Guess what I found under the hood of my MS3! (heart patients stay away)

[Hikaru9]

To make a long story short, I felt like giving my car a wash today to rid of all the salt/ chemicals. During my lunch hour, I took it to this newly opened car wash place in Ashburn which my coworker recommended (price range $9~$30). I was admiring the sparkling blue color under the sun as one of the employees was busy drying my MS3. It was all good until I was standing by the door and noticed something sticking out just below my wipers.

I didn't recognize it at first, but I was overcome with shock once I realized what it was. This "thing" had to come from the Mazda dealership because the only time the hood was open was when it was at the shop for the CEL on the 7th of this month - when I was stuck with that white Cobalt for two days. I've been quite happy with the car since I got it back from service, but this just put a bad taste in my mouth. I feel like I had a surgery in my stomach, and the surgeon left one of the scalpels inside me.

Once I popped open the hood, these pliers were stuck to the underside of the hood although they soon fell. Upon close examination, I could see rust spots on the plastic since this thing had been in there for 16 days - we had an ice storm just like week.

At this point I'm not quite sure what to do. I wouldn't want to make a fuss over something minor since nothing seemed to be broken. Should I at least bring it to the dealership's attention? What would you guys do if you found some tool floating around in the engine bay after you had some work done by the dealership?

 

[blthlt]

clean the rust off and be glad you have a new set of pliars! It obviously isnt worth going to the dealer for. I mean what are you gonna say? What would they do to "comp" you for your loss/damages?

 

[16902]

LOL...I've done that before.

Yeah, no need to even bring it up. Free tools!!! Yesss!!!!

 

[xelderx]

clean the rust off and be glad you have a new set of pliars! It obviously isnt worth going to the dealer for. I mean what are you gonna say? What would they do to "comp" you for your loss/damages?

If you find my needle nose pliers I want them back!

 

[LRHK]

As long as it didn't scratch the paint.. you're up a pair of pliers!

 

[smo0f]

i'm sure once you get a CEL again you'll forget all about the pliers

 

[kcbhiw]

Personally, I'd mention it to the dealer so that the same half-assed mechanic would never work on my car, or anyone else's ever again. If he missed one of his own tools during the "tool check" (which any good mechanic should perform), who knows what else he missed. Afterall, he did damage your car (albeit slightly when the tool was jammed into the underside of your hood).

 

[turbofever]

People are human, and they make mistakes.

Get over it.

 

[RENE063]

A-ha, evidence that they at least popped the hood to analyze your problem. So he left a pair of pliers; as stated earlier, if it didn't scratch the paint no worries. You now have an extra set of pliers.

 

[blthlt]

If you find my needle nose pliers I want them back!

I think they are in my car somewhere! I'll look today!

 

[Foolish]

Yeah, if there's no damage: Bonus! Free Pliers!

Guess what I found under the hood of my MS3! (heart patients stay away)

Come on, it's not like you found body parts under the hood!

Bonus? Free knee?

 

[k-lea]

Personally, I'd mention it to the dealer so that the same half-assed mechanic would never work on my car, or anyone else's ever again. If he missed one of his own tools during the "tool check" (which any good mechanic should perform), who knows what else he missed. Afterall, he did damage your car (albeit slightly when the tool was jammed into the underside of your hood).

Agreed. A lot of these responses are thinking this is just a small mistake and you've gained a new set of pliars. There could be more to it than that. I think if a mechanic left a tool in my bay, I'd be curious to know what else is lying around that I don't see.

I myself have left tools in my bay and went for a drive. There are so many things that could happen, that tool could get knocked off from where it sat and do some damage. I wouldn't make a big stink about it, but I'd bring it to their attention.

 

[smo0f]

demand a new car

 

[k-lea]

...go to sleep.

 

[altspace]

People are human, and they make mistakes.

Get over it.

I agree. I know for a fact I've accidentally left a tool in my engine bay before, as have many of my friends. No damage done, you're all set.

 

[peajay]

s*** happens, it didnt hurt anything, now you have new pliers? Why do you feel you need some kind of compensation? It's an honest question. I've been working in dealerships for about a year now and yeah, sometimes you dont find your tools cause you had about a million out and were forced to work on more than one car at once. so you cant always find these things especially if it ended up where it was when the tech was working. tools slip and fall and sometimes you dont know about it. i had a guy come in yesterday to work with a whole set of my torx bits that i had lost under his passenger seat apparently, he came in just to give them back to me. no hard feelings or anything he just wanted me to have them back. i thought it was pretty badass.

 

[ReFlex]

So you didn't get lucky, Only coming out the deal with a new pliers...If you were me you would have found a toolbox under the hood like they did to my car...I LOVE MY DEALERS

 

[Hikaru9]

Thanks ^_^

Judging by the number of responses, perhaps such accident isn't all that uncommon. Thanks everyone for the input, for I just wanted to know what others felt about such issue.

Why do you feel you need some kind of compensation? It's an honest question.

I don't recall ever saying that I wanted any sort of compensation. (read the original post) I've worked many years in the service industry, though not cars (IT), long enough to know that mistakes happen because no one is perfect. It'd be silly to make a big fuss over it since nothing seemed to be harmed; on the other hand, I believe it will be a good idea to at least bring it to their attention and to return this tool that I don't need. The mechanic is probably looking for it. (eekdance)