Niebling Auto Repair Inc

On 4/19/we (Niebling Auto Repair, INC.) were contacted by the complaintant's attorney *** ***, via email"*** ***): As we discussed today, I will have my client's Dodge Magnum towed to your shop for you to examine and opine regarding any damage done as a result of work
performed, or not properly performed on that car by *** *** on April 3, The insurer for *** ***, the *** has agreed to pay for the tow and the fee for your examinationIt is my understanding that shortly after Ms*** had her vehicle worked on by *** *** there was some catastrophic engine failureIf you need any further information, you may contact Ms*** directly at 314-xxx-xxxxI also attach the documentation from *** *** regarding the repairsI have told her to tell the towing company to call you when they are on the way with the carI understand your phone number to be 314-xxx-xxxxThanks*** ***" The invoice from *** *** states that they performed a wheel alignment, an oil change, and a coolant flushShe declined the 4-wheel balance and new tires that were recommended On 4/20/the vehicle was dropped off on our property via tow truck and we performed an initial visual inspection-Vehicle with miles on it -MIL (check engine light) on -Right rear tire had prior damage and would not pass a state safety inspection -left rear tire had a rubber stem -license plates due for renewal in May -front grill was loose and prior body damage to the front of the vehicle -head of the key was unattached, had to tape together to get vehicle to recognize key and turn over the ignition -right front sway bar missing inner bracket -empty 1-gallon jugs of coolant in the trunk area -right rear brake bulb out At this point, we pushed the vehicle into a bay to perform an examination of the work completed at *** ***Upon inspection of the radiator (after market) it was determined that the petcock (drain ck) was missing its washer that guarantees a solid sealWe advised the insurance company that the coolant had blown out of the bottom of the radiator drain and that could have been due to improper replacement of the petcockAt this time it is our understanding that ***/*** *** accepted fault and the insurance adjuster came out to write up an estimateThe two parties agreed with it and we were told to go ahead with the repairs Our initial estimate included: - the replacement engine (from LKQ said to have 50k miles on it and with a day supplier warranty) this warranty is valid on the Engine block only itself, it does not include any of the parts attached to the engine as those with be transferred from the vehicles current car/engine, if those parts are found to be defective or in need of replacement, we would replace them at the charge to the insurance company and they would be covered under our own month/12,mile warranty -labor to replace the engine ...complete engine assembly WITH the transfer of customer's existing connected parts -miscmotor oil, oil filter, coolant, pag oil, etc After being unable to locate a petcock that would match the aftermarket radiator, we contacted the insurance company to prepare a supplement estimate that would cover the cost and labor to install a new radiator, as well as replacing a valve cover gasket that was needed on the replacement engineIt was at this time that we informed the insurance company and the customer that when we went to air up the right rear tire (it was too low to safely release the vehicle) the valve core was stuck to the cap and when removed it damaged the valve stem and TPMS resulting in a completely flat tireThe insurance company declined to cove the cost of this repair On 5/10/the vehicle was release to the customer after insurance paid for the engine and radiator replacement and the customer paid $for the TPMS/Wheel/Tire repair and brake light bulb replacement On 5/30/the vehicle was towed to Niebling Auto Repair after the customer reported hearing a loud pop noise and then leaking fluidsUpon inspection it was noted that the radiator fan had broken apart, which then sent the fan blades into the radiatorWe informed the customer that since that is not a part we had worked on, that parts and labor for the fan blade replacement would not be covered by warranty, but that since we had just replaced the radiator we would install a new one for free but she would need to cover the price of the radiator (at cost) On 6/2/the customer called us and said the MIL (check engine light) was illuminatedShe drove the car to Niebling Auto Repair and we pulled the codes for the carThe code told us that the Oil Pressure Sender was reading low oil pressureWe hooked up the car to test the oil pressure and it was noted that the oil pressure was within standard operating rangeThis lead us to believe that the oil pressure sender switch inopThis is a part that was original to the customer's vehicle and was hooked up to the new engine when the original repair was completed(Please see 5/complete engine assembly replacement with transfer of existing parts)The customer questioned whether this was under warranty and we explained that while her day warranty on engine from the supplier was still valid, this was not a part that was supplied with the replacement engine, nor one we replaced in the repairBecause of the amount of work we had done on her car and monies received we offered to give her a break on labor and sell the part, once again, at costWe charged her 1/the cost of the prescribed labor rate On 6/the customer returned, with the MIL again illuminated and it was the same code for the Oil Pressure SenderWe informed the customer that we would need to do some research into why it was not recognizing the new switch but that the vehicle was safe to driveWe set up an appointment for 6/for the customer drop off her carShe never dropped off her carThe research we had done, led us to believe that the PCM (powertrain control module) computer may needed to be flashed (or reprogrammed) to be able to recognize the new sender switchOr there may be a wiring issueWe really don't know without being able to look at the carIf the final issue/fix had been tied to or caused by any defective parts and or labor it would be covered under our own umbrella month/12,mile warranty (not the day warranty on the engine)We have not heard from the customer since