Should you pay for a part mechanic broke using the wrong tool?

[outdoorgaz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close outdoorgaz]

While getting my FJ serviced by a 4WD specialist mechanic, he broke my oil filter cap ($150) by not using the correct tool. It seemed to be a lot tighter than it should have been.

My beef is that he wants to charge me for it - I don't feel I should pay because he has not used the correct tool to remove it.
No Toyota dealer has the oil filter cap in stock so I had to wait 5 days to get my car back. It doesn't seem that anyone else breaks them.

Interested in others thoughts.

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

I wouldn't be paying, he broke it, then I would tell he is lucky u don't charge him for the imconvenience of having your car off the road.

Hutch- Prado 2012 petrol with the TJM Catologue.

[Palmer Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Palmer]

If he's not smart enough to rectify the situation to your satisfaction, I'd be telling all those I knew about it.

Hell, he could have got the money back out of you eventually, by keeping you as a repeat customer and just adding a bit to each subsequent service etc. that you get him to do ( ie: adding to the "consumables etc." that are inevitably tacked on to some bills).

[ursos Member Find all posts View Profile Close ursos]

While getting my FJ serviced by a 4WD specialist mechanic, he broke my oil filter cap ($150) by not using the correct tool. It seemed to be a lot tighter than it should have been.

My beef is that he wants to charge me for it - I don't feel I should pay because he has not used the correct tool to remove it.
No Toyota dealer has the oil filter cap in stock so I had to wait 5 days to get my car back. It doesn't seem that anyone else breaks them.

Interested in others thoughts.

I am astounded he even asked...but I would give him the choice: "Either you accept responsibility and replace this for free or I pay you the $150 and you never get my business or any of my friends business again." Assuming he takes option 1, I probably would not be using him again anyway but he doesn't need to know that up front.

[jss Moderated member Find all posts View Profile Close jss]

Totally agree with Hutch.

Some of the businesses around these days are just so out of line, they act like it's your privilege to be giving them your money, and they can just do as they please.

Cheers
James

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

He broke it, he pays for it.

He was the one doing the work, not you.

Ask him if he would like some free advertising spread around town about his mechanical ability, that he is an incompetent f**kwit!

[macaroon1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close macaroon1]

they act like it's your privilege to be giving them your money, and they can just do as they please.
James

Totally agree. I remember men used to 'doff' their bowler hats when they came round to sweep my grandad's chimneys. It was a privilege for them to get your business. Not it's the other way round and the kids seem to have all the 'power' now too??!!. I hate how the world is going, crap customer service with a hefty fee, sadly few people care anymore, it's all about making money!!

[VXWesty Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close VXWesty]

No way you should pay for it! What he should have done is replaced it at his own cost, then told you he had done so.

VXWesty.

[stevep84 Find all posts View Profile Close stevep84]

No way should you pay for it or return to his business for anything after you get your car back.

Steve

[ROY07 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ROY07]

Would have to agree with all the comments so far, what a tool.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

I agree in general there is no customer service these days.
there are plenty of mechanics that will wreck your vehicle too.
I could easily jump right in and say no way, don't pay he screwed it, but I not have all the facts, I have not spoken to him.

Here's the "mechanics view" sometimes when we work on vehicles, some things are tighter than normal, sometimes it's ridiculous regardless of what tools you use stuff does brake! Not very often, but it does.
I have never had any trouble with an oil filter cover, but if it has been over tightened, even with the correct "tool" it could brake, like anything.
So who did it up last? Maybe they are to blame?
These things are not usually that tight, you could pretty much throw a shifter on it and open it.
So was it over tightened?
Or was it just poor quality materials? You know one of the faulty ones?
Well who cares? Lets just blame the guy that might have been doing the right thing.
Now I don't know if he's was doing the right thing, but im not sure he is to blame.

Let me see his workshop & the "tool" wrong or not ideal? Was it the tool? Was he a tool? Or was there a fault in the manufacturing of the cap? Or add a combination of being over tightened last time? Am I a tool?

If I'm having trouble with getting something undone, I usually speak to the customer before I might brake it, I ask do you want me to go for it? At $$$ risk? OR leave it alone? They always say proceed, sometimes it brakes, but often not.

These oil filter covers should come off very easy, but I will be very care full now, especially now I see how badly we get hammered when something goes wrong.

In conclusion, you need to decide if you trust your mechanic, if you think he did the right thing, you pay.
If you think he is a rough pig, well then, is not paying a choice? Repairers lien? But surely you won't go back if you don't trust them, but be sure it was us fault before you tell everyone.......

How's that for a long opinion......
Hope you get it sorted!

[Guest Close Guest]

The oil filter cap needs the special tool. There is no other way to get it off. It has the same cap as other 2GR engines and I have to work on it every 6 months cause it's on the missus' car. If the mechanic damaged the cap while using the correct tool and procedure, then he doesn't have to pay. But because he didn't have the right tool, he has to pay for it.

[outdoorgaz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close outdoorgaz]

I have the FJ back - with a lot of negotiation we worked out a compromise when I offered to purchase a piece of equipment for the best price I could get it elsewhere. This way I did not pay for the mechanics error but neither did he as he made money on the sale of the piece of equipment he sold to me, which covered his error.

The mechanic still does not think he should be liable, I think he should be. In the end we both got what we wanted, although I won't be going back there but I also won't be using this forum to name and shame.

[Bazza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bazza]

Another view ............ most professional, accredited mechanics / workshops have insurance to cover accidental damage. Assuming this, in this case the replacement cost of the damaged part was not great enough to warrant claiming and risking a rise in his premiums. So, rather than cop the cost, he tries to put it back on the customer. Bad business. It would be the last he see's of me.
Bazza

[Rogerthatv2 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Rogerthatv2]

I have the FJ back - with a lot of negotiation we worked out a compromise when I offered to purchase a piece of equipment for the best price I could get it elsewhere. This way I did not pay for the mechanics error but neither did he as he made money on the sale of the piece of equipment he sold to me, which covered his error.

The mechanic still does not think he should be liable, I think he should be. In the end we both got what we wanted, although I won't be going back there but I also won't be using this forum to name and shame.

Glad its sorted Gaz, I know back in the day that I managed a 3 letter store if we came across a part that was very tight etc we would call the customer and advise or advise at time of booking if we had an idea that it would be an issue, such as torsion bar bolts on the Hilux - these were a common area that caused us grief and after the first one that one of my guys stripped and broke (that my store paid for, not the customer) we just built them into the price of suspension on the to 2005 model Hilux. That way the customer knew there was a potential issue that could cost them X amount extra, in my opinion better they know it then get the surprise like you did. I for one, would not expect my customers to pay for something that one of my guys broke by not using the correct tool, I would have also offered a loan car whilst we got it sorted - afterall it was our issue.


Bazza I hear what you are saying with insurance but most business excess starts at $1000.00 for damage (I know mine did and that was the best we could get) so not even worth the claim. I would have just ordered the new one, replaced it at my expense and said sorry for the stuff around. Best to be honest, up front and to the point. Service is usually how you win customers and in this case they have lost out due to a $150.00 issue.