My car in service for 3 mo. now they take the loaner away. Want me to replace with a junk yard engine. Help!

~Me~ asked:


I bought my car in April of 2007. I know it's been over a year. I brought it in the day after I bought it as the check engine would blink every time my car would idle. They said put dry gas in it. It didn't work. The car had a 30 day warranty. I brought the car back as the problem wouldn't start and they said it was out of warranty. I got upset and they sent me to a different place 45 miles away (they owned) to get it fixed. I brought it there they replaced some coils etc and they gave me a loaner. They said it was fixed. I drove 45 miles to pick it up didn't even get it home and the check engine light started to blink and came on.

So I called them up made another appointment. Brought it in. No loaner this time, had to wait. I was told it was the computer and they'd order one. (Note this service dept has 1, yes 1 mechanic). The company is pretty large and each business has it's owner (one of the son's of the original owner) and there is a CEO etc.

So anyways the mechanic never calls me back. I wait 2 weeks call him back and he said he wrote down the wrong part number to bring it back… so I brought it back (this is now about Oct) and he writes down the part number.

I missed a few appointments because of storms (lot of snow in winters of Maine). I call him back and tell him look this has to be fixed I have to get my car inspected. So he makes an appt with me.

I go in and he doesn't have the computer he was supposed to order. He told me it was no longer under warranty and to get out.

I called his boss and tell him what's going on. (I am now living in the same town where this mechanic works on cars). They decide to send me back to where I bought the car 45 miles away.

Well I did. And it's been there since May 15. It's been over 2 months. They replaced the engine (didn't fix it). They cleaned carbon off the engine didn't fix the problem. They never ran any diagnostics. They can't figure out what is wrong nor can a ford dealership that they took it to.

First they wanted me to sell them the car for $1500 and eat the remaning amount I owed. Basically I owe 5500 and so they'd give me $1500 for the car, I'd still owe $4k. Then they wanted me to buy another car that they swore they would give me a good deal and take the price of the new car and add 4k to it. I told them no way. I wasn't stupid.

So they've been messing around and not doing much with it. The few times they said it was fixed, it wasn't. After 2 days they'd turn the car on, guess what check engine light came back on.

Now they say it's the motor. They want to put in a rebuilt engine from a junk yard. I said no way. It had a ford engine in it when I bought it, I want a ford engine in it now.

All I wanted in the beginning was to switch cars. I told them it wasn't inspectable and should never been inspected, they agree. I told them I am paying for a car I can't drive, they agree.

Now because I won't accept the used engine idea, they took away my loaner. I have no car to drive. They said it's coz of lack of communication. Funny I just talked to them not more then 7 days ago. They said they tried calling me, I don't have any missed calls from them (my voice mail box is filled up).

Now I am paying for a car, insuring it and I can't drive it, I have nothing to drive.

I called the attorney general and because it's been so long that they've been messing with this car, they are willing to do mediation. My other option is small claims court (max in maine is $4500 it wouldn't even cover what I owe). I could do a lawyer, and I have one, but he said I'd pay him as much as I owe on the car. (It's down to principal at this point).

So what do I do? Go to small claims court? I am definately speaking with the attorney general's office and doing mediation. Meanwhile I have no car to drive. I can not drive that car off the lot (for one if the motor blows obviously they won't cover it).

Isn't there anything else I can do? I live in Maine.. it's rural, how am I to get from place to place. I am driving a rental it is costing me a fortune.

Can the dealership do this? Can they hold my car hostage and not give me anything to drive? Can they mess around for over a year pretending to fix it when they didn't even diagnose it?

Please any advice would be great. Yes I am going to the Attorney General (but it will take weeks, I can't walk 25 miles to work every day). I can't get another vehicle because I already have one loan out. I have NOTHING to drive yet I owe money on it.

I can't talk to the bank, like an idiot I did in house financing (they have a so called bank that is owned by the same comapny… Lee Holdings)
It doesn't fall under the lemon law as this law states the car must be less then 3 years old and under 18k miles.

All I want is for them to take this junk car back and give me a car that is worth the same amount that the other car was supposedly worth.
I've heard get a lawyer, contact the better business burea, contact the attorney general's office. The only one that is helping is the attorney general where as the lawyer said to try them first as it would cost at least 5500 to go to court. This was before they took my loaner.
I LOVE the sign idea. Maybe it will get the media involved.

How far from the business do you have to be? Luckily the dealership is right on a busy intersection!

Atlanta Buying Junk Cars