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Mercedes Distronic Plus, Active Lane Keep, Steering Assist and Collision Prevention Assist Understanding

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Recently I have done inspection on some of the Mercedes Benz that are equipped with Distronic Plus for driving that were having concerns and I want to clear up how these system work and when you know there is a problem with it.  These systems work off of radar position in front of the car behind the grill area and has a Radar Sensor and an Adaptive Cruise Module, it also uses the brake system. This Distronics Plus can be turned on at 30 mph or above and the distance can be as close as 100 feet up to a few hundred fee this is the best distance to use.

Distronic Plus On works like the Cruise Control;

Let me start with Distronic Plus and how it works and what the warning sign mean. Distronic Plus is a system designed to keep automatic speed regulation with control proximity of the vehicle in front of you traveling at a slower speed.

How it works is when you are driving behind someone driving slower than you are when the Distronics Plus is on, let me say 60mph and you set the Distronic at the speed of 65 and the distance at 100 feet, this means if you are driving 65mph and you come up behind another car and there speed is less than your speed the Distronic Plus slows the car down in turn helping you avoid a collision.

Some people may think, this is Collision Prevention and may complain “My Collision Prevention Assist is not working right” but they may mean my Distronic Plus is not working right meaning the car did not slow down when it approached the slower vehicle in front of them and the brakes did not apply and slow the car down as designed to do.

Now if you turn on the Distronic Plus and then see a warning that says Suspended that means the brake system was suspended (meaning a problem is present with the Distronic Plus) keeping it from working properly when you get to close to the slower car in front of you, the warning sound will start to beep loudly warning you to slow down, this does not mean the Distronic is turned off.

The Distronic Plus will not turn off until you press the brakes and then you will see the warning “Distronic Plus Off” meaning you hit the brakes and now the Distronics Plus is off.

You have a Problem when you see Suspended after you turn on the Distronic Plus but did not hit the brakes and if the car speed up when it should not and if you get a warning when you think everything is working properly

Active Lane Keeping Assist;

This Active Lane Keeping Assist is designed to keep the car in the lane you are traveling at.  The way this Active Lane Keeping Assist works when you are driving in a lane and then the car veers out of your lane and starts to cross the lane left or right of you the brake system will activate and cause the car to pull back into your lane, this may save you from getting hit or hitting another car, this may also be confused with Collision Prevention Assist.

When the brakes apply during Active Lane Keeping Assist they will slightly apply but not enough to cause the car to jerk or move abruptly causing you to be afraid, the brakes will apply in the right front and right rear if you are drifting to the lane to the left of you and if you are veering to the lane to the right of you the left front brake and the left rear brake will slightly apply to cause the car to come back to the center of your lane avoiding a possible collision from you hitting another car or from you getting hit by another car.

You can test this by turning on the Active Lane keeping Assist by drifting into another lane left or right and see if it pulls the car back to the lane as designed and if not then you have a problem.

Active Steering Assist;

Active steering assist is designed to help you the drive keep the car centered in the lane stopping you from drifting to close to the left or right lanes. This is for you if you are drifting left and right the way some drive do when driving, you may have seen other driver drift left and right when if front of you making them appear to be drunk the way a drink drive will do.

You can test this Active Steering Assist by making the car drift left or right while in the center of the lane, it should pull the car back to center and if not then there is a problem.

Collision Prevention Assist;

Collision Prevention Assist is designed to keep you from getting hit by another car when driving, it works off Radar to watch your soundings area of your car. If a possible collision appears that may happen it will apply the level of breaking you need in hope to help you avoid getting hit or hitting someone else avoiding the collision. Your Technician can test this by using the shop XENTRY tool or it may be called the Star Diagnostic tool for testing and reset, it taking approximately 1 hour to do the job.

If you have problems with your vehicle you can get help and you can win but you must have records of repairs on the concerns you have and have attempted to get those repairs made more than three times unless it is a safety issue which is two times, meaning Brakes or (SRS) Safety Restraint System. There are a lot of good attorney who can win for you but you must contact one of them. Thank you and pass the word forward if you need help or know someone who does. I am a certified Craftsman and certified by ASE, Detroit Diesel, Hybrid trained and a Certified Appraiser with over 40 years of hands on experience. I have also been on the witness stand over 58 times with over 800 deposition and have never been impeached.

PLEASE LEAVE ALL TESTING TO THE EXPERTS JUST TELL THEM WHAT YOUR CAR IS DOING AND THEY WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO, MOST OF THE TIMES.

Jackie Winters

Lemon Protection

800-700-0109 with any question.

 

 

Lemon Law case WON for Honda Brake Concerns

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I had a Lemon Law case for brake concerns a few years back for a Honda Odyssey not stopping as soon as they should and locking up at other times.  I got a call from the customer who had been referred to me by their Lemon Law Attorney here in Los Angeles.

I set a time to inspect the vehicle for the customer and drove out to Redlands, California on a Saturday morning. The weather was clear and the roads were dry. I photoed the Honda Odyssey Van and did a walk around checking for damages as I always do and the van was very well maintained. I checked all fluid levels and inspected under the van for leaks at each wheel and then the ABS Anti-lock Brake System the Hydraulic Control unit and the Brake Master Cylinder. I photo the Van under side and brake parts, the VIM number and odometer before and after the road test, this is normal operation when inspecting a vehicle.

I did observe moisture at the Hydraulic Control Unit which made me to be extra cautious and photographed that moisture at the Hydraulic Control Unit and would be extra cautious during my road test. This brakes system is what the main concerns were when the customer complained about to the dealership for not stopping as it should and locking up the wheels at times.

I road tested the vehicle several miles as I do all vehicles and found the brakes at times in the rear would lock up as well as observed brake fading when holding the brakes down to stop, this is not normal operation. I finished the inspection and advised the customer to return to the dealership and show them the moisture at the Hydraulic Control Unit so she would be able to show the dealership Technician.

I returned to my office an did my research on ALLDATA for Technical Service Bulletins to see if Honda had published any Bulletin for the Technician could apply that to the problems on the vehicle.  There were no recalls but there was one Technician Service Bulletin on the brakes for brake leaking at the Hydraulic Control Unit and I was stunned to see what the repair was on this Odyssey Van. The Technician Service Bulletin actually had the Technician apply sealer to the leak at the Hydraulic Control Unit, my thought was this cannot be right because sealer will not hold on a Hydraulic control Leak.

I did my report and used that Technical Service Bulletin to show Honda knew about a brake problem with this New Honda Odyssey but the repair was not what I expected because sealer will not hold pressure or stop a leak in the brake system.

Several months later I was subpoenaed to be on the witness stand to show the Jury my finding as well as Video and Photo’s I had made during my inspection and explained how this brake system works and why sealer was not a good repair for it, it was unsafe and should not have been repaired under this Technician Service Bulletin. After my testimony the Technician for Honda disputed what I said and said the sealer was a good repair for this part. The Jury disagreed with his stamen and took the evidence I had and we won the case all the way across. The customer got a full buyback from Honda and the attorney’s fees and expert witness fees were paid.

The fact is brakes are a safety issue when not working properly which will include brake squealing noise when stopping, grabbing, groaning noise, pulling to one side, fading, vibrating when stopping, not slowing down or pulsating when stopping.

You can win in a lemon law case as long as you have it together, this customer had good records showing she had complained several times for her complaints and the fact is the factory will not make repairs unless it is a proven defect and repair attempts were made several times.  When a repair is made under the Factory Defect Warranty it is because it was verified and repair attempts were made. The Lemon Law applies to New and Used or Certified Pre-Owned vehicles.

Thank you and please pass it on if you like,

Jackie Winters

Lemon Protection@yahoo.com

800-700-0109

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When is a New or Used Vehicle a Lemon?

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A Lemon is the last thing a person wants to get when buying a new vehicle of any kind. Ever wonder what a Lemon vehicle is and what it takes to prove it and how to prove it in a court of law

Buying a new vehicle, be it a car, truck, motorcycle or boat and many others things listed but not mentioned here is what no person want’s.

1) First what makes my vehicle a lemon according to the law?

A) Any repair that can’t be fixed in a reasonable number of attempts and is still causing the same problem such as A/C Foul Odors, transmission whining noise or jerking, engine noise, emission leaks and the list goes on and on.

2)  How many repair attempts is considered reasonable attempts for a repair?                                                                                                                                                         Three repair attempts is considered reasonable

3) How many days in a repair shop is considered a lemon?

30 Days or more in the shop is considered a lemon.

4) How can this A/C foul odor be considered a lemon?

The dealership has attempted to fix the foul odor under the Factory Warranty that  covers defect.

5) What should I do if the dealership says the problem I have is normal?

Get a non-biased opinion, most concerns are not normal.

6) Why is a repair done under the factory warranty?

The part was defective and the factory Warranty only covered defects.

7) Can the foul odors be fixed once and for all without covering the smell with fresheners that can be harmful to your health?

Yes it is a repairable problems, it takes several hours to do to proper repair. Most people believe the foul odor is normal and don’t ask for help anymore.

8) How can I prove my vehicle has a defect and it is still not repaired?

First have three repair attempts under the factory warranty. If they say they cannot duplicate the problem make an appointment and be sure you can prove the problem and be sure to write down any comments the Technician spoke when road testing and witnessing the complaint.

See the repair report before signing and taking car. If the Technician told you he witnessed the concerns but the repair order report states no problem found, call the manager and get the Technician there and make him say to the manager what he told you and make sure it is in writing before you sign it.

If they refuse to write it down call the Bureau of Automotive Repair in your area and they will help you. Everyone is entitled to a full written report of what is said and done about their vehicle.

9) How do I prove it in a court of law?
First you have your repair orders proving the A/C Foul Odor was attempted to be repair and has failed.

A) The repair attempts were done under the factory warranty and have failed.

B) The foul odor was witnessed by a Technician.

C) The complaint was witnessed by several repair technicians and temporary cleaned not repaired and the odor returns.

10) Can the foul odors be a heath concern?

I have heard many people and myself have had health problem caused by foul odor A/C everything from headaches to burning eyes and burning dry throat, other people have told me the same things such as.

The Foul Odors cause their eyes to burn (some people)

The Foul odor causes their throat to get raw (some people)

The foul odor cause them to have headaches (some people)

The found odors cause some people with asthma to have related asthma attacks. (some people)

11) Can the cause of the foul odors be fixed?

Yes, the cause of the foul odor can be fixed if the Technician will get the authorization to do the proper repairs.

12) What do I do now that I know I have a possible lemon?

  • Call a lemon law attorney
  • Get a clear copy of all of your document including the Contract or Lease, all repair orders, all notes, all phone conversation, and all things said to you by the dealership employees about your vehicle.
  • Be ready to fax or e-mail all your information
  • Do not send SS Numbers to anyone.
  • Be sure when you settle the attorney’s fees will be paid by the other side and not out of your settlement.
  • Let him do his job and you will come out ahead with possible a new replacement car, all you money back including the down payment and or part money back and you keep the vehicle.
  • Remember when working with an attorney, he or she will not call you unless they have something they need to discus with you so be patient with them.

Good luck and tell a friend.

Jackie

“WARNING ADD OIL” or “WARNING GO TO SHOP”

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Have you read what Consumer Report are saying about Oil Consumption?

Consumer Report is saying to add oil between oil changes is not normal.

I have been telling the driver of BMW, Porsche and Audi that very same thing for years, so let me give you some more direction that may help you understand better about oil consumption as well as other question you will want to ask your dealer when buying or getting repairs made.

There are a lot of good thing added to the new vehicle on sale today, the Navigation system with backup and side cameras; the Blue Tooth phone system, the adjustable mirrors, the i-pod features and the heated seats and Turbo Chargers for extra power just to name a few of the additions.

I want to give you some question you should ask in hope to help protect yourself when making a purchase. I will start with the extended warranty and what things to ask for followed by some things you may experience that may be called normal.

First off when the salesperson wants to sell you an extended warranty the cost is negotiable, if they say no, tell them you will go elsewhere to but your vehicle. When you buy that extended warranty be sure it covers SEALS and GASKETS, if that is not in a warranty, it is useless papers. A leaking engine or transmission will cause a warranty to be voided if it is not fixed. If you don’t have that seals and gasket warranty coverage and your engine or transmission goes out you are out of luck on repairs, the warranty will not apply.

Be sure the warranty covers A/C and Electrical Wiring as well and be sure to read all in the contract before you sign it. One rule of thumb is be sure to read anything you ask for and they say is covered, if they say A/C, Electrical, Seals and Gaskets are covered, be sure read it.

ADDING OIL EVERY 750 TO 1000 MILES IS NOT NORMAL FOR ANY VEHICLE.

Another question you need to be concerned about and ask is “Will I have to stop and add additional engine oil between oil changes”. Some of the new High-End vehicle are having to have addition oil added ever 750 to 1,000 miles.

Some oil cost as much as $15 a quart, over the driven miles of a high-end Turbo Charged vehicle of 100,000 miles you may spend as much as $5,000 extra for additional engine oil because of oil burning. If oil is needed you must add it so you don’t burn the engine up, that’s 333 extra quarts of additional oil or 47 oil changes you never got, just because your engine is burning oil. There is one exception of the High End vehicle engine burning oil.

The GM Corvette is a high performance engine and from my experience I have had no Corvette owners ever tell me they have had to add additional oil between oil changes. Other new car dealership are selling high-end vehicle not as powerful as the Corvette and their owners are having to add oil between 750 and 1,000 miles of driving, why, because they are burning oil.

Some of the dealership personal is telling the customers it is normal for the engine to burn oil because of the High Performance Engine runs at higher temperatures. That is the biggest box of crock you will hear, no it is not normal for an engine to burn oil.  One of my customers told me she went into the dealership on average of every 750 miles; she said her “Warning Add Oil” would come on. When she went in they added a quart of oil every time, she was told it is normal and no RO was needed because it was a good will gesture.

A repair order receipt of the free quart of oil they add every time the customer comes in with a “Warning Add Oil” light on should be written up and given.

I have built and worked on thousands of engine over the years and I assure you it is not normal for any vehicles engine to burn oil, high performance or not.

One thing to remind you of and that is on the New and CPO Automobiles and Trucks the lemon law applies to all of them with a warranty. It is up to you the buyer to keep all records when going to get repairs of any kind even if they call it a good will gesture. Vehicle purchased that has passed accident damage is also covered under the Fraud laws and they will apply, if you buy and get the papers later that shows the vehicle was in an accident when you were told it has not, don’t worry you may be covered as well.

If that new or CPO vehicles is having problems with engine oil burning or electronics concerns, the lemon law can be used all at no cost to you the consumer. If an attorney takes your case you will not pay because he will be the one to settle your case, the attorney fees will be included so you don’t have to pay.

I have listed the names of a few attorneys that a lot of my customers have used for their cases over the years and have been settled to their satisfaction.

To remind you, I am not an attorney but work with attorney law firms as their Technical expert and have been used in trial 45 time and deposition over 500 times and have never been impeached. I am not qualified to give legal advice and do not give legal advice.

Good Luck and if you have any question please ask, tell a friend.

California Lemon Law and Mobile Homes?

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Are Mobile Homes Covered under the Lemon Law?

In some states YES but may be filed under a different heading.

In fact there are a lot of things covered by the fraud and lemon laws in our states that you may not know about.  Starting with Cars, Trucks, Mobil Homes, Boats, ATV’s and Computers are the ones I am involved in.

Note:  Big Tractor Trucks are covered under the Lemon Law see ” Seeman – V – Freightliner. I just did two Big Tractor trucks for a law firm in Arizona and the cases were filed as a Lemon law claim.  If you own a Tractor Truck and it is giving you problems there is still help out there and worth the time it takes to investigate.  Your filing would have to be done by an attorney if you want good results. If you just want the satisfaction of letting the sellers know you are not going to take any more lies Small Claim Court is the way but not recommended because of the low amount you can file for, a small claims law suit can be done.

Sounds like everything we buy are covered, but what are the chances of you getting help with your case.  The chance is very good when you have attorneys who care more about you and your concerns than the selling dealership does.

I have inspected several Big Rig Trucks and the ones I have done were for engine leaking coolant, oil or just not running properly. I have also done several Mobile Homes and the most of them are falling apart from trim not fitting correct, stoves and sinks not mounted properly, floors that are rotted and sagging down.  I have seen rotted floors where the dealership had patched the floor together and then painted it to look new, this was a bad repair, water shooting back up out of the toilet when you flush it. That’s right when one of the owners finished the toilet, water or whatever was in the toilet just shot back up out of the toilet like a water hose.  If you were like this person you would have got a big surprise when you flush just like he did, he said it was disgusting and all over the floor as well as him.

I got this one on photo, it was pretty amazing, the person said the first time it happened he said the mess was unbelievable and told me to not stand over the toilet when he flushed it to show me what happens.

I have found electrical issues, hydraulic issues, slide outs getting stuck in the out position, water leaking inside when it rains. Over heating when you go up a small hill, in fact I have seen them that have had a new engine installed when they were on the way to be delivered to the buyer.

Another thing to watch out for is if you buy outside of your state and take delivery of the vehicle the warranty coverage is not what you might expect.  I had a lady who had purchase a Used Mobile Home in California but had to take delivery in Nevada, I could not understand that purchase. When she needed repairs she ran into a real problem using the warranty they gave her, after she spent over $14,000 trying to fix the home she went to small claims court. She won $3,000 back along with free oil and filter service for the next five services needed. This person would have been better off getting a good attorney and filing a lemon law suit but she said she did not want to get an attorney involved.  I actually went to small claims court with her as well as help her prepare her case and negotiated the settlement for her, she told me after it was over before she filed they only offered her $1,000. She said the outcome of her case was very satisfying even if it was far less than she had spent, she got the $3,000 and five oil and filter changes amounting to another $1,000 in service.

If you purchased a Big Rig or a Mobile Home and you are having an unacceptable amount of repairs or breakdowns then you may be entitled to a refund or compensation for all those problem, keep in mind it will take a good Lemon Law attorney to help you.  The process for Mobile Home lemon law is the same as for a lemon car or truck, including new or used as long as it is purchased from a dealership.

In order to get prepared for you case to present to an attorney you need to do this.

1)    Have a clear copy of the original purchase contract.

2)    Have a clear copy of all your work repair orders and they must be readable when faxed.

3)    Have photo or videos if you can of all broken or damaged parts including dash warning lights.

4)    Have maintenance records in order, if you do your own maintenance then have the receipts for the fluids and filters you purchased, including fuel and air filter.

5)    Make sure all the papers are in order, this will help your attorney see quickly if you have a case, most attorney law firm will call you back within 72 hours (exclude holidays it may take a few days longer) Try to keep and updated file for fast finding facts.

Good luck and God bless you all and if you needed an attorney I have listed several of the best attorneys in California on my web site at lemonprotection.com.

If you are in another state the law firms listed on my web site also have offices in other states, call me 800-700-0109 or e-mail me at lemonprotection.com if you live out of the state of Ca. and I can tell you the names of law firms my customers have used in that state.

Also for those interested, I have just published another new book on how to go about inspecting a Mobile Home. You can purchase a copy for $15.00. Send me a check or MO for $15, this will include P&H and will be sent by the US Postoffice Priority mail. I hope this little bit of information will help you

Thank you, GOd bless you and good luck with your Mobile Home.

Jackie

Disclaimer; Please keep in mind I am not an attorney and cannot give legal advice but am only a certified mechanic and inspector of new and used vehicles and was established in 1984 and issued a United Stated trademark for Lemon Protection.

Investors are welcome.

Car issues that may force you into Small Claim Court.

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Going to small claims court is not a fun experience, especially when the other side is more prepared for trial than you are. How do you get prepared for trial? Here is a story of a person who was in an accident because the bolts that hold a part on broke. The part that was held on has a Recall on it from the NHTSA department. The bolts that hold that Recall part on, is what broke and caused an accident. The customer did not cause the accident but his repairs were dropped anyway because he was blamed for the accident not by law but by the dealership he trusted.

I recently had a Small Claim appearance for a customer who had purchased a new truck back in 2003 and took good care of it on regular bases.  The story I will tell you is about an accident he has because of a defective part that has a Recall on it. My customer had to file a Small Claim complaint to get satisfied. By the way the Small Claims Court can be used for car repairs, body damage even Diminished Value or actually anything between two or more people.

Back in 2010 he had an accident and totaled out the truck. First I will tell you about the accident. I will tell you about the process you will need to take in order to prepare for court in hope to get the results you want. When you actually go to court in front of a Judge to explain why you are there you need to be prepared, I will give you detail instruction later in the story.

When I met my customer he stated he was having problem and did not know where or who to turn to, he was not from America and only liver here for a short time and his English is very broken.  I ask what happened and if he had an attorney. He said no and he did not know much about what to do. He did as his Insurance Company told him to do. His passenger was hurt and the Insurance Company took care of him. But the owner is still without a truck or transportation and needs help.

He contacted three Personal Injury attorneys and sent them all his paper work and they all stated he waited too long to do anything and he was not hurt. He was advised to file for damages in Small Claims Court and so he did that, and did it just in time. It is my understanding you have one year to file your claim.

My customer found me at my web site lemonprotection.com. He called me and asks me to do an inspection and attempt to determine the cause of the accident so I accepted the job. I ask exactly what happened when he was driving, what speed he was going, what lane he was in, was the truck making any noise, did he feel anything unusual vibration. These are question you need to be able to answer in court if it is based on an accident filing.

He stated he was running around 65/70 mph in the car pool lane, he stated the truck started to vibrate the front dropped down and he hit the wall and that was it. He stated the Air Bags did not go off when he hit the wall. I ask how the road condition was, were you going straight or was the road curved. He said the road was straight and flat with good condition, what lane was you in when this happened? Here are more questions you need to know and be able to answer as well.

The police came and had the vehicle towed, later it was moved to the dealership for inspection as recommended by his insurance company. The dealership inspected the truck and said the lower ball joint did not come apart as the NHTSA Recall was issued for. He was told the dealership does not have to fix the truck. He responded you have a Recall on that part and they stated the recall is not the part that broke, but the bolts that hold that part on are what broke. How dumb does that sound? The Recall NHTSA # is for the lower ball joint but it was his fault for the accident because the bolts broke instead of the ball joint it is holding.

His insurance refused to fix the truck based on their finding saying it was his fault that caused the accident.

I was ask to do an inspection and attempt to determine what happened and if possible what caused the accident. I went to the client home and photo the truck from every direction. I paid close attention to the impact area and the steering and suspension parts based on his explanation.

Upon inspection I found the lower control arm bolts have broken off leaving one extended ½ an inch indicating loose bolts and the bolt head popped off leaving the stud.

The inside steering knuckle at the backing plate held the truck up as it spun around and the hit the wall.  When the right front wheel folding under it caused the truck to spin around and hit the wall with the right front of the truck. This spin around impact caused the right front tire to get punctured and blow out but there was no wheel damage.

The right rear was also damaged from the truck after impact to the right front area, the truck continued to bounce back and around causing the rear right side impact. The truck was traveling North bound and hit the right front corner and appeared to be traveling from the South bound direction. This was caused by the lower control arm bolts breaking off and the wheel folding under as it did.

It was our turn to stand before the Honorable Judge. The other side presented their evidence attacking the owners because he did not use the dealership for maintenance and repairs. I was called in to tell what I witnessed. I first had to prove I am an ASE Certified professional and also proved I have an Appraisal certificate and that I did.

I then proceeded to explain how I did my inspection and I had photos to prove it. I explained how the accident happened and was very clear in every detail.

The Judge asks me how about the tire the other side stated that blow out and caused the accident because it was bald. I said your Honor that cannot happen; he was on flat dry straight road. The tire blows out at the point of impact by the bumper gouging the tire causing tire blowout, he was not in rain or in a curve. The Judge ask me about all the tires being slick, I ask to see opposing counsel photo they had and explained the tires have some tread on them but not slick as the other side is stating. I also explained the 3/8 steel bolts don’t sheer off from an impact and the other side Technician stated he has seen hundreds of bolts at that place sheer off because of impact. I told the Judge that is not true and he knows that because the other parts related are not damaged as he attempted to say.

Going to court and here is what you will need;

1)     Information on vehicle

2)     Date of accident or issue

3)     Place of accident

4)     Illustration or photos

5)     Witness if any or Notarized statement from witness if not present

6)     Expert witness if you have one

7)     Report of expert witness if written

8)     What is your complaint

9)     Do you have photos if no get some, if yes bring them, they must be clear and blown up 8/10 if possible to show the damage you are complain about

10)      Get someone you can trust and is certified to inspect your vehicle and is willing to go to court with you. Be sure they witnessed your problem so they can explain the issue you are there for.

11)      Proof of all evidence is your key, you must be able to paint a very clear picture and have documents to prove it, receipts dates and times, phone record and recording. Photos work well in accident damages or repairs. Notes, letters e-mils are all very important.

12)      Explain you story in a very slow step by step review of the event.

13)      When the other side speaking do not over speak that person it will make a difference, it shows animosity, you will get a chance to speak.

14)      Always be polite to a Judge and be respectful as well as dress proper with clean shaven and heir combed, this all make a difference.

15)      The more information your mechanic has about your car and the problems or accident information he has the better he can help describe his finding for court.

You only have one chance and you need to do the best you can. The truth is the one that paints the best picture will likely win, the judge and jury like photo and videos, this gives them something to use to help them decide for you. Good luck and get prepared.

Any question e-mail to lemonprotection@yahoo.com or go to our web site

Lemonprotection.com   and see names of law firms my over 3,500 clients have used for their Lemon Law cases.

NOTE: We are not a law firm and do not give legal advice, this information I am giving is information I have acquired over the years of doing lemon law inspection and going to trial as an expert.

If you need an expert to go with your to court call me. If you need an attorney go to my web site for the list of attorneys over 3500 people have used and been satisfied with.

lemonprotection.com      

Books for lemon law, used car inspection, Identifying a Lemon and Invention from Idea to market.

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 I have been a certified mechanic for over 32 years and have found a way to help other by way of writing how to books for the lay person. I also wrote a book on invention and how to protect yourself from crooked contracts.

The first book was “Invention from Idea to Market” this book is about an invention I made called “Ab Radical” and is sold by Edison Nation online and in some stores. It is way to help a person do abdominal crunches with ease. It has a back and neck support and helps you do crunches by pulling two handles and crunching just 4 inches or less to isolate the abdominal. It works very well as long as you are willing to endure the time it takes to do crunches. This book will show you what happen to a lady that was unprepared when she wanted to market her invention and was laughed at on a TV show. I will try to help you take the right steps and explain what things you need in place so to better your chances of getting someone to license your product. You don’t wan’t to spend money on making a lot of units when the company you license your product to will start over with their own ideas.

The second book I have written is called “Identifying a Lemon”. This book helps a person know when they have a lemon vehicle and what to look for and then what to do about it. You will learn what the proper way is to protect yourself from the start. You never know if you have a lemon or not but if you do it is better to know how to protect yourself. Why pay all that money for something that is not working to factory standards when you may be entitled to a full refund, replacement vehicle or money compensation. Most lemon law attorneys don’t ask for a fee when they take your case in most states.

The third book I have written is named “How to communicate with your Mechanic”. This book helps you understand how to explain what is going on with your vehicle in time of repairs. This gives the mechanic a better understanding of how to go about finding a fix fore your car or truck problems.

These books can be found on Kindle Book/ Amazon book

If you want to order any of the three book or all three please let me know. For our reraders the set of all three books would cost you $15.00 and will have free shipping in the USA. Each book separate is $7.00 each with free shipping in the USA.

If you have any questions please contact me with a comment and I will respond ASAP.

Thank you for your time and kindness, GOD bless you all.

Jackie Winters

Lemon Protection

Lemonprotection.com

Used Vehicle that have been an accident, beware

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In the past I have inspected several like new cars and they all looked like they were well-maintained and never have been in an accident, the inspection proved otherwise. One must be aware that some used-car dealers will buy cars from auto auction, and some of those vehicles have been wrecked and repaired. These cars may never get reported to the police department and therefore do not show up in the Car Fax or Car Check reports.

With the purchase the customer also purchased an extended warranty. He started to have some electrical issue as well as suspension noises soon after. The dealership told the customer the $2,800.00 warranty he/she purchased did not cover the repairs because the repair was related to an accident that occurred before the vehicle was purchased. The customer was told the vehicle has never been in an accident.

I was asked to do an inspection on it and found several area showing damages that had been repaired indicating the vehicle has been in a major accident.

The vehicle which was purchased for $26,000, the person who purchased the car was given a Car Check report and showed to not have been in any accidents and based on that the car was purchased.

The customer wanted to trade the vehicle in and when the dealership inspected the vehicle the y found past accident damage, the dealership turn down the trade in. According to a new Car Fax report given to the customer during a trade in it appeared the vehicle had been in an accident. I later realized the original Car Check report had been cut and pasted together without the section showing the accident part. Someone sold a vehicle under fraud conditions when they made the true Car Check appear to be something it was not.

Used-car dealers’ salesmen know how to talk to car buyers. An inspection from a Trained Technician should always be done on newer used vehicle when the sale seems to be too good to be true.

A salesman may tell the potential buyer, “Look, I like you and want to help you. Although I am not supposed to do this, but I will drop the price a few more hundred dollars to help you.” This is a hook most people fall into. This $26,000 car should have been sold for $13,000, but like I said he was given a discount because the salesman said he likes him. Remember sales person does not know you any better than you know him or her. Sales persons are trained to make you feel like a true friend when in fact all they want is to sell you the vehicle and get that commission; then it’s good-bye and don’t bother me with any car repairs or complaints you have. The truth was the salesman may not have known about the accident damage but it seemed he robbed the customer. The customer had to file a lawsuit that may drag on for months or possible more before he recovers any money at all.

Upon inspection I removed some trim panels and took photos of the places where the rocker panels were and could see it had been hit and improperly repaired. This vehicle’s actual cash value was around $13,000, about half of what the customer paid for it and far less than the value of a good vehicle that was not wrecked. Not to count the loss of the $2,800.00 warranty that would not be honored by any dealership, the customer loses all the way around. The Lemon Law firms I work with may file what is called a “Fraud” case to help you recover the loss if this happens to you. You need to have all your paper work in order when you file.

I have inspected over 3,500 vehicles and have only had to go to trial on 53 cases. The attorney law firms I work with are the best in the business. A wrecked vehicle is also an unsafe vehicle if it was not properly repaired.

If this vehicle that had another side impact at the same side which was improperly repaired, the people on that side of the vehicle will likely die or get severely hurt. When a side center post or rocker panel is replaced, there are specific places that need to be worked on in order to make the vehicle worthy to be on the road again. When a dealership sells a vehicle that has been in an accident, a statement of fact (disclosure) has to be given to the customer so he or she will know about accident.

My recommendation is: have a professional vehicle inspector inspect the vehicle, to see if the damaged areas have been properly repaired or not. If he or she decides to buy the vehicle the chance of getting it insured is unlikely anyway. A vehicle with frame damage has a value drop of at least 50% no matter who repaired the vehicle and the resale of that same vehicle is unlikely, unless it is to a junk yard. My advice is: don’t buy any vehicle that has had a major accident. Get a report from Car Fax and Car Check as well, because one may not show the vehicle was in an accident and it is likely the other will.

If you need a good Lemon Law attorney or a good Personal Injury attorney go to my web site and you will find several attorneys over 3500 of my customers have used all with great success.

Thank you for visiting and tell a friend, GOD bless you.

 

What causes an engine to burn oil?

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Is it normal for an engine to burn oil every 750 to 1000 miles?

Some manufactures seen to think it’s OK for their engine to burn a quart of oil every 750 to 1,000 miles.  I can assure you that oil burning is not normal for any engine and is a smog concern according to the California resources board.

The oil burning you experience may not be seen when driving or sitting steal with the engine running. The amount of oil burned is very small but never the less it is using oil. Over time the oil usage will get worst as the miles increase.

The cost to repair an engine from burning oil is as much as a new vehicle, depending on which vehicle you have purchased.

I have inspected several vehicles with the V-6 and V-8 engine and they were using oil every 750 to 1,000 miles.  The owners have complained to the dealership for the oil burning issue’s, and was told it is normal.  This normally happens after they run an oil consumption test and can’t repair the engine unless it’s completely replaced.

The engine cost can be from several hundred or as much as $10,000.00, this is just for the parts and this does not included the labor to remove and then reinstall the new engine at labor cost starting at $85.00 an hour for as much as $150.00 an hour at most dealers, exotic cars may be much more.

I have also seen this oil burning concern with the 3.8 engine, this person was told it is normal for their engine to burn oil every 750 to 1,000 miles of driving; in fact it was in writing the engine will burn a quart of oil every 750 miles but was not true. The engine should not burn oil any time between oil changes on any engine.

I have also seen very high end vehicle costing over $80,000 dollars to buy and they are having problems using oil every 1,000 miles and the owner is told; the engine burning oil is normal for this engine because it has a Turbo. The replacement engine for the vehicle is over $30,000 dollars (yes over 30K) not to include the over 25 hours of labor at $135.00 to $150 per hour average cost to install it. You might want to think twice before investing in a vehicle that has this oil burning concerns.

What causes an engine to lose or burn or lose oil?

There are several things that will cause abnormal oil usage or burning,

1)    Damaged or worn valve guides

2)    Damaged or worn valve seals

3)    Collapsed, broken or stuck piston rings

4)    Damage pistons

5)    Damage piston walls

6)    Clogged breather valve

7)    Oil leaking from seals and gaskets

Signs of oil burning are usually accompanied by Blue Smoke from the exhaust when it is started or running depending on what part is defective or damaged and how bad the damage is.  Oil leaking can also contribute to excessive oil usage and this is something that will be seen after you park and let the vehicle sit awhile. Most oil leak repairs are fixed by replacing a seal or gasket.

If valve guides are worn blue smoke will be seen when the engine is started, usually after it has run and then sits awhile.

If valve seals are worn or broken blue smoke will be seen when the engine is started, usually after it has run and then sits awhile.

If the piston ring seize, break or collapse in their groove, oil will pass causing the excessive oil burning. Damaged pistons and rings will cause oil burning and excessive blow-by. This will also cause the exhaust smoke to be blue when driving or at idle depending on how bad the oil is leaking past the piston rings or valve guides or seals.

When an engine is using oil it is caused by defective piston, rings or valve parts and the engine will need to be removed and over hauled. It’s a time consuming job and very costly depending on the vehicle.

If you are told the oil burning is normal don’t accept that just because the dealership is telling you. In fact if you call an engine repair shop that rebuilds engine they will tell you when an engine is burning oil it will possible need to be overhauled, that means all intern parts will need to be cleaned and replaced as needed.

The good news is the lemon law applies to all new and used vehicles with a warranty. If you are given the run the engine oil burning is normal, don’t accept that as a final word when help is available at no cost to you in most cases.

I suggest you go to my web site and see some of the attorneys listed that over 3,500 of my customers have used to help them get a full refund or a replacement vehicle and in some cases get some money compensation.  You have nothing to lose by asking for some free advice by some of California best Lemon Law and Personal Injury attorneys.

Keep in mind the Lemon Law applies to all new or used vehicles purchased from a dealership with a warranty and includes Pre-Owned Certified cars and trucks.  The warranties can be negotiated; you must be sure the extended warranty covers free loan car and zero deduction or you will pay for any and all complaints, be careful and be sure to read what is covered before you sign.

Good luck God bless you from Lemon Protection.

 

 

Engine Oil Burning

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Engine problems, adding oil every 700 to 800 miles?

As a mechanic I will explain why an engine will burn oil and why it should not burn oil as well as what to do if it is burning oil. Do you have to add oil; before it time to change it, if the answer is yes then your engine is burning oil and it is not normal. The reason an engine is burning oil is it has an internal leak at the Piston Rings, the Valve Guides or the Valve Seals.

I have had a lot of customers tell me the engine is using oil and they are told by their dealership it is normal for an engine to burn a quart of oil every 700 to 800 miles and not to worry about it, just add oil or come in and we will add the oil for you.

Please know if an engine is using oil even a quart every 700 to 800 miles then you are creating smog and our laws do not take kindly to that. We have strict smog laws because of oil burning vehicle on the road and it is hurting our environment.

If your engine has to have oil added between oil changes then you will need one of three things done and it will require a complete engine teardown. If the Valves Guides or Valve Seals are leaking oil past then into the Piston Cylinder then the cylinder heads will have to be removed and that is at least a 14 hour job on most engines today. This repair requires the cylinder head to be removed and reworked and new guides and seals installed.

If the Piston Rings are leaking oil then you will have to have the engine torn down all way and the Pistons will have to be removed so new Piston and Rings can be replaced and that cost almost as much as a remanufactured engine (USED BUT REBUILT).

I guarantee you if your vehicle is under warranty and the warranty expire you will be told the engine oil burning will have to be fixed. You may say to the service writer I told you I was burning oil every 700 to 800 miles and you told me not to worry about it. Now I am burning two quarts of oil every 1,000 mile and now you are telling me I need a ring job or possible a new engine, so what’s up with that?

What should you do if your engine is burning oil and you can’t seem to get the help you want, call a lemon law attorney and get a professional lemon law expert? I work with the best in the business and I have seen results for my customers. Some have gotten all their money back or a complete replacement vehicle because of this oil burning and other things that can’t seem to be fixed. Don’t let a service writer tell you well the first quart of oil to get burned is normal, do you remember when you first purchased the vehicle if anyone told you the engine will need oil added every 700 to 800 miles. I don’t think anyone can say they were ever told that until after they paid for the vehicle and then had to go to the shop for an oil light or oil pressure warning coming on.

If you need help let me know or go to my web site lemonprotection.com, help is there for you and keep in mind most attorneys don’t charge you to take your case and you will come out ahead. My motto is “We Only Inspect – Not Repair” help is her for you, God bless you.