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NoSoup · 06-20-2006, 11:35 AM

FIrst off, a quick question to anyone that is more knowledgeable than I about cars....

In 2003, I bought a brand new Ford Mustang. I have heard conflicting information about how often I should change the oil - some people have told me every 2000 miles, others have told me that with a newer vehicle you can go up to 5000 miles. Can anyone clarify?

As far as shady business practices go, about a year and a half after I had purchased my car, my check engine light came on. I brought it to the dealership and asked them to tell me why it was on. They said that they were busy, so they'd inspect the vehicle and I could pick it up at the end of the day.

Later that day I got a call from them and they told me that they hadn't had a chance to inspect it, but would do so first thing in the morning.

To make a long story short, after several calls the next day, I was told that I could pick it up at 4:30 pm.

Originally, I had an estimate of $29.00 or whatever for the inspection. Imagine my surprise when I went there and got slapped with a nearly $900.00 bill. I asked them how in the world I had a bill that high, as I had only wanted an inspection done and it was still under warrently.

Basically, they told me how I had apparently run over a rock or something and it had bounced around under my car and caused a ton of damage, including severing a brake line and partially perforating my fuel lines. I was told they had to replace a fairly large portion of both lines.

Of course, it wasn't covered under warrently, as I had caused the damage.

Although I don't have a ton of experience with cars, it sounded... possible, though not likely. I thought perhaps they were exaggerating a bit, as had my brake line actually been severed, I wouldn't be able to stop. I told them that at the very least they should have called me and gotten permission. I asked to see the old parts, and they had convieniently thrown them away. I then asked to have my car lifted up so I could take a look at the work.

After a bit of bickering - they didn't want to let me under the car for liability reasons - they lifted the car. I could see that there was absolutely no difference anywhere that I could see in the fuel and/or brake lines. I asked the mechanic which area had been replaced, and he pointed to a particular line that ran nearly the length of the vehicle. I asked him why it was so dirty and looked just like the rest of the vehicle's lines - his excuse? The mechanics who worked on my car probably had oil all over their hands from working on cars all day.

Unfortunately for the morons that were trying to rip me off, I had helped the owner's son finance the purchase of a vacation property about a month prior to that. I made a quick call to him standing in the shop, and needless to say, I didn't pay the bill, nor ever take my vehicle back there again...

06-20-2006, 11:35 AM	#60 (permalink)
NoSoup Non-Rookie Location: Green Bay, WI	FIrst off, a quick question to anyone that is more knowledgeable than I about cars.... In 2003, I bought a brand new Ford Mustang. I have heard conflicting information about how often I should change the oil - some people have told me every 2000 miles, others have told me that with a newer vehicle you can go up to 5000 miles. Can anyone clarify? As far as shady business practices go, about a year and a half after I had purchased my car, my check engine light came on. I brought it to the dealership and asked them to tell me why it was on. They said that they were busy, so they'd inspect the vehicle and I could pick it up at the end of the day. Later that day I got a call from them and they told me that they hadn't had a chance to inspect it, but would do so first thing in the morning. To make a long story short, after several calls the next day, I was told that I could pick it up at 4:30 pm. Originally, I had an estimate of $29.00 or whatever for the inspection. Imagine my surprise when I went there and got slapped with a nearly $900.00 bill. I asked them how in the world I had a bill that high, as I had only wanted an inspection done and it was still under warrently. Basically, they told me how I had apparently run over a rock or something and it had bounced around under my car and caused a ton of damage, including severing a brake line and partially perforating my fuel lines. I was told they had to replace a fairly large portion of both lines. Of course, it wasn't covered under warrently, as I had caused the damage. Although I don't have a ton of experience with cars, it sounded... possible, though not likely. I thought perhaps they were exaggerating a bit, as had my brake line actually been severed, I wouldn't be able to stop. I told them that at the very least they should have called me and gotten permission. I asked to see the old parts, and they had convieniently thrown them away. I then asked to have my car lifted up so I could take a look at the work. After a bit of bickering - they didn't want to let me under the car for liability reasons - they lifted the car. I could see that there was absolutely no difference anywhere that I could see in the fuel and/or brake lines. I asked the mechanic which area had been replaced, and he pointed to a particular line that ran nearly the length of the vehicle. I asked him why it was so dirty and looked just like the rest of the vehicle's lines - his excuse? The mechanics who worked on my car probably had oil all over their hands from working on cars all day. Unfortunately for the morons that were trying to rip me off, I had helped the owner's son finance the purchase of a vacation property about a month prior to that. I made a quick call to him standing in the shop, and needless to say, I didn't pay the bill, nor ever take my vehicle back there again... __________________ I have an aura of reliability and good judgement. Just in case you were wondering...