Today makes 2 months this mechanic has been working on a blown head gasket for my fiancee's 2001 Nissan Pathfinder, every week I call him and he keeps given me excuses and different dates, now she's to the point where she wants her car back and she does not want him to do the job, she has given him $1400 of $3200 charged to fix the car. What should I do? I know it doesn't take this long to do an engine but it's out of the car already and I feel like I'm in a tough spot, any advice? Thanks in advance

 

Do you have any lawyer friends? My recommendation is to have them send him a letter with timelines for completion or else. A lawyer can help define the "or else". The mechanic needs to understand the legal repurcussions of his action/inaction.

 

+1. Good advice. However, I would first talk to the mechanic face to face without bringing up any possible legal action, to see his reaction.

 

+2

 

I have spoken to him face to face twice, so I should call a lawyer today and get some advice, that's what I was thinking. Thanks for the advice guys!

 

Lawyer.

 

It sucks, no one wants to give free phone consultations , this is a pretty frustrating situation!!!

 

Lawyer for sure. If the face to face conversation didn't help then some legal action should light a fire under his ass.

 

I'm on my way to see him face to face again, unfortunately I will have to be much more aggressive, I will update you guys when I get back. Thanks again.

 

Tell him he's got three days to finish it, otherwise you will get a lawyer involved. This is key though. You have to be serious about hiring a lawyer and following it through.

Two months?! Are you serious? After a week I would be like, "WTF have you been doing with my car?!"

Tell him you will take it to someone else if the work is not done in three days, and that you will charge them to tow it to another shop, etc. If you do this, insist on seeing your car and do not leave it. They may try to make it worse, as it sounds like an unethical shop.

The shop may try to put a lien on it, and if they do, or they don't let you see the car, call the police.

 

call the police

 

You are in NYS there is no need to get a lawyer involved, there is a fantastic DMV Court system, it's very quick, efficient and free. Set a deadline for him to have it done, let him know that if the job is not completed to your satisfaction by the deadline you are going to file a formal complaint with the NYS DMV court, not only will they guaranty you a fair outcome, they may fine him and if he is repeat offender or the offense is serious he can lose his license to repair cars in NYS - legally anyways. Lawyers are expensive, the mere threat of using the DMV court system will get him motivated, it is fast, free and very efficient. As a former repair shop owner in NYS the few times I've dealt with this system it was scary fast, at least up here, with in filing a complaint a DMV agent was investigating with in days, I've never seen a case take longer then 2 weeks. No way a lawyer will move that fast and it will cost you a lot more. People who are quick to scream call a lawyer don't understand how expensive something like this is to litigate and there is no guaranty you will reclaim those expenses.

http://www.nysdmv.com/broch/vs156.htm

 

Great, thank you so much!

 

after you figure that mess out, which i hope you do soon , i'd suggest doing all you can to inform the public/others about that place. i.e.: online reviews, google reviews, etc..

 

I think the bigger question is, 3200 bucks for a head gasket??!?
It would be cheaper, not to mention take a lot less time, to just get a low-mile used engine for $500-1,000 and pay a guy on the side to swap it in for another 500 to 1,000.