Dealer messed up my RAV - need advice

zoltar · 07-02-2009, 09:52 PM

I brought my 07 RAV, which I bought from this Toyota dealer new 2 years ago, in for a oil change today. I left the dealer, got 10 miles up the interstate blowing smoke out the back. Turns out they screwed something up, didn't fully install the filter, pan plug, or whatever and lost all the oil. I ditched off the interstate at the next exit, called it in, got towed and now have a loaner (a new RAV). The engine was making a slight rapping noise like valves or something as I was coming off the exit. Need some opinions as to how I should deal with this, like insist on a new engine, etc. I appreciate all the help!

BTW nice forum, sorry my first post is a complaint, but at least this is what brought me here.

***TrailDust*** · 07-02-2009, 11:38 PM

Welcome to the nation! I'm moving your thread over to the RAV4 forum so that you can get a better answer to your question.

KdF · 07-04-2009, 08:05 AM

Scream!
Demand satisfaction!
Don't let them give you a run around in any way.
If they messed up, they are totally responsible for their mistake and fixing it to pre mistake condition. Thats why they carry tons of insurance. Demand a new engine if you feel that it will not be made whole again.
Go for it!

hondahawkrider · 07-21-2009, 09:17 PM

Also, contact your insurance company... They are insuring a vehicle of a specific vintage -etc. Keep any and all the paperwork from the repair.. Also, depending upon their finding - I would at a minimum - get them to pay for an extended warantee - or get them to tear the top end down to make sure everything is A-Ok

EODVET · 08-02-2009, 11:31 AM

There is way too much at stake here for you to try and give this a go on your own.

Do not let them fix the engine you need a new one. They will only fix the parts that are preventing the engine from running properly and there is no way to tell which bearings have been "affected" by this and will fail later down the road.

New engine or new car or money for a new car of equal value. Those should be your only 3 options that you have to consider.

If they give the run around get legal council.