Motors blows after Annual Service - dealer refuses to honor warranty

There are a couple of things I learned in auto repair.

Never trust anyone (I'm sorry, it's true). Not your customers, not your suppliers.

Always get it in writing. Always.

Document, document, and document. Paperwork is king. Do not cut corners or you are cutting yourself. The laws are always written in the favor of consumers.

Do anything you can to rectify the situation without litigation or the Bureau of Auto Repair on your ass.

Bone up immediately to a mistake, apologize, and try to fix it. You blew it, you fix it. Credibility and word of mouth is key to your success.

The customer is always right even when he's wrong. Well, at least that's how they view it anyway!


Where things get tricky is when you have a situation like this. It didn't happen to us but you'll get the idea.

A guy comes in for an overheating problem. You find it's the fan switch and replace it. Maybe a $100 job.

The guy drives it an notices the gauge is running hot. The fan switch failed for whatever reason. But, he drives it anyway thinking it's a new part so what the heck.

He overheats it and blows the head gasket. He wants a valve job or complete motor rebuild.

Well, the part may have failed but why did he keep driving it until it exploded? That's where it gets tricky and one of the reasons I got out of the business.

 

...using a camshaft from a 355C.. ..I call "BS" on the parts unavailability, there are "some problems" with these gears, I think there's some welded rebuilt ones that improve on the original failed design....maybe ''why' FNA no longer sells them??

Some 355 guys need to weigh in on that....

Also look at the failure pic, it sure seems to me the key walked on the camshaft, indicateing (to me) the gear was "leaving" from an untorqued retaing nut?

Are there metal keepers, on these nuts?

 

I bought my car at Shelton Ferrai which I belive is FoFL. I would never ever ever recoment them to anyone. They were scumbags before the ink was dry. I was living aborad at the time and had them do an EO in my sbsence so when I returned the car would be A1.

First the rear main seal leaked, which they paid for to have redone in the NE. But basicaly the car was running on 10 cyl wnd whatever they did was incompetant, including replacing the tensioner bearings incorrectly. In the end I just bit the bullet and had it all redone so the car would run properly.

The only dealer thta i have found that really has a sensitivity for the machines and a clue is Miller motors, and even then i only have Lee work on my car. It takes far less time and costs probably 50% more than an independant. But if its wrong they dont moan and Lee is very competant.

 

Bob, I don't hate all stealerships. I just haven't found one yet that I've had a decent relationship with. And yes, the customer can be an idiot and can be wrong. I have a bias in this case, and that I know Mesoscale personally and I know he's a good guy.

In your case above, if there was a problem and the user created another problem because of use, or personal action.. I agree.. the shop shouldn't be held liable. In this case, I don't see how the OP is in the wrong based on whats presented (and I would like the other side of the story here). If there was written documentation that states, "Used Part used with permission of owner, no warranty if part fails" and a signature acknowledging it.. then I agree, sorry it's SOL time. If the "stealership" screwed up, and handled it better the customer wouldn't be as upset IMHO. If the suggestion here is that he acknowledged that a used part was put in with no warranty and now is mad that the part failed.. I don't see that yet.

 

I have your solution: Move to Las Vegas!

 

Look, it certainly looks like you got screwed. I get that. But why are you beating the drums here on Ferrari Chat? Instead of posting your documentation here, why not talk to a lawyer. Last I heard, they were hurting for work.

Dale

 

Oh the trouble I'd get into... Women, wine, and Area 51 just up the road....

 

It never ceases to amaze me that anyone lives in Las Vegas. I can stand a maximum of 4 days there. Almost 56 hours of which I am in my room being entertained/sleeping. Asleep by 4 awake by 3.

 

That sounds like code word for hooker.

 

I'm married. But, that's my take on it

My wife and I have a good time in Vegas. But, we're ready to leave after a few days...

The temperature isn't really a factor. A/C in the plane, A/C in the limo, A/C in the hotel, A/C in the Bellagio shops/Caesars etc... The elements don't affect the Vegas tourist.

 

what was the the amount FoFL offered to split ? $20k ?

 

You don't need a lawyer to rectify. Simply make the most god awful amount of noise and it'll get fixed. Complain to the owner, send letters to local media stations, show up every day and complain...harass the $H#T out of them and make it messy in the public and it'll go away. I work for a HUGE Top25 Fortune company, easiest way to make us jump is to get something In the public or send a letter to the CEO. You be shocked how quickly things can happen...

At this point your best bet is to start complaining, sending letters and seeing what you can get out of the situation, the car maybe gone, but some remuneration is still possible I bet.

 

You realize that this is the Internet, right? You know, that place where nothing is real. If it were me, I would be in full battle mode by now. Hashing this out on Ferrari Chat may make you feel better, but it will not change anything.

Good luck.

 

i know that. they offered to split the cost of repair which was what amount ?

 

and i go back to my previous thread. the $13k is a sunk cost.

so you sold the car for $20k?

as i don't follow the 355 market, seems to me that you could have invested $15k - and sold the car for $45k-55k plus..... ????

my hedge fund math seems to think that would have recouped $10k+ in value.

 

I have to disagree. When someone says "I am installing a "new" cam gear", that means "brand new", "unused"....period.

Otherwise, they should say "I am installing a "used" cam gear" implying one different (but not brand new) than the original that is already installed.

Again, disagree - what is the difference between "new" and "brand new"? The answer is nothing: new = brand new

They should say "replaced with used" instead of "new".

I just asked two mechanics - they back-up what I just posted, 100%. They said "new" means "in the box, sealed in plastic, unused"

 

Maybe I missed something but I see nothing in those invoices that indicates any used parts.

 

Used timing gear on Ebay $563.00. Sure looks like a new gear on the invoice.

 

With the history of the car scaring any potential buyer combined with the fact that F355s are the boat anchor of Ferrari maintenance headaches, the number should be closer to $30k. The market has been soft on this model for years and any problems taint it even further.
Owner did everything right as far as his threshold of pain was able to maintain. Had he been a pit bull about it, he probably could have done far better with FNA and the stealership but we all have our sanity to preserve.

 

I don't see "used" written ANYWHERE on the invoice. I see 163950U for $1700 some odd bucks. Ricambi has them priced as $1,889.78 New. So.. looks like new pricing, no indication for using used part. Written on the invoice...

Am I missing something that would make James' story not credible? As I stated before, there is no reason to doubt his credibility.

Seems that my use of the term "stealership" holds true.. (for now..)

 

not sure how a newly rebuilt motor would scare people away from cars that are maintenance POSs anyhow ( ) what year / mileage was this thing ?

i'd love a new motor 355 for a track car all day long at $30k