Firestone forgot the oil

The story about engines being custom-built for each vehicle would have me making sure that they don't see a cent of any money paid out.

GET AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP!

Get a privately owned shop involved. Explain the situation in person and tell them what the dealership has told you. Once they either get done laughing or fuming at the dealership ask them what they would recommend and if they give you a decent offer give them your business rather than that slime ball of a dealership.

I would accept the engine being re-built but I would like a longer warrantee even if it required me to keep really good maintenance records. A 3 year old engine has many years of life left in it if the rebuild is done well.

Most dealerships do NOT do rebuilds anyway. They will be contracting the work out. I'd rather take it to a shop of my own choosing than have the dealership farm it out to the lowest bidder in order to rake in as much of the insurance money as they can.

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Avondale, AZ

You know, a mistake is forgetting to scrub behind the faucets when you are cleaning the bathroom. An oil change consists of what, 3 steps? Drain the oil, add the oil, take the keys inside. He had one job. ONE. Take the old oil out, add new oil. At an oil changing place, no less. It's not like I went to a shoe store to buy a coat and was mistakenly sold a bra. This wasn't rocket science. Drain oil, add oil. The end.

I didn't realize I made an agreement. What else are you aware of that I am not? They sure as heck were not in a hurry to have my car looked over. When they brought the oil to fill the car I wouldn't have thought twice about "damage" as I was shocked to find out any could occur so quickly. Guess you'd call that arrogant ignorance.

Regardless, I should be able to drive my car after an oil change under the assumption that what I paid for was done. Period.

It would have been nice if you would have told us the whole story of which there still is a lot missing. By now you and everyone else here knows that a Toyota motor will shut down before damage occurs from lack of lubrication. That's why you were able to drive off after allegedly having the motor seize, an impossible action. You then drove 600 miles before something else went wrong and there is nothing proven that it was even remotely connected to the oil change. Everyone involved is taking the easy way out by saying that the motor will be replaced. Consider your options. What would you do if those parties took a closer look and say that the problem after 600 miles was totally unrelated to the engine lubrication system such as coolant, fuel, or electrical? You'd be sitting there with a dead engine which would be 100% your responsibilty to repair or replace. I'd take whatever they offered and smile broadly when doing so!Martin

What is missing from what I posted? So yes-we now all know that an car shuts off in the middle of the road when there is no oil. Got it. Somehow I managed to get to 42 years old without that knowledge but I admit I'm not one who's spent a ton of time under the hood of a car.

And if they send an adjuster to look over the engine and she agrees (as she has) that it needs to be replaced, why are you arguing it (other than you clear disagreement with my position on GMOs/chemicals) ???

Let the "parties" look *ALL* they like. IF they deem that the dashboard lit up for some other reason then so be it <- we will handle it ourselves. I wasn't raised to blame someone else for what is my responsibility. But I sure as heck will not assume that a 3-4 year old Toyota engine that has been properly maintained just went wonky for kicks. I think it's pretty clear that driving out of the parking lot without oil started that ball rolling.

* * * * * * ' *
have your word that this is what is "supposed" to happen? Apparently damage

can and does occur even when those fail-safe computer systems are doing their

job(s); otherwise I seriously doubt that the claims adjustor would so quickly

acquiesce into admitting that the engine was damaged BECAUSE the oil plug

wasn't replaced properly at the shop responsible for insuring that such steps

are necessarily taken. When they aren't then someone has to pay for THEIR

mistake.

However . . . I would also NOT reward the dealership for lying to me

with that whopper that each engine is built individually for each vehicle;

better if they'd just stuck with the truth that no new ones are available now.

Take the offer to have your engine rebuilt, but have it done at a place

that you trust and is deserving of it.

There's also the very important step of putting the drain plug back in. That one has ruined a lot of cars too.

Some people on here are forgetting that the average car owner is an operator only. They don't know the ins and outs of the cars mechanical and electronic systems. They shouldn't have to!

You didn't do anything wrong. Let the criticism go in one ear and out the other.

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Avondale, AZ

Not every body. Maybe it is suppossed to but I wouldn't count on it.

No we don't know that, because it doesn't happen. There is no engine turn off control for low oil level or low oil pressure on cars, even Toyota cars. Don't know how that other poster came up with the notion, but it's wrong.

The only thing I've found odd is that no light lit up when you pulled out to indicate low oil pressure. Though it's quite possible the engine was filled with oil, but the drain plug not put back in tightly enough. Then, later on, the drain plug falls out, the oil light illuminates on the dash, and gets missed by you. A few minutes later the engine finally locks up, dashboard christmas tree time.

You're one of the semi-lucky ones. Firestone is honorably stepping up to the plate on liability. Most of the time, it's quite a shuck and jive routine. Not that the experience is at all pleasant. But they aren't claiming it didn't happen and wasn't their fault.

You're still in the position of needing to chose between a used engine and rebuilding yours. A good used engine is great. But, you've no idea how well used the engine is. Though a good shop can quickly judge that and decide. Compression check and look under the valve cover tells a whole lot. Rebuilding yours will address the parts that failed. Not everything gets damaged from lack of oil. But, will absolutely everything damaged be replaced or properly repaired? Maybe, maybe not. Since your engine doesn't seem to have exactly locked up, or set loose with the horrible squalling of spun bearings and the like, I suspect your engine isn't exactly horribly damaged, and is therefore quite repairable.

While an oil change is a simple job, mistakes do happen, and people are not perfect. You can be nasty and berrating of the individual who made the mistake (as I'm sure it wasn't deliberate), but I'm quite certain you too have pulled some bone headed actions in your past.

..............PP , please let Us know when you've made a deal to rebuild your engine ! In a way it is a blessing that FS has stepped UP and will take responsibility for their mistake . Atleast , you've been furnished a decent vehicle to drive whilst this situation has slowly been moving to a final conclusion . Good luck and I hope you receive just compensation ! , fordy

Since this post is still going... I just wanted to point out... Every time I go to an oil change place (only my wife's car, because it is such a bear to get under and change the oil, and the filter is in a bad place) I stand there outside the bay and watch them... I make sure they put oil in, and I watch the guy under it to make sure he checks the filter gaskets and puts the plug back in...

All my other vehicles, I take care of the oil and repairs... I will never let anyone work on one of my motorcycles... I do not trust other mechanics with my life..

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Never let your fear decide your fate!
Kein Mitleid für die Mehrheit

Well thats one of the nice things about hiring the job to done. When you hire someone else to do a job they are liable for any damages that occur.

I just had a tree that was growing over top of my house cut down. Could I personally of cut down that tree? sure, but there would have been a chance of a piece of it falling thru my roof, so I hired it out so that if something did happen I would be covered.

Same difference with getting your oil changed, you may not have the know how to do it right yourself without a chance of messing it up so you hire it out in case something does go wrong therefore transferring liability to the company hired.

This is why all companies should have liability insurance.

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The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

As long as we don't hear any more stupid and silly claims of insisting upon a factory-new motor, or worse yet, a check for the entire vehicle, I'm fine with whatever happens. Remember that this is an open forum and there are sometimes up to 3,000 guests. Good chance that one of them works for Firestone and another for Toyota. In this time of litigation prevailing over common sense, I'd be very careful about which details I gave out concerning a case which has apparently not been finalized. It could very well determine the outcome, favorable or otherwise.

Martin

Have we heard how many miles are on the van? She needs to be made whole, no more no less, except for the matter of her inconvenience. That is not getting a NEW engine. IF she makes it a big enough issue that the company wants rid of her, she has more room to negotiate from. Firestone caused the problem, they need to take care of it. I have not seen anything to show they are not doing this. Time will tell. I still am not sure exactly what happened when it shut down the first time or what all is wrong now. IF your car is wrecked it is totaled or repaired, same here. (I had a Cavalier that was hit broadside, I would have thought totaled, that was repaired and I had no other issues because of it) Insurances will decide. The owner needs to make sure they get the best and most out of it.

The OP asked for advice and is trying to get ideas, she will make the best decision from the information given. She will get no more than what she asks for but she needs to ask for as much as she can and negotiate from there.

I hope you have good luck getting what is owed you....James

According to the latest post by the OP, an insurance adjuster had already been involved and agreed as to the probably fault. Anything after that is nothing but either drama or beating on a dead horse or both. Mileage, or sentimental attachment to the vehicle, would also seem to be no issue if the OP were willing to accept a check for the value of the vehicle.

Martin

What I know about cars and engines wouldn't fill a thimble. However, back some 6 years ago when I found HT, what I knew about growing tomatoes and raising goats wouldn't cover the head of a pin. What I know now might fill a 5 gallon bucket if we used the ocean to measure, but about 99.5% of what I have learned has come from the fine folks on this site. This is the reason I am asking for guidance and opinions for my latest debacle.

Before we heard from the adjuster and the dealership the best option I took away was asking for a new engine. When it seemed neither of the two options presented fit into that category, I came back to ask for more feedback. Call it drama if you like but that was not my intentions. Contrary to how you have read my post, this isn't a pot stirring one. It's an important post to me as I have no one in my life who can help me navigate through this mess. Clearly there are folks here who can tell me if the dealership is being honest, and I will take your tongue lashing and judgment if it means my van is brought back to as close as being whole as possible.

I am going to take the high road and assume that you are not calling me a liar or a thief. Then I am going to remember that you are a stranger on a website who clearly needs to spend more time playing with your tomato seeds and less time pointing fingers and making allegations.

Good day, sir.

I am going to admit- I have not read thru the entire thread- but paisley- you have always come across as a straight shooter to me- I hope this all works in your favor for you and take the meanness thru the thread with a grain of salt- trust me - there will be a new thread for people to bash someone on soon enough

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CEO and President of SWS (Skirt Wearing Society)

This thread is closed as it's just become a platform for some to use it to insult.

I hope the car situation gets fixed soon.

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