Sorry so long - still makes my blood boil 10+ years later.
:realmad:
When I graduated from ISU I started working on staff there. Bought a used, high mileage Cadillac that I adored, but after a few years, got married and moved out of town so the daily 100 mile round trip commute
(premium fuel or it knocked!) and constant fixing was eating us alive. We bought our first, and last, new car, a end-of-the-year clearance deal on a '97 Camry.
I continued to use Wilson Cadillac in Ames for oil changes because I knew the guys and they'd shuttle me to work, etc., so it was convenient. One the third oil change, all hell broke lose. I got there right as they were closing for the day, picked up the car and headed back to Ames for a couple of errands. As soon as I pulled on to Duff, the check engine light flickered. Because I knew there were locking up right now, and I still had 50 miles to get home, I turned around by Benson Buick and headed back. I found one mechanic still hanging around. Meanwhile, it was cold out so the salesmen were pulling cars into the mechanic bays so the blue-hairs could shop in the warmth. They pulled my Toyota in, he checks the oil - it doesn't register on the dipstick. The garage manager appears around this time, and declares that maybe they forgot to put the last quart in. The manager disappears. The mechanic
(who was not the guy that had done the oil changed earlier that day) puts 4 quarts in total in my car. When done, he leaned over and said, "Honey, looks like you just earned yourself a new Cadillac from Mr. Wilson."
I was stunned. Speechless, really. The mechanic disappeared and one of the salesmen let me out since they had another roadmonster to bring in to sell to a rich widow.
On the way home it fully hit me what just happened. I called them the next day - the service manager could barely talk to me. I wanted honest answers about the ramifications of not putting oil in my car and me driving it away. The next month went by fast. At the Toyota dealer we had the an dropped and bearing inspected for scorch - all looked good, but no one could tell us if long-term issues were more likely
(we planned to drive this car past 200K). My lawyer helped draft a letter to Wilson's , saying I wanted a Camry from them that had ALWAYS had oil in it. Mr Wilson called me the day he received my letter. I absolutely let loose on him. My husband eventually took the phone for serious conversation. But since we had no proof damage was done, we had no leverage.
In short, we ran oil analysis on that car for the next 200K. Sold it private sale, and a couple years ago is the last time we heard about it, but at that time they were still driving it so I guess it all worked out.
But, to this day, when I drive by Wilson Cadillac Toyota
(man, I was POed when they became a Toyota dealer) they still get the one-finger salute from me. I have divided feelings about them, as they're big Cyclone supporters, but when someone screws me over, they have earned an enemy for life.
I love Trickles in Ames. If they can't handle something, they advise as to where to go. I will go to a dealer only if my leg is on fire and they have the last glass of water on the planet.
Oh, and my advice is that if you think a garage neglected to put oil in your car, get on the interstate and drive that thing till it blows. You don't want a car where you're constantly worrying about when it's going to take a dump - blow it and sue for a new one.
