新的状况出现了,昨天(周六)车铺经理来电话说他们换好了损坏的部件,但是说我要付钱,cover部件和人工费,经理口气强硬粗暴,跟我说不交钱车不能开走。我跟他沟通之后开走了车。我觉得这个事情需要跟进,我想先从Better Business Bureau开始,这个商业评估机构可以承担客户跟店铺的mediation,他们也有评估系统,类似谷歌评估。当然谷歌评估也是值得去写的。我打了个草稿:
Subject: Auto Repair Shop left car leaking engine oil after routine oil change and manager tried to refuse to take responsibilities
The car is a 2016 Jeep Cherokee, mileage at time of incident was about 38000 KM. It had been used as a demo car by dealer until I bought it in October 2018. It had never had any engine or oil problems until August 26 2022 when I sent the car to repair shop for routine oil change. One week after the oil change, on Sept. 02 the oil icon on the meter panel starts to flick on briefly and then went off, giving off a warning beep at the same time. This happened only when I accelerated after slowing down at traffic lights. The next day the warning beep came up more frequently and the car stalled on the highway ramp with my three-year old in the backseat. I found large amounts of engine oil leaked from the car on the ground where I had parked the car. I had the car towed to the repair shop in the evening after the shop was closed for the labor-day long weekend.
It was obvious to me the problem was related with the oil change on August 26. The problem had never occurred before that.
On Tuesday Sept 6 a mechanic (let’s refer to him as mechanic A) from the repair shop called me to say that they indeed found the engine oil had almost all leaked away but had found no loose oil filter or plug. They refilled the engine oil and let the vehicle run on the hoist for two hours and found no problem. When I picked up the car, Mechanic A said he and another mechanic (lets refer to him as mechanic B) both checked the oil filter and it was not loose. In fact it had been tightened so tightly that they had to use tools to get it off. I was unconvinced and said to them if there were no problem, how could there be a leak after they did the oil change. The problem seemed mysterious. Mechanic A said he believed it was not mysterious and most probably some mistake was made during the oil change. He said “mistakes do happen and we will stand behind it.” I was concerned about engine damage and asked to get the car checked by another shop. Mechanic A suggested that I drive the car for a week, if there is a problem then we can get a third party check up. I asked him to reimburse me the towing fee. He agreed and said he would make a bank transfer for the towing fee when I go back after a week to have them look at the car again. Mechanic A said they would stand behind their job and put a new engine in if there was engine damage. They gave documentation of the job they had performed and did not charge me.
I drove the car for over a week and the same problem occurred again on Wednesday Sept 14th. The oil icon flicks on with a warning beep, and the car stalled twice within two KM away from my home. Again I found puddle of leaked engine oil on the ground. I drove the car to them repair shop on Thursday Sept 15th. Both mechanics A and B looked at the car when I was there. They found oil oozing out from the filter area when they started the engine but the filter was okay. I left the car with them and went to work by train. Later that day Mechanic A called me to say that they had called the Dodge dealer and learned that it was “not uncommon for the oil filter housing assembly to be damaged during oil change.” He said they would order the parts and replace it.
On Saturday Sept. 17s I received a phone call from a man who identified himself as “the manager” of the repair shop. He told me the car was ready for pick up and I had to pay for the parts and labor hours. I disagreed and reminded him that the problem had resulted from their oil change on August 26 and they should take responsibility for it. I reminded him that the oil leak started only shortly after they did the oil change on August 26th. He became very emotional and said “how can you prove it?” He said “who can predict if I step out of here I would not die?” He changed the story from Mechanics A and B and denied they had anything to do with the oil leak or the filter housing damage. He said it was tear and wear. I told him the car had a mileage of less than 40,000 KM. His communication was rude and disrespectful. He said “if you are looking for a free deal go somewhere else.” I told him if we could not resolve this issue I would take further actions. The conversation got interrupted at this point because he had customers. After a few minutes he called back and told me that he would not charge me and I should not pursue any further actions. I asked him to park the car outside so I could drive it away in the evening after my work and keep the key until I visit him after the long-weekend. He said he did not want the key. He would place the key in the car and he did not want to see the car any more. He asked me not to step into his shop any more. He said “I will take the cost.” He said “I hope you sleep well tonight” and repeated this statement several times. I drove the car away on Saturday evening after work. It is operating without any apparent problem for now. I have received no documentation for the work they had done on Sept 17th. The manager of the shop has explicitly refused to take any further responsibilities for any of the work they had performed on the car.
The following are my concerns and complaints。
1. The repair shop should take responsibility for the oil leak because it had occurred shortly after they did the oil change. The shop changed their story. Machenic A had told me they would take responsibility for their work but the manager had refused to do that.
2. I believe the repair shop should pay for the towing for sept. 02.
3. I believe the repair shop should also pay for a third party check on the engine for any damage due to the oil leak.
4. I should receive proper documentation for the work they did on the car on Sept. 17th.
Lastly, a footnote: I sent the car to the shop for oil leak two times. Between the two repairs I had to go without a car for 6 days. I thought about renting a car and making the shop pay for the car rental but never did that, simply out of compassion for Mechanics A and B. They looked honest and straightforward.