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Dispute with Mechanic after he replaced blown head gaskets
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sigma682
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Apr 6, 2011, 8:04 PM
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Dispute with Mechanic after he replaced blown head gaskets
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My dad recently paid this mechanic $2000 to replace blown head gaskets. It took about 2 weeks to get it back and a day later the engine overheats and the radiator return hose pops off spewing the remainder of water/coolant which is only about a gallon (less than 24 hours prior it had 3 gallons). Taking a second look the other side of the hose connected to the radiator wasn't even on all the way. Now the engine has seized up with less than a day of driving. He's saying it's not his fault but the driver's fault. I can't prove that the radiator hose wasn't put on improperly cause my dad's brother-in-law put it back in its proper place.
My question is, When my dad first had the mechanic replace the head gaskets, my dad suggested he should remove the oil pan to ensure all the water/moisture was completely gone including from the crank case. The mechanic said it wasn't necessary to do that. My dad thinks if he's right about the oil pan, he has a case against him and can take him to court.
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sigma682
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Apr 6, 2011, 8:05 PM
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Re: Dispute with Mechanic after he replaced blown head gaskets
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Sorry I forgot to mention, I believe its a '96 Chevy Tahoe I don't know the engine size.
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sigma682
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Apr 6, 2011, 8:07 PM
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Re: Dispute with Mechanic after he replaced blown head gaskets
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Mileage: 242,011 Miles
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re-tired
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Apr 6, 2011, 9:44 PM
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Re: Dispute with Mechanic after he replaced blown head gaskets
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Was this work done by a certified mechanic in a licensed shop. Was there a work order filled out and signed by both parties with warranty terms spelled out ? If no to any of these you dont have much legal recourse , maybe Judge Judy. Maybe small claims court let a judge decide.
LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH
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sigma682
New User
Apr 6, 2011, 10:03 PM
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Re: Dispute with Mechanic after he replaced blown head gaskets
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I appreciate the legal advice, I believe my father took it to a mechanic's house, I don't know whether or not he's certified but I don't think there's any documentation of the transaction.
I would however, like to get some type of opinion of the vehicle aspect.
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re-tired
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/ Moderator
Apr 6, 2011, 11:00 PM
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Re: Dispute with Mechanic after he replaced blown head gaskets
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Its really hard to say .Its one of those cases . Which happened first ? Did the hose come off and cause the over heat, in which case there should have been a fair amount of steam and noise. Gauge should have went up quickly or light on giving time for shut down before damage. OR did new head gasket fail due to improper install i.e. improper torque etc. with resulting over pressure blowing hose off. Or did thermostat stick,(see gauge and light remark). You say eng is seized. Did it get run till lockup. or did water get into cylinder (s) after shutdown and cause hyro lock . Pull plugs and try to crank.Theres too many ifs to make a call . The best i can recommend is a compromise . A do over with you paying again for parts . Mechanic redoing labor Pro Bono . Split any machine shop labor. Shade tree work can save you a lot BUT there is little recourse if things go wrong . One of the reasons shops charge those outragous prices. GOOD LUCK ,post back with results.
LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 7, 2011, 6:16 AM
Post #7 of 7
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Re: Dispute with Mechanic after he replaced blown head gaskets
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You're going to have a real hard time suing an unlicensed individual for an auto repair. You would have a hard time on this one even if it was a licensed business. The big question here is whether the severe damage was done because the engine wasn't shut off quickly enough or not. The original cause of the overheat may have been easily repaired but now because it was not shut off fast enough, there is major engine damage that could have been avoided. This is what the argument would be in court.
The fact that the person doing this is not a licensed shop and there is no documentation concerning the job, you can't prove a thing and he can just deny everything.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Apr 7, 2011, 6:17 AM)
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