- Report: #667354
Complaint Review: Firestone Complete AutoCare
| Firestone Complete AutoCare 5890 S. Virginia St.
Reno, Nevada United States of America |
|
Firestone Complete AutoCare VW Coolant Flush Becomes Blown Engine. Reno, Nevada
*Consumer Comment: water pump
*Consumer Comment: Not likely
*Author of original report: Please Remove my Report...
*Author of original report: Actually it wasn't!
*Consumer Suggestion: A little vehicle knowledge could have saved your engine
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I brought my "1990 Volkswagen GTI Wolfsburgh edition" into Firestone Complete Auto Care for a routine winterizing coolant flush on 10/22/2010. I picked my car up and found it at the next red light overheating. I returned the car to the shop. The techs failed to burp the cooling system properly, causing the coolant to not circulate, which in turn caused the car to over heat until the water pump failed. Troubleshooting for several days and overheating my engine repeatedly, the techs ignorantly blew my head gasket which we learned of on 11/02/2010 when I again attempted to pick it up after Lithia was authorized to replace the water pump by Firestone District office Manager Robert Garn in an attempt to rectify their mistake. Firestone was advised of the condition of my engine after the water pump replacement revealed a new fatal problem by Service Adviser Ray Gonzalez of Lithia VW Reno service department. Firestone management then refused to accept any further responsibility, although they admit my engine was not blown when I brought it to them. I have had many conversations over the phone with Firestone managers and people in their corporate office headquarters to no avail. My car is still sitting at Lithia VW RENO now waiting for it's future to be decided. When I brought my car to them it had no major mechanical issues. Especially not with the cooling system or the head gasket. I have confirmed the hypothesis by discussing with many mechanics that specialize in VW's that is is the most likely scenario. They all agree that if my water pump had failed on my way there from Herlong that day I would not have made it even a full mile before it broke down on me. I dealt mostly with John the Store Manager at Firestone #3582. The Lithia Invoice number is 510407. Greg Kane is the contact there at 775-852-3300 Lithia Volkswagen of Reno #34.
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 12/02/2010 07:34 AM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/Firestone-Complete-AutoCare/Reno-Nevada-89502/Firestone-Complete-AutoCare-VW-Coolant-Flush-Becomes-Blown-Engine-Reno-Nevada-667354. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year.
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Search Tips#1 Consumer Comment
water pump
AUTHOR: jerry - (United States of America)
SUBMITTED: Wednesday, June 08, 2011
POSTED: Wednesday, June 08, 2011#2 Consumer Comment
Not likely
AUTHOR: Flynrider - (USA)
SUBMITTED: Tuesday, December 07, 2010
POSTED: Tuesday, December 07, 2010When you originally posted this report, among other things, you agreed to the following :
"I acknowledge that once I post my report, it will not be removed, even at my request."
#3 Author of original report
Please Remove my Report...
AUTHOR: Mr Jdzee on da flo - (United States of America)
SUBMITTED: Tuesday, December 07, 2010
POSTED: Tuesday, December 07, 2010#4 Author of original report
Actually it wasn't!
AUTHOR: Mr Jdzee on da flo - (United States of America)
SUBMITTED: Thursday, December 02, 2010
POSTED: Thursday, December 02, 2010#5 Consumer Suggestion
A little vehicle knowledge could have saved your engine
AUTHOR: Steve - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Thursday, December 02, 2010
POSTED: Thursday, December 02, 2010Regardless of what Firestone did or did not do, it was YOU who continued operating the overheating engine until it failed. YOU ruined the engine, NOT Firestone.
Are you going to tell us that your car does not have a temp gauge and/or overheat warning light?
WHY would you keep driving a car with an overheating engine?
Also, the car is 20 YEARS OLD!! Did you ever stop and think that it might have just been on its way out? Head gaskets do not always go gradually or give notice of failure. The engine flush alone could have enlarged an existing leak in the head gasket.
You never mentioned how many miles are on this engine either.
I have flushed many engines, and I have failed to "burp" a few of them properly. Never blew an engine. The only thing that happens is after running the car for awhile and then letting it cool down, you will have a low coolant situation, so you just top it off. No big deal. Not likely the cause of your water pump failure or blown head gasket.
Age and mileage. That's it. You have a 20 year old car. How long did you expect it to last?
Reality check.

