Do you think I have a case?

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MatthewDavid

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So it was my girlfriends birthday last saturday... and we needed our thermostat changed... so instead of doin it myself I took it to a shop around the corner... they put it in no problem... I drove it home... didn't have time to test it... well long story short we drove about 10 blocks and the engine overheated... BAD!... I was like the hell?... luckily I wasn't very far away... took the car to firestone thinkin it could have been air in the system since I asked about it on here... they said they'd burp it for free since they kinda know me there... they tried burping it and found that the thermostat had glue all over it that was causing it not to work... of course I was pissed... had them reinstall a new one, since they can't install something they're not sure about...

went back to the other shop and asked for a refund for just the labor... the tech flipped out and said he didn't do that... and showed me that the one he put in worked... but I couldn't convince him that he put too much glue on it for it to operate properly... he wouldn't give me a refund... he told me to take him to small claims court... I don't think he's certified either... there's a lot of plaques on the wall... which makes it look like he is but none of them have anything to do with cars... do you think I have a case?... I wouldn't really care but he was really rude and called me an idiot... even though he was the one that was stupid... I got a statement from Firestone stating that it's cause of the type of glue he put on it that caused it to fail... and that it was all cause of faulting installation.

tell you the truth I'm just happy it didn't blow a head gasket or something.
but do you think I'd have a case?
 
I have put in a thermostat or two, and maybe I do it wrong but why was he using ANY glue?

Case, well that depends I would say you do, but is it going to be worth your time?
 
absolutely not, you should have taken it back to the original mechanic, then you would have had a case.
 
You do have a case; might have to bring the tech from firestone with you... as well as the part.

You do not have to take the vehicle back to the shop that incorrectly did the work in order to have a case. Had he opened it up and found it all buggered up on his own, he'd still have a case.

Why would you take your car back to a shop that just screwed it up in the first place? There is no legal premise to this assumption. Generally, when someone screws something up, you have someone else do the work.
 
NateRW21 said:
Why would you take your car back to a shop that just screwed it up in the first place? There is no legal premise to this assumption. Generally, when someone screws something up, you have someone else do the work.
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LMAO, My thoughts exactly.

You not taking it to the shop that did the work means nothing.
 
I had this with body work. First shop did a crap job, buffed it too much. The front bumper was right down to the yellow material on the edges.

Told Progressive I would NOT go back to the other shop and chose a shop of my own. They had no choice but to pay for the extra labor.

In your case you could certainly try. You have PROOF from a CERTIFIED mechanic that is was not done right. Easy case.
 
I didn't take it back cause it was overheating and I wasn't in the neighborhood... and yeah I got the Certified tech to write a statement stating that it was the glue that caused it to fail... and he said the same thing that there is no need for any glue in there... since it's pressed in with the bolts... and there's a gasket... I still have the part... when I went back to the first shop he started scrapping the glue off and I grabbed it from him... there's still quite a bit on it at least enough to show that it was excessive... besides that this guy and his receptionist were lyin a lot... first he said he didn't put glue on there... then he said yeah he did but only on one side... then he said that people are always comming back with stories tryin to get money back... then five minutes later they said they've never had one complaint the whole time they've been there... which I know everyone gets complaints... doesn't matter how good you are... there's always someone that's gonna... I think it is worth my time... kinda cause I've never taken anyone to court before... and it would be a learning experience... sucky part it I actually felt bad for goin back to get a refund cause they were pretty nice people... just full of crap!!
 
Yeah, all thermostats that I have ever put in use NO GLUE. The gasket may have a "sticky side" (like a sticker) and then it is bolted down.

You know what, at second thought screw it take him to court. Sounds like he does not know his ass from a hole in the ground. And especially if he was trying to pick the glue off.
 
Yeah I'm usually not the one that would even consider this but he pissed me off so much... and who knows how many cars he's gonna mess up!... or how many he has messed up... he told me he's been doing this for 30 years... when I asked for his certification he threatened to call the cops... and I asked for what?... I didn't threaten him... I didn't get out of control... he started yelling at me right when I asked for a refund... he said he'd give me 20 dollars and that's it... I paid him 80... it's guys like that that give the good shops bad reputations... i have a lot of friends in the auto business and they're all stand up guys... wish I coulda waited... now I know how foolish it is to trust someone with your car just cause they have the tools.
 
small claims court for sure. Ask for a full refund, along with the cost to have it done correctly and whatever filing costs are involved in the case. Don't try for anything else, it'll look like you're just tryin to line your pocket.
 
Good year installed my friends thermastat and radiator at the same time. They put primer over a ground wire and the whole car skrewed up. but they assured him that it ran fine. he took it from them and drove to work. wene he got there, coolant was bubbling out. He took it to ford the next day and they found out that the termostat was faulty and thhe result was warped heads. he called goodyear main office and long story short, they paid him $400 to a knew engine.
 
Yeah it kinda sounds like a wait of time... but I don't want a douchbag like this guy doing this to other people... I told him if he gave me 50 bucks I'd call it even... just to pay for the coolant and some of his time... but he said all he'd only give me was 20... it's more to the point that he was really rude... didn't do the job right and argued that he didn't have to refund my money cause he put the part in right... which I agree with... but he put it in right with glue on it that wasn't needed...
 
Well if you do go to claims, contact the BBB and file a complain and see if there are other complaints against him - good amo. And if you really want to get even, you could verify his credentials. I am pretty sure not just anyone can open a garage, I think you have to be certified in some way.
 
take him to court! shut him down if needed.

if the guy is working uncertified,you would think he would be more careful and take care of you,
he sounds like a real loser,

what if your engine has signs of overheat related damage 2 months from now?

you will sure as he!! wish you did something,

you cant let him screw over others,you have the chance to stop him now,

its not about $20 or $50 or $80 ,its about jerks getting away with crap like this.

of one final note,i suggest you talk to friends /family and find yourself a good trust worthy mechanic, i dont want to hear about another senseless Mark 8 killing.
 
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