I would like some of your opinions on an issue that I am involved in.
I'd like to say sorry for the long read ahead of time.I don't know how to really shorten the story much.
I am looking at either taking a small business to small claims court or possibly a circuit court over services provided by the said business.
In July of last year I bought a 2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport from a local dealer.When the vehicle was purchased it had low almost non existent oil pressure.The dealer knew the problem was cam bearings as well as I did.But the price was right.
Upon purchasing the Jeep I had a Chrysler mechanic friend look at it and he came up with the same scenario(cam bearings)
I looked high and low for a decent used engine but was looking at $1000 for something with 100,000 miles.i then came across an ad on Grand Rapids Craigslist for a company that rebuilds 4.0L for $1300 with a year warranty.Turns out one of the salvage yards I contacted said they do business with this shop and recommended them.
After calling and speaking with the owner of the shop I pulled the engine and took it to them to be rebuilt.They called when the engine was finished and I picked it up.After install the oil pressure was the same.I called the shop back and spoke to the owner and he said to bring the Jeep to him.
I then towed the Jeep to Grand Rapids with my gauges installed for a manual oil pressure test.(takes about 15 minutes to do)The Jeep sat there a week and a half before he touched it.Then calls me and says the engine had to come back out.If he did it,it would be another week or 2.I then went to G.R. pulled the engine in his parking lot at night.He went back through the motor and said the cam bearings he put in had a spot weld on them.I know that weld won't stick to a cam bearing and called him out on it.He threatened to throw me off from his property.After calming down he gave me the engine and I had to reinstall it in the parking lot at 8:30 at night.Everything was fine,or so it seemed.Motor ran great for about 5000 miles then lost oil pressure again.
I call the shop and get no answer.Finally I get a voice mail on one of my calls and left a message.They call me back and had me pull the motor again and bring iot to a new location.Bad business I know.They then state that the motor was overheated and charged me another $500.I got the engine back and had to go back to G.R. to retrieve the proper timing cover.they put one on from a Grand Cherokee not the same.He also said my distributor was froze up and teeth were broke.The Jeep was drove up until I pulled the engine,which says that the distributor wasn't mine.As well as I had just put a new one on a month earlier.And this one wasn't mine.He said teh crank bearings and cam bearings went to crap from the overheat.The bearings he showed me my mechanic said came out of a motor with over 100,000 miles on it.After getting the correct timing cover and a trip to the salvage yard on a Saturday morning,to get the harmonic balancer bolt and washer he didn't return.I installed the engine and had a rocker clatter.Pulled the cover and found a collapsed lifter.Drained the new now milky oil and antifreeze.Pulled the head and replaced the lifter.Put it back together and still clatter.Upon closer inspection I found that 1 pushrod was a 1/4" shorter than the rest.Put a new pushrod in and voila good oil pressure and no noise.But when I checked the yet again new oil after a short run time milky.Pulled the valve cover while hot to see a crack that was bubbling on the #4 exhaust bridge.
Called the guy that rebuilt the engine explained what was going on.Text pics to him of the oil and pushrod,as well as teh cracked head.He said that I could get a new head for $420 but that he wasn't buying me one.Even though the receipt he gave me says 6 months parts only warranty.
My question is do I hassle with small claims or do I get an attorney and try and nail his ass to the wall?
I know some will say buttsecks.But that's too kind.
Thanks for any advice.
I'd like to say sorry for the long read ahead of time.I don't know how to really shorten the story much.
I am looking at either taking a small business to small claims court or possibly a circuit court over services provided by the said business.
In July of last year I bought a 2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport from a local dealer.When the vehicle was purchased it had low almost non existent oil pressure.The dealer knew the problem was cam bearings as well as I did.But the price was right.
Upon purchasing the Jeep I had a Chrysler mechanic friend look at it and he came up with the same scenario(cam bearings)
I looked high and low for a decent used engine but was looking at $1000 for something with 100,000 miles.i then came across an ad on Grand Rapids Craigslist for a company that rebuilds 4.0L for $1300 with a year warranty.Turns out one of the salvage yards I contacted said they do business with this shop and recommended them.
After calling and speaking with the owner of the shop I pulled the engine and took it to them to be rebuilt.They called when the engine was finished and I picked it up.After install the oil pressure was the same.I called the shop back and spoke to the owner and he said to bring the Jeep to him.
I then towed the Jeep to Grand Rapids with my gauges installed for a manual oil pressure test.(takes about 15 minutes to do)The Jeep sat there a week and a half before he touched it.Then calls me and says the engine had to come back out.If he did it,it would be another week or 2.I then went to G.R. pulled the engine in his parking lot at night.He went back through the motor and said the cam bearings he put in had a spot weld on them.I know that weld won't stick to a cam bearing and called him out on it.He threatened to throw me off from his property.After calming down he gave me the engine and I had to reinstall it in the parking lot at 8:30 at night.Everything was fine,or so it seemed.Motor ran great for about 5000 miles then lost oil pressure again.
I call the shop and get no answer.Finally I get a voice mail on one of my calls and left a message.They call me back and had me pull the motor again and bring iot to a new location.Bad business I know.They then state that the motor was overheated and charged me another $500.I got the engine back and had to go back to G.R. to retrieve the proper timing cover.they put one on from a Grand Cherokee not the same.He also said my distributor was froze up and teeth were broke.The Jeep was drove up until I pulled the engine,which says that the distributor wasn't mine.As well as I had just put a new one on a month earlier.And this one wasn't mine.He said teh crank bearings and cam bearings went to crap from the overheat.The bearings he showed me my mechanic said came out of a motor with over 100,000 miles on it.After getting the correct timing cover and a trip to the salvage yard on a Saturday morning,to get the harmonic balancer bolt and washer he didn't return.I installed the engine and had a rocker clatter.Pulled the cover and found a collapsed lifter.Drained the new now milky oil and antifreeze.Pulled the head and replaced the lifter.Put it back together and still clatter.Upon closer inspection I found that 1 pushrod was a 1/4" shorter than the rest.Put a new pushrod in and voila good oil pressure and no noise.But when I checked the yet again new oil after a short run time milky.Pulled the valve cover while hot to see a crack that was bubbling on the #4 exhaust bridge.
Called the guy that rebuilt the engine explained what was going on.Text pics to him of the oil and pushrod,as well as teh cracked head.He said that I could get a new head for $420 but that he wasn't buying me one.Even though the receipt he gave me says 6 months parts only warranty.
My question is do I hassle with small claims or do I get an attorney and try and nail his ass to the wall?
I know some will say buttsecks.But that's too kind.
Thanks for any advice.