Ok....I need some advice on how to handle this.

I had my oil changed last week. It was a Saturday, and i was scheduled for my appointment about 1 hour before they close. When I showed up, they were running WAY behind. I waited almost 2 hours for them to change the oil. I was a kinda irritated, but no harm done.

Today, I'm driving and i hear a loud PANG under my car. It sounds like I drove over something, but its daylight and I could clearly see the road was empty. Within about 2 miles, I see my oil gauge light up. I was at a red light and immediately pull the car to the side of the road, and it smells like something burning in the car.

When I get out i see white smoke coming out of the back of my car. I look behind my car and see a distinct line of oil trailing behind where I was driving.

I call AAA and when they are loading my car, I look under it and see that my oil drain plug is missing....in their haste last week they must have not have screwed it in securely enough.

I am very worried that there could be engine damage to the car. I checked the dipstick and it was bone dry. How should I handle it with the dealership? I need as much security as i can get that my engine is not damaged.....

I am now more than kinda irritated.....

 

this is almost the 3rd time i have read about the same problem, damn best of luck man, honda really needs to step up with their services jeez. Makes me scared to take it in for any reason. Sorry to hear about your troubles good luck fixing it. I'm sure they will try to deny everything

 

I wouldn't settle for anything less than a brand new engine. Your engine is mostly likely toast.

 

new engine from the factory, a rental car free while this is going one, in other words this is a warranty issue, the dealer needs to provide their warranty to you for the work performed, just like if it was honda...you paid for the work now they have to make good on the repair. again the dealer has a warranty for the work they performed. your engine has sustained damage that a teardown would show.

if the dealer balks...you write them an demand, keeping track of your expenses, have the car towed to another place, engine replaced, you have to front all expenses, then small claims court for rental car, engine over haul, towing, etc...no need for lawyers. ask the sm claim ct advisor in your county for assistance and advice.

then again...if they put oil in it and it runs great then you can settle for the towing, a rental car, perhaps a service credit for future, whatever and drive away, no harm done.., perhaps an extended warranty on them would work well...they pay for it and you have assurances the car will last.

.i think i have covered some popular options here.

 

I think you will have a tough time convincing the dealership to drop a new engine in if the car runs OK after they look it over. You can ask of course, but most likely they will balk big time. I think asking for an extended warranty along with certified notation of admittance of the error on their part would be a good compromise (assuming the engine runs well once they fill it up). It sucks of course for you as you will always be wondering if/when something might go bye-bye, but at least you will have the warranty to back you up.

Good luck with it and hopefully the dealership will be cool about it *fingers crossed*

Craig

 

no no no

i wouldn't want to bring my car back to them after the matter is resolved, that's me though

 

If it made a loud bang or noise like you said then shut down, I would say the engine is damaged. Even with new oil added it will most likely not run. If the engine dose run I would tell them to drain the new oil back out (after it runs 10 min.) into a clean pan for you to inspect.

 

I'm definitely going to try to get a new engine out of this. I pulled the car over almost immediately. as soon as the oil gauge light came on I was over on the side of the road within seconds.

Considering that, is there still a high probability of engine damage? I guess I was still driving it for almost 2 miles while I was dumping my oil all over the road...

I'm so pissed this had to happen on a Saturday night...I have to wait until tomorrow to find out what is going on....

 

keep all paperworks, and keep track of money and time you lost. If they dont replace your engine, take it to court. You dont even need a lawyer, just present to them all your records, and they'll ask you how much in compenstation you need. dont forget to calculate time lost and ask for a reasonable number + some more. Bring the court paperwork back to the dealership and serve them.

Most of the time, they will just pay the amount, because its gonna cost them MUCH MUCH more to hire a lawyer and show up at court and go through that process.

Good luck to you.

since i got my car (used) i have done everything myself. I dont trust anybody i dont know working on my car.

 

The loud "pang" was probably the oil drain cap coming loose and ricocheting off the underbody of the car... especially if you continued to drive it fine for 2 miles afterwards.

There's no way in heck they're going to replace the engine if it isn't seized up.

I'd at least demand they pull the head and carefully inspect the cylinders for signs of damage.

The CEL wasn't flashing, was it?