Looking for some Advice...

[Shopshirt]

There is a lot of assumption that this dealer is not going to own up to it and fix it. This can't be the first time that they've messed something up and most dealers should have shop insurance for this specific reason. If this is a large corp dealer then it's almost a certainty they have shop insurance.

Having worked for years in a corporate legal environment (not an attorney), the quickest way to shut down a conversation is to push an Attorney into the mix right away. The conversation is immediately taken out of both parties' hands and becomes a Legal Dept. to Legal Dept. discussion and likely sent to Arbitrage.

You don't have to be adversarial but when speaking with the dealership document, document, document. Write down date/time of conversation and who you spoke to and title and what the conversation was about and the outcome. Go over it at the end "So this is my understanding of the next steps to verify."

That being said, you are taking the right approach...sit down have a conversation and give them a chance to make it right.

Also, it could be good that this happened at a Jeep Dealer and not some franchise lube place. I can't imagine how much harder it might be trying to get a favorable outcome.

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[dayusmc]

I think the dealer is going to do the right thing and fix it. BUT how they fix it is a different story. If they put a new motor in, that would be the best case. If they put a new long block in it, second best. If they put a used motor in, that sucks...

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I think the dealer is going to do the right thing and fix it. BUT how they fix it is a different story. If they put a new motor in, that would be the best case. If they put a new long block in it, second best. If they put a used motor in, that sucks...

I have no concerns of them using used. They won't. It would kill warranty and if it failed in a short time, it leaves them open again. I can't imagine any dealer doing that and then tossing any future problems onto themselves.
My gut says they'll handle it fine.

Forums always go off the deep end first and just know it's going to be worst case. I almost laughed out loud at a couple suggestions.....especially bringing in another dealer on a non-warranty thing. That's not even giving them a chance plus who in their right mind would touch it?

 

[dayusmc]

I am hoping they give him a complete new motor.

That is what I would do if I was the owner of the dealership

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I am hoping they give him a complete new motor.

That is what I would do if I was the owner of the dealership

If it was a typical engine of the 90s, only the lower end would suffer and need replaced, but we know how these cams and followers are, so I'd hope they also would be wary and do a long block.

Their cost on a long block shouldn't be much different than their cost on a short block, plus the old thing "one and done" - just do it and move on.

When oil pressure goes, you lose the timing chain tensioners, lube to the timing chain, lube to the cams, lash adjusters leaving the followers to flop with a ton of lash and the damage to the intake followers would be unknown, you lose the phasers, a lot of stuff stops working because it depends on hydraulics.

And their cost to extend the engine warranty out to 100,000 miles or better also wouldn't be that much.

Somehow I have a feeling if the OP comes at this just right - he's going to be ok. He's got to be ready, prepared with facts (not a story like I typically write, but a bullet point list of exactly what happened, what he observed, pictures) and keep track of all conversations of any type or form, and take names.
but I think he's going to be ok, really.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

There is a lot of assumption that this dealer is not going to own up to it and fix it. This can't be the first time that they've messed something up and most dealers should have shop insurance for this specific reason. If this is a large corp dealer then it's almost a certainty they have shop insurance.

Having worked for years in a corporate legal environment (not an attorney), the quickest way to shut down a conversation is to push an Attorney into the mix right away. The conversation is immediately taken out of both parties' hands and becomes a Legal Dept. to Legal Dept. discussion and likely sent to Arbitrage.

You don't have to be adversarial but when speaking with the dealership document, document, document. Write down date/time of conversation and who you spoke to and title and what the conversation was about and the outcome. Go over it at the end "So this is my understanding of the next steps to verify."

That being said, you are taking the right approach...sit down have a conversation and give them a chance to make it right.

Also, it could be good that this happened at a Jeep Dealer and not some franchise lube place. I can't imagine how much harder it might be trying to get a favorable outcome.

Everyone saying lawyer up has probably never done it themselves. Terrible approach.

 

[Charles 236]

@Rdizz

F

Report it directly to Jeep not dealership have Jeep have a different dealer replace engine at frist dealers dime

This is not a warranty claim, so no other dealer would want to do it. IF another dealer did do a repair on this vehicle, it would be with the understanding that the owner or other dealer would cover the cost.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I can't imagine walking into a dealer and saying "the other dealership screwed up so I want you to put a new engine in my Jeep and charge it to them".

They need a guarantee of payment up front - a signed work order that says who is responsible for payment. They won't just say "OK, we'll figure out who pays us later" - and that's just going to upset the other dealership even more having to pay the higher costs for the same work they can do cheaper. IF they refused to pay - then the truck's owner is on the hook for the job.

 

[Charles 236]

Exactly my point. The dealer that created the original problem is the one that needs to fix it.

 

[chasebank]

Shitty situation and I hope they make it right. Can only comment on the sentiment that cost of firing off a letter from a lawyer (this early) is worth it. Sort of "why not?" mentality, which I disagree with (for now).

Generally people don't engage lawyers as much as they should, at the very least for consultation and guidance, which is cheaper than people expect. It's like hiring a decent tax professional - it pays for itself.

But firing off a cease and desist to some Etsy creator, for instance, is one thing. Someone who likely doesn't even have a lawyer, no desire to pay for one. "it's not worth this fight" is a very real motivator.

But when you deal with an entity that you know has legal representation, who they speak to and work with regularly, and multiple layers of liability insurance that has to be maintained... As soon as they receive a letter on lawyer's letterhead, they have no choice but to STOP whatever forward momentum there is, forward the letter to their lawyers, and wait for instruction. It would be irresponsible to do anything different.

Involving a lawyer ENDS the current conversation, and starts a different one, which from that point forward will be filtered thru lawyers on both sides.

Sometimes that's exactly what needs to happen, but other times may be counter productive. Depends on how they choose to handle it.

 

[Rdizz]

Well going to try to be there tomorrow morning to have this chat, and leave to give them all time to shut down and watch the eclipse lol.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Well going to try to be there tomorrow morning to have this chat, and leave to give them all time to shut down and watch the eclipse lol.

Luckily there won't be that craziness here - we're not on the path. Likely won't notice a thing.

 

[Hootbro]

Tagging in for the Monday status and what the dealership says.

Regardless of the dealership having the CDJR signs out front, this is going to be a basic shop insurance claim with how the dealership wants to handle it. Either on their shop insurance or if they decide to self insure and handle it all in house.

If me, I would need some reassurances from them in how the powertrain warranty is going to still be valid if they do any engine or long block swap used or new?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

If me, I would need some reassurances from them in how the powertrain warranty is going to still be valid if they do any engine or long block swap used or new?

Yes. Replacing the engine is one thing - keeping all power train warranty intact is the final step I'd want.
I'd want to be covered for anything they might miss in the swap, as well as the engine itself.
If I drove 1,000 miles and a hose popped off or a wire melted due to the swap - I'd want to know it would be covered.

 

[Hootbro]

If I drove 1,000 miles and a hose popped off or a wire melted due to the swap - I'd want to know it would be covered.

That is the thing I worry about. In reality, the dealership did this, not FCA/Stellantis corporate. Is FCA/Stellantis still liable to honor the powertrain warranty for any repair the dealership does?

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