I take my 96 civic w/ gsr motor in perfectly working condition to the body shop to get bumper painted and i go to pick the car up today and they said that they had a problem because the car wont start..I get there and try to crank the motor over but all i hear is a winding from the starter and a clunk on each rotation, I grab the timing belt and it was so tight that i wasnt able to even twist it a half turn like you normally should be able to and the guy who paints said he was reversing the car out of the paint booth and the car just died. He says, "I think it might be something with the timing." I'm thinking, now why would a guy that paints think its the timing. To make a long story short, i put the crank at TDC and i look at the cam gears. The arrows that say "UP" on the gears are facing toward the fire wall..I'm pretty sure that the valves are bent..The owner doesn't want to take responsibility and says that its my problem and I wouldn't want to take him to court. We get in a big heated argument and he says he still wants to be paid for his work or he wont release the car. This is bullshit!! has this happened to any of you and what actions should i take..Any suggestions wil be helpful..

 

sue him. did you sign a release on the car? make sure you didn't sign anything releasing them of responsibility for it, then call the police and tell them that the owner is trying to steal your car (even thoug he isn't ,they'll still send a cop to harass him, and call a lawyer, then take him to court. They obviously took your car out and beat on it joyriding, so they're definitely responsible

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Slimm-rw- &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">sue him. did you sign a release on the car? make sure you didn't sign anything releasing them of responsibility for it, then call the police and tell them that the owner is trying to steal your car (even thoug he isn't ,they'll still send a cop to harass him, and call a lawyer, then take him to court. They obviously took your car out and beat on it joyriding, so they're definitely responsible </TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree. I suggest you sue tha shop too.
My friend had a similar problem, he took them to court and won. He was putting in a turbo kit for his car and he didn't sign an agreement. So when he went to pick up his car, the turbo wasn't the one he paid for, and he took it for a test drive.

He didn't want to pay for something he didn't want, he'd asked for another try to get it done correctly. 2 months later he went back and they still didn't get the jobe done. he had put in 12g's to do this set-up.

Then he contacted the BAR to get his vehicle. Since he didn't sign for an agreement, they were able to get his car out. And the owner of the place sued my friend, but in court the repair shop had to pay back his 12g's.

BAR will not help u in this case, but the cops sure will.

 

did you notice a change in your odometer?

 

werd! I recommend setting the little trip odometer thing when you take your car anywhere or at least writing down the mileage. My boss had a tint shop drive his legend like 50 miles and lets just say they weren't happy.

 

It's obviously his fault, it's not like you towed the car there or anything. Definitely don't get shafted on this one. Did you notice any youngers guys working there that may have went joy-riding and may have mis-shifted or something?

 

get a lawyer, and carry on conversation in private with the people at the bodyshop while tape recording them. you might get lucky...sorry to hear that and good luck

 

What shop was this at? The guys definitely got some ***** if he even wants you to pay for the paint job too.

I agree with the others. Take his *** to court.

 

He has ***** for acting like nothing happened, this isn't like a ding or missing change from your center console.

 

yeah you better call the cops and report it to the better business bureau and hire a lawyer.

 

man, that is one fucked up shop.

 

I don't understand how everyone comes to the conclusion that it was the shops fault. I don't see how a misshift would throw the cam sprockets off.

It's possible that the belt wasn't installed propertly or the tensioner went bad, which caused the sprockets to slip.

 

first of all, use tact. the owner may not know what the **** happened. When the car was being pulled into the shop, the guy probably did not let it warm up, and dogged the hell out of it not letting any oil into the motor. He probably got it into the bay and when they went to move it, it wouldn't start. The whole time only one guy could have been the only one to know about it.
This does not clear the owner in any way. He OWNS the shop, therefore he IS responsible. He has insurance for this reason; his deductable is probably like 1000.

Definately pursue legal action with a lawyer. If you have to go back to the shop at all, do not try to be sherlock holmes, just use tact with everyone you speak with, dont make any enemies, and dont make yourself out to be anyone gullible or too arrogant either.

think before you act, it will help you later

 

The timing belt was installed a year ago and the car has been running perfect. It would be some coincidence that the timing belt was installed incorrectly. It is all younger people working there but they are a very reputable shop and thats why my car went there. Unfortuneatly i didnt notice the mileage and a lawyer told me that he has to finish the work and get paid but to write on the recipt that the car was taken in driveable working condition and when shop moved the car out of the paint booth the timing belt slipped causing the car to be undriveable. then have it towed to an ase certified techinician and if there is damage then the shop will be responsible for damages. I hope this is true.

 

do what you got to do. dont get dickend over.

 

If they signed a paper saying that your car was in running condition when brought in and it is now undrivable. Then I'm pretty sure any lawyer can use that to make a case. Good luck.

 

yes as some one else said if you drove it there, and now it's jacked up and it's undrivable then there's something definatley wrong,...

best of luck

 

I am always nervous about taking my car to a shop for this reason...

I have heard a lot of stories about employees taking nice cars out for "test drives". I don't want some kid out there beating on my car.

So, now I write down the exact mileage when I take it in. Don't do the tripometer because they can just reset that if they want to.

Good luck, make them pay!!! I don't think you will have a hard time getting your engine replaced, any bone head can see that the shop is at fault.

 

I will be going to pick up my car monday so I will update what happens.

 

Good luck man. I hate anybody but me touching my car.

 

Kick his *** then call the police. Then steal his car and go joy-riding in it and drop it from 4th gear to 1st and see how he likes it when his car doesnt work.

 

Man if i were you i would beat the **** out of him .. and if you go to court and loose i would beat the **** out of him again ..either way you loose money so beat his *** ..at least you will feel better

 

WHERES THE UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!

 

i would call the cop and file a police report

then to him to court

 

Kick his *** then call the police. Then steal his car and go joy-riding in it and drop it from 4th gear to 1st and see how he likes it when his car doesnt work....................how bout instead drop it from 5th to reverse and then be like sorry dude i thought you had 6 gears