shortyhodge

Ok guys, new to this forum but wanted to pick up on this topic of "sludge" and also interject a few other concerns I am dealing with. 1st, did I miss something or should "we" as registered Lexus owners be made aware of this class action lawsuit? I have a 2000 RX and my car is at Lexus as I type with multiple issues that a claims adjuster (elaborte on in a minute) says the cause of damage is as a result of maitenance and sludge. 2nd, if my car is at Lexus, has been serviced at Lexus 2 twice for 75k and 100k services, there was no mention of "sludge". Does this develop overnight? I bought this car in 2004 used with 60k miles with one owner. Ihave the manual and all his service records from Lexus but again no mention of sludge..... Is there a way that Lexus or any dealer/mechanic for that reason can print me off a list of every repair, service or oil change ever made to my car thru the VIN#????? Lastly if the suit is 8 yrs and 120 days I believe I am out of this range owning a 2000 unless is there like a "born on date" or something to see what the actual date was??? Sorry, I know now it is completely obvious I am a woman and a bud light fan. Should I still call Lexus? ------------------------------------ Okay now onto the serious stuff...... I am like most that relies on the little sticker they put in my window to determine when the next oil change is due.... afterwards I trash the receipts and check it off my list of things to do! On Nov. 23rd I brought my car to WalMart one Sunday after church for an oli change. We had some shopping to do and we had an upcoming 644 mi drive that I wanted it changed prior to. I had a coupon from Tire Kingdom for a 16.99 oil change so I was on a mission! ( Wal Mart excepts competitors coupons BTW). The encounter from the very minute I stepped foot into there Tire and Lube was horrible. The girl at the desk would not accept the coupon, was nasty and finally I called for a manger, who also wouldn't accept the coupon. I finally had them look up their own coupon policy at walmart.com that clearly states they do accept them etc.... so now I think we are getting somewhere! Husband kids and I did some shopping, played with toys, rode bikes in the store etc..... and went back to check on the status. After 1.5 hours- STILL NOTHING. Went back to playing with toys riding bikes etc..... another 1 hour passed..... then the claws came out! The promised our car was next so we sat for another 30 minutes and it was done. GREAT we paid and off we went. THEN the feeling hit- ever had the feeling as if someone has sabotaged you? Almost immediatley after we left the car started driving really funny. It started making noises and just no running smoothly. It has 156k so I just assumed maybe it was coming to it's life expectancy end. Having toyotas in the past that had 250k it just seems a little early. So I continued to drive it as normal and the nosie was persistent. My husband heard it everytime he drove it too- so I know it wasn't me imagining things. The noise was like a loud fanning noise as if a fan was racing. It seemed to be a little louder when I was turning or accelerating. 2.5 to 3 weeks later the oil light started sporadically coming and going. I just fiured it was something with the light and not actually the oil since it was just changed. We ended up making our trip to VA and back to drop off the kids at the in-laws for a week (woohoo) and on the way the AC stopped working for a period of time. I have never had problems with the AC. I have had the air flow sensors replaced but that is it for the rough idoling. We drove home that night and the car started sputtering as we were almost pulling into our neighborhood. Of course I had ome pictures on the dash of the kids, my husband pulled them off and the check engine light was on. I don't know when this came on...... I know BAD! I have been plenty scolded about it. So we talked about it for a day and what the possible course of action we would take and who to take it to Lexus vs. smaller local mechanic. That Tuesday morning I called Lexus and spoke with the same service rep that has worked with me in the past! What a great guy and in conversation we go to the same church. That is a great feeling to know you have an honest person in your corner! I outlined everything I just did above for him and he suggested I bring it in ASAP. He asked the colors of the lights etc... and suggested I not drive it but tow it. I ended up taking my chances because it would be 3 hours before a tow could get to me. Dropped off the car, picked up a wonerful 08' 400h loaner and off I went. Next day got a call from Lexus stating that the car was missing 4.5 quarts of oil and that noise I was hearing was the oil pump. It is damaged. Oh and BTW it also appeared that the OLD oil filter was still on the car....Then a few days went by, New Years came and went and the following Monday I received the news that not only was the oil pump not functioning properly but they had insected the engine and there was internal engine damage as well! The suggested replacing the oil pump and the long block engine to the tune of 11K- OH, is that all??? So needless to say I called Wal Mart, emailed their corporate hq in Arkansas and called my prepaid legal attorney! Wal Mart was to send a claims adjuster in the next few days to Lexus to view my car. In the mean time the rep from Wal Mart's claims department was calling and harrasing me as to who had done my previous oil changes eluding to the fact that the maitenance was not kept up. still not sure what that has to do with 4.5 quarts of oil being absent from the car..... Their claims department came out took several pictures of everything Lexus had found and did their own inspection as well. In addition to what we already knew they found that the oil pump screen was clogged and severly blocked, they found extensive sludge and they found oil leaks in the rear seal and bill house (??) not sure if that's right but I think that is what they said. I am still awaiting a copy of this report. Wal Mart did note that there may be sludge when they did the oil change and may cause engine oil burn off. They also noted that I had 77k for mileage, I have 156k They also noted that they filled my car with 5qt of oil and replaced the filter, checked tire pressure and checked fluids. They also noted that my car pre-fill was full of oil- Now no rocket scientist here BUT if they are trying to say that due to the past maitenance of lack thereof is what casused the engine and oil pump to fail and there were to oil leaks to a slow drip.... which was there exact words..... how the hell did 4.5 qts of oil not leak out of my car from Sept. when my husband changed it last until I took car to Wal Mart in end of November????? But due to the same leaks this is what caused my car to leak 4.5 qts of oil in less than 1 months time???? They said the Wal Mart techs use a wax crayon to make the plug- which has not been tampered with... it aligns perfectly- STILL. If I lost almost a gallon of oil in the driveway I think we could see it...... you can see evidence of oil spoys on the driveway but that are VERY little..... HELP!!! I am going to have to sue Wal Mart and I don't know how to fight this other that stating the obvious above- any suggestions on how I can further button up my case to tell how they did not due their job to create this problem???