Help my new interior has been ruined, interior destroyed as oil cooler was to be installed! |
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Help my new interior has been ruined, interior destroyed as oil cooler was to be installed! |
wes |
Jul 17 2017, 12:43 PM
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#1
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wes Group: Members Posts: 1,589 Joined: 8-December 07 From: Ukiah Ca Member No.: 8,436 Region Association: Northern California |
Last year a week before the Monterey car week I scheduled to have an oil cooler installed on my return form the Wreks Reunion Concourse. I took my recently restored 914 to have the oil cooler installed plus an oil leak repaired on my new 2056 stroker engine. When I arrived I paid him the $1837.15, I noted that no oil cooler was on the repair receipt plus a number of repairs were done that where never talked about
(he never gave me any kind of estimate written or otherwise) said he adjusted the carburetion, checked the valves adjustment and test drove the car, it was cooling fine now, well great! Now when I went to the car first noticed the car setting outside with a scratch to the paint on rear quarter panel, then the interior, the shop left the window open during a rain storm resulting in mold growing on the new carpets. When I spoke to the shop owner he replied he would take care of it so I left it with him, after returning as he said car cleaned up good, scratch buffed out and ready to pickup I found the new seats destroyed. He said he tried to clean them and he doesn't know what happened. He also ruined one of the new door cards, the new consual, new dashboard and the aluminum floor pan scratched. He now told me to get an estimate so I trailer the car home. Next morning was excited to take her for a short test drive to the coast and after driving for a few minutes seeing the oil temperature was rising quickly now at 265 degrees stopping at first chance and shutting her down. When I went to open the engine compartment the lid won't open as it was binding on the trunk, (it was fine before but one fo the items he charged me for). I had to open the trunk for it to clear the now scratched trunk lid. Ok now after calling him he had me bring it back. Ok not smart on my account! So after taking the car back again he pulled the Weber carbs and sheet metal to see if it has a cooling problem, he said it looks good! I explained that I brought the car to him for a oil cooler and I already knew and had checked for a cause for it's over heating. I at that time even bought the parts needed for the oil cooler he then at that time tells me he's not sure he is qualified to install the oil cooler and charging me another $521.85. I've reported the two charges on my BofA card totaling $2359 to the Bank of America and they're requesting an estimate by a shop with the shops name and I'd on the estimate. I'm looking for a shop that is qualified to give me the estimate needed plus installe an oil cooler. I live in Northern Ca. Ukiah about 60 miles north of Santa Rosa |
Tom_T |
Jul 17 2017, 02:43 PM
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#2
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TMI.... Group: Members Posts: 8,318 Joined: 19-March 09 From: Orange, CA Member No.: 10,181 Region Association: Southern California |
Wes,
Unlike many other states - you're not alone in this. CA has the DMV/Dept. of Consumer Affairs 800 number to report shops like this (every shop is required to post it & it's online), & they will step in, at least as far as disciplinary action, but they can also advise you how to proceed. You may also have to go to small claims court if your insurance won't cover you, then go after him. They guy is at fault for both the interior/exterior damage while in their care, so his insurance should cover it, if he has proper coverage. And he should've stepped up right away to do so, so do report both the interior/exterior damage & his charging you for work not on the estimate + not repairing the problem for which it was brought in. DMV/DCA should take action on both, but not necessarily get the money on both - as I'm not sure on how it works in this type of complicated case. I'd suggest getting an estimate for the actual work requested & a separate one for the work "claimed" to have been done - both from the shop that referred you (High Tech - or at least let them know that their referral had problems), &/or from Rich Bontempi (HPH Redwood City) &/or Marty Yeoman - since they both know 914s & won't fell "unqualified" like your ProShop guy did. If you don't have a Porsche interior shop whom you can trust for the work near to you or Bay Area, then get one from Autos International in Fallbrook CA, cuz they're a known quantity who does great work on 914s & other P-cars. Ditto on any needed body/paint work from a good body shop up near you or in the Bay Area - if there is anything still amiss that didn't "buff out" by the shop guy. Also, let Redwood Region PCA know too, so they're on notice about an advertiser/shop whop they implicitly recommend. You should be able to both get your money back for the faulty & non-estimated work done on your 914 (in CA they MUST have an owner approved estimate for ALL work before doing it), as well as for the damaged interior/exterior repairs due to the shop's negligence. I don't know if they will make any "off-sets" from the former refund as legit &/or owner approved work, against the latter damages. If they still have your oil cooler parts, then get those back immediately before he gets wind of the complaints & holds them on you. I don't know either of those shops (referring & work), but you got hosed for non-approved extra work (unless you approved any over the phone/in person orally), as well as taken by a negligent shop. What reputable shop leaves any car windows open in the rain, then lets it sit & mold? .... & lets a car get banged up? .... & then won't fully repair it - rather than using harsh chemicals/processes to completely destroy it!!?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) Aside from Mark's very generous offer - you should be able to get everything repaired properly & completely, & not have to piecemeal it together, the way that CA law & DCA/DMV, etc. works here. You won't know if the seat foam is wet & molding & need replacing, rusting/molding floor panels under the carpet & floor crossmember vinyl, electrical &/or instrument problems due to the interior flooding, etc., etc. - so it's going to be a deeper repair that just replacing the seat inserts IMHO, & you should not have to do the labor yourself. So go the DCA route, see what they say to do, check with your insurance, get full work estimates, get with your car insurance co. for "Comprehensive" coverage, & maybe get a referral to a good lawyer up there on these types of matters, & get a 30 min. free consultation to see what they think (even "consulting a lawyer" may break the shop owner's "tight-fisted grip on his wallet" hearing that), & see what you need to do for CA small claims court (you don't need a lawyer to do small claims) but their maximum claim is something like $7500+/- & neither parties can use legal counsel there. For all of this stuff, refer to it as an interior flooding problem, so they know the full extent of what to look for, beyond just surface damage. PS - I'm sure you realize now, that the reason he never contacted you for 6 months & claims his phone had problems, was he didn't want to face the music, but also take that as a possible red flag that he's got financial problems & may be close to BK, not have full insurance himself, etc. So move quickly on this. Good Luck! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) Tom /////// |
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