Mechanic left car in 4WD, causing heavy damage to the suspension. Do I have any repurcussions? - Other Topics Forum - Discuss Pop Culture, Arts and Entertainment

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Mechanic left car in 4WD, causing heavy damage to the suspension. Do I have any repurcussions?

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02-23-2018 , 01:26 PM

Hellmuth was right

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 5,792

1) Got the transmission rebuilt on my trailblazer about 5-6 weeks ago paying about 2k
2) No, I did not notice that they put it in 4WD. It was driving virtually the exact same as before I got the rebuild, I did notice it was slightly noisier but I thought that was just because of the transmission rebuild and nothing else.

Yesterday when I tried to make a turn I noticed a lot of heavy knocking. That was the first indication that there was anything wrong. I took it to a different shop and they said there is over 2.5k worth of damage to the suspension.

Do I have any repurcussions?

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02-23-2018 , 01:30 PM

Larry Legend

Celtic Pride

Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 42,920

Why does leaving it in 4WD cause suspension problems?

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02-23-2018 , 01:36 PM

Hellmuth was right

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 5,792

I have no idea, that's just what the mechanic told me this morning. Apparently 4WD is only supposed to be used on slick or icy roads but driving it in regular conditions causes damage to the car

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02-23-2018 , 01:49 PM

Neil S

King of the sidebar

Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 19,643

Repurcussions?

Do you mean restitution?

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02-23-2018 , 01:55 PM

gregorio

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 39,313

Why not take it back to the shop that did the work and ask them why you're having transmission troubles 5 weeks after they rebuilt it?

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02-23-2018 , 02:03 PM

chopstick

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 9,158

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil S

Repurcussions?

Do you mean restitution?

Restitution?

Do you mean recourse?

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02-23-2018 , 02:08 PM

Rapini

ragging

Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 13,096

Looks like the repercussions are $2.5k worth of damage to the suspension.

How do you engage 4WD in your car? Should it have been apparent to you that it was in 4WD? Or is it one of those old-school things where you have to flip a switch inside and then snap the wheels in manually from the outside?

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02-23-2018 , 02:10 PM

Hellmuth was right

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 5,792

I called the transmission place yesterday and they said this issue sounded unrelated and they were going to charge me for towing and labor costs if they didn't think they caused it so i took it to another shop that did free towing and I was just gonna eat the cost if the repair ended up being only a few hundred but obviously not going to do that now.

I am going to get the car towed to the transmission place but based on my calls with them yesterday I have a feeling they are going to try to screw me which is why I am asking if I have any repurcussions if they do.

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02-23-2018 , 02:10 PM

Didace

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 19,856

I don't know about suspensions, but driving 4WD (not AWD) on hard roads can **** up your entire drive train.

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02-23-2018 , 02:11 PM

#10

Didace

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 19,856

How are you going to prove they left it in 4WD?

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02-23-2018 , 02:11 PM

#11

Neil S

King of the sidebar

Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 19,643

Quote:

Originally Posted by chopstick

Restitution?

Do you mean recourse?

It's hard to tell exactly what word he meant.

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02-23-2018 , 02:12 PM

#12

DrChesspain

Guest

Posts: n/a

1. Does your vehicle not have a dashboard indicator which lights up when 4WD is engaged?

2. Regardless, it seems like a long shot making a third party responsible for the fact that you drove the car in 4WD for over a month without realizing it.

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02-23-2018 , 02:13 PM

#13

ILikeToParty

old hand

Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,496

Honestly I think this one is just on you. Not trying to be a jerk at all

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02-23-2018 , 02:17 PM

#14

Hellmuth was right

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 5,792

There is a toggle where you can switch between 2wd 4WD and auto I leave it on 2wd and haven't touched it in over 2 years I am the only person who drives the car so i have no reason to check it with any regularity

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02-23-2018 , 02:18 PM

#15

Neil S

King of the sidebar

Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 19,643

Sounds like negligence.

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02-23-2018 , 02:22 PM

#16

chopstick

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 9,158

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil S

It's hard to tell exactly what word he meant.

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02-23-2018 , 02:23 PM

#17

Larry Legend

Celtic Pride

Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 42,920

Quote:

Originally Posted by Didace

I don't know about suspensions, but driving 4WD (not AWD) on hard roads can **** up your entire drive train.

Yea growing up I knew not to do this with certain cars I've driven, but the suspension for 2.5k seems quite odd.

I see OP updated and apparently it was only a couple hundred in suspension.

What is the argument you have against the place that they would accept by bringing it to them? Are admitting liability for damages due to it being in 4WD all month? So if they say the damage is indeed due to 4WD being on, they'll then fix it?

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02-23-2018 , 02:28 PM

#18

Hellmuth was right

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 5,792

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Legend

Yea growing up I knew not to do this with certain cars I've driven, but the suspension for 2.5k seems quite odd.

I see OP updated and apparently it was only a couple hundred in suspension.

No it is 2.5k. If it was only a couple hundred I wouldn't care

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02-23-2018 , 03:32 PM

#19

de captain

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 5,514

Make, model, year?

Eta: Yes, you have repercussions. No, you have no recourse. No, you will not receive restitution.

Last edited by de captain; 02-23-2018 at 03:39 PM.

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02-23-2018 , 03:48 PM

#20

cs3

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 13,677

What a great OP.
You didn't even bother to tell us what car this is.
And what exactly is wrong with the suspension? A complete brand new suspension kit shouldn't even cost $2.5K
Are you sure you're giving us accurate info on the damage?

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02-23-2018 , 03:49 PM

#21

steamraise

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 9,870

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellmuth was right

I leave it on 2wd and haven't touched it in over 2 years

Why do you have 4wd?

Maybe the mechanic did it on purpose hoping for another repair down the road.

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02-23-2018 , 03:55 PM

#22

Didace

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 19,856

Quote:

Originally Posted by de captain

Make, model, year?

He did say it was a TrailBlazer, so it's a Chevy no newer than 2009.

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02-23-2018 , 04:32 PM

#23

Victor

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 71,861

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregorio

Why not take it back to the shop that did the work and ask them why you're having transmission troubles 5 weeks after they rebuilt it?

hes not having trans trouble though. somehow he needs a whole new suspension. like I guess driving for a month and a half in 4wd will destroy all the ball joints/control arms, linkages, and tie rods. shocks and struts too? who knew? I mean 2.5k is a lot for a full suspension rebuild.

op, presumably you maneuver your gear shift into 4wd or theres some sort of switch/lever. I mean, it seems impossible to prove that they left it on, and even if they did, you do bear some responsibility to know if its on.

actually I really dont get it, every car I have driven has had a 4wd engagement on the gear shifter, so every time you turn on the car you can see it.

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02-23-2018 , 04:36 PM

#24

Victor

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 71,861

Quote:

Originally Posted by cs3

ya I redid the whole suspension on my car (except shocks and struts) for like 115. ball joints and control arms are super cheap.

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02-23-2018 , 05:14 PM

#25

LFS

emo gaylord

Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 21,865

Quote:

Originally Posted by de captain

Make, model, year?

Eta: Yes, you have repercussions. No, you have no recourse. No, you will not receive restitution.

How about recompense?

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