Upper Pan Gasket Replaced for Free!!!!

[TORTUS]

Does anybody you know possibly know the guy personally? Perhaps a third party to ask him why he wanted out so badly?

That sounds like a great angle to get some clarification. I am new to cruisers and haven't met any locals yet that may know him. Great suggestion.

Any locals who have dealt with a lot of shops in the east valley want to PM me and see if we can figure something out?

 

[DTAYLOR]

smart that you made sure to get a piece of paper.

I wonder, though, if having paid him would make a big difference legally speaking if he messed something up. After all, he's the one telling you not to pay him. Curious. Any legal opinions worth their (free) price?

Legally? Up in the air, and open to interpretation by a Judge or Jury.
The actions of the owner / operator of the shop are going to be difficult to explain to either judge or jury, if it goes that far.

LC, on the other hand, did pay for a service rendered, and has proof. That will be to his advantage. The fact of the guy asking him not to pay really makes a better case for LC, not the shop owner.

If the guy owns his own building, he has no one but himself, and any partners erging him to have "completed operations" insurance.

If he rents the space, he likely is compelled contractually to carry insurance by the property owner.

This is where the money will most likely have to come from to pay damages to LC's rig, if any turn up.

 

[powderpig]

Only a couple of thoughts, The upper oil pan has a seal or square O-Ring that maybe he is gerryrigging, the other is the bolts that are hidden inside he did not know about and the flange is messed up inside the lower pan.
Have you looked with a mirror to see if you have a rear main leak(as he say's) or maybe the pan arch is still leaking and he did not want to do the job again.
Good luck, stuff like this gives all shops a bad rap as people do not know who to trust.
Good luck on finds someone to help you out. later robbie

 

[FJ40LVR]

Border runs??

Having you rig used as a "mule" without your knowledge, picking up the "shipment" from your rig upon return to the US. Thant way they are not trafficking directly. They would simply follow you at a distance until you leave your rig unnatended for a minute, (mall, store etc.) to get their "product".

 

[TORTUS]

Having you rig used as a "mule" without your knowledge, picking up the "shipment" from your rig upon return to the US. Thant way they are not trafficking directly. They would simply follow you at a distance until you leave your rig unnatended for a minute, (mall, store etc.) to get their "product".

Haven't been there.

They sure are creative down there though.

 

[re_guderian]

Maybe he found the MUD thread in CSC section and didn't want any more "press time"?

 

[phxtlc]

Having you rig used as a "mule" without your knowledge, picking up the "shipment" from your rig upon return to the US. Thant way they are not trafficking directly. They would simply follow you at a distance until you leave your rig unnatended for a minute, (mall, store etc.) to get their "product".

Ditto. Just what I meant.

 

[TORTUS]

Here are the two documents.

The first one is what he said he would give me if I took the work "pro bono". He refused to state that he had actually worked on the vehicle on this doc.

The second one is the actual invoice that I paid for. He tried to only write "reseal oil pan", I had to ask him to write upper and lower, at which point he argued with me again. I told him I wanted it on there for clarification.

While he ran my credit card I started folding the first doc and to put in my pocket, he didn't want me to have it, but I told him it is part of the original paperwork and I needed it.

 

[e9999]

if you're worried enough about all this, how about you print this thread as of now, put it in an envelope, seal it, have it notarized for date, so that there is something telling your story as of now for $5. Never know, could be useful if things get ugly.

(sorry)

 

[Rookie2]

Did you ask him for what was left of that tube of FIPG. You paid good for it.

 

[TORTUS]

if you're worried enough about all this, how about you print this thread as of now, put it in an envelope, seal it, have it notarized for date, so that there is something telling your story as of now for $5. Never know, could be useful if things get ugly.

(sorry)

Great idea.

Thanks!

 

[TORTUS]

Did you ask him for what was left of that tube of FIPG. You paid good for it.

Didn't even cross my mind, I was distracted by everything else at the time.

 

[photogod]

Better put a couple more quarts of oil in the pan. Looks like he only put in 6.

 

[TORTUS]

Better put a couple more quarts of oil in the pan. Looks like he only put in 6.

Good catch!! I missed that too.

 

[roneyj]

PM sent.

 

[Rookie2]

So what's the latest??

 

[TORTUS]

Sorry, nothing new to report. I had to leave town yesterday for work, I'll be back tomorrow and will continue to investigate. Thank you all for helping!

 

[agomez]

drop the pan and look over the crank for a piece of mind.... from what I understand the pan is easy to access...He may have fixed that leak and saw the rear pan arch leak thinking you may want him to fix it for free being that there was no leak there before.....my buddy has a shop and deals with situations like this all the time...people bring the vehicle in for one thing get vehicle back and say that they have something else wrong and want it fixed for free implying it his fault...not saying you would do this but there are alot of dishonest people out there looking for something for free.....my 2 cents good luck also admire you paid....

 

[Mark Davis]

LC

If you tear into it. the shop owner could always say that any damage you find must have been caused by you. Because you are not an experienced mechanic and it was fine when he put it back together. I would consider taking it to the dealership and having them check it out for you. They are a third party that should tell you what they find honestly because they would have nothing to hide. The dealership also looked at the motor before the shop worked on it so they might have an idea of the kind of damage the shop may have caused if any. It sounds like the shop is trying to hide something and a professional third party assesment of the motor could be valuable down the road. You would have someone else to back up what is found.

Just a thought

Good luck I hope it turns to be nothing

Mark

 

[EricG]

LC,
Try to gently "back off" the bolts one at a time. If any are broken, that will reveal it.

That's my guess - he broke and/or stripped some bolt(s) up in there - or maybe cracked that Al casting? Problem is, if you find it he'll claim that you broke it.

I reject the notion that the guy saw something he didn't want to be involved in, and that is why he backed away.

Yea, that doesn't make sense to me. If he didn't want to be involved he'd just quote you an exhorbitant price for it. Or simply tell you he didn't want to do the work.

Overall a pretty bizarre situation.