[Guest]

If you remember the thread - I just got my '90 wrangler back TODAY.
9/10/03 to 2/12/04 - 5 months and $3,598 later.
TODAY I WAS ALMOST KILLED because the car broke down yet again.(after only driving it for 12 miles) I stopped for a light and the tranny wouldn't shift. With trucks barreling down behind me I almost abandon the car but finally found 4th or 5th and had to smoke the clutch to get off the rode. With some tinkering the shift started working and I made it back to the shop. Lost Reverse too.
BACK IN THE SHOP I told them tomorrow morning I wanted to be refunded EVERYTHING! or I am getting a lawyer and adding in the value of the car because it's now dangerous and not saleable. Bringing it near the $6,000 -$6,500 range.
THE MECHANICS started to panic and told me they will do whatever it takes to make the car function like new.
WHAT TO DO? Do I let them figure it out? They are claiming that the tranny shop guarantees the work so I should at least let them send it back to him.
In the meantime I discovered that the tranny shop CUT DOWN MY CLUTCH PEDAL and re-welded it because it was hitting the firewall after the clutch job and wasn't getting enough throw(?) for proper shifting.
ALL I WANT IS A PROBLEM FREE SAFE VEHICLE - MINE.
WHAT TO DO?

In a nutshell:

$1892.25 for new gears, seals and all parts, inc fluid
$65.26 (fluid that was not included. GL-3 - I had to go get it)

$338.35 Clutch Assembly
$138.85 Clutch Cylinder and Hydraulic Clutch Bearing
$60.00 Resurface Flywheel
$19.00 Cleaners (?????)
$360.00 Labor

$665 insurance - $133/mo x 5mo (my anger threw this in)

$3,598.05

(plus depreciation of the car from 2003 to 2004)- this was what I threatened them with also - maybe a little unreasonable. I've been keeping my cool till the events of today)

COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, THOUGHTS, ARE APPRECIATED.

 

[Jim_Lou]

You're dealing with a TOTAL incompetent; the modified clutch pedal is the giveaway. No matter how good the intentions of the folks involved, there's at least one complete Bozo involved. Therefore the team as a whole is not to be trusted.

I would recommend talking to a lawyer next, with the goal of recovering everything you've paid so far, plus the cost of taking the Jeep to a reliable dealer to replace everything they've messed up, plus depreciation, plus insurance paid but unused, plus attorney and court costs, plus an allowance for expenses for alternate transportation.

A lawyer should be able to tell you what you can reasonably expect to recover, what it will cost, and how long it will take. Once you know that you can make an informed choice. Any discussion at this stage is pure speculation.

Way down on my personal list would be allowing any of the past actors withing thirty feet of my Jeep.

 

[Olin18]

I woudl agree. see professional legal advise, and get what these people owe you.
They should pay for you to take your Jeep to a deal and get everything replaced. And if I were you I would not recomend this shop to any of your friends.

 

[Guest]

Well, I confronted the shop owner and asked for a refund. He told me to let him make good on his warranty. I reminded him he had my Jeep for 5 months and 4 returns (one requiring a tow 5miles from the shop) and that I lost all confidence that the work will ever get done properly. He said, "You're not getting your money, I guess I'll see you in court in a few months"

Questions concerning my next move???
1.I think I will get the car towed to a Jeep dealer.
2.It will obviously fail NYS inspection.
3.Obtain a detailed report on the work and parts in question (Including the cut-down clutch pedal)
4. Obtain an estimate to get the work done correctly
5. Put the car in storage. Put my insurance on hold. Return plates to DMV
6. Record EVERYTHING
7. Get a lawyer! (first to write a letter, than file a claim.)

Am I missing anything?

Can anyone on this forum forward me something, technical or otherwise, relating to the cut-down pedal?
Hazards, Incompetence, Safety Concerns, Damage, etc.

I really appreciate the responses.
Stephen.

 

[Jim_Lou]

If you can afford to do that, it's great, although you might want to put the lawyer first on the list instead of last.

As to the pedal, some potential problems are obvious - if the weld wasn't done properly the pedal could break and cause you to lose control, crash into a day care facility, hit a propane tank, cause a mighty explosion and fireball, burn down the building and kill all the little crumb crunchers inside. Not to mention messing up the paint on the Jeep. But if it ever gets to court, what you will need is testimony from somebody with engineering credentials, not the say-so of some Bozo on an internet bulletin board.

 

[JEEPN]

I agree, time to see a lawyer. Take them to the cleaners if you can, but you probably won't recoup all of your money, as the lawyer will get a fair chunk of it.

DO NOT let them try and make good on it one last time, enough is enough, you're absolutely right.

And I would do what the lawyer recommends, which is probably to have it inspected by an expert and a written affidavit generated.

I'm sorry you are going through this, and I truly hope it works out in your favor.

 

[283]

It is definitely time for a lawyer. Ask your attorney to make sure, but I would also try to get the cost of someone (Jeep dealer) to fix it right and bring it back to factory specs.

Why would anyone cut down the clutch pedal because it's hitting the firewall? Don't they know how to adjust a clutch?

Ken Linzmeyer

 

[dorfs]

What happened to the 70% rule for rebuilding? I can buy a NEW AX-15 from the dealer for $1800. Knock off the labor for rebuilding, and you only have about 6 hours for remove and replace.

I bet you the guy rebuilding it left out the small shift interlock pin on one of the rails. I have seen it before.

I would go the local dealer and get an est. for replacing, then back to the shop that did the work, and tell them you are headed to the DA's office.

 

[knifeboy2]

In reply to:

I would go the local dealer and get an est. for replacing, then back to the shop that did the work, and tell them you are headed to the DA's office.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just to clear this up.......the District Attorney will do squat for you in this case. What you need is a civil suit lawyer, preferably one who has dealt with situations like this in the past.

I too would pull out my phone book if I were you and start calling both mechanics to get an estimate for the repair (call at least 3) and local lawyers. Good luck.

 

[010]

Here what going happen, you going to sue for 4k, because its an off road vehicle, you will lose. The lawyer will bill you for 5K and then you be out a total of 9000. If I was the mechanic I would tell somebody that wanted to sue so bad to go ahead. There are so many loop hole with mechanic that they can't lose.

so instead of sueing for money, sue to get the vehicle repaired at the dealer plus court cost. Never sue for money unless somebody dies in the vehicle , you cannot win, and somebody must actually die, not just come close.

Now you can alway take it to attrtainion. They where a judge without a court appearing would decide what to do.

 

[Guest]

Thank you thus far gentlemen.
The Jeep is at a dealer getting looked at. I get the news tomorrow 2/20. I'll keep you posted.

My thoughts on the matter is that
1. I should be repayed ALL of the $3,000+ that the first mechanic shop was payed. It took him 5 months to put in a clutch that does not fit. Rebuild a tranny that shifts when it wants to and cut down my clutch pedal. I initially brought in a working, safe vehicle that was experiencing occasional stiff shifting
2. Payed back a good portion of what it will cost me at Jeep to get it back to (what one of the replies refered to as factory) excellent working condition.

I don't think this is unreasonable given the BS I've been put through. I also don't think I should pay a mechanic for trying. I have to work a long time to net $3500.

Thanks again everyone for the vote of confidence. After I speak to Jeep tomorrow I'm speaking to a lawyer.

Stephen.

 

[445]

you did get screwed plain and simple. I had a clutch replaced on my f150 and i think it was $500 though to just replace a slave and master it should be about 1 hour in labor if it was an external slave and master or probably about 6 hours as allready stated to replace one that is enclosed in the bell housing. If the mechanic was in the bell housing he might as well replace the clutch disk if it was almost warn. 5 months to replace the clutch disk, slave, master, and rebuild the trans is rediculious. I know i could do it in far less time in my own back yard. I hope you have another rig to drive every day. I'm not a big fan of law suits though i think he deserves what ever he has comming to him. If you give it back to him i'd give him a 1 week notice and if everything isn't perfect inculding a new clutch pedal take him to court for what ever you can.

BarrelRoll

 

[494]

I remember reading this before, and I am really sorry you had to go through this.

I'd second sueing (sp) for replacement, and legal/cort costs. Not sure if you'll get a refund, but then again I'm not a lawyer. I've just been screwed by one who didnt win a case and still owed money too. Makes a bad situation even worse.

Second, I'd call Better Business Beuru (sp) and inform them, doesnt do a lot, but every little bit helps.

Third, I'd call the local news stations. Atleast here in RI they have one station that lives for this kind of stuff. They'll send people out and smear them on the news.


Thats about all I have right now.

5 months, you could have made the tools yourself, and then done the job. That also includes time to teach yourself how to do it. Hind sight is always 20/20, you probably also thought taking it to a shop would have it done reliably and fast. Two things you might not be able to do on your own.

 

[knifeboy2]

When searching for a lawyer the advice I've always been given is to tell them the situation and then ask them if they'll take the case on the contingency they only get paid if you get paid. If they take it then you know two things......1. you've got a strong case they honestly feel will win and 2. you don't lose more money if you lose the case.

 

[dorfs]

I dasagree with knifeboy2, at least in Colorado. There are strict laws that all shops must follow. You must give a written estimate within 10%. You must return all old parts to the custermer upon request. And you must give an estimate within 10% for teardown and inspection which includes re-sssembling to the original state.

The DA's out here are more than happy to step in. Normally a simple phone call from the DA to the shop is enough for the shop to rectify the situtation. If the free call to the DA won't work, then spend the money for a lawyer.

 

[Guest]

I would definately speak to an attorney BEFORE allowing anyone else to work on the jeep. Some states will require you give the shop an opportunity to correct the problem under warranty before the grant of any relief. In any event, having a "competent subject matter expert" review the work performed is a good idea. Be sure to get a thorough written report of the "rape" and take that with you to the attorney.