Replacing the Engine in my 2004 Tundra

swango · #1 (**permalink**) 11-15-2005, 12:27 AM

Some of you might remember that over two months ago my 2004 Tundra engine was burnt up by a tech who put on the wrong oil filter. The Insurance Co. wants to offer me a new engine minus depreciation (i.e. 20,000 Mi = 10% off the cost of the new engine) which totals out at a $1,000 and change. The mom & pop independent auto shop is implying that my insurance should cover the difference that their liability will not cover. I say that is an unfair business practice. The local Toyota dealership is replacing the engine. Two questions...Should I be concerned about any potential long term problems related to having the engine replaced (they say it's new) but I am concerned about the reliability of having the engine replaced and long term integrity of the truck. Second, how can I protect my rights in this situation-I don't want to get an attorney but I am getting weary of the back and forth.

skater911 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-15-2005, 01:01 AM

I work for an insurance company and that sounds high. There would be better and you said 10% so the total is 10,000??????? The shop should cover the whole amount, now as far as the reliability goes. If this a crate engine from toyota and not a reman or used engine, then no worries. Call up your ins co and see why they want to charge you 1k+, too me sounds a little high, good luck

TundrastruckDave · #3 (**permalink**) 11-15-2005, 12:06 PM

Hey swango,

I STRONGELY ADVISE... THAT YOU READ THIS THREAD!!!

Your conerns over getting a "new" engine, as opposed to a "rebuilt" engine are not without merritt, as TS.com member (2theedge1974) can testify to!!! Long story short, his selling dealership COMPLETELY FORGOT the oil filter!!!

and he ended up, right where you are at present.

The dealership accepted responsibility, but then tried to tell him, that Toyota didn't offer a crate engine for the Tundra!

Especially not a LONG BLOCK crate engine, which includes the heads. And BELIEVE ME... I WOULD NOT ACCEPT ANYTHING LESS THAN THE LONG BLOCK CRATE ENGINE!!! If the engine was starved of oil, it's for sure the excessive heat caused damage to the heads! The values may actually be bent or WORSE!!!

Anyway, after more than a full month of BS from this dealership and (2theedge1974) conferring with a lawyer, he found out that a long block crate engine IS available for the tundra at a WHAPPING... $20,000!!!

Bottom line... the dealership "knew" that, but didn't want to have to spend that much on a "new" crate engine. After SEVERAL visits and finding his truck up on a lift, with the damaged engine in pieces on the floor under it, he was told that several of the... supposedly "new" parts... had to be sent to the machine shop, because they wouldn't "fit" properly!!!!

THAT WAS THE PROVERBIAL... RED FLAG!!!

By the time he had found this out, the engine was back in the truck and running. So, they told him to drive it for a week or two and see if it was to his liking. Thinking that he had "now" taken delivery of the rebuilt engine, he fully expected the dealership to deny any and all his claims that things... still... were not right.

So he contacted the OWNER of the dealership, who is a VERY LARGE dealership owner here in NC. By that I mean, the owner actually owns SEVERAL OTHER dealerships, which include other brands as well. To say the least... this is a HUGE dealership owner... if that makes any sense!

The owner, basically went ballistic over this as he should have, which speaks highly of him!

In the final out-come... the owner offered (2theedge1974) a brand "new" truck of "his" choosing, no matter the brand as long as one of his dealership had it or could get! Oh yeah... the owner also "fired" the service manager and the sales manger over this one incident!

So... the moral of this story is...MAKE DAMN SURE YOU STAY ON TOP OF THIS DEALERSHIP AND TAKE CARE TO INSURE THAT THEY DON'T "TRY" THE SAME BS ON YOU!!! MAKE SURE THEY'RE GIVING YOU A "NEW" CRATE ENGINE!!!! MAKE THEM PROVE IT, IF NEED BE!! I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH!!! I don't mean to scare you with this horror story, but I did want you to be informed as to what "could" happen!

As a matter of fact, you might want to even consider shooting (2theedge1974) a PM and ask him any question(s) you might have. Truth is, I haven't heard from him in a while, so I can't guarrantee, you'll get a quick response, but I would certainly consider trying anyway!

It NEVER hurts to talk with someone who has... "been there and done that"!

I hope this helps...

Dave

cnold · #4 (**permalink**) 11-18-2005, 07:05 AM

Swango,

Calculating depreciation that way may be ok when replacing a hail-damaged roof on a house but it's not to your benefit in this case. My thinking is that you are entitled to the cost of the repair plus depreciation. Look at it from the perspective of a potential buyer. I would expect to pay less for a 20,000-mile truck that had a replacement engine. If you didn't disclose the fact and I found out, I would have you in court fast that...

skater911 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-18-2005, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnold

Swango,

Calculating depreciation that way may be ok when replacing a hail-damaged roof on a house but it's not to your benefit in this case. My thinking is that you are entitled to the cost of the repair plus depreciation. Look at it from the perspective of a potential buyer. I would expect to pay less for a 20,000-mile truck that had a replacement engine. If you didn't disclose the fact and I found out, I would have you in court fast that...

The only problem with that is the insurance company would not consider that to be depreciation, it would be considered diminished value. I work for an insurance company in the Auto damage part and if it is first party, most policies exclude diminished value. So you may not get anything for the inconvience or fact that the engine may reduce value. Hope that helps.