I have been having my Saturn 2002 L100 serviced at Firestone Complete Auto Care since I initially purchased the car in eleven years. On Sunday, June 9 I had my Saturn serviced, oil changed, and supposedly all fluids were checked and topped off.
On Wednesday, June 12, my vehicle experienced a few tiny jerks as I drove home but stopped after a few times. On Thursday, June 13, after driving to Sanford from Orlando, FL, from work I drove to Sam's Club to fill my auto with gas. After filling I attempted to start my vehicle. Nothing happened. I would not start.
I called AAA and requested the vehicle be towed. I waited an hour for them to arrive. After arriving, the AAA tow truck driver informed me that the vehicle probably had water in the tank. He instructed me to press the gas and fluid it and then attempt to start the vehicle, it should start. I did as he instructed. The vehicle did start. He said there was no need to tow the car. He instructed me to purchase some gas treatment to rid the gas tank of the water.
I drove to my mother's house approximately 4 miles away. I turned the car off and waited a few minutes then attempted to start it again. I would not start. I borrowed my mother's van and drove to Auto Zone. I explained to the service rep what had happened and he too said it was probably water in the tank. He sold me the gas treatment. I pour the gas treatment into the vehicle and allowed it to sit for about half an hour. The vehicle started and I drove home with no problems.
I drove to work the following morning, Friday, June 14. The vehicle drove fine. Friday evening as I drove home, I drove off the I-4 ramp onto SR 46-A and Country Club Rd., Sanford, FL 32773. I turned right onto SR 46. As I drove up to the light, approximately 4 cars away my vehicle began to jerk violently then stopped. When the traffic light turned green I attempted to start my vehicle in order to get it out of the road. After I drove across Rhinehart Road and approximately. 1 miles my vehicle started jerking, smoke puffed out, and then the vehicle stalled. I allowed the vehicle to coast around the curve and down the road until it completely stopped in the median less than 1 mile from the off ramp of I-4 and SR 46, Country Club Rd. I again called AAA to have my vehicle towed. AAA towed my vehicle to David Maus at my request only because it was basically around the corner from where my vehicle had stalled.
After examining my vehicle the next work day, Josh Krueger, Parts Consultant at David Maus informed me that the motor head gaskets were blown, 3 were cracked and one was loose, that the motor was destroyed. I informed him that I had purchased an extended warranty Endurance that I would call them. Josh informed me that the procedure is for him to contact the warranty company, inform them of the damage, and request authorization to repair the vehicle.
Josh Krueger did not inform me why the motor had failed; only that it had failed. Josh called me later that Monday, June 17 and informed me that Endurance the warranty wanted to know the cause for the motor failure and that they would not even consider paying for the repairs unless I agree to allow them to disassemble the motor to find the exact cause of the failure. He informed me that it would cost approximately $850. I informed Josh that I did not have any money to pay for that. Josh reassure me to not worry about it because all warranty companies insist on knowing why a part failed and that they always pay, that's the purpose of the warranty. I asked him specifically would they pay that disassembly fee. He informed me that they would pay for it that it would become a part of the repair expenses. He informed me that it would be a week at least before they could discover what had caused the failure.
Josh was so confident that Endurance would pay for the repairs that he gave me a free rental car to drive until my vehicle was repaired. After more than a week Josh called me and informed me that Endurance would not pay for the repairs because the damage to the motor of my vehicle was caused by heat. Of course I questioned what that meant. Josh informed me that, THERE WAS NO COOLANT in my vehicle! I was astonished because I had my vehicle's oil changed and fluids flushed and topped off at least 3 times this year, only a few days prior. I have at least 2 of those service receipts which specifically states that all fluids were checked and topped off!
I could not and did not believe that! After all, I my vehicle had been serviced only days prior to my motor failing! After Josh informed me that Endurance would not pay for the repairs of my vehicle due to the damage being caused by heat, I called Endurance and basically pleaded that they would do what's right and pay for the repairs! They refused.
After more than a week, Endurance informed me that the vehicle over heated because there was no coolant in the vehicle, and that the water pump had broken. Both were the cause of the motor in my vehicle's motor overheating and failing.
They accused me of abusing my vehicle! They accused me of driving my vehicle knowing fully that the vehicle was overheating, that I was careless! They stated that I did not pay any attention to the gages in the panel! They informed me that even though they, Endurance had insisted I give permission for the motor to be disassembled; I would have to pay for that, $850. David Maus would not wave the fee, and Endurance would not pay the fee.
I contacted Charity Wheels for help. They had a representative to call David Maus to request they wave the fee on the grounds of principle and that they did not give me the option to refuse to allow the disassemble because they were aware that Endurance would not pay. They still refused.
The Charity Wheels representative also called Endurance to request they pay the fee, or even half of the fee but they refused. Both David Maus and Endurance refused to help me. That left me with a fee of $850 to pay just to clear myself of the disassemble fee. David Maus is charging $4,300 to repair and replace the motor in my vehicle.
Because Endurance refuses to pay for the repairs to my vehicle and because I do not have any money, my vehicle is lost!
I believe that Firestone servicemen have been lying and cheating! They claimed to have properly serviced my vehicle for years. I believe they had until recently! The new staff at firestone knew well that they had not performed the proper maintenance on my vehicle! Because they did not honestly and properly service my vehicle, they caused my vehicle to overheat, destroy the motor in my vehicle, and subsequently destroy my entire vehicle! Firestone is the cause of the damage to my vehicle and the loss of my vehicle solely!
My Saturn is only worth LOW range value: $2,164, MID range value: $4,376, HIGH ranges value: $6,588. So I venture to claim that my vehicle falls in the mid range of value, $4,300.
Firestone is the responsible party of the destruction of my Saturn L100 vehicle and they should reimburse me for that loss, $4,300!
At this present time David Maus is holding my vehicle hostage insisting that I pay the $850 disassemble fee! I do not have any money to pay for it! I do not have any money to buy another used car certainly not a new car.
Firestone should reimburse me for my loss, $4,300!
0 comments