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raeanna74 · 05-24-2011, 05:33 PM

We took our Chevy Lumina in for an oil change this past winter. The shop called us with bad news - Transmission fluid in the oil. Their verdict - new engine needed. They took two months to put in a new engine. Their excuse was they couldn't find one (which is partly true). The nearest junkyard that had one was 2 1/2 hours away. We picked it up and brought it to them and it finally got done.
We got it back and I rolled down the drivers side window. They'd left it open and it got snow inside while it sat waiting for the engine. The window would not go back up. We took it back and they fixed that.
We also discovered the emergency brake would not depress at all. It had worked previously so this was definitely their problem IMHO.
We also noticed a slight vibration when we went over 45/50 mph. We figured it could be out of balance wheels but it wasn't constant so we didn't take it back immediately. Tonight the drive shaft fell out - or at least that's the tow truck's verdict.
In my female brain, if they replaced the engine, wouldn't the drive shaft would have at least been looked at. We've only had the car for 3 weeks and here something else serious goes. We live in the middle of nowhere so finding a mechanic requires at least some driving. Which is difficult when we only have a truck that runs.
Any tips? Ideas? Advice? Are we getting scammed or ripped off? How much is THIS going to cost???

05-24-2011, 05:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	Car/Mechanic Issues We took our Chevy Lumina in for an oil change this past winter. The shop called us with bad news - Transmission fluid in the oil. Their verdict - new engine needed. They took two months to put in a new engine. Their excuse was they couldn't find one (which is partly true). The nearest junkyard that had one was 2 1/2 hours away. We picked it up and brought it to them and it finally got done. We got it back and I rolled down the drivers side window. They'd left it open and it got snow inside while it sat waiting for the engine. The window would not go back up. We took it back and they fixed that. We also discovered the emergency brake would not depress at all. It had worked previously so this was definitely their problem IMHO. We also noticed a slight vibration when we went over 45/50 mph. We figured it could be out of balance wheels but it wasn't constant so we didn't take it back immediately. Tonight the drive shaft fell out - or at least that's the tow truck's verdict. In my female brain, if they replaced the engine, wouldn't the drive shaft would have at least been looked at. We've only had the car for 3 weeks and here something else serious goes. We live in the middle of nowhere so finding a mechanic requires at least some driving. Which is difficult when we only have a truck that runs. Any tips? Ideas? Advice? Are we getting scammed or ripped off? How much is THIS going to cost??? __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.