How can I get the dealership to repair their mistake?

Question

We brought our vehicle in to have the fuel pump replaced; the vehicle had to be towed into the shop. After recieving the vehicle we discovered the gas gage was not operating properly, which it had been before the repairs. We have repeatedly brought the vehicle back to the shop to have it fixed and they're "solution" was to add 8 bottles of cleaner to try and get the gage to read the gas level properly. Now any mechanic with half a brain cell knows the floater is what reads the gas level and that when you replace the fuel pump on a 2003 Chev Cavalier that the floater comes as part of the new part when replacing the pump! The shop is telling us to pretty much shove it now though and refuses to repair their mistake saying that the gage never worked in the first place before the repairs and said that if I can prove it did work before they'll fix it!

Anyone know how we can force them to fix their screw up, being nice and trying to use logic and vehicle knowledge is obviously not working.

Answer 1

Your auto manufacturer probably has an 'ombudsman'. Get this information to that office along with BBB, and http://www.carcomplaints.com

Answer 2

I am a technician myself. What I would do is take your car back to the shop that you had it repaired the first time, and simply tell them that before the fuel pump was replaced the gauge worked and now it doesn't. That they need to make it right and fix it. Talk to the service manager when you go. Usually they try to make everybody happy. If that doesn't work then you will have to start getting a little nasty with them. What they probably have done is either the electrical connection is loose for the level float or the internal tank workings are off preventing the float from raising.

Answer 3

Contact your local newspaper and put them in the spot-lite,
call the BBB and I bet they jump.
I'm down to a 1/4 brain cell, what's a floater?
I did one this morning but that was in a different place.

Answer 4

I work at a GM dealer and know for a fact that not all fuel pump assembly come with a sender so strike one for you.Second do you get your gas at Shell ? If so strike two for you. Shell gas is bad for gumming up senders. ( yes GM does have trouble with their sender but shell gas makes it worse ) If they fixed the sender within the last year they should cover it again. If its was over a year ago then strike three on you.

Answer 5

Get them to let you pull your vehicle into their shop, then lock the doors of your car, put in a pair of earplugs and lean on the horn until they get the point.
Or pour a couple of quarts of tranny oil down the carb just before you go in, and THEN lock your doors, plug your ears, and while leaning on the horn you also lean on the gas and fill their shop with so much smoke the fire department will have to come. LOL

Answer 6

Take them to court. Also, report them to the Better Business Bureau. If you let them know you will report them, they should be wise and fix it.
If they ask for proof that it wasn't broke before they worked on your car, you can simply ask them to prove it was broke before they touched it. If they can't prove it, then they need to fix it.
Also, talk to the manager, if he doens't help, tell him you need to talk to his boss, and so on up his chain until you get the answer. If you have to go to the owner, do it. I am sure the shop managers boss won't want you to come bugging him with problems, and if you tell them you won't buy a car from them, or have your friends buy one from them, I am sure they will take care of you.

Answer 7

If you bought it from a new car dealers lot (used or new) then you can go to the company's public relation/customer service unit, but if it is a local car lot then you might try Better Business folks or some other customer/consumer protection agency.

Answer 8

Just take it back, dont take NO for an answer!