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Galpin Mazda blew up my car!!!

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Old 09-24-2008, 02:03 PM
  #76  
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Originally Posted by Icemark
John Hine Mazda's service department is one of the worst in California for 20+ years.

Last time I took a car to them was in the early 90's, when the back up light switch failed on my RX-7. Car was under warranty so I took it in... the mechanic said I needed a new battery and then proceeded to close the hood with his wrench still under it. Had a nice wrench shape pressed up into the hood in the middle of it.

Then their body shop fixed it, but killed the battery playing Mexican radio stations... then I really did need a new battery as well as a back up light switch.
Well with the one notable exception I have no gripes with them. On a few small obvious warranty items, they took care of me no questions asked. Even though the techs gave me (and my Boston trasnplant service rep) crap for my NE Pats vanity plate. I reminded the techs who wins the games, and they shut up REAL fast.

Anyway in my situation it was clear that it was failed ignitors that caused the whole problem and Hine didn't want to have to pick up the tab for the engine and the cat and so tried everything in their power to find fault with Denso plugs, RB wires, and RB intake. Notwithstanding that Mazda dealers in OC down the street from RB actually sell the RB intake.....
Old 09-24-2008, 02:05 PM
  #77  
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They installed a new enigine with old plugs?

All you need is a notorized letter from the insurance company stating the investgation revealed a fuel leak caused by xxx

Then take them to court with out an Attourney. You will win hands down. Bring the engine re-install paper work.

I think max is 5 grand. So insurance money plus 5 G's and you should be ok.
Old 09-24-2008, 02:05 PM
  #78  
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I pm'ed rasp and told him to email autoblog.com, they love this stuff. Anyone remember the guy who won the m3 for 10 cheaper on a dealership auction? Dealer refused to give up the vehicle, he informed autoblog.com, days later the whole internet forum society was on his side (even a few lawyers got involved for free.)
Old 09-24-2008, 02:15 PM
  #79  
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Originally Posted by Deathwatch
I'd SUE their *** !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Consumers should not have to pay for dealers mistakes, thats un american.
WHAT! Where have you been?

Were paying for all those AHOLES at Indybank Freddy Mac Fannie MAY Bear Sterns and AIG.


There should be plenty of jail tme for at least 100 people at each firm plus fines.

If they can be unethical and irresponsible, why not Galpin Mazda?
Old 09-24-2008, 02:35 PM
  #80  
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^^^ haha!!!
Old 09-24-2008, 02:38 PM
  #81  
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Originally Posted by kvndoom
Glad you survived, but I wouldn't let them off that easy. No damn way. Much as I hate lawyers, I still think you should, at minimum, get a consultation. The dealership's negligence cost you your car, and ALMOST cost you your life. And they don't even pretend to give a ****? I personally wouldn't be able to let that go.
I agree, Its great that you are alright and didn't get hurt. You were extremely lucky, but the next person who brings their car into Galpin Mazda may not be so fortunate! They have to be held accountable for their actions and to make sure this doesn't happen again. You installing the coils wouldn't screw you from your claim that Mazda F***ed up, they are totally unrelated. I am not trying to tell you what to do, i am sure you will do what you feel is right.

Glad to hear your are alright.

-Brian
Old 09-24-2008, 02:45 PM
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I am glad you are okay!

consult with an attorney.
Old 09-24-2008, 02:52 PM
  #83  
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if you do pursue legal action, and i do think you should. Just remember to have all your **** in order, or they will eat you alive. (Which is why everyone is saying don't skimp on the lawyer) I would definitely try to contact a mazda repair technician (or at least another repair tech from a different mazda dealer (a good dealer)) for expert testimony that replacing a coil, can in no way cause what happened to your car. I don't see how your insurance company can say that "because we know you worked on the car after you got it back that we think it's basically a no win case." So not only would I sue that Mazda dealership, I'd also think about looking into a new insurance company, unless state farm is winning in price by far.

I would as stated in a previous post by socket, contact the better business bureau and anyone else you can and tell them the story of how you almost died and this dealer in no way gave a ****.
Old 09-24-2008, 02:53 PM
  #84  
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I'll put together an anti-Galphin Mazda website for you. I have the ability to make it rank retardedly high through inside reciprocal links and whatnot

Here's my company's websites: www.bullnoseworldusa.com
www.pikespeaklaser.com

I'm not a web developer nor do I ever want to be, I just don't pay people to do things I can do myself. Actually I hate web design. But my pages SEO amazingly well in google, msn & yahoo

Last edited by exsequor; 09-24-2008 at 03:16 PM.
Old 09-24-2008, 02:55 PM
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^great idea

and call the better business bureau
Old 09-24-2008, 04:01 PM
  #86  
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WOW! this sounds exactly like what happened to me! Only no NOS was involed

I feel your pain man. Seriously, I had the same exact BOOM, then the gauges light up, smoke come out of the vents and a fire under the hood. Only I didn't have a fire extinguisher. My engine bay looked a bit worse than yours but damn that brings back some horrible memories. God I hoped no one would ever have to suffer like I did and basically watch their car burn to the ground.

Glad your ok... now go get the R3!
Old 09-24-2008, 04:06 PM
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eh, i dont think hes goin mazda again after that, i probably wouldnt either if that ever happened to me.
Old 09-24-2008, 11:24 PM
  #88  
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Originally Posted by DoubleGoose
eh, i dont think hes goin mazda again after that, i probably wouldnt either if that ever happened to me.
Not getting that at all...

Mazda didn't screw up the car or make it burn.


The idiots at Galpin did. They mis-diagnosed the problem, swapped the motor and did it wrong.

And in LA were Galpin is based, there are only about 15 Mazda dealers within 50 miles.

So why would you rule out buying a car that was great up until the dealer fucked it up?

Mazda didn't have anything to do with his problem... the dealer fucked up... so why would he not get a Mazda again??? He just needs to go to a different dealer if he has service needs or do it himself.

This thread is starting to **** me off, the number of people that think this is a Mazda issue.

It is the manufacture problem that the dealer has idiots for service advisor's and technicians??? I guess that is what you are saying?
Old 09-24-2008, 11:43 PM
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sorry to hear this rasp....glad you are ok...wish you were getting a new 8 so we could count on more group buys...

so nobody asked an important question...


how much for your led tails...did they get damaged?

(dibs)

good luck with the next purchase...
Old 09-25-2008, 09:34 AM
  #90  
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Dealer at fault, not Mazda. Get a grip.
Old 09-25-2008, 04:54 PM
  #91  
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I agree that THIS issue is with the dealer and not mazda, but you guys have to remember that the dealer represents mazda and therefore it does involve them.
Old 09-25-2008, 06:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Rotary Rasp
I agree that THIS issue is with the dealer and not mazda, but you guys have to remember that the dealer represents mazda and therefore it does involve them.
i guess TECHNICALLY and ideally that's the case but this is a case where the dealer, galpin, screwed up some point in their labor. it's not like mazda designed and fed the dealer wrong procedure protocols that led to your car burning up. very likely the dealer's mechanic or technician left something out due to some level of neglect. so it's galpin's full responsibility and fault. think about it, if galpin accidentally drove a forklift thru your door, would it be galpin's fault or mazda's fault? it's true that galpin is to some extent representing mazda, but at the same time mazda does not own their dealers and in no way could or would mazda send a letter or memo to galpin and tell them "hey a**holes, you screwed up, compensate this guy"

at the same time tho, i do see your point. consider this, if, heaven forbid, there were some serious personal injuries involved. despite what galpin says, they are at least somewhat responsible and if this leaks out to the newspapers or local news, mazda would be getting bad press. but even in this scenario it'll still be galpin whose own technicians who are directly responsible

i hope someone at galpin either read this thread is aware of it, 'cuz someone over there should be saying to themselves "shi* i really f*** up royally"
Old 09-25-2008, 07:50 PM
  #93  
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Rememeber to have all your information including the invoice from when Mazda worked on your car, Try to contact the other person whos Grey 8 Blew up too, maybe having another person there would back you up, rememebr it could be a defect that can effect all of us and Mazda would have yet another recall to take care of. I believe the work you did would not cause the explosion anyhow, and remember Lawyers cost alot of money so you may want to go to a bonded leagal counciler and have the work prepared ahead of time before you think about obatining the attorney.

I would also go to one of the local news stations and run your story with them. We have 7 on your side that takes care of thugs like Galpin Mazda.

Good Luck.

Remember if there are alot of people who had bad service from the same dealer you can all do a class action lawsuit If you can find an attorney to do this you will have it made.

Last edited by Deathwatch; 09-25-2008 at 07:53 PM. Reason: additions
Old 09-26-2008, 12:07 AM
  #94  
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Holy crap, I may be moving to LA within a year.

I'll definitely bring this up if I ever go move there and tell every mazda owner I know what bullshit they tried to pull and to avoid them like the plague
Old 09-26-2008, 12:36 AM
  #95  
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Originally Posted by Rotary Rasp
I agree that THIS issue is with the dealer and not mazda, but you guys have to remember that the dealer represents mazda and therefore it does involve them.
.

I came in here to write that exact statement.

Just like if you order a double whopper and get a whopper junior instead...you don't say "the guy on the grille at BK fucked up my order"...you say "burger king fucked up my order". Even if only one employee or one location of a corporation does something wrong, but they are representative of the whole.
Old 09-26-2008, 01:12 AM
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Incidentally, did you contact Mazda and tell them about this?
Old 09-26-2008, 01:24 AM
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Usually the insurance company will go after parties that it feels it can recover money from. They tend to have good lawyers and deep pockets.....

If they aren't interested they probably don't think there is a case.

Talk to the ins company and explain what happened.....they might go after the dealership.....
Old 09-26-2008, 06:28 AM
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Originally Posted by RotaryResurrection

I came in here to write that exact statement.

Just like if you order a double whopper and get a whopper junior instead...you don't say "the guy on the grille at BK fucked up my order"...you say "burger king fucked up my order". Even if only one employee or one location of a corporation does something wrong, but they are representative of the whole.

You can say whatever you want but legally the franchise as whole would only be involved in litigation if the plaintiff claims that the damage to him was caused by the general policies of franchise.

...Which maybe true in this case - The mechanic could've misread/ignored the engine installation procedure manual that mazda provides OR Mazda could be at fault at providing bad/unclear documentation - so in this way it could be held liable.

Burger King franchise cannot be held liable because it is obviously BK's policy to provide a double whopper when one is ordered.
Old 09-26-2008, 02:39 PM
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The dealers are Mazda, they represent Mazda and are the fist contact for any issues. If Mazda wanted to clean up their dealers they have the power to do so but they choose to allow these sleaze dealers to operate. This is one of the main reasons Mazda is rated so low in Server satisfaction. Stop making excuses for them. Hold them liable for their dealer net works and you might actually see some improvements in their service. Coddle the,m and your dooming us all to continued crappy service.



Originally Posted by Icemark
Not getting that at all...

Mazda didn't screw up the car or make it burn.


The idiots at Galpin did. They mis-diagnosed the problem, swapped the motor and did it wrong.

And in LA were Galpin is based, there are only about 15 Mazda dealers within 50 miles.

So why would you rule out buying a car that was great up until the dealer fucked it up?

Mazda didn't have anything to do with his problem... the dealer fucked up... so why would he not get a Mazda again??? He just needs to go to a different dealer if he has service needs or do it himself.

This thread is starting to **** me off, the number of people that think this is a Mazda issue.

It is the manufacture problem that the dealer has idiots for service advisor's and technicians??? I guess that is what you are saying?
Old 09-26-2008, 03:38 PM
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Originally Posted by CyberPitz
Yeah, you have everything you need to win this case. They will prolong it and do what they can to screw you over, but they endangered your life and every motorist on the road at that time. Kick their ***. I, for one, don't see why you should get another Mazda, that's some ****.
was thinking same thing. if the insurance company's investigation lead to the conclusion of this being related to something the dealer did, you've got #1 star witness bro. Go after the dealership. Don't front your own money on a new car! good grief. that's what the dealer is hoping you will do by simply not accepting responsibility.


Glad you're alright and your story here is amazing. Good luck!


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