Shop messed up my truck! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hatterasguy · #1 12-24-2009, 05:02 PM

I was checking the airfilter today on my Silverado when I noticed two hard lines going into the passanger side of the radiator. They look like transmission cooler lines, and both have about 8-10 inch's of rubber hose. Problem is the top one is nicely crimped on and the bottom one is freaken ghetto rigged with some hose clamps and leaking.

I'm thinking when the shop did my tranny flush the SOB's cut the line and just hose clamped it back together.

Monday I'm heading down their to give them a chance to make it right. If not I think they screwed me out of $100 in lines so I'll bad mouth them to everyone and hope they lose an equal amount of business.

Problem with these guys is you can't really do anything to them, and they know it. If I had dated before and after pictures I could take them to small claims, but I have no proof. Although its a lesson learned, nextime I'm going to check stuff out sooner and pay with a charge card so I could at least do a charge back on them.

MTI · #2 12-24-2009, 05:05 PM

You can still do a small claims action.

Brian Carlton · #3 12-24-2009, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Although its a lesson learned, nextime I'm going to check stuff out sooner and pay with a charge card so I could at least do a charge back on them.

You cannot do a chargeback for a dispute about the service provided. If you didn't receive the service, you can win the dispute but the card companies are in no position to determine whether you received proper service from a mechanic and won't step in to mediate.

t walgamuth · #4 12-24-2009, 05:16 PM

What you getting a tranny flush for any how? Isn't that a new truck?

I am old school, I want the pan removed and the filter changed and the tc drained.

Hatterasguy · #5 12-24-2009, 05:21 PM

Thats how you change the transmission fluid on new trucks, their are no drain plugs, not in the pan or tc. The only way to get it out is to suck it out with a machine the shops have. Truck had 55k miles on it at the time and was due for a tranny service.

I could still do small claims?

Brian Carlton · #6 12-24-2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

I could still do small claims?

Sure.........but, you're going to need some proof.

Shop says that the hose was in that condition when you brought the truck in............you say that it wasn't.

Burden of proof is on you................

Palangi · #7 12-24-2009, 05:26 PM

Just curious.... When you had your transmission serviced by "professionals", how much did they overfill it??

One of my pet peeves.....

Hatterasguy · #8 12-24-2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

Sure.........but, you're going to need some proof.

Shop says that the hose was in that condition when you brought the truck in............you say that it wasn't.

Burden of proof is on you................

Thats pretty much what I figured.

I'll probably just report them to these guys:
http://ct.bbb.org/

Hatterasguy · #9 12-24-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palangi

Just curious.... When you had your transmission serviced by "professionals", how much did they overfill it??

One of my pet peeves.....

Level is correct, other than this and trying to overcharge me they did a decent job.

t walgamuth · #10 12-24-2009, 05:55 PM

To drain the oil you have to drop the pan, change the filter and put it all back together with a new pan gasket unless it is like a benz and has a good rubber gasket.

You don't need no stinking drain plug!

Yak · #11 12-24-2009, 05:57 PM

Better Business Bureau, or any of the "professional organizations" whose memberships are frequently posted in the lobby or waiting room are also options. I had good luck getting a crappy repair reimbursed using those channels. The dealer said "tough" the first time I complained, but reimbursed me in full - and very quickly - after I sent letters to: Honda of America, the BBB, the Texas Auto Dealers Association. It helped that I had pics of the crap work and complained within days.

You say "at the time" which implies some time has gone by since the flush, which will weaken your case. But if it's recent (like a few days ago recent), and it is leaking tranny fluid, and there was no mention of a leak on the invoice, then you've got some grounds for complaint since they were supposed to do a tranny service, which I would presume means inspecting for leaks and bad lines.

I go with Reagan's "trust but verify" when it comes to repairs. I check the mechanic's work as soon as I get home.

Take the weekend to think it over, figure out what will "make it right" with you (a new hose? reimbursed for the flush? pistols at dawn?). Then draft up a letter and take it with you, have pics to show the service manager and/or owner, have a p/n and price for the cut hose ready.

Make it as easy as possible for them to meet your expectations on the spot, to include the option of leaving the truck there to get fixed that day if you're willing to let them work on it again...

Nate · #12 12-24-2009, 06:11 PM

I think they cut the crimp connector off, hooked up their machine between the hard line and soft line, and then used a regular hose clamp on the line after they put it back. Where the problem is, is the leak, imho. Is it dripping occasionally, or is it just something that wasnt cleaned up after the job?

The factory system on the 1500 series trucks isnt the ideal setup for flushing or changing the filter... If I remember correctly, one must remove the shifter cable and it's bracket from the pan bolts before servicing the filter.

Could add something like THIS to it if you DIY...

Not saying its done correctly either, but It may just need to be cleaned up.

~Nate

TheDon · #13 12-24-2009, 08:29 PM

did they find my sound encapsulation panels?

Hatterasguy · #14 12-24-2009, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

To drain the oil you have to drop the pan, change the filter and put it all back together with a new pan gasket unless it is like a benz and has a good rubber gasket.

You don't need no stinking drain plug!

The problem with doing that is you only get a few quarts and take an ATF bath in the process.

Hatterasguy · #15 12-24-2009, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate

I think they cut the crimp connector off, hooked up their machine between the hard line and soft line, and then used a regular hose clamp on the line after they put it back. Where the problem is, is the leak, imho. Is it dripping occasionally, or is it just something that wasnt cleaned up after the job?

The factory system on the 1500 series trucks isnt the ideal setup for flushing or changing the filter... If I remember correctly, one must remove the shifter cable and it's bracket from the pan bolts before servicing the filter.

Could add something like THIS to it if you DIY...

Not saying its done correctly either, but It may just need to be cleaned up.

~Nate

The job was done in June.

The more research I do on this the more I think its another crap GM design than anything else. Still I want my factory crimped lines!