This post is for all to read,and take note.
I went to Myrtle Beach South Carolina for a family reunion and got 60 miles out from the campground when I started having problems with my tow vehicle. I called a tow truck and the driver was very nice and he towed me to the campground and put my truck and trailer on the site. On Monday I called a repair facility with a mobile van and the two mechanics showed up and checked things out,I thought the turbo went out in it but they checked that and said no it was something internal. I asked them if they take VISA and the mechanic said yes. After further checking they said it dropped the #6 cylinder and they had to tear down the motor to see what it was,anyway to make a short story they said it need an inframe and and estimated about $8200.00 but then called me back and said it needed a new head and a new turbo charger and and the price has gone up to around $12,000.00. At this point I am screwed out of town and they got me,I said to fix it because I have to be out of the campground on Saturday. Well on Friday when I went to pick up the truck they said they wouldn't take VISA and they said it was because of the high charges they charge. The Mechanic DAve said they needed a Certified check,cashiers check or cash so I went to all the banks in the area to get a certified check and no bank would deal with me because I didn't have an account. So I couldn't get the truck on Friday. On Saturday I had a friend go to her bank and she got a certified check and went to Bank of America to deposit the money into the Account of the truck shop that repaired my truck,well the lady that owns the shop said she wanted cash only saying I could stop payment on the check. Come Monday I got the cash put it into their account got my truck and started home,45 miles down the road the fan belt broke,they didn't put on a new one. They came and put on a new one,I got down the road and on I 95 south and noticed the smell of raw diesel and smoking like a freight train I pulled into a T/A truck stop in Manning SC and noticed the fuel lines were leaking so I called the mechanics David (DUMB) and TOM (DUMMER) and they said they are probably loose to tighten them up and I said I shouldn't have to touch nothing. Any way the fuel lines were broken because the mechanics left off the retaining brackets that holds the fuel line from vibrating and that is what caused the lines to break. I had to wait at the truck stop for 2 day's for parts.The mechanics said they would pay for the installation of the fuel lines and then renigged on that and said they paid for the parts and the shipping and that he wasn't going to pay for the labor. It cost me another $376.32 in labor and parts because the mechanic at the truck stop had to make a somewhat bracket for me to get home in Florida. So I got on the road again and got going past a car and noticed blue smoke and smelt oil burning and I pulled off again and checked the oil it was over filled by 2 1/2 inches above the full mark. I called another mechanic and was told that isn't good but I would be ok going to Florida. Just to let everyone know I made it home and I have motor oil blown all over my truck and trailer and now I am seeking legal help and I filed a report through the South Carolina division of Consumer Affairs on this company and their name is SOUTHERN AUTO DIESEL in Carrolina Forest is where their shop is but the office is in Merrills Inlet South Carolina. Do not use these people they will shaft you as they did me.
Did you have to sign over the next child/grandchild too? Wow! If it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, then there are rats in the area. Your story reminds me of the two mechanics in the movie "The Mask". "Ripley Auto Finishing"
An overfilled crankcase will not let the oil stay cool enough and will cook the engine. Too much oil is just as bad as not enough.
Do you have something like Good Sam? Might have helped when the fuel lines rattled loose. Could try the Action Line with Good Sam and see if they can help get some or all of your money back.
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Have your friend in SC contact the state offices and find their consumer affairs phone numbers. Then contact them yourself. The purpose would be to find out if SC has any of the laws in place to protect the public from scam artist in the service/repair field. If you decide to sue use a local lawyer in SC as they will be able to find the dirt on the repair facility easier than your local attorney. Sue them I would because of their obvious incompetence. The problem is they charge $100.00 or more per hour of labor and then find some wrench jockey under a shade tree and pay him $10.00. In the end you get a low knowledge repairman. Good luck.
You might want to post the information on this site as well, for those others that may need service in that area. At least you might be saving someone else from experiencing what you did.
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