Fidelity Warranty Services
Engine Claim Denied Citing Sludge, Then Oil Change Intervals

In June I purchased a 1999 Dodge Dakota from Ken Dixon Automotive in Waldorf, Maryland. I purchased an extended warranty from Fidelity Warranty Services. I didn't want the warranty at first but the man doing the paperwork at the dealership said I should at least get the lowest coverage.

This warranty cost $1700.00. About a month after I purchased the truck, the water pump broke, I had the repair facility contact Fidelity and they paid for a portion of the repair. I still had to pay about $375. On July 26, I was driving the truck and the "check gages" light came on and the oil pressure gage had dropped. The light then went off and the pressure went up. The pressure then dropped again, I pulled over to the shoulder and the truck cut out. I had the truck towed to Mr. Tire in Mechanicsville, Maryland because they had done work on it before. They told me that the oil pump had failed and the engine locked up. The oil pump had been replaced before I purchased the truck last year. A representative from Fidelity went to Mr. Tire and told them I would have to give permission for them to drop the oil pan so that they could check the bearing. I did this.

At first Fidelity said that I would have to pay for it, then another person I talked to at Fidelity said they would pay (for the pan to be dropped). They also said they would reimburse me for a rental car up until the time of the diagnosis. They also told me that as long as there was no sign of abuse that they would replace the engine. The inspector came out and looked at the engine and told the manager at Mr. Tire, Mr. Mattingly that he did see any problems with Fidelity replacing the engine. They came out again and took pictures. I was then informed that they would not cover my engine because of sludge buildup.

Mr. Mattingly and the other repairmen at Mr. Tire assured me that there is no sludge and that Fidelity is just trying to get out of honoring the warranty. They all suggested that I take legal action. I then contact the dealership where I purchased the truck and spoke with the used car manager, Mr. Chris Shirtzer (sp). He went to Mr. Tire and looked at my engine and agreed that there was no sludge and no signs of abuse. He met with the mechanic at the dealership and he contacted Fidelity. They are now saying that they are denying the warranty because I didn't have the oil changed often enough.

I was told by the mechanics at Mr. Tire that it wouldn't have caused the oil pump to fail anyway. I had a 1992 Chevy S-10 that I bought new from Ken Dixon that had 285,000 miles on it and was still running in 2003. I never had any problems with the engine. I don't feel that it was my fault that the oil pump failed and I feel that Fidelity should cover the cost of the engine.

Company: Fidelity Warranty Services
Country: USA
State: Florida
City: Deerfield Beach
ZIP: 33443
Address: P.O. Box 8567
Phone: 8003275172

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