Desert Toyota - Dean Stark - Alex Ramirez 1999 Toyota Solara 70,000 mile service! drove 42 miles,oil light started flashing NO OIL in the engine!! I now check the temp guage all the time ,concerned about engine damage. Las Vegas Nevada

Sirs:

I have also contacted Toyota Complaint Department in California. This incident has been put on record with Toyota. I assume this has only satisfied myself. The person I spoke to was very surprised to hear about my problem.

Thank you to all who have responded. I am the daughter of a master mechanic, quite aware of the possible out-come.

I appreciate all and any advice from you out there. Please continue to send advice as my Dad is no longer with me to do so.

Thank you,

"I FEEL" that Toyota would not want you to read this.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2002/04/04/toyota-sludge.htm

Next, I feel that Toyota also would not want you to read this one either

http://www.crash-worthiness.com/toyota/toyota.html

Trust me when I get done on this Rip Off Report I am sure that many Toyota dealers will not like me.

Go read this good informative Toyota info. In an April 3, 2002, article of the USA Today, entitled "Toyota to repay customers with oil-sludge problem,"

http://www.autooninfo.info/VCC200310ToyotaEngineReliability.htm

More info for Toyota owners.

http://www.wcpo.com/wcpo/localshows/dontwasteyourmoney/acd9b9.html

Even more info.

http://philip.greenspun.com/shared/community-member?user_id=201082

Now Constance what I am saying is that if you don't prove that someone else did the damage to your engine, you might have trouble getting Toyota to honor your Toyota warrantee in the future.

The time is NOW to make sure that everybody knows that you had what might be a CLOWN under the hood of your car that worked at a TOYOTA DEALER!

You need to make sure that this dealer knows that you are not going away. You could have some big troubles with your car very soon, so take notes and write down NAMES and DATES!

By the way, do you have the documentation when you had this so called oil change.

I used to work as a mechanic years ago. If the shop failed to put oil in your car (I've seen it happen), your oil light should have come on immediately. I think I have come up with an explanation as to why your car would have gone 42 miles before the oil light came on. Here's my guess:

The mechanic who worked on your car replaced the oil filter. Sometimes when an old filter is removed, the gasket (rubber O-ring) on the end of the filter gets stuck to the engine block. A good mechanic will verify that the old gasket is not stuck to the engine block, but the guys on the lube rack seldom have either the training, the experience, or the concern to check this situation. If the old gasket is left in place and a new filter is installed, then the old and new gaskets seal against each other instead of just between the filter and engine block.

Sooner or later that double gasket is going to give way. I have seen cars that did not make it out the of the shop and I have seen cars that went hundred of miles before the double gaskets failed. Once the gaskets fail, whatever oil is in the crankcase gets pumped out within seconds.

Your mechanic likely did leave the old gasket in place and likely did fill the crankcase with oil.

My guess is that your oil filter blew its gasket somewhere around 40 miles after you left the shop. Within two miles you had no oil left. You might want to retrace your route and see if there is a big puddle of oil somewhere.

You did the right thing in having the car towed (regardless of who paid). Never drive a car with the oil light on no matter how inconvenient it may be.

The question now is how much damage was done. I would suggest having the oil pressure checked as this is a good indicator as to how much wear was put on your engine. If the engine does not knock (that is, make a tapping noise), there was probably little or no damage done.

Please do not interpret my response as excusing the mechanic's actions. I am trying to give you a credible theory as to what caused the problem.

I would also suggest that you find out how much damage was done, if any, before making a federal case out this as the previous response suggests.

Constance you need to keep all records as to how far you drove your car with NO OIL! You might also go out to oil changing places and ask them questions as to what can happen when you drive your car this far with no OIL IN IT! Write down what they say and their name, KEEP RECORDS!

I also would call other Toyota dealers and ask to speak to their service manager. Tell him or her what happend, DO NOT MENTION WHERE IT HAPPEND! You want an unbiased opinion. Make notes as to what they all say and write done NAMES!

Trust me you now have some bearing damage to your engine. If you do nothing with this matter in a short time YOU, Will be buying a NEW MOTOR for your car. I would find a good attorney and explane what happend.

I also would make sure that Desert Toyota knows about your Rip Off Report. They might tell you, "Well right now everything seems to be running OK in your car, seems you will be OK"
FAT CHANCE!

Trust me Constance when you run a engine with out oil, you do big damage to the pistons, crank bearings, rod bearings cyclinder walls, oil pump and many other parts. You DO HAVE engine DAMAGE right NOW, it just has not let you see it yet. SOON it will show up.

If you want me to post some more info on how to expose this dealer for the way they worked on your car please post a request for it.

If you feel that your dealer is not helping you, please post an update on your Rip OFF REPORT! Trust me "I FEEL" this car dealer will try to shove your soon future car troubles under the rug.

By the way don't think your AG's office will do anything. I was told that your state AG is buddy buddy with a big car dealer in your town.

Sure seems to me that car dealers have the ag IN YOUR STATE ON their side. That been what "I FEEL" You will have to use the internet to expose what happend to you and what abuse they did to your car.

Hey Constance If my memory serves me correct. Toyota Motor Corp incourages Toyota owners to bring their Toyota cars and trucks to Toyota dealers for service. I realy think that Toyota needs to read that a moron is employed at Desert Toyota. They need to know that you have some future big engine trouble.

Constance Toyota Motor Corp could say "Hey Constance sorry about your engine blowing up! we can't honor your Toyota warrantee because you drove your car for some distance with no oil it".
They might say that kind of use is not covered in their warranty.

Constance go to www.google.com and do an "advanced search" on " Toyota Sludge" use both words does not have to be exact! Read what others are saying about what Toyota has told them about engine damage because of poor oil circluation. If you can't find it, let me know and I will post it for all to read. It will be informative reading that I feel Toyota will not want you to read.

By the way call up Desert Toyota and tell, Dean Stark and Alex Ramirez that you now have a Rip Off Report Advocate on your side.

Tell them the Advocate on Rip Off Report name is Stick! Here is their Phone Number:
702-253-2100. I will be keeping a close eye on this Rip Off Report.