I bought my car in April. It's been a year now. After buying it within 2 days I notice the check engine light comes on and blinks while the vehicle is idling (for example if you stop at a stop light, or stop sign, or if you turn it on to let it warm up). The only way to stop the light from blinking is either to turn the car off then on or if you drive it it goes very very slow at first (I've almost been hit several times while trying to merge into traffic and didn't realize the check engine light was blinking) then about a mile or so down the road (3 or 4 minutes) the light stops blinking and drives like normal.
I brought it in right after I bought it and explained this to them. They said put dry gas in it. I did this, the problem did not go away. Before my 30 day warranty expired I went back to have them fix it. They refused. They said it wasn't a warranty issue. They as in Dan Daigle, the manager.
I started making phone calls and was told that I needed to take it to a different town (45 miles away) to have it fixed. (Mind you I bought the car in Topsham Maine and lived within 5 miles of the dealership, now they want me to travel to Augusta Maine where they have a smaller dealership with one (count them 1 yes ONE) mechanic (Roy). So I take it to Augusta. They give me a loaner. I get a call it's fixed. Before I even get it back home the check engine light does the same thing. I call they tell me to bring it back in. The mechanic in Augusta says it's a computer problem, so he said he wrote the computer part number down and he'd call me when it came in.
I wait and I wait and I wait. It's now July or so. No phone call. I call Lee Auto Mall in Augusta. (This place is also known as Lee's Express Credit etc.) I speak with Roy. He says oh sorry I wrote down the wrong part number, come in. (45 mile drive again?!) So i drive back down and he writes down the "right" part number. (It's now August or Sept). I call to make an appointment (it's hard to get in, one mechanic who works on ALL the vehicles they sell out of Augusta Maine). 2 appointments I had to miss because of sever weather snow storms (driving in Maine when it's a major snow storm is dangerous, lots of times the state will close down, traffic is 45mph on the interstate and with a vehicle that has a check engine light blinking, I'm not taking chances.)
I call for an appointment. I finally get in now on Feb 20th of 2008 (around that date). I go to the appointment and Roy says he has 4 cars ahead of me, he doesn't have the computer (he supposedly sent it back) and my car wasn't going to be fixed. I asked him why he made an appointment if he didn't have the part in? He said he was going to check it out. I said he knew what was wrong, he agreed to fix it (now my inspection sticker is going to expire in march). So he tells me he can't fix it it's not under warranty. I told him it was a warranty issue and I've been jerked around, driving from Topsham to Augusta he says he fixes it and doesn't, says he is ordering a computer but wrote down the wrong number, makes an appointment but doesn't have the part? He said well you missed 2 appointments. I said they were major snow storms. He said "It's Maine, deal with it. We all have to drive in storms). Mind you I tried ot get in sooner but Roy had gotten married and was on his honeymoon. I told him I wanted the vehicle fixed. He said end of discussion "get out".
I call his manager of the Augusta Toyota later that morning. (I had gone to my appointment at 8am). The manager picks up at 9:30am. I explain the story he said he'd have Roy call me back. Roy calls back and says that now Dan and Lee Toyota of Topsham will fix it.
Ok now I live in Augusta (they know it) and they are sending me to Topsham. I'm mad. I call the inhouse financing (Maine Auto credit) and told them to come get the vehicle, I don't want it. They ask where it is but won't come get it (oh I'm current on my car payment, never missed a payment, it's taken out monthly). I speak with this girl Michelle who doesn't help me she tells me there is nothing they can do and they are NOT part of Lee Toyota (but they are they are part of Lee Holding which owns Lee Toyota and Maine auto credit). She says she wants to talk to her boss and have him call me back. They will get ahold of the person in charge in Topsham, make things right. (Sure I say).
So her boss calls says he's not part of Lee Toyota but he has "connections" and he'll talk to them see what he can do. I told him I want a new vehicle that will pass inspection. I told him my inspection sticker was going to run out, that I've been jerked around. No problem he says... He has connections.
Dan Daigle the infamous manager from day 1 who would not help calls me back. Now he says he'll fix my problem. I told him too bad it's too late give me a vehicle that will pass inspection. They sold an illegal vehicle to me. He refuses. I call the previous owner; she states she had the same issue as me and took it to Wiscasset Ford (it's a mercury sable I had bought) and they fixed it. I call Wiscasset Ford; sure enough check engine blinking light problem, replaced coils just like the technician in Augusta did. (so the coils have been changed in less then a year).
I call Dan's boss Lori Kates, she's not available so I leave a message. Dan calls me and says they'll fix it. I told him I was going to talk to his boss. He says no need to get her involved too many people will confuse things. I absolutely should not contact her. I told him I would and I would explain everything that was going on. Lori Kates calls me back. I explain the issue. She says take it in we'll fix it. I said you've tried and you can't. Oh but gives us a chance she says. I said you've had several chances. She acts like I'm an idiot (I guess if you go thru special financing they think you are an idiot, i mean why would you need special financing if you had a college degree and make over 60k plus a year? You wouldn't or so they think.).
Finally I agree. I call make an appointment. I take the car in. They don't even diagnose the problem (mind you this is 3 days before my inspection runs out) instead they tell me what's wrong with the vehicle and why it can't be inspected. I said that's not WHY i brought it in.
I call the service department again and make an appointment. I don't mention Dan or Lori. I get an appointment and bring it in. I tell them it is to be fixed under warranty. Dan isn't there that day (thank God). A mechanic diagnoses it, it's a engine computer issue. They said they ordered the part, it would take awhile. They get me a loaner vehicle. (Well they rent one for me because they don't have any in stock; from a car rental place.) This is Thursday.
Days go by and now it's Tuesday of the following week. Dan calls me and tells me they ordered the part but it won't be in so I need to return the rental and take my car back. I told him no it's not fixed I'm not taking it back. He says he drove it it's fine. I told him, it's not inspected, won't pass inspection so am I to drive it illegaly? He says they'll give me a ride home. How do I get to work? He said it's not his problem I shouldn't have a loaner car.
So I call back and ask when it will be done. He says Monday (monday is memorial day, they are not open, not the service dept). Lie #1. Then he says if I don't brink it back he'll call the police. I said go for it, would you like to know where i am? What have I done wrong, they agreed to a loaner, i never signed I'd pay for it. He says he won't order the part until I bring it back (thought he was waiting on the part?). Then I asked if he was holding my car hostage (oh no he says). The he says "fine I'll order that part in but you're paying for a rental). I said no I am not. Would you like me to call the state police and the media and have them take a video of me pulling off the lot with my unfixed car and getting a ticket? He says "I'm done talking to you"
So here I sit waiting. What are they doing with my car? I call service transfers me to the infamous Dan Daigle who won't tell me. And now it's a holiday weekend. I still have the loaner. (Is the part in? Is the problem like the mechanic said an issue where they can't find a mercury dealer to fix it? What is the problem? Why can't I get my car fixed? Why won't they do what they promise? Why does Dan lie? Why are they keeping my car yet I have to pay car payments and insurance?)
Those are good questions. And no one will answer me.
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