT give in. Go to mediation - have this resolved. Get a new crate motor or a new 4runner. What the hell do you need a mini-van for. YOu're going to get screwed out of the deal more driving a car and your wife gets a new mini-van? Where the hell did your balls go!
Stand strong and stop being so damn wishy-washy.
Stand strong and stop being so damn wishy-washy.
#62
to be honest, if the mechanic did not screw up you wouldnt be paying money for a new vehicle would you.. youd still have the 4runner? he screwed up and you are still looking at dropping another 3 k for a car you really didnt have to get. You should have no money coming out of your pockets in my opinion.

In my opinion this is time/energy wasted on your end so you should be getting the better deal. If you already haven't consulted a lawyer regarding this matter I think it's time to get that started so you get more back from the stealership. It's a terrible incident and you're just being taken advantage of. They can take a loss on a transaction and apparently they're still not looking out for your best ineterest.
You've been out of a car for x days now and I'm sure that's been out of pocket for you. You definitely need to get more back for the loss.
good luck
#63
Hey there... I had a similar issue, see post "Damsel in distress" over my blown engine due to a bad oil change.... its been 11 months but we went to court today and I got $4,000 towards a $6,000 repair bill. That does NOT include legal fees nor any other exp[enses incurred in the last year its been sitting.... whatever you do, do NOT accept that vehicle as your new car... for only having 25k miles, I'd say come get it, give me another. You might very well have trouble, nickel and dime stuff, with that engine for the next 300,000 miles... its too new to take this laying down...
By the way, I did the BBB and the tv news stories and the consumer's agency and they didn't make one difference in my case... just gave me something to occupy my time I guess. Get a lawyer and go after them. Hard and fast, don't take no for an answer. And good luck.
By the way, I did the BBB and the tv news stories and the consumer's agency and they didn't make one difference in my case... just gave me something to occupy my time I guess. Get a lawyer and go after them. Hard and fast, don't take no for an answer. And good luck.
#64
Just throwing my 2 cents in. You are being much too nice to them. I consider myself a nice guy, and there is no way I would consider taking any of those offers.
If it were me in this situation, I think I would let them know that they are just playing games and that they will be hearing from my attorney in the near future.
If it were me in this situation, I think I would let them know that they are just playing games and that they will be hearing from my attorney in the near future.
#65
If you're thinking about spending 3,000 or whatever on a new minivan, spend it on a lawyer instead and get a new 4runner. That IMO would be money well spent. I wouldn't give the dealership another dime after they just messed up your car. If it was me I would be furious that some schmuck couldn't remember to put oil back into my engine, You drain it, change the filter and refill, how hard is that? Get a lawyer and don't talk to the dealership at all anymore!
#66
Get hold of your Attorney General in the State you live in.
Tell him/her your case, back it up with any paperwork you have, they'll take it from there.
They have a way of putting the fear of God in any car dealership.
The dealer will buy you a new engine, plus labor, plus parts, or they'll have to buy you out at a fair market price, or supply you with the same model, year etc. etc.
Tell him/her your case, back it up with any paperwork you have, they'll take it from there.
They have a way of putting the fear of God in any car dealership.
The dealer will buy you a new engine, plus labor, plus parts, or they'll have to buy you out at a fair market price, or supply you with the same model, year etc. etc.
#68
i would park the truck immediatly, call you insurance company and see if your plan includes payment for a rental car. i would tell them the situation and have them contact toyota corporate. they will get the money out of toyota. then i would contact a lawyer, tell him your case, and ask him what your options are. i wouldnt settle for anything other then a brand new truck. a new motor is not enuff for me, i want my truck bought back, and a new truck in my driveway, at a very discounted price. they made a mistake, as many dealers do, and its an honest mistake, now they need to step up and fix thier wrong doings.
#70
I will look here in Missouri, I think the toyota dealership here has upset customers thrown in some sort of "hole".......not Oly's hole of course
Last edited by ksu1998; Jan 9, 2007 at 09:13 PM.
#73
These items refer to negligence on the part of the owner, not a dealership. ie., if you the owner cause damage by your own negligence, the warranty does not have to cover it. By taking it to the dealer for service, they need to take all responsibility for damage as a result of their actions (or inactions in this case).
#75
WOW; It's a no brainer...get a lawyer. Too bad I didn't see this when it was current news. I'm amazed that there would be any question of what to do on the owners end or the dealers end.
At the very least, a new engine should be installed & fair would be a replacement vehicle of comparable value. Myself I'd be lobbying for a new engine from a different Toyota dealership with the dealership that caused the problem picking up the tab.
At the very least, a new engine should be installed & fair would be a replacement vehicle of comparable value. Myself I'd be lobbying for a new engine from a different Toyota dealership with the dealership that caused the problem picking up the tab.
#76
I love how people say: Hire a lawyer ASAP, most of these people have never hired a lawyer in their life. Any decent lawyer is going to ask for a retainer which could be 1k to $5k and get $200-300 an hour.
Been there done that.
Your not going to be able to get paid for your distress. This is not a personally injury suit, it's about damage to personal property and nothing more.
If it was me I would take the 100k extended warranty and free oil service. I would also request that the warranty is transferable to the next buyer should you choose to sell your 4 Runner. Granted what happened sucks, but I think your wasting your time IMO.
Been there done that.
Your not going to be able to get paid for your distress. This is not a personally injury suit, it's about damage to personal property and nothing more.
If it was me I would take the 100k extended warranty and free oil service. I would also request that the warranty is transferable to the next buyer should you choose to sell your 4 Runner. Granted what happened sucks, but I think your wasting your time IMO.
#77
That happened to me one time at Grease Monkey with a Saturn...I Know...but the engine ceased and because I did most of my changes myself and didn't keep all the records it cost me a new engine build and it wasn't covered under warranty!!! That totally sucks, I'd lawyer up!
#78
Been there, done that
Guys, I have just emerged from a lawsuit with a quickie cange oill plce. While it is not the same situation,. I can tell you that my lawyer got about $2500 when it was all done (at $200 an hour), we were awarded $4,000 in damages for a 10 year old vehicle, the engine was 2400, got a guy to do the swap for 600, and meanwhile, it has run up other expenses for sitting for over a year while we litigated. Brake lines, fuel lines, fuel rail and injector gaskets, brake cylinder, all the rubber parts it seems... granted, thats from sitting for a year... It has now been exactly 1 year and seven weeks, and my beloved truck should be done any day... we hope....
Don't bother with the rental if you hope to reclaim that as damages... the court won't pay you for a rental. Nor will they pay any other damages other than the actual cost to fix it. I just came through this. Its solid advice. Don't make the mistake of thinking you'll get them to pay for your losses. Just unload the car and get something different.
I guess what I want to say is I think you are dealing with a shyster. Knowing that the engine had no oil, of course they wont buy it back. Take it to a different place, tell them your girlfriend doesn't like the color, and trade it in. I wouldn't say anything about the oil change, because the other place said its fine, right? I'd just trade it in. You now those engines go 300k easy when treated right... yours was abused as a child....
Don't bother with the rental if you hope to reclaim that as damages... the court won't pay you for a rental. Nor will they pay any other damages other than the actual cost to fix it. I just came through this. Its solid advice. Don't make the mistake of thinking you'll get them to pay for your losses. Just unload the car and get something different.
I guess what I want to say is I think you are dealing with a shyster. Knowing that the engine had no oil, of course they wont buy it back. Take it to a different place, tell them your girlfriend doesn't like the color, and trade it in. I wouldn't say anything about the oil change, because the other place said its fine, right? I'd just trade it in. You now those engines go 300k easy when treated right... yours was abused as a child....
#80


