What's the damage to my car?

[DUKE]

I dropped my 2000 GT off at a paint sop to get my hood repainted. We'll I drove by today and saw my car sitting out side with the hood off. It's been raining hard all day and my car is just sitting out in it. I figure my car was out in the rain for about 4 hours. Everything is soaked including my steeda air filter. I was pissed and complained about it. What should I try and hold them reliable for. Thanks.

 

[FivePointStang]

Oh hell no..... Was this a small shop or bigger one?

I would take pictures if you could. What have they said so far? They could have at least put a tarp over it if they were gonna leave it out in the rain.

 

[Venom_Nitrous]

There is NO damage. It's just a mustang. It's not a Ferarri or somethiihng. What do you think happens when you wash an engine? A little water won't hurt an engine if there is a damp air filter. Hell, some people inject it with a supercharger (washer fluid). Not nad at all. If yoy try to do something about it, you are just looking for attention or trouble.

 

[Mike97gt]

the car will probally be ok, BUT still is still not right for them to do that.. our body shop wraps the exposed parts of the car in plastic when they have to put them outside.

 

[anotherstangfan]

um... i don't know why venom_nitrous would say if you do something your looking for attention or trouble. haha Its just common courtesy to not leave someones car out in the rain with the hood off. It doesn't matter if its a Ferrari or not. Yeah the same thing might happen when you wash an engine but... He wasn't washing it der. So yeah, I'd be pissed off too. I'm hoping someone else agrees.

 

[DocG]

If yoy try to do something about it, you are just looking for attention or trouble.

You saying he should just let everyone in the world **** all over him? Where you live man, I might just come and take your car, I know you don't want any trouble.

Car should be fine....but I'd still be making them paint my hood for free now. Actually I'd take my car somewhere else. If that's how they treat customer cars, just imagine how much they care about the work they do. If you decide to leave it there....I'd make them sign a paper saying they left your car out in the rain with no hood and that they're responsible for any electrical or engine problems you have related to that "oversight" on their part.

 

[02GTRX]

Ok but when you wash an engine the water doesnt sit for four hours. It either dries off with the heat from the engine or the owner dries it. Water sitting on metal for that long can cause rust. Rust+bare engine metal= not good. If I were you id make them sign a legal document stating they left ur car outside with the engine exposed while raining incase something does get damaged because of their ignorance. Then pack your balls and go to another shop.

 

[stng]

First of all I would be pissed off too, no doubt about it that was just lazyness on their part. I dont think it will hurt anything on your car, possibly the steeda air filter could need to be replaced (I am not familiar with them), and if you wanted to be extra careful I would change the oil as well. Everything else will dry and be just fine. I dont know that you really need to try and hold them responsible for anything else other than that. I would see if they are going to be willing to give you some kind of a discount, if not, I would make it clear to them that you will never be back...

 

[Mike97gt]

take pictures of everthing and complain to the owner of this shop.. as I said earlier they should have covered the engine bay with something.

Don't go in expecting something for free.. I highly doubt you will be getting the hood for free now. read up on the law on mechanics leans in your state. In massachusetts a shop can place a lean on a car for unpaid repair bills. In fact a bank can't even repo a car that has a outstanding mechaincs lean on it.

So I would not just walk in and take your keys and drive off. But I would take pictures and bring the car to another shop to see if any damage was done.

 

[jasonh_86]

I leave my hood popped every day/night when my car is parked at my house. It sits outside sometimes when it rains, but nothing has ever gone wrong.. no big deal honestly. It's not like you've got a distributor or carbeurator (sp?) or anything.. just COP

 

[Dope 97GT]

I leave my hood popped every day/night when my car is parked at my house. It sits outside sometimes when it rains, but nothing has ever gone wrong.. no big deal honestly. It's not like you've got a distributor or carbeurator (sp?) or anything.. just COP

Why do you leave your hood popped mine is usually closed unless im working on it

But i would be upset that the paint shop left my hood off in the rain...Even if there is nothing wrong or nothing could go wrong Its still the fact that they would be that careless.

 

[DTNODYA]

I leave my hood popped every day/night when my car is parked at my house. It sits outside sometimes when it rains, but nothing has ever gone wrong.. no big deal honestly. It's not like you've got a distributor or carbeurator (sp?) or anything.. just COP

What? You leave your hood propped up every night??? Why? I can't think of any rational explanation .... strange.

the car will probally be ok, BUT still is still not right for them to do that.. our body shop wraps the exposed parts of the car in plastic when they have to put them outside.

You guys don't leave them in bays? Or are you just saying when all the bays are full?



As for the shop that left your hood open, you now know where NOT to take your car ever again. Like others have said, they prolly aren't going to do anything for you (free or whatever) at this point, especially if nothing is rusted, broken, what not. Some people are thoughtless and others are just plain stupid ...

 

[jasonh_86]

I leave my hood popped because when I don't, the neighbor's cats and my cats will get on the car and scratch it all up by sliding off.. But since it's up, they never get on it because they can't get on it very easily

 

[Dope 97GT]

I leave my hood popped because when I don't, the neighbor's cats and my cats will get on the car and scratch it all up by sliding off.. But since it's up, they never get on it because they can't get on it very easily

Oh i watched my friends cat scratch the hood on my friends chevy xtreme sucked for him but looked funny makes sense though cause my cat likes to sit on the hood because its warm.

 

[86bluecobra]

Ok but when you wash an engine the water doesnt sit for four hours. It either dries off with the heat from the engine or the owner dries it. Water sitting on metal for that long can cause rust. Rust+bare engine metal= not good. If I were you id make them sign a legal document stating they left ur car outside with the engine exposed while raining incase something does get damaged because of their ignorance. Then pack your balls and go to another shop.

do you ever drive in the rain? the bottom of your engine compartment is not sealed. your engine is getting water all over it all the time. if its going to rust its because of driving it in the rain for years. I don't agree with the shop doing what they did but i highly doubt anything is going to go wrong with your car. If you have billet goodies all over your engine i may force them to buff them all but i'm sure your car will be fine.

 

[cronin49]

I'd be pissed too! My '03 vert has NEVER been in the rain. The only time the Tonneau Cover comes off is when I wash it. How do you keep your car? Do you wash the engine with a stream of water? I would at least makE them dry the engine and pay for a new air filter, those bastards!

 

[Mike97gt]

You guys don't leave them in bays? Or are you just saying when all the bays are full?

Well I am not a body shop guy so this does not happen as often for us, but in general the car will be put outside so the bay can be used for another car. I work at a large dealer. ( 25+ bays, 2 shifts, 40+ techs and at least 100 cars coming in each day) at any given time we can have 200-300 cars hanging out so no we can't keep them all inside.

The difference is when we have to leave a car outside with a window down or the hood off we cover everything with plastic so water don't get in. and our lot has big fences and security gate so we have not really had a problem with theft. Plus we are in a upscale town with a median household income of 150,000 or so, that helps.

Some people are thoughtless and others are just plain stupid ...

NOW thats 100 percent true. my rule of thumb is, one person gives a crap about your car and that person is you.

 

[jasonh_86]

Oh i watched my friends cat scratch the hood on my friends chevy xtreme sucked for him but looked funny makes sense though cause my car likes to sit on the hood because its warm.

Yepp.. after watching them scratch my other mustang to hell and watch them scratch my mom's black Accord.. i was like "uhh.. hell no, not this car".. I found one on it once, acted nice, picked it straight up and THREW THE BASTARD I love animals, but they gotta learn not to mess with my car!

 

[DTNODYA]

I leave my hood popped because when I don't, the neighbor's cats and my cats will get on the car and scratch it all up by sliding off.. But since it's up, they never get on it because they can't get on it very easily

Ahhhh, now I see. Ironically, when I park in the garage (usually keep car outside under cover), I keep the hood up so my cat won't jump up there. My cat can jump rediculously high!!! He can get roof from the ground!

Well I am not a body shop guy so this does not happen as often for us, but in general the car will be put outside so the bay can be used for another car. I work at a large dealer. ( 25+ bays, 2 shifts, 40+ techs and at least 100 cars coming in each day) at any given time we can have 200-300 cars hanging out so no we can't keep them all inside.

The difference is when we have to leave a car outside with a window down or the hood off we cover everything with plastic so water don't get in. and our lot has big fences and security gate so we have not really had a problem with theft. Plus we are in a upscale town with a median household income of 150,000 or so, that helps.



NOW thats 100 percent true. my rule of thumb is, one person gives a crap about your car and that person is you.

Man, it sounds like your dealership is sweet! Good rule of thumb too.

 

[02GTRX]

do you ever drive in the rain? the bottom of your engine compartment is not sealed. your engine is getting water all over it all the time. if its going to rust its because of driving it in the rain for years. I don't agree with the shop doing what they did but i highly doubt anything is going to go wrong with your car. If you have billet goodies all over your engine i may force them to buff them all but i'm sure your car will be fine.

I live in New Mexico, what rain?