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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Nov 7, 2017 11:47:50 GMT -5
Background
So we bought my wife a brand new car in 2013. 5 year/100,000 mile warranty. We're over 100k, so warranty is up.
I have done all the motor oil changes and fluid top-offs since new. I got new tires from PepBoys about 2 years ago.
We had plugs, wires, and an ignition coil replaced by the dealer last spring, we were past the warranty so we paid the repair bill.
We had the transmission cooler replaced in July by the dealer, because it was leaking. Again, we paid the repair bill.
I had the transmission cooler replaced again 2 weeks ago by the dealer, because apparently it was damaged during install and leaking AC refrigerant (it's a 2 in one AC condenser/transmission cooler). The dealer covered this cost since they boogered it up back in July, but didn't take full responsibility - tried to say that vibration caused it to rub against something and gouge a hole. But they replaced it.
This is the only service work that has ever been done on the vehicle.
Current Issue
A few days after we got it back from the dealer, it started making some grinding noises under hard acceleration. This time I took it to a local mechanic I trust, who called me while ago and said that the transfer case has been drained. He said that you could tell the drain plug had been removed before, but the fill plug has never been out of the case. He says there are no leaks, it had to have been intentionally drained. The transfer case is destroyed.
The dealership is the only one to have ever serviced the vehicle, and had it right before symptoms started. I called the dealership to explain the situation, and while they said they would look into it, they have already begun the "we have no record of servicing the transfer case" thing. I tried to remain calm, but it was insinuated that I might be trying to scam the dealership. Very frustrating.
If they come back and say they have no record of it and aren't liable, do I have any recourse? It is frustrating because if it was indeed drained, I know it had to have been done when it was there for service last. I just have no proof.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 12:07:33 GMT -5
Dealership will rip you off. I had a clang sound in my front right. I checked it out and it was a lose bracket. I didn't fix it, but instead took it to the dealer. Quote was $1700 for new complete right side. I told them what the problem was and showed them. They just said this is our quote take or leave it. I needed an oil change so I took to my Uncle place and he tighten it. Saved $1700 and what ever they would have messed with. My uncle used to own Glenway Chevrolet. Now Glenway Auto Service Center. No more dealership.
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Post by duff on Nov 7, 2017 13:07:24 GMT -5
Ugh good luck. Sounds like no proof so all on you!
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Post by whitetaildave24 on Nov 7, 2017 13:11:04 GMT -5
Sucks, but I’m going to agree with Duff. Dealerships will never take responsibility for anything.
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Post by duff on Nov 7, 2017 13:12:25 GMT -5
Reminded me of when I purchased my new to me truck last year it had a noise on hard turns. I took it to hubler and they said I needed new ball joints or something and it was $$$.
Took it in for a second opinion at a private joint. The guy said bad bearings. I gave him the write up by hubler and he claimed the parts they suggested to be removed were essentially brand new.
I got new hubs and that helped one issue but still get a thump on tight turns...oh well
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Post by featherduster on Nov 7, 2017 13:21:12 GMT -5
Ugh good luck. Sounds like no proof so all on you!  |
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Post by wesb81219 on Nov 7, 2017 13:26:42 GMT -5
Unfortunately you get shafted on this one.
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Post by ukwil on Nov 7, 2017 14:20:35 GMT -5
Hate to hear that. Good luck
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Post by squirrelhunter on Nov 7, 2017 14:44:26 GMT -5
Sorry to hear that. I rarely take my vehicles to garages because I usually do the work myself but once in Kentucky I didn't have time and sure enough they tried to rip me off. There's a couple of garages here in Portland that are bad about that but also 2 that are completely honest,one is ran by a guy I went to school with and the other by a neighbor I've known since he was a little squirt.
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Nov 7, 2017 14:59:35 GMT -5
Thanks guys. I figure I'll probably have to cover it, which of course I wouldn't mind under normal circumstances.
Here's a pic of the transfer case. The dust everywhere is from Wyoming last month. I took it to the dealer 2 days after I got home from that trip. The lower hex bolt is the drain plug, the upper-right hex bolt is the fill plug.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 15:05:32 GMT -5
Thanks guys. I figure I'll probably have to cover it, which of course I wouldn't mind under normal circumstances.
Here's a pic of the transfer case. The dust everywhere is from Wyoming last month. I took it to the dealer 2 days after I got home from that trip. The lower hex bolt is the drain plug, the upper-right hex bolt is the fill plug.
Definitely can see the non dusted drain plug and where the arm hit the flange. Hard to find honest people. The good news, there will be change in the next 7 years and this will be unheard of. That's my prediction. 99% of evil will be gone. We will be in a new age. |
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Post by duff on Nov 7, 2017 15:22:57 GMT -5
Prepare for weird worm hole in 3..2..1..
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Post by freedomhunter on Nov 7, 2017 16:36:23 GMT -5
maybe source a transfer case from a wreck yard, sucks but a lot of bad stuff starts to happen on 4x4 after a 100k miles. Not sure if the dealership did that, but anything is possible.
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Post by nfalls116 on Nov 7, 2017 20:04:46 GMT -5
Why don’t we get off the notion that it’s out of malice?
Here’s my scenario guy drains fluid out of transmission (which is actually our transfer case here) so that when he replaces lines he doesn’t get trans fluid everywhere.
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Post by duff on Nov 7, 2017 20:09:48 GMT -5
Why don’t we get off the notion that it’s out of malice? Here’s my scenario guy drains fluid out of transmission (which is actually our transfer case here) so that when he replaces lines he doesn’t get trans fluid everywhere. Then wouldn't the fill port be cleaned off when they take the plug out? I am no mechanic so maybe there is another way to fill a transfer case without using that port??? |
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Nov 7, 2017 20:33:26 GMT -5
Transfer case was dry, with no evidence of any leaks according to the mechanic. I have no doubt it was drained.
I don't think there was any malicious intent. Probably a goof that either they don't remember or don't want to admit to.
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Post by nfalls116 on Nov 7, 2017 20:44:00 GMT -5
He pops the line on trans cooler and fluid goes everywhere and he says to himself dang I didn’t expect that cooler to hold so much fluid
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Post by nfalls116 on Nov 7, 2017 20:48:49 GMT -5
Why don’t we get off the notion that it’s out of malice? Here’s my scenario guy drains fluid out of transmission (which is actually our transfer case here) so that when he replaces lines he doesn’t get trans fluid everywhere. Then wouldn't the fill port be cleaned off when they take the plug out? I am no mechanic so maybe there is another way to fill a transfer case without using that port??? No they think they are draining tranny but in fact the tranny isn’t actually servicable? Not sure without knowing the car? |
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Post by greghopper on Nov 7, 2017 20:50:39 GMT -5
Why don’t we get off the notion that it’s out of malice? Here’s my scenario guy drains fluid out of transmission (which is actually our transfer case here) so that when he replaces lines he doesn’t get trans fluid everywhere. Bingo..... probably the only plug there was to take out.... a lot transmissions don't have a drain plug. Then he fills the Tranny up from where dipstick goes in! |
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Post by greghopper on Nov 7, 2017 20:55:18 GMT -5
Does any of the paper work say how much transmission fulid was added?
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