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Shouldn't he have to pay for this?!?

Hey people! I know you're probably tired of my car questions butit seems as if this car keeps having issues, and the the repairman just compounds them! Any way here it goes! I have a 97 ford contour 2.0l with 203k miles on it. After so many miles, yes I know this will go wrong on it. I've change the wheel hubs, the clutch, control arms, exhaust system, and practically every other major component on the car. A month ago, I blew the engine, so now that's been replaced with one that had only 67k miles on it. Well, starting this week there's been squeaking coming from the pulleys. I brought it to a meineke shop and they said that it was the serpentine belt. Well they changed the belt and it turns out that it's not the belt, but the tensioner pulley. My question is; since I got the engine thru the meineke shop, am I responsible for the cost of the repair? He says that the cost to repair it would be like $280, but I just paid him $1450 for the engine! Who's right here? I spoke to the owners assistant and he says that they were only responsible for making sure that the engine works, but that just sounds like they're trying to play me. Should I complain to meineke headquarters? Thanks.

4 Answers

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  • Pete M
    Lv 7
    8 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Never take your car to ANY franchise or chain type auto repair place.

    Always get a personal referral from someone you know to a local, independent auto repair shop.

    I can't begin to tell you the number of horror stories I've heard from people dealing with chains and franchise type auto repair shops.

    You're probably on the hook for the entire bill unless you take them to small claims court where you may stand a chance to get them to eat the additional charges.

    That seems to be what it takes to get them to deal fairly with people.

    You could piss into the wind or call headquarters and get the same results.

    Just don't ever go to any of those places again.

  • Only 67K on that engine? wow that's about the same amount of miles I had on that heap I used in an endurance race last year. maybe its that same engine, never had its oil changed sense it was new and the last leg of its life was run at the red line, I beat this engine hard and long, it still ran when I dropped it off at the wrecking yard though, Nice to know it found a good home, but in your head any mechanic that touches this POS is responsible for your stupidity and lack of funds and deserves to be sued, Good luck with that,

  • Steve
    Lv 6
    8 years ago

    Well either they got you a used engine and used the attached pulley or put toot old one on the new (used) engine. Either way they are not going to guarantee all your parts since you bought the used engine. They guarantee that the engine will last for a period of time.. Not that every component attached to it will. So no they are not responsible for that.

  • 8 years ago

    The engine replacement should have included the tensioner and a new serpentine belt. The serpentine belt replacement *definitely* should have included the tensioner - that is basic professional practice. You should have to pay for the tensioner and they should put it on free of charge. If they don't see it like that, you can file a complaint with the BBB. I am confident that is how it will be worked out.

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