Question:
A mechanic destroyed my engine by not bleeding the coolent after he replaced my alternator and cost 6000 dollars for a new engine. What do?
Cody
2015-08-07 11:44:15 UTC
I took my car which was running perfectly so perfect you could hear a pin drop inside the cabin. I take it in cause my alternator died and they thought they could take advantage of me and or they were too stupid which i proved, to bleed the coolent in the engine. instead they left an air pocket in my cooling system causing it to overheat all the way to the red and i had to get a new engine because of it. How would I make them pay for damages. I have proof. I have written down the conversations. I contacted the BAR and they are doing research. What else do I have to do. I dont have a good lawyer right now that I can trust and I dont have the money for one either.
Fourteen answers:
?
2015-08-07 22:37:34 UTC
I've been an auto mechanic all my adult life. I've been involved in engine repair right down to the empty/bare engine block. I also have extreme experience with the diagnosis and repair of electrical systems, including the removal and replacement of a simple part such as an alternator. A 5-10 minute job in the old days, longer on some of today's cars.



I've also had experience in court, mostly unrelated to auto repair, but I have been involved in complaints AGAINST mechanics, where I was the plaintiff. To win in court you need a logical description of the problem, plus proof. That means evidence. Material evidence, such as photographs or documents, like receipts. Then sworn testimony which is directly related to the complaint.



You have made your complaint here, which is clear. The mechanic changed your alternator. Your claim is that the mechanic caused the destruction of your engine "by not bleeding the coolent after he replaced my alternator". I can not think of a single car or truck or boat or industrial machine that required ANY contact with the cooling system. And technically, coolant is not bled from a cooling system, AIR is. Maybe you meant that the cooling system was not bled. But the words you use are very important. You did say "air pocket". But you need to say: did not bleed the air pocket, or did not bleed the cooling system, or did not bleed the air from the cooling system. But please explain how an air pocket came to exist in your cooling system, as a direct result of an alternator being removed and replaced. It's possible that some newer vehicle may exist that an alternator can not be removed without removing a coolant hose. I'm just not familiar with such an application. So please identify it.



Further you said this air pocket caused your engine to "overheat all the way to the red". This is the part that will need your explanation why you kept driving your vehicle once it showed signs of overheating. While it may be possible that the mechanic caused the conditions for your motor to overheat, you have caused the destruction of the engine by continuing to drive it once it was overheated "all the way to the red". If you CAN relate the changing of the alternator to the overhearing of the engine, you will lose your case because you didn't stop driving the car immediately, and have your car towed to the mechanic.



MY question, is how is the changing of your alternator related to the cooling system? You say that you have proof. Give us the proof.



If this story of yours was about the replacement of a thermostat or water pump or radiator or coolant hose, surely it would relate to the mechanic being negligent, but an alternator???



What year, brand and model is your car?



p.s. Because of a comment by MeBrod, I went searching and found that 1998-2000 Cadillac has a water cooled alternator, and a BMW has a water cooled alternator.



Please identify your car for us.
realtor.sailor
2015-08-07 12:26:05 UTC
Replacing an alternator has nothing to do with the cooling system. Go on Youtube and find a video for replacing the alternator. It's just a matter of removing the belt then removing the alternator. It's just a coincidence you had cooling problems. After the gauge was indicating overheating how long did you continue to drive? If you had immediately stopped you probably wouldn't be replacing the engine.
anonymous
2015-08-08 12:31:49 UTC
Replacing the alternator has nothing to do with bleeding the coolant.

$6000 for a new engine? The Ford Coyote V-8 costs less than that. You're talking BS.
Gary B
2015-08-07 12:34:56 UTC
Your FIRST step SHOULD have been to return to the shop and ASK THEM to fix it -- for free.



One of the first things a judge looks at in cases like this is "Did you give the person a chance to repair the damage?". Your FIRST STEP is ALWAYS to see if the other party can and will fix it -- no matter WHAT is broke -- your car, your fridge, your hot tub.



If they fix it (or have it fixed) and there is no cost to you, then all is good. The problem starts of they refuse to fix it, or won't pay the entire cost. THEN you sue.



Since you had the engine fixed elsewhere, you deprived them of the chance to :"do the right thing", and you have weakened your case. You WILL need a signed and sworn statement from the company that repaired your vehicle, stating that the failure was indeed caused by the air bubble, AND that the air bubble WAS caused by the previous repairs. This is called "Expert Testimony".



Having that you then proceed with a law suit. Depending on what state you live in, you may be able to take this to Small Claims Court, without a lawyer. Call the local Small Claim Court and ask them the limits on damages that they will accept. It is often between $5000 and $10,000, but some states are as low as $2000.



If Small Claims Court can't handle your suit, then you WILL have to hire a lawyer. STart saving yorumoeny -- there is no other course.
?
2015-08-07 11:50:12 UTC
What does the alternator have to do with the cooling system? I've replaced 3 or 4 alternators and I've never touched the engine coolant in the process. Never had a minute's trouble.
liverhuyen2003
2015-08-07 12:35:40 UTC
Unless the vehicle is one of those BMW models which the alternator is cooled off by the coolant. You can forget about blaming anybody for malpractice.



http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e53-forum/80250-alternator-removal-diy-2001-bmw-x5-4-4l-pictures.html



Anyway, why didn't you stop and call a flatbed, bring the car back to the shop when it started to overheat? Who's going to believe you now? You did not give anybody a chance to defend themselves ..



Note: One of the pictures in the above link: Once remove the alternator's mounting bolts, the vehicle will loose quite a bit of coolant. If the air does not bleed completely out of the system. The vehicle may overheat. But that will not give you the excuse for keep driving the vehicle.



So .. Year, Make and Model of the vehicle. Then I'll discuss into your legal right. Right now: You have almost .. nothing ..
Really ?
2015-08-07 13:09:15 UTC
I fail to understand what the alternator and cooling system has to do with each other. Then I fail to understand that when the car started to get hot you just keep going. Then $6000 for a new engine? Maybe you need to check and see if there is anything between your ears.
?
2015-08-08 20:05:40 UTC
Temp indicator, climbing into the red means shut it off and investigate.

After sitting, start and add to fill it up. no telling what leaks.



You did not even tell Y>M>M>



The alternator is not part of that system... why ? what makes yours involved? update your question please.



No other intelligent answer without the information should be given.



You call them stupid, but have not explained fully.



They do not sound stupid. What happened exactly....?

An attorney cannot fix a climbing temp gauge, but that shop could have when you shut it off and called them. As the operator, that's on you.

no evidence exists yet in that story showing cause or placing blame.



Who looks stupid?
?
2015-08-07 11:56:53 UTC
What kind of car requires coolant removal to replace an alternator? I have changed many alternators and never touched anything in the cooling system.
suzonka
2015-08-08 05:12:07 UTC
your hot engine warning light should have told you pull over and shut down the motor the let a mechanic look at it .
?
2015-08-07 17:06:16 UTC
never seen a car that you needed to touch coolant in order to change alternator

you story does not add up tome
alan
2015-08-07 16:40:49 UTC
you have no reason change coolant when replacing the altenator two different systems. not conected to each other in any way.where you got this idea is wierd.
magiccharm
2015-08-07 13:16:30 UTC
There is more to this story than you are telling.
Tjox
2015-08-11 21:01:39 UTC
i think OP needs to clarify his question.


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