Got my $$$ back - @#$%head never touched the fuel pump...

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http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=36879

Guess what? American Express sent my complaint to an "automotive specialist" and transformed my temporary credit for $598.12 into a PERMANENT credit. The lowlife never turned a wrench on my xj.

The local NYS DMV guy, really nice on the phone, coincidentally called me to tell me what's he's going to do, and made me aware that my complaint will become a matter of public record, meaning ANYONE, not just the mechanical thief can use the Freedom of Information Act to view it - along with my new unlisted phone number, cell phone number, etc... and po box number (changed them for unrelated reasons, you know, women problems) and ANYTHING else in the documments, including the goshdarn envelope. Be aware of this fact, I was not. I called the DMV right back and after he talked to a supervisor, the investigator said to fax him the information I want blacked out with black magic marker, because Albany will still have my original complaint on file probably till after I'm long dead and gone. I did change my AMEX account number immediately, duh...

I did feel guilty not pursuing the complaint through DMV, because that means that other people are going to get screwed by him. Maybe NYS DMV will pop in on him unexpectedly and check his business practices? I wish there was an ethical way I could spread the word of his crappy business practices, but I'm not that type. But if you live in western Suffolk County, NY, e-mail me and I can definitely tell you where not to go, especially since he says his speciality is setting up rear ends (on oval track race cars).

BTW, the DMV guy said even if I got the entire repair done by him as resolution, or received money back instead, I still would have had to pay for the tow!!! AMEX gave me back 100% of my money, including the tow!

Man, it is definitely worth paying AMEX's yearly fee for that insurance, and they assured me that it will not harm my fico score because they just took their money back from the miscreant's account. And I still see the guy's kid in school everyday where I work, ha-ha-ha!!!

Thanks for all the views and responses, I hope I save other people heartache in the future.

One question though; Could the fuel pump really have been damaged from cranking it dry for about five minutes straight in 90 degree heat, seriously? I'd like to get away with changing just the sender and filter, but my parts guy will do me right on the entire unit. And the jeep is probably going to end up in a summer home in FL. next year, sitting in a garage most of the time.

Thanks all!!!

MikeNY #300
[email protected] (can't get the automatic email thing to work)

Possible, the gas in the tank flowing thru the fuel pump cools the pump, they run hot and continuous. If you are lucky you might get away with running dry maybe 3 times but IMO you are running on borrowed time after the second time.
Those pumps heat up FAST...

Thanks Rich, I'm going to try to hold out til the end of the year, money concerns. At least the weather is colder, so'll be the fuel.

Mike

#300

Hey congrats on getting the cash back. Now you just gotta find a good jeep mechanic, unless you just start doing everythign urself

"There are three mechanics in the United States I trust, and I'm the only one in California." Hell, the other two are retired by now anyhow...

Is it any wonder I do all my own work? I do have a bodyman I trust, and the only work I farm out is tyres (which get dropped off and picked up - my truck doesn't go to the tyre shop and get left behind...) Even then, I'm picky as Hell about where I go and who I deal with, even - and especially - with the biennial Air Police inspection (which I've got to do again. Damn.)

Glad you had a good resolution on the situation. Perhaps this will encourage you to learn how to service your XJ on your own...?

5-90

AMX is all I ever try to use just because of situations like this in the past!



hinkley

I used to be a "mechanic's helper" back in the lates 70's, they even gave me a nys inspectors license for awhile :repair: Got real sick though becuase of the cold, now I work indoors.

I've done everything on my xj, re 4.5 lift, splitting the tc to do the currie/6states sye for the 242 (a challenge, Beezil talked through some of that), I'll post pix soon since I found that website www.Webshots.com. of some of the stuff I've done.

I did drop the tank to change the fuel filter on my '98 about 5 years ago, but the jeep died on the road on Friday of labor day weekend and I almost had to have someone else do the work. It was pretty easy, that is when I siphoned most of the fuel out of the tank while it was doing a balancing act on my floor jack :laugh3:

Thanks for the responses, give me some time to take some pix of stuff I've done and I hope it gives you guys some good ideas for your xj's.

stay vertical, Mike #300