You can't make this up

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Demonracer

Demonracer

71 Demon 00 Ram 16 Chrysler 300S 05 Caravan
FABO Gold Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2010
Messages
7,511
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6,356
Location
Cleveland, Texas
I went in Friday to have my truck serviced and to have the oil and filter changed. The shop is owned by a local family and has been in business for almost 40 years and has a stellar reputation in the community. There had been changes of people that write up the service tickets. I told the young lady that my truck was a 6 speed transmission and not an automatic. I was outside the office taking a phone call when one of the mechanics drove it into the service bay. I went back to the waiting area after my call and picked up a magazine, suddenly we all heard a large bang and people shouting "STOP". I walked outside and looked in the service area and saw my truck with the rear tires on the rack and the front tires on the concrete in front of the lift. I didn't believe what I was seeing and did multiple double takes. I finally walked in the service area and started taking pictures with my phone of the damage to my truck. The running boards were shoved back, the hood struts were pulled apart, the bull bar has multiple dents in it as well as being bent and the hood hinges were tweaked out of shape.

Come to find out, the "kid" that was doing the oil change did not know how to drive a stick shift vehicle. He knew enough to push the clutch pedal down to get it to start, but not enough to make sure the truck was in neutral. Needless to say, he released the clutch and the drove the front tires over the wheel stops where the bull bar contacted the light stanchion of the alignment lift that the truck was on. They finally got enough 4x4's to be able to get the front tires back onto the lift.

I then spent another 4 hours while they patched up the running board mounting points, as well as replacing the hood struts so I could drive the truck back home. I have an appointment to meet with the shop owner and their insurance people today to see what is going to be done to make my truck right again. I guess we will see how it pans out later today.
 
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Maybe there is some truth to the saying the best theft prevention is a manual transmission because young people don't know how to drive them. In your case theft isn't the only problem. Sorry for your misfortune, hope your truck gets fixed correctly.
 
Funny how back in the sixties ALL "country" kids were taught a stick,first, usually at about age 10 if they could reach the pedals. In a cow pasture.
 
Demonracer said:
I went in Friday to have my truck serviced and to have the oil and filter changed. The shop is owned by a local family and has been in business for almost 40 years and has a stellar reputation in the community. There had been changes of people that write up the service tickets. I told the young lady that my truck was a 6 speed transmission and not an automatic. I was outside the office taking a phone call when one of the mechanics drove it into the service bay. I went back to the waiting area after my call and picked up a magazine, suddenly we all heard a large bang and people shouting "STOP". I walked outside and looked in the service area and saw my truck with the rear tires on the rack and the front tires on the concrete in front of the lift. I didn't believe what I was seeing and did multiple double takes. I finally walked in the service area and started taking pictures with my phone of the damage to my truck. The running boards were shoved back, the hood struts were pulled apart, the bull bar has multiple dents in it as well as being bent and the hood hinges were tweaked out of shape.

Come to find out, the "kid" that was doing the oil change did not know how to drive a stick shift vehicle. He knew enough to push the clutch pedal down to get it to start, but not enough to make sure the truck was in neutral. Needless to say, he released the clutch and the drove the front tires over the wheel stops where the bull bar contacted the light stanchion of the alignment lift that the truck was on. They finally got enough 4x4's to be able to get the front tires back onto the lift.

I then spent another 4 hours while they patched up the running board mounting points, as well as replacing the hood struts so I could drive the truck back home. I have an appointment to meet with the shop owner and their insurance people today to see what is going to be done to make my truck right again. I guess we will see how it pans out later today.
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Sorry to hear that.

Back in the early 80's I worked for Target busting tires, changing shocks, doing oil changes...that sort of thing, and one of the requirements of the job was to be able to drive a stick. Not just say you could do it, but actually prove it, with a quick ride around the parking lot with the Service Dept. Mgr. in the passenger seat.

Damn shame your shop didn't do the same, and I hope they get everything fixed to your satisfaction.
 
barbee6043 said:
Funny how back in the sixties ALL "country" kids were taught a stick,first, usually at about age 10 if they could reach the pedals. In a cow pasture.
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Used to be what every kid wanted to do first was drive. Then f#<k. We're doomed.

Man, sorry this happened to your truck @Demonracer. Hopefully they will get it fixed back up.
 
Demonracer said:
I went in Friday to have my truck serviced and to have the oil and filter changed. The shop is owned by a local family and has been in business for almost 40 years and has a stellar reputation in the community. There had been changes of people that write up the service tickets. I told the young lady that my truck was a 6 speed transmission and not an automatic. I was outside the office taking a phone call when one of the mechanics drove it into the service bay. I went back to the waiting area after my call and picked up a magazine, suddenly we all heard a large bang and people shouting "STOP". I walked outside and looked in the service area and saw my truck with the rear tires on the rack and the front tires on the concrete in front of the lift. I didn't believe what I was seeing and did multiple double takes. I finally walked in the service area and started taking pictures with my phone of the damage to my truck. The running boards were shoved back, the hood struts were pulled apart, the bull bar has multiple dents in it as well as being bent and the hood hinges were tweaked out of shape.

Come to find out, the "kid" that was doing the oil change did not know how to drive a stick shift vehicle. He knew enough to push the clutch pedal down to get it to start, but not enough to make sure the truck was in neutral. Needless to say, he released the clutch and the drove the front tires over the wheel stops where the bull bar contacted the light stanchion of the alignment lift that the truck was on. They finally got enough 4x4's to be able to get the front tires back onto the lift.

I then spent another 4 hours while they patched up the running board mounting points, as well as replacing the hood struts so I could drive the truck back home. I have an appointment to meet with the shop owner and their insurance people today to see what is going to be done to make my truck right again. I guess we will see how it pans out later today.
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This is the primary reason why I don't take any of my vehicles to any shop for service or repair unless I absolutely cannot get it done myself. Even then, there's only one shop in town that I trust, mainly because they are well known for building some very serious race cars, and were very highly recommended by a good friend.
 
Update on the damage to my truck. The insurance company sent me a list of approved repair shops. I went to three of them to get estimates and they were all within a few 100 of each other. The claims agent contacted me and said none of the shops want to repair my truck. I went to another shop and while the estimator was writing up the estimate, the body shop manager called me aside. He told me that many shops won't want to repair my truck because A. It is 25 years old, B. the parts are no longer available new and C. They don't want to have to scour salvage yards to get the used parts. I think this is a total crock of manure, my truck is a 3 owner truck that was in pristine condition with only 135,000 miles on the odometer before the shop rat drove it off the end of the lift. The aluminum diamond plate running boards are no longer offered by a lot of the aftermarket companies, but I found a company that still makes them. The body shops look at the quote I got and said, "we don't deal with internet businesses". I'm still scratching my head as to who I can get to repair my truck and still get paid by the insurance company.
 
Demonracer said:
Update on the damage to my truck. The insurance company sent me a list of approved repair shops. I went to three of them to get estimates and they were all within a few 100 of each other. The claims agent contacted me and said none of the shops want to repair my truck. I went to another shop and while the estimator was writing up the estimate, the body shop manager called me aside. He told me that many shops won't want to repair my truck because A. It is 25 years old, B. the parts are no longer available new and C. They don't want to have to scour salvage yards to get the used parts. I think this is a total crock of manure, my truck is a 3 owner truck that was in pristine condition with only 135,000 miles on the odometer before the shop rat drove it off the end of the lift. The aluminum diamond plate running boards are no longer offered by a lot of the aftermarket companies, but I found a company that still makes them. The body shops look at the quote I got and said, "we don't deal with internet businesses". I'm still scratching my head as to who I can get to repair my truck and still get paid by the insurance company.
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Well, since you have the three estimates, can you just take the (insurance) check and "run"? Sucks to have to do it yourself, but at least that way you would know it was Done Right, by someone who had some skin in the game, as it were.
 
I'm not having a problem with the insurance covering the claim, the problem is with the repair shops not wanting to take the job.
 
Demonracer said:
Demonracer said:
Update on the damage to my truck. The insurance company sent me a list of approved repair shops. I went to three of them to get estimates and they were all within a few 100 of each other. The claims agent contacted me and said none of the shops want to repair my truck. I went to another shop and while the estimator was writing up the estimate, the body shop manager called me aside. He told me that many shops won't want to repair my truck because A. It is 25 years old, B. the parts are no longer available new and C. They don't want to have to scour salvage yards to get the used parts. I think this is a total crock of manure, my truck is a 3 owner truck that was in pristine condition with only 135,000 miles on the odometer before the shop rat drove it off the end of the lift. The aluminum diamond plate running boards are no longer offered by a lot of the aftermarket companies, but I found a company that still makes them. The body shops look at the quote I got and said, "we don't deal with internet businesses". I'm still scratching my head as to who I can get to repair my truck and still get paid by the insurance company.
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Have you checked with your own insurance company? They may allow you to have the repairs done by a company of your choice and then they will go after the oil change company's insurance.
My next stop after that would be an attorney.
 
Demonracer said:
I'm not having a problem with the insurance covering the claim, the problem is with the repair shops not wanting to take the job.
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I understand completely. My point is, if no one wants to do the work, or says they're not capable of doing it (or whatever excuse they use), believe them!

Damn shame that you're having so many issues trying to find a competent shop.
 
I would want their insurance co. to cut a check and be able to take it to a body shop of my choice.

Back in 2017, I was at a lumber yard in your backyard in my 95 Ram. The kid loading knocked out the back glass, and bent the bed pretty good and the whole back side of the truck. I got 3 estimates and they cut me a check. $6500. A shop over toward Livingston fixed it for $500, it did not even need any paint.
 
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I turn down work all of the time. Nice position to be in. Look for some backyard shmuck like myself.
 
Find a shop that restores classic cars. Make sure they write the estimate high as there will likely be issues. Also don't take any check that says claim settled or paid in full in case it runs over the quote. Make sure you hit them up for a rental also. Don't give the shop the whole check up front save that when you are satisfied with the repairs and take it for a test drive also BEFORE paying the final bill in full.
 
It's too bad that this happened.
The best you can do at this point is to get a check from the place's insurance company and buy the parts yourself, and either fix it yourself, or find someone that will fix it with all of the parts in hand when you bring it to them.
Make sure the check is generous enough to cover the costs and a bit more for your trouble.
I know it's a hassle, but it seems that's all you've got right now.
I hope this doesn't cause bad blood between the two of you...
 
Also you have the right to have any shop you want to repair it. But if you have issues you are on your own.
 
When I worked on bikes, one of the younger guys had a sport bike get away from him down the road. The customer literally watched his own bike slide through the parking lot on its top, and calmly walked into the showroom and pointed to a bike, "I want that one," and that's what he left on thirty minutes later.

The shop should have written you a check and the rest is kinda like, Not Your Problem, Man. As in, the check amount should cover any and all minor hassles like finding a shop to do the work.

You getting three estimates and all that? That's you doing someone else's job for them.
 
Demonracer said:
Update on the damage to my truck. The insurance company sent me a list of approved repair shops. I went to three of them to get estimates and they were all within a few 100 of each other. The claims agent contacted me and said none of the shops want to repair my truck. I went to another shop and while the estimator was writing up the estimate, the body shop manager called me aside. He told me that many shops won't want to repair my truck because A. It is 25 years old, B. the parts are no longer available new and C. They don't want to have to scour salvage yards to get the used parts. I think this is a total crock of manure, my truck is a 3 owner truck that was in pristine condition with only 135,000 miles on the odometer before the shop rat drove it off the end of the lift. The aluminum diamond plate running boards are no longer offered by a lot of the aftermarket companies, but I found a company that still makes them. The body shops look at the quote I got and said, "we don't deal with internet businesses". I'm still scratching my head as to who I can get to repair my truck and still get paid by the insurance company.
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I don't know about where You live, but in PA, they have to pay up no matter if You fix it or not...
 
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