Engine burned on 2000 Camry after firestone changed the oil ?

[snake07]

Hi all,

I have this scenerio and I'd like to get an advice from everyone.

The situation is my brother took his 2000 camry to Firestone for an oil changed on wednesday last week, for some reason they did not fill the oil and my brother did not check before he left firestone. He drove the car till saturday and it burned the engine.

My question is how do I go back to firestone and have them take care of this problem since I know when I go and talk to firestone, they'll not take this as their responsibility and they'll find everyway to defense themself, talk their way out of this.

Any advice would be appreciated !

[Zembonez]

By all means I would go back there. If they in fact did not refill the oil, it's completely their problem. They will argue, but stick by your guns if you know this is the case.

WAIT!

Several DAYS have passed when it died?

[LittleWhiteBubble]

I worked at a jiffy lube, and many of the stores went through big claims while I was there and I saw the process. They do not want to risk lawsuits, but they have to handle everything their way. If you take your car to a mechanic and have a new engine put in and give them the bill, they will NOT pay. They will have the car assessed by a mechanic before any work is done, and then you can tell them where you want the work done and they will pay the bill. DO NOT do anything to the car first. Call the district manager of that firestone and talk to him about it. Most likely someone will come out to the car and look at it, and go from there.

[LittleWhiteBubble]

Make sure you stay firm, and don't let them talk you out of anything. Work your way up the chain, the regional manager will have to approve your claim, so you want to work your way up to talk to him about it. They would rather pay for an engine than deal with the negative publicity of a lawsuit so they will pay if you are adamant enough.

[snake07]

Thank you for all responses,

I just called my brother again to find out the whole situation, it wasn't Firestone. The place called Sparkle Express, it's a car wash place.

The issue happened on saturday, he knew something wrong with the car but wasn't sure what's going on so he took to a mechanic on sunday morning. While on his way, the engine died on him so he had it towed to the mechanic shop then the mechanic took a look at it this morning and found out the oil dried so he filled the oil to test the car.

Up to this point the mechanic hasn't done anything besides filling the oil to test the car.

[LittleWhiteBubble]

Well you might not be covered. Having the mechanic fill it took away any proof that the oil change place was at fault. But its still worth a shot.

[snake07]

I've just talked to the mechanic and he said he had to fill 3qrts of oil and the car is running but a clunk, lound noise came from the engine and the only way this could happened is it was low on oil or no oil. This is a definite proof what had happened to the engine.

[bdy0003]

Gather your receipts and your info together. Ask whoever is in charge to pay part of the cost of a new engine and labor. Otherwise, take him to small claims court.

My friend went to pepboys to get something fixed and then they, for some reason didnt lock the ATF bolt, so it drained all the way home. He went back and they locked it, but THEY DIDNT refill it, so his transmission was fried. Took them to small claims court, and I believe they paid a third of the cost of the repairs.

[LynchburgCSI]

Time to call your lawyer.

[shanton]

That is why I do my own oil changes. Once a long time ago, I took my car to this "instant" no-wait oil change place and a guy there tried to steal my wheel cover while it was being worked on.! Lucky I looked in on the garage area! Phew, it was a close call. Never again.

[snake07]

Once again, thank you for all supportive responses,

I've never dealt with a small court claim before so how's the process go ? If I have to hire a lawyer, what's the expecting cost ?

I'll stop by that place and talk to them after work today. I'll update how it goes.

[bdy0003]

I don't know how it is in CO, but in CA, lawyers aren't allowed in small claims cause its not for huge matters. You might also want to check out your county's website for small claims.

But see if you can settle for something, them paying a portion of the cost, that way you can avoid small claims. If not, take him to small claims. I believe each side side presents his case to the judge and the judge finds the best way to handle things. Make sure you have proper documentation and read the fine print in receipts to see if anything helps/hurts your claim. I think my friend settled on a third of the cost, but pep boys didn't want to have to pay. Judge ordered them to pay half. However, they have an allotment of time before they have to pay you, so you might not get money for almost a year. That's why it might be better to just settle.

[LittleWhiteBubble]

Most places have a policy that you have to contact them before doing any repair work they may be at fault for. Jiffy Lube did, and most other places do too. It would be far too easy for someone to tamper with the car themselves and try and get an engine out of the oil change place, now the oil change place is going to try blaming the mechanic and yadda yadda. Your best bet though is still to talk to the highest person you can on the chain at the lube place.

[Hajoca]

Aurora - Ontario Canada??

Small claims court - you represent yourself, and the defendant, contacted by the small claims court will have to appear themselves for small, such as non-criminal type issues and If I recall, amounts contested are below 25,000 dollars, (was 10,000 before 2010).

After oil change, does mechanic not show you a dipstick level??

[Hajoca]

Call Better business bureau?