Male mid-twenties with 2002 Dodge Dakota SLT 4.7 V8. By the end of this past summer my truck was running a little rough, so I decided to try a little automotive DIY for the first time. I changed my own oil. It went well. My alignment was off so I took in for alignment. Needed new lower ball joints and front passenger bearings/hub assembly. The tire place quoted me at about 0, so I did it myself for about half that. Decided to throw on new rotors and pads while I was at it. It also went well. Engine was running a little loud. I figured it out to be the A/C compressor, an expensive item. I bought and installed new compressor, accumulator, and orifice tube per manufacturers warranty specs. I then faced the challenge of charging the new AC system with r134a. I could have spent another couple hundred dollars on a vacuum pump and manifold gauge needed to do the job. Having already dumped about 00 in parts into this truck I was very tempted, but I decided to bring it in to a local auto shop and have them do it for about 0.
The truck was literally running better than the day I got it at this point.
This is where the fun begins.
I get the truck to the mechanics and tell him I just need him to look over the ac system I installed and charge it with r134a. He says "no problem, come back in a few hours." So I do, and when I walk up to the truck he asks "You ever have any problems with it starting?" "No I have never had any problems with it at all. Why do you ask?" "Well its dead, completely dead, wont start, and we’re getting no codes, only NoBus. Ive never seen this before" WTF??? I go home look it up and NoBus is either PCM, 5v relay on cam pos sensor or crank sensor. I tell this to mechanic, he starts checking sensors not getting anything. He says cam pos sensor, Ill do it tomorrow. The next day I get there the sensor is broken off in engine, hes going at it with a torch and a pick, and Im standing over his shoulder. Just about to get it out when… PLINK! OH NO it fell out the back INTO the oil pan, we need to drop pan and retrieve said part. "Just fix my truck man" After this he replaces cam sensor, new oil pan gasket. still no 5v relay. I look in the cab… THE IGNITION ISNT ON FOOL!!! "oh that might be it" magically he starts getting 5v relay reading on cam and crank sensors. So its a bad PCM after all. I noticed he didn’t ground out the accumulator, which most likely caused the short in the PCM to begin with. I buy a salvaged one for 0 hoping it works as I’m incredibly low on money. He calls and says truck is working.
This truck is my livelihood, I dont make money if its not on the road, it was out for a few weeks at this shop. I take it back in the night because I need it next morning, dont even have money to pay shop.
The speedometer and odometer isnt working, ABS, brake, and engine light are on in dash. Constant dinging warning me ABS is out.
Few days later I notice large puddle of oil in driveway. The gasket they "replaced" is hemorrhaging oil, I check level and is a few quarts low.
Now the question is this: Do I have to pay for these repairs? He wants me to pay for oil, oil pan gasket, cam sensor, an extra on shipping PCM (when I know LKQonline ships for free) and like 4 hours labor. When all I went in for was AC charge. He never gave me estimate, there was no paperwork, I never signed anything or agree to pay to fix the parts he broke.
He doesnt have any information, as I was sure to empty glove box before I even left it there. I dont know what to do or what legal actions he can take against me, PLEASE HELP.
We have all had to pay for costly vehicle repairs.