Horrified

I took my 85,carrera in to have new rubber put on by Tire Racks recomended installer in my aria.The #$^%#$& s jacked it up with one of those monster jacks with 4 arms and bent both rockers,scratched the under coat off and managed to crimp the outside passenger oil supply line to the front oil cooler.I took it to 2 body shops for estemates and was quoted from $750 to $990 worth of damage to the body.They also noticed that the oil line was smashed.I called Staddard and the line and install is $600.I would like to know if I can get this line anywhere for less than $340 and install it myself? Please help with your input.
Thanks All.

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Mully 911

Is the tire shop going to pay for the damages? What's their side of this?

If I was in your situation I think I'd totally lose control. However that doesn't achieve much, easy for me to say, I know.

Get quotes from the best repair shops around, one copy to the installer and let them know you expect them to pay, one copy with your claim to your insurance company and one copy to Tire rack to let them know that you think they're responsible too.

I've stopped mechanics jacking my car up under the floor panels and heat exchangers. I carry a jack plate in my tool kit for them to use.



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Allan Broadribb
'70-911E, 2.2l with Webers

Oops!

[This message has been edited by Allan Broadribb (edited 04-12-2001).]

The tire instaler should have liability insurance to take care of this. When I purchased tires and had them instaled I took the wheels off the car and took them in, the tire place mounted them only,pain in the --s but you have to avoid tires places that dont know where to jack up a Porsche.
Sorry to hear about your car.
GB83SC

I gave copies to the installer of all the estimates.He could not believe all this damage was from his shop.I let him and his so called mechanic look at the car and they made comments like "how much is this car worth?"and "looks like this damage was from someone else,our jack posts are round and could not of creased it like this.I was ready
to draw blood at this point.The owner says he wants to check on these prices and call me friday.I really am furious!!!I took all 4 wheels only to them at first.When i put them on and drove the wheel shook like a wild woman ,thats when I went back to have them balance them the right way.After causing $1500 worth of damage they found I had 8" Fuchs in back not 7" and balanced them the right way.Man am I pissed!!!!!!!!!!!

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Mully 911

Mully,

Have seen a set of oil lines, cooler and everything needed from the motor to the front on either Rennlist, Pelican or Ebay recently.

Take a look there. If the tire shop starts waffling on the cost, call a lawyer. They have insurance for this and for them to deny responsibility for it is typical.

Pls take photos of the damage before you drive it and get it dirty etc... so that they cannot claim that the damage is old. Also any witnesses you might be able to find will help.

JA

Sorry to hear that.

I have a slight dome in my driver side floor pan from just such nonsense......

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Michael
'78 911SC Euro

That's a terrible tale.

You know, this is why I order my tires from the Tire Rack, have them delivered to the local Porsche dealer and pay them $75 to mount and balance the rims. If they screw up the car, they have to fix it. And they won't screw it up. I would never take a Porsche or any fine car to the tire monkeys at any chain store. Try the dealer next time. They don't send their cars to the chain stores for the same reason we don't.

Also, I can't possibly imagine what difference it would make whether the rim is 7 or 8 inches; it's either balanced or not, right?

Vic
88 Carrera

vjd3
I think I have learned my lesson,believe me!
The machine used to balance the tires needs to know the correct rim width in order to calculate the correct weihgt to add for counter balance.I will go to Stoddard next time..`

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Mully 911

Don't even deal with Dumb and Dumber at the shop. Ask for their insurance carrier and work from there.

If they refuse to give you that information. Get on the phone to the State bureau of automotive repair. That will straighten it out very quickly.

[This message has been edited by mikez (edited 04-12-2001).]

I feel your pain, Mully.
I just bot 2 new rear tires and had them installed on Saturday. Had to stand right there and warn them not to put it on the lift. I was really sweating 'cause I forgot my jack pad (that goes in the side slot). They used two floor jacks, & started to raise it up on the sway bar brackets (told them these were problematic, and didn't want them to hasten their demise). I showed them where to jack it up, and one side was done properly, but before I could object, he lifted the other side right under the shock absorber. It was already up, so I just held my breath.
Everything ended up okay, though. Before they balanced it, I saw them take a caliper to the wheel to find its diameter, then dial it into the computer, so I think the size is relevant.
The other dumb thing is I didn't have the owner's manual with me to show the jacking points & argue with the guy... so be sure to take the manual next time.
This summer, I swear I'm going to get a can of dayglo green paint, and paint a big round circle on each jacking point. Then I'm going to paint the A/C lines & oil line bright red. Just my luck I'd get a color blind mechanic.
regards,
jlex.

Mully, sorry to hear about your misfortune. I was fearful of something similar happening when I recently ordered new tires from Tirerack. After checking the list of recommended installers, I opted to have the tires shipped directly to me. I took my wheels and the new tires directly to the installer (sans P-car)and watched them install the tires only. That way, only I was responsible for jacking my car up.

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Shakenbake (Chris Baker)
1974 911 Sunroof Coupe

My girlfriend asks me why I have to drive 100 miles to the Porsche dealer just to get the car inspected. I made her read your post.
I have a huge fear of some incompetant bubba-type wreaking havoc on the underside of my car. There's also no way in hell I'm going to let one of those monkeys "street-test" my car. I've seen Ferris Bueller's Day Off :-)
On a side note; Just becasue they are a dealer does not exclude them from mistakes. I had my P-car in for an oil change last year (at the $$$ Dealer). They managed to put a 5" crease in my drivers door. Their story, "A gust of wind caught the door and slammed it into the side of the lift".
They couldn't understand why I was so upset.
You always have to be careful... unfortunately :-(

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Dan Tolley
1987 911 Coupe
http://www.cheaterswayside.com/911/gallery.asp?sort=0&userid=294

I am going through the same thing right now. Minor dings on the rocker panels, but flattened one oil line and pinched the other pretty good. I replaced the oil lines this past weekend, tire shop bought the parts. I would rather do it myself, than give Beavis and Butthead another chance to damage my car.

THAT SUCKS!!!

Most tire jockeys are mullet headed inbred morons! If I have a car with steal wheels BFD, but anything with aluminum rims and they get top dollar service.

I have seen dealers F-up cars and wheels too, so that is not always the key. Find the best tire shop in town and use them. Usually they will have a clean shop with wide bays and respectable looking crew... And of course check out the shop parking lot and see what clientel they have. The local place a go to looks like a damn auto show in the parking lot!.. Makes my P-car look like chump change Then again this is the only local place that I can get the tires balanced on the car also, and I am next door neighbors with the manager which helps also who also has a beautiful 911 C2 cabrio with some sweet custom rims

The cup jacking stand is a life saver! One of the best $15 purchases ever... Plus it works equally well on old VW's

Be firm you will get your money for repairs.



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Adrian Pillow
1979 911 SC
1966 VW Microbus
PCA - Peachstate Region

Don't even bother with their insurer. Let them know what the damage was, as you did. But since it is obvious they don't want to pay, just get it fixed the way you would normally do, saving all documentation of the damages and repairs. Make sure you preserve all evidence of the damage, including taking pictures of it. Then file a small claims court suit naming the tire shop as the defendant and asking for every dollar that you are out. Warning: do not try to puff the claim or have it repared in the most expensive way possible. That will hurt your credibility. Bring a friend to small claims court that can verify the car had no damage, and just tell the judge your story and give him your evidence. The shop's insurer may contact you before the hearing. If not, they are not interested in settling. Don't settle for less than they owe you. Email me if you have any procedural questions.

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MRM 1984 Carrera Cab Eurospec

A dealership once raised on of my non-P cars on their hoist with the driver's door open. It was bent severely on the window frame and hinges. Lucky it didnt fall off the hoist!

Back when I was working in a shop we had a customer who took their car to a tire shop for an oil change. They drained the automatic transmission instead of the engine oil and then filled the engine oil (x2). The car got about 8 blocks before the transmission siezed up. They paid for a new transmission.

Not to mension all the warped brake rotors and stripped wheel studs from tightening the wheels with the impact wrench at these tire places. Remember, most of these guys are changing tires and oil because McDonalds wasn't hiring.

Your shop should have insurance or should pay for ALL the repairs, incl the oil lines. It may need a new thermostat too if the lines are siezed here. If they don't pay, call a lawyer.

Good Luck.

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Nick Shumaker
1982 911SC Coupe
nickshu@yahoo.com
PCA -- Rocky Mtn. Region

thanks for the tip. that adds another item to the list of "why i stay away from Tire Rack"

obin

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A straight line is the most BORING distance between two points.

Jesus you finally explained something that's been a mystery for more than a year!
In Feb 2000 I had new tires put on my car at a shop.
The tires were fine and I never noticed anything odd.
But, around 2 weeks later I was walking back to my car from a distance and the passenger side rocker panel looked funny.
I got up close and noticed that it looked like someone with a boot just kicked it in (like from below it) right behind the front right wheel around 3 inches back from the wheel well.
Although I never tested my idea to see if it could be kicked in, the amount of effort it took me to pound it out was considerable, even though I had the rocker off when I did it. Nonetheless, I never got it pounded out right, but I've put off buying another one--
Now I'm wondering if the goofs who did my tires smashed it in on the machine; where were your rockers bent in?


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Kurt B
'84 Carrera Cab.
carrera_cabriolet@yahoo.com