Repaired 2001 Dodge Intrepid Head Gaske, but the shop says they won't warranty it because it had sludge in the engine. Don't all engines have some sludge in the engine? They said they did a solvent flush and probably removed 85% of the sludge. Shouldn't they at least warranty their work for 90 days.
2007-07-07 08:17:39 · 9 answers · asked by Teresa K 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
What is the shop's normal warranty on repairs? Did they give you an estimate of the repair cost, and tell you that they would not warranty the work? If they told you that, why did you allow them to do the work?
If they normally warranty their work, and after they did the repair told you that they were not willing to warranty the job, you do not have to accept the new terms.
If you have a problem with the work they did, take the car to another shop and have them repair it correctly. Then depending on the cost of repair, a small claims court suit would be the way to go.
Do not sign anything saying that you agree that there is no warranty!!
2007-07-07 08:43:14 · answer #1 · answered by fire4511 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
sludge in the engine has nothing to do with the headgasket. We own a shop and we warranty all of our work. If by chance you got the engine hot after the work was done,,,,then that will would be on you. However if it's the work they done., then they have to warranty the work...sometimes ya just get faulty parts.
2007-07-07 15:36:10 · answer #2 · answered by Kenneth S 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No, they don't have to. All engines don't have sludge. If you don't change your oil, you will build up sludge. Most shops will not warranty if there is sludge. They did their best with the solvent flush, which is a good thing. Sorry about the no-warranty.
2007-07-07 15:32:12 · answer #3 · answered by gayle 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sludge is a result not a cause of a head gasket blown,any repair should be warranted for a certain time or not attempted in the first place
2007-07-07 17:14:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bet it is a 2.7 litre, and they have big problems with sludge build up, especially if the oil is not changed very regular. They also have problems with the timing chains. As far as the other shop and the warranty, it's up to them to warranty or not.
2007-07-07 15:35:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dear Gasket-
I would say that its time to use a different shop.
But I am also going to help you empower yourself too.
Listen, my wife has some of the same trouble when she takes her car to the shop. Some of these "Old School" screw-balls still treat women like they know nothing about their car.
Now don't get me wrong, there are folks out there that know nothing except how to wash it and put gas in it. But that tends to be on both sides of the gender gap.
So listen up and take this advise to heart, because you are in a very good position to be owning yourself a new shop.
First, I believe your shop thinks you to be a nieve woman. Now I have not met you, and I am not going to make that assumption. But they should have done the right thing and they didn't.
Save their recipt for the work that has been completed. Next take a trot over to your local Dodge Dealership and show the service writer what the other shop has done to your vehicle, and state that you would like to have a complete diagnostic done to your car. This includes verifying the findings of the other shop, and recommending the proper actions to be taken.
Next follow the Dealerships reccommendations for rapairs and maintenance from that point forward, plus take the time to establish a repair relationship with your Dealer. You will find their staff is far more professional, and the work is normally done the right way the first time, (I will get into that in a minute).
Next take your two recipts and locate your local Bureau of Automotive Repair Office. If you are in California you can look them up on-line and get their information.
You will then need to take your receipts into that Office. Show them the receipt from "Joe's Auto Mid-Night Madness" and your local Dealership. The dealers reccommendations will carry more weight, and are more accurate than the other shop. So the mission here is not to get your Dealership into trouble. Also let the dealership know what you are doing and why. They will help you in your quest.
Give the dealership contact information to the Bureau Offical, and allow them to do the investigation. They will send a person out to the dealership and ask them some questions about why you came to them. One they learn that you took your car there for a "Second Opinion", they will send an investigator out to the offending shop.
That shop is going to have some serious questions to answer for, no to mention a possible sexual discrimnation complaint against them. For the record, this investigation and their results will be posted against them on their business license with your local Chamber of Commerce, The Better Business Bureau, and the Department of Consumer Affairs.
If there are too many complaints of this nature, the shop will not be able to renew their Business License in your area. This effectively closes the business.
Shops who continue to practice this should be penalized. I know here in California, there are significant monitary fines that can be leveyed against them.
OK. Now from this point forward I strongly recommend that you continue to take your vehicle to the Dealership. These newer cars are more sensitive to incorrect repair procedures and silly mistakes. Also, the people at the Dealership are working on that particular product all of the time. They will have the most up-to-date information on your car. If there are any factory service bulletins they can address those while the car is in for work. Some of them may also be covered under warranty.
This also establishes a work record for all of the repairs and maintence done to your vehicle. Basically it makes it easier to monitor your car for any potential problems. Not only that, but now that your dealership has your address information, they can notify you by mail if there are and warranty repairs that come from those service bulletins; and get you scheduled for those repairs.
Finally, keep the oil changed. Every 3000 miles or 90 days, whichever occurs first. Your dealership will send you a flyer in the mail notifying you that your oil change is due, based on the 90 day interval. When you get the flyer, head down and get the oil changed. They will also do a safety inspection, and if there are any problems you will know about them at that time.
Yes the Dealership is more expensive. But you are paying the extra money for a better level of service and more accurate information about your car. The end result, is that you will probably be back to purchase your next car from them, and continue to have them serviced at that dealership.
Plus, the parts they are using are Factory OEM parts. The parts are going to be the same equipment your car was assembled with when it left the assembly line. These parts are engineered for your vehicle, and the vehicle will operate the very best with them, and be the most reliable.
I hope that helped you out, enjoy your car!
2007-07-07 16:47:02 · answer #6 · answered by Teknoman Saber 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
They probably are just trying to get out of some high dollar work..I had simular incident when a molded bracket broke off an engine and they said it was because of some dumb *** reason that wasn't covered...I had it resolved after talking to a lawyer and he wrote a letter saying he would sue for breach of contract....they fixed it and paid me 150 bucks for a rental.
2007-07-07 15:28:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi
No they don't have to give a warranty if they suspect future problems, but they should have discussed this with you before they repaired it so that you could make your own mind up as to the repair.
Cheers
Geordie
2007-07-07 16:59:26 · answer #8 · answered by Grizz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like baloney to me. I would call your State Attorney Generals Office. They will be able to help you, and advise you on the laws in your state.
2007-07-07 15:33:19 · answer #9 · answered by Ben H 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋