I took my car to a dealer to get my timing belt replaced. 2 days later my car is over heating and the timing belt is bad. Obviously they screwed up when they did the job. Well, it seems Subaru will do nothing about Mark Miller fu*king up my car. Here is the letter from Subaru.

Dear Mr. Benson:

Thank you for your patience while I looked into your situation. As you may
know, dealerships are independently owned and operated. Because of this,
they are responsible for their workmanship and diagnoses. If you have a
concern with the work the dealership performed on your vehicle, you need to
address it with the management at the dealership. Unfortunately, Subaru of
America, Inc. is not in a position to assist you financially with the
repairs. However, I have made a note of your concerns in our customer
dealer services system.

Thank you,
William/WER/Customer Dealer Services
Case number 286347

I don't think my next car will be a Subaru. I love them but the warranty sucks and dealers have screwed me many times. And Subaru will do nothing about bad dealers. Other makes don't tollerate that *****. So I will just have to pray for a cheap turbo AWD car to be imported other than the WRX. Maybe Ford, Mitsu, or Toyota will come through. Heck, maybe I will try to afford an Audi. I would rather have a Subaru with a good warranty though.

You don't need a warranty for malpractice... scream lawsuit and remind the service manager that the average settlement is now $1.8 million. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/tongue.gif http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/tongue.gif http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/tongue.gif

get a lawyer...
sue the pants of em...
lawyers love makin money...
this sounds like a money maker...


j.

Spectre: get a lawyer now. Period. Don't talk to the dealer any more, don't talk to SOA any more.

In nearly all circumstances a lawyer sending nastygrams to the dealer is sufficient to get their arses moving, especially in a case like this where it seems quite obvious they had a hand in the problem.

So what you people are saying is I should fork out more money to try and get some of my money back? Sounds like 2 steps back to make 3 steps forward.

And that is why I refuse to bring my car into the dealerships to get it serviced. I myself have been a victim of crappy service from the dealerships. Too many stories to tell.

Suffice to say, I now bring my car to an independant garage that I trust and have him document the work that is done on my car to keep the warranty intact.

You would think that SOA or SOC would actually get more involved to keep customers happy. They are basically telling you that **** happens, denying any reponsibility, and making you do all the leg work to get your situation resolved. Being that a car is the second most expensive purchase someone will make, I think there attitude totally sucks!!!

I can tell you for sure that my next car will not be a Subaru for sure!!!

Has the dealer refused to warranty their work? Don't most dealers have a warranty period if genuine parts are used? Sue for lost time at work and lawyers fees. Which dealer and where?
Curt

Spectre,

Many lawyers will operate on a contingent fee, especially cases like this. They don't get any money until you recover, usually with no up front fee.

Sometimes, just threatening legal action will get a dealer to move. Try that.

Matt

Matt is right. Lawyers work in different ways than most people expect-- if you haven't talked to one, then you should.

And yes, I do think a lawyer's fee for writing a few documents would be cheaper than the repair bill IF some serious damage occured due to your timing being way off. (by the way, did you get a CE light during this? a flashing CE especially, the cam angle sensor should have been out of whack.)

I don't think I'd go the lawyer route right away. If I went back and they denied service (note: take off all aftermarket equipment before returning), I would just threaten until they fixed it. That is obviously their fault - they can't even deny it.

In my state, 2 more times of fixing it badly like that and you get a new car under the lemon law.

SCREW DEALERSHIPS! There is NO courtesy reach around involved with them! Try my method: Run it till it blows then build another one http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/wink.gif. Really, though, there's always someone over the shop manager's head.
NEVER just stop at the front desk. BUT, don't be so reckless about it that they see that. The only shop foremen who's word I took were the one's I got drunk with.

Gary

Luckily I caught the belt being damaged before it went completely out. So it was a $300 job that ended up costing me about $1000. So it isn't a huge amount of money, but enough to tick me off. My head gasket may be bad though which is another $1400 or so.

The problem is, after they installed the belt I went back after my races in Vegas (didn't know the problem was that big) and told them there is something wrong with the timing belt causing me to overheat. They drove my car around for an hour and said nothing is wrong. I took the timing belt cover off and the belt was smoked. That means they didn't even look at the part I told them was defective and just said nothing is wrong. After getting my radiator core rodded, buying 2 new thermostats, having the system flushed, a new tensioner pulley assembly, and buying a new water pump, they finally realized there was a problem and I had them fix it. They claim it wasn't there fault that the tensioner pulley siezed even though it only took a day or 2 after they dicked with it.

did you contact the repairing dealer--
what damage happend to the car--if your
problem is related they should help you out.
did the dealer give a answer.tow the car back
to the dealer-see what answer they give you,
if the answer is not good,now contact subaru
again with the problem.if the car is still
under warranty you have a case-if not contact
the dealer owner.
dave
mspt

Oh yeah, forgot to answer the question.

The dealer is Mark Miller Subaru in Salt Lake City, Utah.

If you did take them to court you wouldn't be the first member of thise site to drag a dealership into court over screwing up a car and denying responsibility. A long time ago a guy had his Legacy ruined and he ended up with enough cash afterwords to buy a new Audi A6 outright.

"They claim it wasn't there fault that the tensioner pulley siezed even though it only took a day or 2 after they dicked with it."

The Subaru service manual has a very specific procedure for compressing and installing the tensioner. If they didn't do that correctly, they could have easily caused the damage.

Dave

Spectre23 - is your car now not drivable? I'd go with the lawsuit http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif I'm glad that dealers here in Canada aren't as bas as some of the ones I've heard of down in the US

Well based on the additional info I am even more sure about the need for a lawyer. This is a '98 RS presumably out of powertrain warranty -it's less than 5yrs old but I guess you have >60K miles. If you're out of warranty then that explains why SOA can't help.

Dave1rr is absolutely right. Pushing the automatic tensioner rod down in a vice would quickly lead to this result AND is very obviously is their fault!

Another option is to meet with the District Service Operations Manager. Call 1-800-782-2783 and tell them you want to make an appointment with the District Rep.
Dennis

Get a Lawer, cause like you said they love making money. And here in Canada we have the Better Business Bureau. They take complaints from disgruntled customers and help with your problem. They can get a fine or shut down depending how many people complain. I don't know if it is the same in the States.

Nick

Just my too sence. I think you should come in with the lawyer. Tensioner pullys will only "just break" once in 10,000,000 times. I bet they just put a vice grip on the tensioner and went at it. also, my experience with the dealership i bought my car through: I had the center diff go out. They replaced it quickly with no questions asked. They also replace the rear diff. They said that they herd a wineing upon deceleration, although i didnt. I apreciate that they just didnt replace what was obviousily wrong, they went the little extra distance and made sure it was all good. Just my experience that there are bad and good dealerships. Dont judge a car company from the actions of 1 dealership.

Joshhttp://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/monkey.gif

The reason Subaruis being judged here is because their dealership screwed up. And they just say there is nothing they can do. I have many friends with other makes that have had problems with dealers and the car company stepped up and forced the dealer to make things right. Subaru acts like they have no influence over their dealers, and other makes act like they are the supreme ruler over their dealers.

True they could "nudge" the dealership. I totaly agree with you there. That is disapointing. Try calling SOA. Maybe that will yeild better results?

Joshhttp://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/monkey.gif

Yeah, I agree with scoobiejosh. You should go give SOA a phone call. An e-mail won't do too good. And if that doesn't work, write a letter and keep a copy. Send the letter to the highest person you can. Remember to always be cool and collected, no matter how angry you are. Everything should be done in a professional manner.

Oh and good luck!

Since I just got SOA to give me a new car after my 2001 Forester couldn't be fixed by the 4th time, let me throw in my 2 cents http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/wink.gif

If your car is still under warrantee, drop it off at the dealer or have them tow it in and call SOA and tell them what dealer your car is located at. Politely inform them you are having some problems getting satisfaction and you can't be without your car. They should give you a $30 dollar a day rental car until your car is fixed. Regardless if the dealer damaged the car or the car was faulty, Subaru or its acting agent (the dealer) has to fix it under warrantee. You also have your State's Lemon Law to protect you if the dealer can't fix your car within a reasonable time.

I found once I mentioned the Lemon Law with SOA, I had SOA Reps contacting my local dealer and I was taken care of immeadiately and compensated with a months car payment and a free rental car for my troubles. I was finally offered a replacement car and SOA gave me the retail price on my Forester, even though I only paid a little over invoice. I never had to legally invoke the Lemon Law and go through arbitration or a law suit. You can see on my profile what I drove off the lot in http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif

Keep all your receipts and documention. If your car is out of warrantee, it wouldn't hurt to talk to a lawyer about the dealer damaging your car. Consultations are normally free especially if the person your suing has deep pockets and will probably settle out of court.

Mike


[This message has been edited by FargoRS (edited February 15, 2001).]

NEW INFO:
Just overheated again today. After the new belt, tensioner, water pump, thermostat. Just happened again. I am not sure what to do. I would get a lawyer, but don't have time. I have to have my car. I am going to try and call Subaru as soon as I get up in the morning. Does anyone have a usefuly phone number for SOA?

needed to resurrect this topic.

I had a coolant leak at the waterpump gasket.

I'm at 75k miles, so I figure might as well change everything out as preventive maintenance. Everything comes apart and goes back together, no big deal.

I fill the coolant. I manage to squeeze only 2/3rds of a gallon back in, when nearly a gallon comes out. I start up and go for a drive, and turn around when the needle hits 3/4 hot...weird...it's full hot when I get home. hmmmm.

Having had it apart, the waterpump in a subaru works just a bit different than other cars. it seems to recirculate the H2o through the block....when the thermostat opens, the cold mixes with the hot, then overflows back into the radiator. There's no coolant in the upper hose at all, and the lower hose, you can hear the water squish.
Eventaually I managed to put the full gallon in....there's still another half that needs to go in.....

What did I miss on the fill process? Should I have filled through the upper hose?

I will post if no one knows the answer. I have a source looking into it.

sjd

When you do a coolant flush, what happens is part or all of the block empties out. So when you go back to refill the coolant, There is nothing in the block. You have to fill up the rad, start the car and let idle. As the pump does it's job, it will rebuild pressure within the block and rad. You will notice the coolant low in the rad, fill it up and keep an eye on it. The air bubbles will work themselves out after a while. I don't know if this answered you question or not?

Nick.

I'm afraid you're gonna find it's the head gasket - this is a known problem on the '98.. SteveS had the same problem with his turboed '98..

Basil

I was told to remove the upper hose and pour diectly into that then fill the radiator.

IT's not the head gasket....

from Ryan plum....he works at Subaru R and D. talked to Steve (head tech ) and Dennis (powertain guy).....they didn't even
flinch.

Jack the front of the car up!. vent the air.Got to get the radiator above
the engine and get the bubble out. then when you think you've got all the
air out, take the car out and "race the hell out of it" full throttle, quick
jerks, etc. really shake it up. but first, JACK THE CAR UP......

ta daaaaa

sjd