Gifted car ruined/botched oil job (car rental, 2015, rental)

[frustrateddeb]

My 82 year old mother-in-law gifted her 35,000 mile 2002 Toyota Camry to my son in June 2015. This well cared for single owned car had a few dings in the rear of the car but overall was in great running condition. We had taken our other cars to STS for oil changes, so we continued with this vehicle. While my son was home on a visit we had the oil changed. A short time later we got a call from my son saying the car wouldn't start. We had it to towed to STS to have it looked at and they said the ENGINE was ruined! After some discussion they said there was no oil in the car.We reminded them that they were the only repair shop we had used,and later they took responsibility for it saying the oil pan screws were missing. They offered us $3000.00 saying that it would cost more to repair it or to find an engine with the now 43,000 miles the car had. They told us WE could probably find a 100,000mile used engine for around $2000.00. We have refused the offer and have had to rent a car. They have not apologized and to add insult to injury, STS wanted to charge us $25.00 a day for storage.
At the advice of an attorney we had the car towed to the local Toyota dealer for an estimate to have a used engine or a complete new T-block replacement. They estimated $6055.96 or $7961.95 plus tax. STS has been sent the information but has not moved from their offer. I am not sure what my next move should be. Contact the state Attorney, hire the attorney, contact a local television consumer reporter, or all of the above.
Please advise,
Frustrateddeb

[BeerGeek40]

Originally Posted by frustrateddeb

My 82 year old mother-in-law gifted her 35,000 mile 2002 Toyota Camry to my son in June 2015. This well cared for single owned car had a few dings in the rear of the car but overall was in great running condition. We had taken our other cars to STS for oil changes, so we continued with this vehicle. While my son was home on a visit we had the oil changed. A short time later we got a call from my son saying the car wouldn't start. We had it to towed to STS to have it looked at and they said the ENGINE was ruined! After some discussion they said there was no oil in the car.We reminded them that they were the only repair shop we had used,and later they took responsibility for it saying the oil pan screws were missing. They offered us $3000.00 saying that it would cost more to repair it or to find an engine with the now 43,000 miles the car had. They told us WE could probably find a 100,000mile used engine for around $2000.00. We have refused the offer and have had to rent a car. They have not apologized and to add insult to injury, STS wanted to charge us $25.00 a day for storage.
At the advice of an attorney we had the car towed to the local Toyota dealer for an estimate to have a used engine or a complete new T-block replacement. They estimated $6055.96 or $7961.95 plus tax. STS has been sent the information but has not moved from their offer. I am not sure what my next move should be. Contact the state Attorney, hire the attorney, contact a local television consumer reporter, or all of the above.
Please advise,
Frustrateddeb

Find a good attorney and have them write a strongly worded letter to STS.

[froglipz]

Document everything and lawyer up!

[captne76]

A friend of mine recently went to a different chain. Meineke for an oil change and they forgot to screw the oil filler cap atop the engine back on.

About 10 minutes down the road his car caught on fire from the engine and was fully destroyed. They gave him NOTHING.

I m not sure what to to say or advise otherwise My friend wound up doing some fundraiser and bought a different car.

[Retriever]

Originally Posted by frustrateddeb

They offered us $3000.00 saying that it would cost more to repair it or to find an engine with the now 43,000 miles the car had.

The book value of the car is somewhere between $3k and $4k, so you can't expect to get more than the actual book value for this 14 year old car. While I really do empathize with your plight, I don't think that you can logically expect more than a $4k settlement from them, although you may well need the intervention of an attorney to secure that amount.

I would recommend having your attorney send a demand letter for $4k, plus the cost of your car rental fees.



Addendum:
I think that they most likely found that the drain plug was missing, and that can happen if the drain plug wasn't properly torqued after draining the oil. If the oil pan screws were missing, that would have been a case of VERY recent blatant vandalism, the oil pan wouldn't even have been in place underneath the engine, and engine failure would have taken place within seconds of leaving their facility.

[DanBev]

I had similar situation on my 99 SR5 with Toy dealer.We were getting ready for trip to CT from FL and brought truck in for 3000 mile oil change and tire rotation and other fluids changed.Truck does not use oil.
We drove to Ct and when I was ready to leave,checked oil,down a quart and black.If I had driven home probably would have hurt engine,changed oil and when I got home had Toyota change it again,they apologized and did it free.
They did not change oil.My oil is clear after 204,000 miles.

[Badfish740]

Originally Posted by Retriever

The book value of the car is somewhere between $3k and $4k, so you can't expect to get more than the actual book value for this 14 year old car. While I really do empathize with your plight, I don't think that you can logically expect more than a $4k settlement from them, although you may well need the intervention of an attorney to secure that amount.

I would recommend having your attorney send a demand letter for $4k, plus the cost of your car rental fees.


Addendum:
I think that they most likely found that the drain plug was missing, and that can happen if the drain plug wasn't properly torqued after draining the oil. If the oil pan screws were missing, that would have been a case of VERY recent blatant vandalism, the oil pan wouldn't even have been in place underneath the engine, and engine failure would have taken place within seconds of leaving their facility.

A while back there was a thread either here or on the Automotive forum about the importance of basic mechanical knowledge with regard to owning a car. I caught quite a bit of flack for implying that when you think about it, it's pretty ridiculous to own and rely on a very complex machine that often costs in excess of $20K and to not have a clue as to how it works. STS definitely shares some culpability here, but the fact that this kid drove the car around without oil in it to the point that the engine seized up is absurd. Did he not know what this means?



If he had stopped driving as soon as that light came on and called for a tow, the car would have been fine

Originally Posted by frustrateddeb

I am not sure what my next move should be.

Get the kid a used engine from a scrapyard, a Toyota Factory Service Manual, and tell him to get to work. Then maybe next time a light pops up on his dashboard he'll pay attention to it.

[jaymoney]

It's a car from 2002. No matter how many miles on it it's not going to be worth it to replace the engine unless it's rare.

Camrys don't really rate "rare" very often. Your emotional value is more than the actual monetary value. Add the fact that you have been wronged (and, you have been wronged) and you're adding to the emotional value.

However, courts are the only place you're going to get emotional costs. You might get another grand out of them with a letter from a lawyer but it'll cost you five hundred dollars.

[brook2ga]

Your OP states you received advice from an attorney. Why not follow up? It's unlikely you will get more than the $3000 offered.

[PDD]

Originally Posted by Badfish740

A while back there was a thread either here or on the Automotive forum about the importance of basic mechanical knowledge with regard to owning a car. I caught quite a bit of flack for implying that when you think about it, it's pretty ridiculous to own and rely on a very complex machine that often costs in excess of $20K and to not have a clue as to how it works. STS definitely shares some culpability here, but the fact that this kid drove the car around without oil in it to the point that the engine seized up is absurd. Did he not know what this means?



If he had stopped driving as soon as that light came on and called for a tow, the car would have been fine



Get the kid a used engine from a scrapyard, a Toyota Factory Service Manual, and tell him to get to work. Then maybe next time a light pops up on his dashboard he'll pay attention to it.

This is bad advice, you and I may be able to replace an engine but 90% of drivers barely know how to replace wiper blades.

I agree with Retriever, negotiate for 4K, find another POS car and chalk it up to a learning experience.
And never ever take your car to a quickie oil change place. Find a real repair shop if you can't DIY.