Complaint Review:
Firestone Complete AutoCare
On 10/22/2010 I brought my car in for a coolant flush. The mechanics failed to burp the system properly and now my car has a blown engine.
I brought my "1990 Volkswagen GTI Wolfsburgh edition" into Firestone Complete Auto Care for a routine winterizing coolant flush on 10/22/2010. I picked my car up and found it at the next red light overheating. I returned the car to the shop. The techs failed to burp the cooling system properly, causing the coolant to not circulate, which in turn caused the car to over heat until the water pump failed. Troubleshooting for several days and overheating my engine repeatedly, the techs ignorantly blew my head gasket which we learned of on 11/02/2010 when I again attempted to pick it up after Lithia was authorized to replace the water pump by Firestone District office Manager Robert Garn in an attempt to rectify their mistake. Firestone was advised of the condition of my engine after the water pump replacement revealed a new fatal problem by Service Adviser Ray Gonzalez of Lithia VW Reno service department. Firestone management then refused to accept any further responsibility, although they admit my engine was not blown when I brought it to them. I have had many conversations over the phone with Firestone managers and people in their corporate office headquarters to no avail. My car is still sitting at Lithia VW RENO now waiting for it's future to be decided. When I brought my car to them it had no major mechanical issues. Especially not with the cooling system or the head gasket. I have confirmed the hypothesis by discussing with many mechanics that specialize in VW's that is is the most likely scenario. They all agree that if my water pump had failed on my way there from Herlong that day I would not have made it even a full mile before it broke down on me. I dealt mostly with John the Store Manager at Firestone #3582. The Lithia Invoice number is 510407. Greg Kane is the contact there at 775-852-3300 Lithia Volkswagen of Reno #34.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
jerry
United States of Americawater pump
#6Consumer Comment
Wed, June 08, 2011
VW s are know for water pumps going bad .the have a plastic impeller pressed on a metal shaft As a technician ive replaced many of them.The other repair shops should have know that.Its also been my experiance that most people only get a service done when their allready having problems.
Flynrider
Phoenix,Arizona,
USA
Not likely
#6Consumer Comment
Wed, December 08, 2010
When you originally posted this report, among other things, you agreed to the following :
"I acknowledge that once I post my report, it will not be removed, even at my request."
Mr Jdzee on da flo
Herlong,California,
United States of America
Please Remove my Report...
#6Author of original report
Tue, December 07, 2010
The situation has been solved and I would like to remove my report but I do not see an option here. Please remove my report. Thank you.
Mr Jdzee on da flo
Herlong,California,
United States of America
Actually it wasn't!
#6Author of original report
Thu, December 02, 2010
Okay, Read carefully... There were no overheating issues with my car until Firestone worked on it. They overheated it many times while trying to figure out why my coolant wasn't circulating after they performed a coolant flush. If there is air in the engine portion of the cooling system and you do not follow the correct procedure to burp it, the coolant will not make it to the water pump. As the engine heats up and is not circulating coolant because of "Air Left in the cooling system" overheating is eminent. If technicians spend multiple 8 hour days repeatedly overheating the vehicle in an attempt to solve this they are responsible for the damage. My car just needed a coolant flush. A Buggy Barn tech, in Reno has confirmed this for me as well as the mechanic I purchased the car from who happens to be employed by a very reputable dealership in Burlingame, Ca. I am assuming that the way in which you loaded your comment that perhaps you have something to gain from siding with Firestone. At any rate I welcome the opposition... I THINK IT SHOULD BE EITHER FIXED OR REPLACED... My Wife was with me on the day this began. All day. I would not drive my wife and myself all the way from Herlong, Ca to Reno, Nv if my car was showing signs of overheating. No, sir the problem started when Firestone "finished" their "coolant flush". I was gone for 10 minutes after picking it up on 10/22/2010 before it began overheating. I brought it right back immediately. They took it back and began trying to figure out what they did wrong. They had it for 3 days before they found out that they didn't burp it properly. "Testing the electrical system", "rewiring stuff". Why? I watched them as they overheated it. My wife saw it too. They killed my car. That's the truth.
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
A little vehicle knowledge could have saved your engine
#6Consumer Suggestion
Thu, December 02, 2010
Regardless of what Firestone did or did not do, it was YOU who continued operating the overheating engine until it failed. YOU ruined the engine, NOT Firestone.
Are you going to tell us that your car does not have a temp gauge and/or overheat warning light?
WHY would you keep driving a car with an overheating engine?
Also, the car is 20 YEARS OLD!! Did you ever stop and think that it might have just been on its way out? Head gaskets do not always go gradually or give notice of failure. The engine flush alone could have enlarged an existing leak in the head gasket.
You never mentioned how many miles are on this engine either.
I have flushed many engines, and I have failed to "burp" a few of them properly. Never blew an engine. The only thing that happens is after running the car for awhile and then letting it cool down, you will have a low coolant situation, so you just top it off. No big deal. Not likely the cause of your water pump failure or blown head gasket.
Age and mileage. That's it. You have a 20 year old car. How long did you expect it to last?
Reality check.