i sold my 1990 4wd v6 4runner on CL. the odometer stopped on 180K.
i used the money to buy a 2001 Limited (woohoo).

The car was in pretty decent shape. electrically it was a mess. but otherwise fine. i even got a new shortblock from the gasket recall from TOY.

this is the email i get from the buyer the monday after.

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Hi Fido,

So the truck is at a mechanic's in Long Island, where it was towed Friday night. The mechanic on Saturday morning told me: "Your rear end exploded" -- but he said he wouldn't have any real explanation, or an estimate, until today or tomorrow.

What happened, in short, was that I took the car to Jiffy Lube before I got on the road (they checked that all the fluids were alright, so nothing like that was the problem), and then I went east on the Sunrise Highway.

I was in the center lane, taking it easy, maybe 60 or 65 -- I don't know exactly, because of the speedometer, of course -- when all of a sudden, WHAM! The car jolted out of the blue as if someone had slammed on the brakes (my foot was on the gas). In the split second it took me to get into the right-hand lane, BLAM! The rear wheels froze in a horrible flash -- as in, stopped turning, like they were locked in place! -- and I skidded off the road and onto the shoulder.. . .

Frankly, I'm just glad I wasn't hurt! It's just amazing that I didn't spin out, or get hit by a car behind me, or flip over or something. Thank goodness I wasn't on the L.I.E.

Anyway, I will let you know what the mechanic says as soon as I hear.

I'll let you know what happens!
B

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ill put a new email in seperate posts, easier to read.

Hello Fido,

The mechanics haven't given me a concrete estimate yet, but they have told me repeatedly that it will take a lot of time and money making the truck driveable. I'll let you know as soon as I have an estimate from them. They definitely have made clear that the cost of the repairs will certainly be well over $1000 . . . perhaps thousands . . .

Since the rear end of the car exploded the very first time I drove it -- and thank god I narrowly escaped a horrible crash! -- I think it would be fair for you to take responsibility for either some of the repairs, or, it it's unrealistic to repair it, for some refund to me.

You are obviously a cool and honest guy, and I trust that we can work out something.

B

i wrote B this:
again im so sorry about the car. did he say what the cause might be. ive talked to several people. did the guys at jiffy lube check the back differential?

if they did, they might not have tighten the bolt or put back the plug. and the all oil in the rear differential might have leaked out. i changed the oil in the rear differential late last year. It should have been fine. i would ask them and find out. i dont know if they have some sort of guarantee. but if they were indeed the cause they shoudl be held somewhat responsible.

and B wrote:
i will look further into what jiffy lube did. i have a total summary of their service, but they did not apaprently check either front or rear differential -- part of their "signature service" includes checking front differential only (no mention of rear), but that was checked off as N/A -- "not applicable." they did check differential fluid and that was rated "ok." i'll look into it further. . . .

Hiya Fido!

Latest update:

The mechanic says that when he opened the truck up, yes, the "plug" or whatever on the rear differential WAS in place . . . but that it was bone-dry inside, no differential fluid (or gear oil) whatsover, only dust and "bits of chewed-up gears" (!).

There's a difference of opinion on what went wrong:

The JiffyLube receipt says "differential fluid OK." And the Jiffy Lube manager insists that it's "impossible" that they didn't check the level, and there "must" have just been a leak,/ He says the fluid or oil doesn't ever just burn off; and that for it to dissipate at all, much less go dry, the only possible explanation was that there was a leak.He claims that even if, "worst case scenerio," they DIDN'T check the differential level, it's not their fault, because a leak is the only explanation, and a leak isn't their problem.

But the mechanic disagrees: He saw no evidence of fluid or oil having been in there "in a long time" . . .and he believes that it's "impossible" that the differential fluid level was OK only a few hours earlier. He says it has to have been very low or empty when I took it to Jiffy Lube.

My suspicion is that Jiffy Lube did NOT check the level; they just checked "okay" automatically. After all, it would have had to have been a really dramatic leak for it to go from full to empty in a couple of hours, right? And I was looking around under the car when I was trying to start it, en route from Jiffy Lube home, and saw no dramatic guyser-type giant leak then . . . .so I suspect that JiffyLube IS at fault, for not checking the level when they said they had.

I'm going to contact corporate headquarters of Jiffy Lube.

So no conclussion yet. The mechanic is looking around to try to find a new "rear end." I'll keep you posted. . . .

Best regards,
B

Well, I faxed (on my Company letterhead, for extra press-intimidation factor) and emailed Jiffy Lube and told them I had a near-death experience, and that it appeared very clearly that they had neglected to check the differential fluid . . .

And -- wow! Guess what?

Suddenly got a call just now from some Jiffy Lube honcho in the city, asking what happened, and where was the truck, and could he speak with the mechanic and try to work something out!

So I think I must have hit the nail on the head with my theory that they neglected to check the fluid/oil level -- and they realize I could probably sue them for a lot more than the cost of the repair!

I'll keep you posted,

B

hi fido:

the latest:

well, jiffy lube is trying to figure out replacement cost; they are a bit argumentative, saying that "the replacement cost on a truck with a broken speedometer is, really, zero, zip, nothing." . . . but they ADMIT that they didn't check the gear oil, and that "there is liability there" and now they are looking into having one of their own guys find a second-hand rear-end for it.

they sent someone out to look at it on the island, and they agree it was empty of gear oil, and that this was "a very dangerous situation."

i think they;re trying to find a way to fix it or appease me, without it costing them too much, in short!

i tried to be very positive, and said, "thank you so much for your help, i appreciate you're calling me and looking into this, and i'm really happy that we can work it out!" . . . because i feel like honey will work better than vinegar with these guys. they clearly know i could sue them!

i'll let you know what happens next!
b

I find it hard to believe that the rears were totally locked and he steered the car off the road. Turning the wheel with the rears locked will put you in a spin, and probably rollover at speed. At any rate, I don't see how he expects you to be responsible for a mechanical breakdown. When i sold my 87 Montero I had the buyer sign a paper stating that he knew there was no warranty on the vehicle. Used is used in my opinion. But then again, that's just my opinion <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Success!

Jiffy Lube is going to tow the truck back to the city, and pay to have the rear end replaced!

Can you believe it???

I will be stuck with towing costs - -which I think might be pretty scary?? -- but otherwise, it's unbelievable!

B

Hi Fido!

So Jiffy Lube found a second-hand "rear end" for the 4-Runner, and installed it for free . . . which was great!! The new part itself cost them $900, and then there was a lot of work installing it, etc. (Probably would have cost me at least $1500, so -- GIANT PHEW! Very happy this worked out!)

Jiffy Lube left me with two towing bills, tho, as well as a fee from the mechanics out in Long Island.

$504 total

i'm totally sure if i was a more forceful person -- or had called a lawyer-- i could have totally forced them into paying all that towing. but i was very nervous about the whole thing, and out of my league, and i was so amazed when they said they were actually taking responsibility for the repairs that i wasn't able to force the issue, when they got a bit tough about the cost..

and you're right, they never refunded the oil change!!!! jeeez!

well, warn your friends about jiffy lube!

anyways, the 4-Runner is now happily sitting in my driveway in Long Island. ,, , It has a beach-parking sticker in the window . . .and it's going to have a happy retirement in the country!

thanks again,
have a wonderful summer,
B

Leson learned... NEVER GO TO JIFFY LUBE. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />