Hello all!
Location: Eureka, California
Sooo to make a very frustrating story as short as possible, I took my 1993 Ford Ranger into a Firestone Tire shop in Eureka, California to get new tires, an alignment, and an oil change. It’s a manual 4×4 and I loved it. So I pick up the vehicle and am starting to drive home (I live about 2 hours away from the shop, in a very rural area) so I’m no professional mechanic, but I’m not completely stupid, the truck starts knocking really bad and doesn’t want to accelerate less than a mile from leaving the shop.
I immediately turn around and barely make it back to the shop.
They drained the oil for the oil change and never put oil back in.
The shop admitted complete fault. I am in a rental vehicle now but I don’t really know what to do.
I spent almost $1k for the tires and work done. They’re offering me $4k, including the refund for the work done that destroyed my vehicle.
I have an estimate for almost $8k to replace the engine and the labor, fees, etc.
I can’t even find a comparable vehicle for $4k.
People have suggested contacting a lawyer but they don’t really care because I wasn’t physically hurt. They just destroyed my livelihood.
I just got laid off so I’m a poor. I also have been fixing up this truck and I loved it. It was perfect for me in every way.
What should I do or what would you do if you were in my situation?
Comments
What happened when you showed them the 8k estimate required for repairs, did they decline to settle it? What is the truck worth? You may need to take them to small claims court if they won’t settle with you.
>They’re offering me $4k, including the refund for the work done that destroyed my vehicle.
What is bluebook for this car? Assuming it is $3,000 (that seems pretty reasonable) they’ve made a full value offer. You should take it.
Edit to add: checking KBB in a total dearth of information it sounds like they’ve offered you a lot.
Insurance typically pays out the lesser of the car repair value or the value of the car. I suggest you find the value of the vehicle, and if its higher than 3K, id make the argument for more money. Dont forget to add the cost of the tire replacement on that too. Sorry dude, they dont make trucks like they used to.
What is the fair market value for the vehicle? Is it $4000 or something less than that?
To them this is an insurance claim. Most companies have a variety of insurance policies, one of which would cover the negligence of a tech not putting oil back in the truck. That insurance is only obligated to make you whole as to the value of the vehicle. 4k is probably a generous valuation of the vehicle. 8k sounds awfully steep in price for an engine replacement. A remanufactured engine for a Ranger is about 2000-2300. This is with out shopping around. I would shop around on someone to do the swap.