Body Shop Disaster! 1999 Corolla...

[tundrabrad]

Hey gang,

Just picked up my son's 1999 Corolla from the body shop. He had been forced into a curb by another car and required most of the front suspension to be replaced.

We got the car home OK (about 7 miles from the shop) but when we tried to back out of the driveway...all of sudden no drive in any gear! The car has a 4 speed automatic transmission. Pulled the dipstick and it is bone dry!

We found the transmission to be almost 4 quarts low...ironically the exact amount of a pan drain. I called the body shop manager and of course, it couldn't possibly be their fault! They did no work on the mechanical end and subcontracted it to another shop. Looking at my non-factory (Haynes) manual states the driveaxle does not need to be removed from the transmission housing for a hub replacement. I do not have access to the factory Corolla manual for the factory procedure. However, I would think the driveaxle would be removed for impact damage inspection of the CV joints and drive splines???

The shop manager is denying everything...I am concerned about the possibility of internal transmission damage while driving it 7 miles when 4 quarts low. The check engine light is on as well. They also replaced the headlamp housing and did not replace the Sylvania Silverstar lamp.

The car is driving now and seems to be OK. It has 91,000 original miles on it.

Need some opinions:

1. What is the potential for transmission damage (we were running Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF)?

2. What about the check engine light? I'm sure they will deny it was on when they inspected it...

3. Should I demand they replace the $20 Silverstar? I spent $25 on replacing the ATF as well...

4. Should I try to get them to agree to repair any future Transmission Fluid related damage to the car?

Honestly, this is why I despise dealing with profession mechanics...

Thanks for any help or opinions!

Brad

[EDGE]

7 miles should not have caused any damage, especially since you had M1 coating the inside, just be glad you found out in 7 and not 70, but I will say if it was a reputable body shop and to deny that is BS.

How did you pay them, if it was me I'd take 50 bucks out and say thats for the lights and the fluid and if you want it sue me but I'll counter for a new transmission.

Is it really worth it, they removed the headlights and stole your bulbs, that don't make sense, does your repair order list all parts replaced, even if they sent the car out for trans work that should still be listed, how did they send the car out.

I had a Pathfinder and thought I went to the best body shop around, they did good work but they missed a 3x6 inch spot on the front bumper and had paint over spray on the back bumper and several other little things that bugged be but I delt with it, compared to my friends who went to other body shops mine was showroom new

[Tundrav8yamaha]

Originally Posted by tundrabrad

Hey gang,

Just picked up my son's 1999 Corolla from the body shop. He had been forced into a curb by another car and required most of the front suspension to be replaced.

We got the car home OK (about 7 miles from the shop) but when we tried to back out of the driveway...all of sudden no drive in any gear! The car has a 4 speed automatic transmission. Pulled the dipstick and it is bone dry!

We found the transmission to be almost 4 quarts low...ironically the exact amount of a pan drain. I called the body shop manager and of course, it couldn't possibly be their fault! They did no work on the mechanical end and subcontracted it to another shop. Looking at my non-factory (Haynes) manual states the driveaxle does not need to be removed from the transmission housing for a hub replacement. I do not have access to the factory Corolla manual for the factory procedure. However, I would think the driveaxle would be removed for impact damage inspection of the CV joints and drive splines???

The shop manager is denying everything...I am concerned about the possibility of internal transmission damage while driving it 7 miles when 4 quarts low. The check engine light is on as well. They also replaced the headlamp housing and did not replace the Sylvania Silverstar lamp.

The car is driving now and seems to be OK. It has 91,000 original miles on it.

Need some opinions:

1. What is the potential for transmission damage (we were running Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF)?

2. What about the check engine light? I'm sure they will deny it was on when they inspected it...

3. Should I demand they replace the $20 Silverstar? I spent $25 on replacing the ATF as well...

4. Should I try to get them to agree to repair any future Transmission Fluid related damage to the car?

Honestly, this is why I despise dealing with profession mechanics...

Thanks for any help or opinions!

Brad

The 2 concern's you have were about the Sylvania Silverstar lamp's is a really small concern. Many aftermarket part's such as those are really hard to trace and the body shop will find as close to a Oem replacement as possible having worked for a body shop wile attending College i know the business rather well. Number 2 your son's transmission does have a slight concern hear and i would be reseaching more about the type of repair's such as how they conducted themselves and what's involved in this process even still Any body shop should check on fluid's esp in front end type Accidents. I've had my truck In a accident and my Toyota dealership body shop checked all the fluid's when I took delievy of my truck coarse they know how pickey i am on service I give them my bussiness on oil changes every3k since new and all other work .

[tundrabrad]

Here's the update:

We've had 2 conversations with the body shop since the original one. The Manager agreed to reimburse the cost of the fluid and then called back to say he had done further research and decided there's no way his subcontract mechanic removed the driveaxle...he even lied that he had talked with a Toyota Certified Lexus Mechanic. He said the mechanic had told him the Corolla only held about 4 quarts total so how could 4 quarts be missing? I happened to have the Haynes Corolla Manual right in front of me and corrected him. A Corolla 4 speed auto transmission has a dry fill capacity of 8.2 quarts and a drain and refill of 3.4 quarts. He lied straight out to me! He wouldn't discuss it further. I told him we have means of immediate recourse and would exercise it and bid him 'good day'.

We paid the deductible with a credit card, so we can always dispute the charge. We contacted my son's insurance company. Turns out the claims guy is a British Car guy like me! He knew his mechanical stuff and after asking me a series of questions he apologized for our experience and would have a local field rep contact us after talking with the body shop...stay tuned...

The Silverstar is a minor issue. They replaced a complete factory headlamp unit that comes with a bulb. It would have taken a sharp guy to see the difference in the Silverstar when it came out. Just a matter of principal with the lack of honesty on the ATF mistake that leads me to press that issue as well.

Amazingly, as an amateur mechanic I always use a workshop manual, step-by-step in any repair and replace project. Our friendly professional mechanic makes a basic mistake of not checking a dipstick before releasing the car and all of a sudden we now have three separate companies (the body shop, the mechanical shop and the Lexus mechanic) all getting real dishonest, real fast.

I visited our Toyota dealer and described the issue. He agreed the driveaxle should be pulled and inspected and that fluid would be lost even if the mechanic didn't do a pan drain.

Hopefully, the insurance company will put some pressure on them to make things right. We will dispute the charge on the credit card otherwise and go to court if necessary. We'll see what happens...