AAMCO Blew my engine while test driving it after a repair

[RobMikulskis]

took my truck in for a simple fix, the clutch was sticking and i needed a selinoid replaced, would have done it myself just didnt have the time, well after they replaced it, I guess they needed to test drive it to see if everything worked and they blew two holes in my head. Engine is blown, 03 taco with 97k miles, WTF right? what should i do?

 

[Dini]

Unless you signed some sort of waiver stating that they were not liable for any damages to your vehicle while in their possession, then they should be buying you some new parts and/or an engine. At the very least cylinder head(s) replacement.

 

[raydouble]

You may want to consult a lawyer.

 

[Jetboy]

I would not let them replace in house. They will want to put a junk yard engine in and it may not be in good condition. I would take it somewhere else. Did they do an oil change as part of the work and didn't refill the oil? If you want to check, take off the oil filter and see if it is dry inside. The mechanic who screwed up will fill the oil afterward, but usually doesn't realize that the filter won't be full. If so, that's likely the cause.

 

[RobMikulskis]

As of right now im waiting for a word back from Geico on wether or not they will cover it, I had to pay for the work aamco did just to get it released and looked at by toyota.
03 Taco with 97K on it i mean unless the guy was red lining it or down shifting from a high speed that engine shouldnt have gone
My chief said i should get a cooler and post up in front of thier shop with a big ass sign

 

[Bawlzdeep]

They should be held accountable for their actions. I understand that they have to cover their asses as well or they'll have every Tom Dick and Harry with a motor on it's last leg in their shop begging them to blow it. Sucks man, but I'm with raydouble on this, get a lawayer. By your "Chief" I'm guessing that you are Military, so you have the option to go to base legal. If they don't fix it you need to sit outside and throw $hit at them as they turn wrenches! I hate AAMCO with a passion!

 

[RobMikulskis]

Got an appointment set up at legal, my insurance wont cover it and im still waiting for the word back from thiers, i talked to a lawyer and he said the tech at toyota has to find somthing to prove they were down shifting or reving to high, things of that nature in order for somthing to happen, if thier insurance isnt going to help i have the number to the head quarters, and i guess i can call the local news, im sure they wont be happy about that?


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[RobMikulskis]

03 taco 97k blown engine, 33x12.5, 2inch wheel spacers, 3.5 lift, aem intake, flowmaster exaust, mt classics, Undrivable

 

[RobMikulskis]

another pic

 

[2020 Rocks]

I feel for you, especially considering my 98 4runner has just over 200K and runs very well. Good luck, I hope it works out for you.

 

[SteveH]

An '03 should have a 'black box' that records the last few seconds (or 200 milliseconds, from what I recall) of info before shutdown - perhaps Toyota could dump the info and show RPMs, brake lights on/off, etc. There may be legal reasons that Toyota will not dump this information from the computer, but if its in there, it could be very useful.

 

[RobMikulskis]

Im gonna half to look more into it, would deffinitly help if i could see what was going on when it happened, Thanks

 

[IanB]

Toyota will need to determine the cause of failure, and you will then need to prove that this failure was due to AAMCO's negligience. In the event you are able to prove their negligience and hold them liable, they are only liable to put you back in the position you were prior to the loss: with a used engine that had Xmileage on it. Any new parts used you would have to pay the depreciation on, same goes for service items (gaskets, filters, seals, etc.).

You should be in contact with the shop's insurance if you haven't been already.

 

[IanB]

So what happened with this?

 

[RobMikulskis]

insurance wont cover it, i have an appointment tommorrow with legal, emailed the local news spots left a message for the aamco corprate office, still waiting to get the truck back from toyota, sucks man

 

[RobMikulskis]

they said they checked everything they could to see if they could hold aamco responsible for the mishap but the mechanic said he couldnt prove or point the finger at anybody,

 

[Mark W]

"Two holes in the head"?


What exactly is wrong with the motor? What failed? What broke? How?


Mark...

 

[IanB]

"Two holes in the head"?


What exactly is wrong with the motor? What failed? What broke? How?


Mark...

X2, what was the cause of the failure? It IS possible it was unrelated to anything they did...

 

[RobMikulskis]

I guess ill never know, never again will i go to aamco though,

 

[Mark W]

I am puzzled. You said that ..."they blew two holes in my head. Engine is blown"...

But now you are saying that you don't know what is wrong with the engine?


I Would be interested in knowing what is wrong with the engine. It is pretty tough to blow a hole in a head.


Mark...