Blown motor + shady warranty = screwed

[firefighter525]

So about a week ago I was on my way to work when my Ranger bogged down. I then heard a loud "pop" similar to a a backfire followed by what can best be described as rattling cans inside the motor. I coasted to the side of the road and had the truck towed to the closest Ford dealer. It was obviously an internal engine problem and I had purchased an extended warranty which claimed to cover internal engine componets.

The warranty company was notified and was to send someone to inspect the motor to see if they would cover the repair. When the guy got there I had to authorize a "teardown" so the inspector could do an internal inspection. It was determined that the crankshaft bearing broke, sending metal shavings throughout the motor. The warranty company declined to cover the repair due to some sludge found in the oil pan. So now I'm stuck with the cost of the teardown and the rental car (which the warranty company was susposed to cover also) approx. $800. The dealer quoted a new motor and installation at approx. $5000.......and I still owe approx. $8000 to pay off this truck.

The truck is a 2000 Ford Ranger XLT ext cab. 4x4 with the 4.0L that has just under 77,000 miles on it. I have done all the maintence to it myself including the oil changes....therefore I have no receipts or records of oil changes. I bought the truck from a different Ford dealer here in town approx. 4 years ago it was a certified preowned truck with only32,000 miles on it.

The dealership offered me just $2500 for the truck as it sits now on a trade in only. So I'm kind of lost on what to do. I could just pay the $800 and have the truck towed back to my house....but I don't have the means or knowledge to fix it myself. And even then I'm probably looking at a salvage motor with higher mileage and no guarentees.

So does anyone have any advice, opinions or suggestions?

I'll offer some advice if anyone has an extended warranty or thinking of buying one.......Don't go with Fidelity Warranty Services Inc. ! Google them, they are shady!
Thanks for reading my Rant/Help thread!

 

[mhughes165]

So about a week ago I was on my way to work when my Ranger bogged down. I then heard a loud "pop" similar to a a backfire followed by what can best be described as rattling cans inside the motor. I coasted to the side of the road and had the truck towed to the closest Ford dealer. It was obviously an internal engine problem and I had purchased an extended warranty which claimed to cover internal engine componets.

The warranty company was notified and was to send someone to inspect the motor to see if they would cover the repair. When the guy got there I had to authorize a "teardown" so the inspector could do an internal inspection. It was determined that the crankshaft bearing broke, sending metal shavings throughout the motor. The warranty company declined to cover the repair due to some sludge found in the oil pan. So now I'm stuck with the cost of the teardown and the rental car (which the warranty company was susposed to cover also) approx. $800. The dealer quoted a new motor and installation at approx. $5000.......and I still owe approx. $8000 to pay off this truck.

The truck is a 2000 Ford Ranger XLT ext cab. 4x4 with the 4.0L that has just under 77,000 miles on it. I have done all the maintence to it myself including the oil changes....therefore I have no receipts or records of oil changes. I bought the truck from a different Ford dealer here in town approx. 4 years ago it was a certified preowned truck with only32,000 miles on it.

The dealership offered me just $2500 for the truck as it sits now on a trade in only. So I'm kind of lost on what to do. I could just pay the $800 and have the truck towed back to my house....but I don't have the means or knowledge to fix it myself. And even then I'm probably looking at a salvage motor with higher mileage and no guarentees.

So does anyone have any advice, opinions or suggestions?

I'll offer some advice if anyone has an extended warranty or thinking of buying one.......Don't go with Fidelity Warranty Services Inc. ! Google them, they are shady!
Thanks for reading my Rant/Help thread!

talk to a lawyer, its all i can suggest

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You might see if you have any records of oil changing supplies you have bought for it and see if that helps, I doubt they would beleive you have them all buried in your back yard.

That is why I keep throwing all that extended warrentee crap they keep sending me away, because when something breaks they will try to worm out of paying anything for it.

 

[KELLY88]

Raise some hell! Maybe you can irritate them enough to get them to work out some kind of deal.

 

[LearjetMinako]

Some sludge or not, its covered under warranty. All engines will have some sort of sludge in the drain pan. Its just a matter of how much.

I would raise some hell first with the dealer. And if that fails, get a lawyer. I have sense they are screwing you.

 

[MAKG]

And sludge in the oil pan will be confirmed within 5 minutes of the engine being installed on the stand, so if there are more than a few hours labor (for R/R), raise fraud issues. The oil pan is the ABSOLUTE FIRST thing to come off for a bottom end inspection.

We don't know how much sludge; was it a lot? That's hard to pin on the manufacturer.

Personally, I don't like warranties at all because they are only worth it if you are going to pay dealer labor rates. Which is NEVER necessary.

I wouldn't take the trade-in in a million years. You'll end up giving the dealer quite a lot more of your money than you intended. And $5000 for a replacement engine is, shall we say, a few cards short of a deck. The RIGHT way to do this is a junkyard SOHC. Even a custom rebuild is going to cost less than $5000.

 

[Danger FX4 Ranger]

Never purchase an extended warranty. My uncle purchased a 1997 Eddie Bauer explorer in 1998 with 20,000 miles on it. He paid for the extended 100,000 mile warranty. At about 65,000 miles the transmission went out. The warranty company refused to pay for the transmission because he also does his own maintenance work and didn't have receipts or records. He called his lawyer and after several weeks, they eventually paid for the repairs. Don't give up, and be prepaired to fight it out if necessary.

 

[firefighter525]

I was skeptical to purchase the extended warranty especally since it was an additional $1800 but after reading it over it sounded like a good deal. Basically it states it would cover everything except common wear items. "To good to be true" has never made more sense than it does right now!

The dealership mechanics stated the sludge was not excessive and is expected. I took some pics of the "sludge" though I'm not sure of the quality due to being taken with my cell phone. I can post them later this evening. BTW...they pulled the motor out of the truck. Is this common?

The $5000 was a total for a motor direct from Ford with a factory 3 year or 75,000 mile warranty plus installation, labor, etc. I'm definatly not giving them my truck for $2500 because i feel its worth more than that even without the engine. And I can't pay them $5000....thats too much! So basically I can only hope a lawyer can help...or pay the $800 and get the truck back and try to get the repairs a different route.

I'm filing a complaint with my states attorney general...but I'm unsure if I can leave the truck at the dealership for the length of time that process will take. They estimate approx. 45 days for a full evaluation of the complaint. I'm also scanning the phone book for a personal attorney but I'm afraid they are going to tell me without any records of maintence theres nothing I can do.

 

[almostclueless]

Don't cave in to them. Go talk to a lawyer.



The dealership talked you into an extended warranty, now that warranty company is basically saying they won't do anything for the money you paid them.

 

[MAKG]

Ask them to deliver the truck at their expense. If they won't, call a tow truck and keep the invoice. Add it to your damage claims.

And BY ALL MEANS talk to a lawyer. The Internet is no substitute.

The statement by the mechanic -- especially if it's on the service order -- is evidence.

 

[Will]

Of course they are going to deny the claim. The guys job is to deny the claim. You've already got a mechanic saying the sludge was normal.

Unfortunately, the warranty company is bigger than you. I feel you will win the claim. A judge is going to know what they are doing--it's the usual thing. A judge isn't going to look kindly at them screwing a little guy. The first step is to get a lawyer to write them a letter that says you have 5 mechanics saying the sludge is normal. Then they will pay up because they know they can't win that in court and if it goes to court, they will end up having to pay for your lawyer and the new engine.

Not all lawyers are the same. The first three you contact may be into fast money things. Lots don't want to work. They may try to scare you off because doing that work for you might actually involve work on their part.

Never take no for an answer when something so big is on the line. The state attorney general's office may be able to guide you to a lawyer that specializes in such things.

 

[97BlackBetty]

Just a quick suggestion about the maintenance records. 1-Did you buy all of you maintenance stuff with cash? If you didnt, check your bank account or credit card statements. They should at least show the place at which the items were purchased, the date, and the final amount. Your bank or CC company may even be able to print you a detailed statement that includes items. Or you can use your statement and transaction number, to contact the company that you purchased the products from and possibly get a list of products purchased.

Good luck, and dont give in.

 

[snake]

I agree, get a lawyer and fight their ass. If you lose go to car-part.com and search for a low-mileage engine cheap (about $1100 or so). I bought a mazda (2001) with a blown engine in it for $400 last week- bought an engine with 23K on it for $850 and a transmission with 10K on it for $450. Damn thing books out at 5K... Point being there are lots of low-mileage components available, lots locally.

 

[almostclueless]

Of course they are going to deny the claim. The guys job is to deny the claim. You've already got a mechanic saying the sludge was normal.

Unfortunately, the warranty company is bigger than you. I feel you will win the claim. A judge is going to know what they are doing--it's the usual thing. A judge isn't going to look kindly at them screwing a little guy. The first step is to get a lawyer to write them a letter that says you have 5 mechanics saying the sludge is normal. Then they will pay up because they know they can't win that in court and if it goes to court, they will end up having to pay for your lawyer and the new engine.

Not all lawyers are the same. The first three you contact may be into fast money things. Lots don't want to work. They may try to scare you off because doing that work for you might actually involve work on their part.

Never take no for an answer when something so big is on the line. The state attorney general's office may be able to guide you to a lawyer that specializes in such things.

Wise man, dead on.

 

[Mac]

You are the third one I know of with the exact motor, driveline, 2000 ext cab that had the motor die with less than 80K on it. I had just run out of the warrenty by a month when either the head/block/head gasket let go. Water vapors came out of the fill cap and froze on the throttle cable at five below, rendering the cruse useless. Only turning the engine off was I able to get to the side of the road. Dealer wanted $400 just to tell me what was wrong.
Good luck and go fight them!
Dave