David Muas Chevrolet
Complaint 260241 Details

I have been having my Saturn 2002 L100 serviced at Firestone Complete Auto Care since I initially purchased the car in 2002, eleven years. On Sunday, June 9, 2013 I had my Saturn serviced, oil changed, and supposedly all fluids were checked and topped off.

On Thursday, June 13, after driving to Sanford from Orlando, FL, from work I drove to Sam's Club to fill my auto with gas. After filling I attempted to start my vehicle. It would not start.

I called AAA and requested the vehicle be towed. I waited an hour for them to arrive. After arriving, the AAA tow truck driver informed me that the vehicle probably had water in the tank. He instructed me to press the gas and fluid it then attempt to start the vehicle, it should start. I did as he instructed. The vehicle did start. He said there was no need to tow the car. He instructed me to purchase some gas treatment to rid the gas tank of the water.

I drove to Auto Zone. I explained to the service rep what had happened. He too said it was probably water in the tank. He sold me gas treatment. I pour the gas treatment into the vehicle and allowed it to sit for about half an hour. The vehicle started and I drove home with no problems.

I drove to work the following morning, Friday, June 14. The vehicle drove fine. Friday evening as I drove home, I drove off the I-4 ramp onto SR 46-A and Country Club Rd., Sanford, FL 32773. I turned right onto SR 46. As I drove up to the light, approximately 4 cars away my vehicle began to jerk violently then stopped. When the traffic light turned green I attempted to start my vehicle in order to get it out of the road. After I drove across Rinehart Road and approximately .1 miles my vehicle started jerking, smoke puffed out, and then the vehicle stalled. I allowed the vehicle to coast around the curve and down the road until it completely stopped in the median less than 1 mile from the off ramp of I-4 and SR 46, Country Club Rd. I again called AAA to have my vehicle towed. AAA towed my vehicle to David Maus at my request only because it was basically around the corner from where my vehicle had stalled.

After examining my vehicle the next work day, Josh Krueger, Parts Consultant at David Maus informed me that the motor’s head gaskets were blown, 3 were cracked and one was loose, that the motor was destroyed. I informed him that I had purchased an extended warranty Endurance that I would call them. Josh informed me that the procedure is for him to contact the warranty company, inform them of the damage, and request authorization to repair the vehicle.

Josh Krueger did not inform me why the motor had failed; only that it had failed. Josh called me later that Monday, June 17, 2013 and informed me that Endurance my warranty wanted to know the cause for the motor failure and that they would not even consider paying for the repairs unless I agreed to allow the motor to be disassembled to discover the exact cause of the failure. Josh informed me that it would cost approximately $850. I informed Josh that I did not have any money to pay for that. Josh reassured me to not worry about it because all warranty companies insist on knowing why a part failed and that they always pay, that's the purpose of the warranty. I asked him specifically would they pay the disassembly fee once they discover the complete cause of failure. He informed me that they would pay for it that it would become a part of the repair expenses. He informed me that it would be a week at least before they could discover what had caused the failure.

Josh was so confident that Endurance would pay for the repairs that he gave me a free rental car to drive until my vehicle was repaired. After more than a week Josh called me and informed me that Endurance would not pay for the repairs because the damage to the motor of my vehicle was caused by heat. Of course I questioned what that meant. Josh informed me that there was no coolant in my vehicle! I was astonished because I had my vehicle's oil changed and fluids flushed and topped off at least 3 times this year, 2013, and only a few days prior. I have at least 2 of those service receipts which specifically states that all fluids were checked and topped off!

I could not and did not believe that! After all my vehicle had been serviced only days prior to my motor failing! After Josh informed me that Endurance would not pay for the repairs of my vehicle due to the damage being caused by heat, I called Endurance and basically pleaded that they do what's right and pay for the repairs! They refused.

After more than a week, Endurance informed me that the vehicle over heated because there was no coolant in the vehicle, and that the water pump had broken. Both were the cause of the motor in my vehicle overheating and failing.

They accused me of abusing my vehicle! They accused me of driving my vehicle knowing fully that the vehicle was overheating, that I was careless! They stated that I did not pay any attention to the gages in the panel! It was not until after Endurance had informed me that the water pump broke that I found out the water pump had broken. Josh did not inform me that the water pump had broken until he spoke with the representative from Charity Wheels.

I later found out that any amateur mechanic would know that the motor would not need to be disassembled in order to discover why the motor failed. Josh did not inform me of such! Josh was more concerned about using me to earn money for David Maus Chevrolet than doing what was best for his customer! Even though I had informed Josh initially that I did not have any money, he yet deceived me and set me up for an expense that he knew I could not pay! Josh hid the fact that Endurance would not pay the disassemble fee and hid that I should not proceed because of money and because he knew either Endurance or myself would be charged! He didn’t care who paid just as long as he acquired that money!

Upon finding out the motor had failed due to heat, Josh should have informed me that most warranty companies will not pay for those repairs! Had Josh informed me of such, I WOULD NOT have given permission for the motor of my vehicle to be disassembled! I would have had my vehicle towed to our family mechanic to repair the vehicle at my own expense for less than $1,000! The only reason I did not have my vehicle towed to him initially was because he does not have a licensed repair shop.

Josh failed me and he failed David Maus Chevrolet by not protecting his customer, me! He should have protected me his customer instead of taking advantage of me his customer! He should have informed me that Endurance would not pay for a motor that had failed due to having overheated, and that Endurance would not pay the disassemble fee! He should have informed me that my vehicle was not worth investing/sinking that kind of money into the repairs!

Josh took advantage of me and hid it behind a free rental car! After Endurance informed Josh that they would not pay for the repairs and I again informed Josh that I did not have the money to pay for the repairs Josh informed me that David Maus Chevrolet had a same as cash credit card that I could apply for to cover the cost! Yet again Josh sought to take advantage of me. He tried to convince me to take out credit to repair a vehicle that he fully knew and knows is not work investing/sinking that amount of money into! Why would he do such a thing, MONEY?

Endurance informed me that even though they insisted I give permission for the motor to be disassembled; I would have to pay for that, $850. David Maus would not wave the fee, and Endurance would not pay the fee.

I contacted Charity Wheels for help. They had a representative call David Maus to request they wave the fee on the grounds of principles and because they did not give me the option to refuse to allow the disassembly because they were aware that warranty companies would not pay. They still refused!

The Charity Wheels representative also called Endurance to request they pay the entire fee, certainly half of the fee but they refused. Both David Maus and Endurance refused to help me. That left me with a fee of $850 to pay just to clear myself of the disassemble fee. David Maus is charging $4,300 to repair and replace the motor in my vehicle. The repair costs more than what the vehicle is worth!

After I kept insisting that I do not have the money to pay the disassemble fee, David Maus Chevrolet encouraged me to trade the vehicle in and buy a car from them. They encouraged me to cancel the extended warranty with Endurance and add basically another $100 to the $91.28 that I pay Endurance and buy a car from David Maus. My mother gives me $100 a month that I basically use to pay for the warranty. Had the warranty worked for me, I would eventually complete the payment of the warranty within the next 12 months or so. I cannot afford to buy a car at this time. I already live paycheck to paycheck!

Because Endurance refuses to pay for the repairs to my vehicle and because I do not have any money, my vehicle is loss!

Firestone servicemen claim to have properly serviced my vehicle for years. I believe they had until recently! Because they did not honestly and properly service my vehicle, they caused my vehicle to overheat, destroy the motor in my vehicle, and subsequently destroy my entire vehicle! Firestone is the cause of the damage to my vehicle and the loss of my vehicle solely! However, Josh is the sole cause of the $850 fee that I incurred at David Maus!

My Saturn’s trade in value is only worth approximately $995. That is basically what the disassemble fee is. Why would Josh/David Maus pressure me to incur such a debt, and why would they insist I pay it now knowing fully that the vehicle is not worth that money?

At this present time David Maus Chevrolet is holding my vehicle hostage insisting that I pay the $850 disassemble fee! I do not have any money to pay for it! I do not have any money to buy another used car certainly not a new car.

I hope and pray that David Maus Chevrolet will do what is right and wave the fee that their Parts Consultant Josh Krueger deceived me into incurring! He knew better but he did not do better!

David Maus waving the $850 fee would be a very amicable apology on behalf of their employee, Josh Krueger! It would be greatly appreciated!