Walmart walmart blew up my car Carthage, Missouri
I took my 1997 Oldsmobile Aurora into the Carthage Walmart TLE shop on Sunday morning, June 17th, 2012 with the intention of getting a $20 fuel injection service. I was able to get the car looked at almost immediately, but stayed to watch because I was nervous about young Walmart service guys working on a rare model. I wanted to be there in case there were any problems.
Two men worked on the car, a middle-aged Hispanic gentleman who drives a red Firebird and a young white man in his early 20s with lots of tattoos who drives a truck. I was worried when they couldnt determine where to put the key into the ignition, but I needed this service done so I stayed. At the time it didnt dawn on me, but seems odd that they did not place a fan in front of the car as it was nearly 100 degrees outside. They completed the first half of the service in the shop and proceeded to pull the car outside the doors into the parking lot. By this time the engine was already as hot as Ive ever seen it (220ish). The first half of this service lasted about 15 minutes with the car running. Then the second half of the service started, where they pour a bottle of cleaner into the gas tank and rev the motor 1500-2000 rpm to circulate the cleaner through the motor.
The older man let me know the temperature gauge was approaching 220, which is up at the higher end of normal in the orange area, and I told him not to worry unless it got closer to 240. The gauge only goes up to 280 and 250 is red. I am curious as to why he did not pay closer attention to the temperature gauge. This half of the service was all performed outside of the shop in the parking lot; again, no fan was being used in front of the car to keep it from overheating. We did verify that the electric fans on the radiator were both working properly. I was standing on the drivers side looking at the motor. Within about 4-5 minutes running the motor at 2000 rpm, the motor started steaming and blowing antifreeze. I told him to shut it off and he did. Looking in at the gauges I was shocked to see that the guy had run it up to 270 degrees and the dash computer was dinging with warning signs. Then the younger man came over to see what was happening. The engine quickly lost all its coolant. The older man acknowledged that he couldnt see the motor because the hood was in the way.
I was immediately distraught and loosened the coolant cap to relieve the pressure and the three of us waited until the motor stopped steaming. I was afraid that the cars V8 had gone into limp home mode, a safety feature in case of overheating where the car will only run on 4 cylinders. We tried to look into the engine and determine where the leak was coming from, but could not since it was too hot. I was so upset; I went to tell my girlfriend that the car would now need to be towed somewhere because they had blown the engine. I then went back in to the TLE service desk and told them what just happened and asked if I could leave the car in the lot until it could be towed. They agreed and I paid the $20 fuel injection fee. At this point I would think that they would have filed some sort of incident report but they acted as if it happened every day or something.
Next I paid $65 to have it towed Monday morning from the parking lot to Crossroads Chevrolet Cadillac. Their mechanics determined that the radiator is now cracked, and may have blown one or both head gaskets. This cant be determined until the radiator itself is repaired, which will be $596.75 plus $90/hour labor. I now owe Crossroads $90 for diagnosing the problem, paid $65 to Comers for the tow, and need an estimated $800-900 for the radiator job. I received this diagnosis on Friday, June 22nd around midday. I realize this is pretty steep but no other shops in town could get around to it.
I then went to the customer service desk at the Carthage Walmart and they said the store manager was gone to a meeting for the rest of the day. They told me that he would be back the next day from 8-5, however when I came back the next day around 10, I was informed that he had now taken vacation and would not be back for at least a week or more. Next I tried to call the market manager, Lee Autry. He was also unavailable. I was told to call the Carthage Walmart shift manager. I was able to reach Travis, and told me he would research the situation and get back to me within 24 hours.
After 24 hours had passed with no word from Walmart, I got a ride back to find someone who might assist me. I spoke with a shift manager named Jake who told me that since the car was running rough to begin with that it couldnt be their fault. I brought the car in because it was running rough, yet that had nothing to do with the engine overheating. He said it was standard procedure to run the car for 20 minutes at 2000 RPM. I told him that may be true, but when the temperature gauge is up in the red, standard procedure would be to shut the car off. I thought it was standard procedure to run a large fan in front of the car to keep this from happening in the first place. This seems common knowledge, not to mention I even told the guy to please watch the gauges.
I have to have my car fixed immediately. I expect Walmart to incur the cost of the tow, the diagnosis at Crossroads, the radiator repair and labor, and any other damage to the car caused by the overheating. I am on a limited and fixed income due to disability, and that car is my only mode of transportation. I have been without a vehicle and relying on friends, an hour from my home, for over several weeks now.
CMI, Walmart's claims division has denied my claim saying that my car obviously had cooling issues to begin with. Just ludacris! I have never overheated the car in 7 years of owning it and I had just had the coolant system flushed, new hoses and thermostat in the past 60 days or so. This was not just any Oldsmobile Aurora, but a highly decorated show car. I have poured thousands of dollars into it and now the damage surpasses its value. This fiasco melted the sensor wires to the block, cracked the block, stretched the valves, warped the heads and blew the radiator and both head gaskets!
I can't believe this behemoth company worth several hundred billion dollars won't take up a dime of responsibility for their obvious error but would rather try to settle a few thousand dollar case in court against a peon like me who has to live on $800.00 a month. Dear Walmart, I will never stop fighting you on this. Everyday that goes by only adds to the pain and suffering you're causing me. Literally, as I have come down very sick now due to this extreme stress and can't even get to my doctor!
19 Updates & Rebuttals
Jim Martin
Indiana,USA
Marcel
#20Consumer Comment
Mon, August 13, 2012
What you said is not entirely true. Most shops do allow the customer to enter the service bay IF they are accompanied by the service technician who is working on their car.
I do, however, understand your point about how the customer most likely would not have been in the bay at the time.
Marcel
San Antonio,Texas,
USA
Liar
#20Consumer Comment
Sun, August 12, 2012
Customers arent allowed in the service bay
Charles
United States,Alabama,
USA
That's how they are i've been lied about numerous times because i defend my rights and people try to get me in trouble because i don't take their abuse why should i take it or anyone else
#20Consumer Comment
Fri, July 13, 2012
Why should people take abuse. I get in trouble when i don't allow people to treat me like crap.
upacreek
marionville,Missouri,
United States of America
WTF?
#20Author of original report
Fri, July 13, 2012
Not sure what everyone's problem here is. I said I'm on a limited income...like $840.00 a month income so I couldn't afford this service anywhere else. I shouldn't have to explain myself to you idiots anyway. I found this site and thought it could be beneficial but instead it's full of dumb@ss jerkwads. What does it being a showcar have to do with anything? It's been featured in multiple calendars, voted #1 Aurora on cardomain for 3 straight years, multiple top ten awards at big car shows, etc. etc. However,It's my daily driver and I don't drive much really and since I haven't had a girlfriend in many years, I've put the money into my car instead.
Everyone has their own priorities. Mine was a nice set of wheels. Who doesn't like a nice car? I customized cars for years before I was disabled or owned this car. It's never overheated on me ever and even IF it did that's beside the point! The guy ignored the dash computer dinging and flashing plus the near pegged out coolant gauge. It's an all aluminum engine geniuses.
I only posted this story because I thought it might be beneficial. I wasn't looking for sympathy, just some possible answers. But it seems this place is only cyberbullies and Aholes. The rest of it is only senseless drivel. Get a life!
Charles
United States,Alabama,
USA
To jim i understand you perfectly well team rebuttal needs to understand if they dish it out they need to prepare to handle it but they can't understand that cause their dumb
#20Consumer Comment
Wed, July 04, 2012
Team rebuttal can't understand anything because their dumb. They are the ones ganging up on people dishing crap out. It seems they are the ones who can't understand anything. The reason why they "HATE" me so much is, because they can't take being told they are wrong.
Don't argue with morons on rip-off report & that is team rebuttal. They will never admit that they are in the wrong. They are bullies which this site wasn't made for cyber bullying.
Jim Martin
Indiana,USA
Josey
#20Consumer Comment
Tue, July 03, 2012
So, who is the original member?
In the Chase Auto Financing post, the subject was not lost. It evolved as the OP got caught in her lies and changed her story numerous times. You obviously didn't actually read it.
What post were you originally attacked in?
Nothing against you, Josey, butt if you dish it out be prepared to take it, I have. Have a bad day.
To Chuckles - I know won't understand what I'm saying, but the OP cast the first stone when they complained about the company in question. And, of course, he never did answer the question of 'why would you take a car you value so much to Walmart for repairs?'
To voice - You should have seen me trying to type it. Just one question. Is there any chance Chuckles and Josey are the same person?
voiceofreason
North Carolina,United States of America
CHARLEY BOY!!! How the h@#$ you doin' my main man?
#20Consumer Comment
Tue, July 03, 2012
That's it. Nothing more to post. We all know where this thread's headed now.
Jim, I can't stop cracking up every time I think about your musing that maybe this guy brought the car to Walmart hoping they would blow it up. I keep picturing what the scene in the repair bay must have been like. Thank you for a good laugh.
Charles
United States,Alabama,
USA
If you point out how wrong team rebuttal is they call your comments stupid they are the stupid ones they don't want victims to get any type of justice one who is without sin cast the first stone
#20Consumer Comment
Tue, July 03, 2012
Team rebuttal doesn't want anyone to get justice. They should watch who they call stupid just who do they think they are that they can judge people. Everybody is a sinner. The saying is "One who is without sin cast the first stone.
The Outlaw Josey Wales
Golden Meadow,United States of America
Actually it's working pretty good
#20Consumer Comment
Tue, July 03, 2012
Hearing a lot less from the original member, yes I remember the chase auto post. Prime example of what I 'm talking about. Team Rebutt went on and on and on, and the subject was lost. Even if this is a public post, not everyone wants to hear from some people who seems to think they know it all. Remember, don't let them get away with it. As far as correcting grammar errors, give it a break. Yes I was attack in a post in which the only way to fight back was to rebutt the rebutters. I never asked for advice and when I refuse, oh boy the Team was mad. Nothing against you Jimmy butt if you dish it out be prepare to take it, I have. Have a nice day.
Jim Martin
Indiana,USA
Josey
#20Consumer Comment
Tue, July 03, 2012
My favorite is the lady who thought she could strong arm Chase Auto Financing into changing her due date by not paying her bills. I believe you had a few posts in that one, too. Though I'm convinced you don't actually read any of the posts, all you do is tell this fictitious "team rebutt" to shut-up. Yeah, how's that working out?
The Outlaw Josey Wales
Golden Meadow,United States of America
Same here
#20Consumer Comment
Tue, July 03, 2012
We both agreed, how awful!!!!!
Jim Martin
Indiana,USA
Josey
#20Consumer Comment
Tue, July 03, 2012
The Outlaw Josey Wales
Golden Meadow,United States of America
My posts are very helpful.
#20Consumer Comment
Tue, July 03, 2012
The world needs a good laugh, what better way than to laugh at all the rebutts from the Team who butts in when not needed. How many time has the team attack people who do not agreed with the stupid rebutts??? The same rebutts from the same rebutters.
Jim Martin
Indiana,USA
Josey
#20Consumer Comment
Tue, July 03, 2012
Yeah, because your posts are always helpful.
The Outlaw Josey Wales
Golden Meadow,United States of America
I agree
#20Consumer Comment
Tue, July 03, 2012
Nothing Team Rebutt posts make sense
Jim Martin
Indiana,USA
Josey
#20Consumer Comment
Tue, July 03, 2012
The others do have a point. Why would you take a car you value so much to Walmart to have service? Maybe, the OP knew it had issues overheating and was hoping that Walmart would blow up the engine.
I can tell my own story about Walmart's TLE failures. This happened while I was working at the very store my story happened at, here in Indiana. I took my car in for an oil change, first car, didn't know any better at the time. It took about an hour for them to get the car in and complete the service. After paying, I went out to the lot and noticed a trail of oil leading from the garage to the car. When I started the car, the engine was already banging. I called my dad and he came and looked at it. It turns out that the mechanic did not put on any oil filter.
voiceofreason
North Carolina,United States of America
Aaaah, c'mon Josey. This don't add up!
#20Consumer Comment
Tue, July 03, 2012
Why would someone take a rare, aging show-quality car to Walmart of all places to have sensitive fuel system, cooling or engine work done? It's bad enough anyone would use them for oil changes.
If this story is truly on the level, then it's the poster child for "penny wise, pound foolish".
And this OP was clearly concerned from the outset with the workers overheating the car, leading me to suspect, as Ramjet does, that the Aurora had some cooling system issues going in.
This OP could have waited for the extreme heat spell to pass before having the work done. He clearly should have had it done at a garage that could be expected to handle such a car with kid gloves.
I'm not defending Walmart or the mechanics by the way. Even if the car had issues, the guy working on it clearly should have been watching the gauge, or making sure his co-worker, or even the customer, was. I would think the very fact that it blew in their hands, regardless of underlying issues, would give this guy some oomph in a court fight.
The Outlaw Josey Wales
Golden Meadow,United States of America
Very curious
#20Consumer Comment
Tue, July 03, 2012
Team Rebutt must work in shifts
Ramjet
Somewhere,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Just curious
#20Consumer Comment
Tue, July 03, 2012
Did your car overheat when sitting in traffic idling?
I have never seen anyone put a fan in front of a car when working on it, is this common?
I would agree with Walmart that the car already had an overheating problem. I have never had a car overheat if everything was normal.
Why would you take a - "This was not just any Oldsmobile Aurora, but a highly decorated show car." to Walmart to be serviced? There must be a qualified mechanic you could take it to.
I think you are lucky, not everyone making $800.00 per month can afford a highly decorated show car.