2005 Lexus GX 470 should I accept my car

Well, every state is different on their laws, but if you don't want to trade your car in and you don't think you should have to pay for the repairs because you think that the mechanics caused all these problems while doing the checkup repairs, then you should find out if this service garage has any kind of a no fault clause in there paperwork. If so, then you probably won't be able to make them pay for the repairs.

Hi msternbaker. Welcome to the forum. I have a different take on things. Coming from a dealership background, it sounds to me like they are doing everything they can to make things right. You never once mentioned they were trying to deny responsibility, but for the record, antifreeze on the timing belt will not cause it to slip or jump time. If that were the case every car with a leaking water pump would have jumped time. One common cause that is often overlooked is a worn belt tensioner. Some mechanics try to save their customers a few dollars by not replacing it when it doesn't appear to be causing a problem.

The head and piston damage is due to the fact that this is an "interference engine". The same damage can easily occur while you're on the highway, but then you wouldn't have the repair shop paying for the repairs. It would be YOUR wallet that was melted into a puddle. I can't help with the trade-in value as I don't pay attention to car prices, but if they're offering you one third of what you paid for your car new, it's five years old, and has almost 100,000 miles, it sounds like they are being much more than fair. The impression I get is you're dealing with some decent people who had a less than perfect outcome with their service. Who hasn't had a similar experience? The difference between people is how we handle these disasters. Do we shirk responsibility or do we own up to our mistake?

I would have no problem letting them complete the repairs but it would be real helpful if you don't get visibly angry. Everyone knows it's a bad situation, and you can be sure the mechanic is feeling the heat from his supervisor and dealership owner. Anyone who shows patience and understanding is surely going to be appreciated. You can expect to get something extra for the trouble you're going through. While you can be expected to pay for the original service you requested, don't be surprised if they give you a discount, a free oil change, or something along those lines. If you really want to score some points and pretty much guarantee getting extra special attention during your next visit, two or three weeks after you have your car back and are satisfied it's running properly, take them a box of donuts or some cookies. That happened quite often at the Dodge dealership I worked at. We had a lot of happy customers. One suggestion though, ... Everyone loves chocolate chip cookies. YUM! :)

caradiodoc

Nope. That's a myth that my mother believed until I replaced her engine. It is just as likely a repaired engine will run better than new. When engine work is done, the mechanic adheres to very specific measurements and adjustments. These are more stringent than when the engine was originally put together on the assembly line. For every part on the engine, there is a perfect, (ideal) measurement, a tolerance, which means a range the part can be off and still work satisfactorily, and a wider range that will still work ok. No engine will ever have all perfect-fitting parts. As soon as they start to wear, the measurements start to change over time. Mechanics are only satisfied with their work when all measurements fall within the acceptable tolerance. That wider range is acceptable on the assembly line because they know what will work and what will cause a problem. You can be sure your mechanic will put parts together with more precision than when it was on the assembly line.

The performance of the engine might not seem quite right for the first few days. The Engine Computer must relearn when and how much to fine tune fuel delivery under a variety of conditions. This relearn procedure takes place during different driving conditions. You won't even notice it is taking place.

Caradiodoc