Should I be upset?

gshiwota · 11-17-2011, 09:28 PM

I took my '86 that I was selling in for a PPI at a local and reputable shop. The car had a full compression and head stud test (remove lower valve covers). When I pickup the car I noticed three things.

1. The car had nearly 80 miles on it. Apparently the mechanic to the car home to give it a through test drive.
2. The car was 3 quarts low on oil when I picked it up. I had just topped off the oil last week so I know it wasn't low going in. The car isn't burning oil or leaking excessively so I'm pretty sure the 3 quarts were lost when the valve covers were off.
3. I now have a oil drip coming off of the left lower valve cover. I have owned the car for a year now and this is the first oil drip to hit my garage floor.

Should I be as upset as I am or am I over reacting?

Oh and BTW.. the car pass with flying colors. Solid and consistent compression numbers and only minor future maintenance issues.

oh snap · oh snap's Garage

I would be upset but I'm not sure what you can do aside from finding a new mechanic. You can send it back to fix the oil leak but do you really want to let the guy have another crack at your car?

gshiwota · 11-17-2011, 09:35 PM

Exactly what I was thinking. This is why I don't like anyone else working on my car.

tevake · 11-17-2011, 09:43 PM

It doesn't sound like you went off on the shop guys, so not over reacting. I would talk with the shop manager and find out if they put in new gaskets on the valve covers, and suggest that they should and offer to pay for the parts, should get new crush washers too. Also mention that it was returned to you three qts. down. See what he does about that. Then that would lead me to know whether to mention the high mileage. 20 to 25 mi. should be enough to get it up to temp. to check for leaks.

Basically give him a chance to earn your business back. If all doesn't go well, don't go back or recommend him.

Cheers Richard

timmy2 · timmy2's Garage

Tell the potential buyer about it and see if he'll make it right with the garage for you.

livi · 11-18-2011, 01:54 AM

I would be rather annoyed. Left with an 80 mile test drive and an oil drip. Not acceptable. What you can do about is another thing of course..

slow&rusty · 11-18-2011, 02:48 AM

I would be flaming mad. I work too damn hard to have some ignorant half-ass mechanic dis-respect my property. I would be seeking some sort of financial compensation..totally unacceptable.
Yasin

Cairo94507 · Cairo94507's Garage

I would definitely speak to the shop manager. A test drive is not 80 miles to take the car home and back. I would also mention the leak and the 3 qts. of oil. I do not know if I would trust that shop again unless that mechanic were no longer part of their business.

WTF is wrong with people that they would think they can do something like that?

81 SC Ray · 81 SC Ray's Garage

TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!!! If I found out that someone drove my 31 year old car 80 MILES under the guise of a post maintenance test drive - I would speak to the manager and never bring my car back there again. Also, depending on what the manager says during our converstation, I would tell of my experience far and wide. The other stuff that happened to you seems to be common. I find that more often than not, whenever I have service done on anything by "professionals" if they fix the original problem, they usually screw up something else. Sorry about he negative outlook, but, it is what it is.

KNS · 11-18-2011, 06:21 AM

I try to do most of the work on my car myself and absolutely hate bringing a car in to a shop. Sometimes a test drive is necessary so a few miles would be expected. Eighty miles..!!??

A shop has insurance coverage for test drives and the like. If he totaled your car down the street from his house do you think his provider would cover it? I doubt it.

porschenut · 11-18-2011, 06:54 AM

I'll bet they didn't bother with a new valve cover gasket kit, and that's why you have a leak. Those gaskets can't be reused once the covers come off.

I'd be in the manager's face about this. Now, presumably the prospective buyer paid for the PPI, so whatever it costs to add 3 quarts of oil and replace the gaskets and nylok nuts should be on his dime, or the shop's. The 80 miles can't be added back, so I'd at least demand a full explanation.

porschenut · 11-18-2011, 06:55 AM

And how about letting us know who the shop is so we can all avoid making the mistake of taking our cars there.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Well as a result of the PPI and it sells....it's the new owners problem....

Either way, I'd still wank to the wrench about it.

KNS · 11-18-2011, 08:55 AM

I think a good idea in the future when dropping off a car at any shop is to tell them that if any more than five or ten miles need to be driven on the car to please call first and explain why.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

Personally, I would talk to the OWNER of the shop. May or may not be the manager.

I would not worry about it, but if you are really upset, what you can do aside from finding a new mechanic, is to have a lawyer write them a nice "Gonna Sue Ya" letter noting that they have committed a tort, and you will be asking for punitive damages.

You allowed them to use your car for purposes of repair - that includes a test drive. They will have to prove that an 80 mile test drive was required and it was not just joy riding in someone else's car. You would have to prove accurate mileages and other stuff.

A letter will get their attention. A suit would be overkill and not all that easy to win.