Do I Have a Valid Negligence Claim

[kool]

My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: California
I'm looking to file a claim against Harry's Automotive Service in Oakland Ca.

I have an 88 Chevy Camaro IROC Z-28 that I brought to him to have serviced.

Before I gave Harry the car I had the engine rebuilt. I spent close to $4000 on just the engine alone. The mechanic that I had do the rebuild wasn't able to finish the rebuild due to other projects he had going on so I brought the car to Harry to have him finish the work. It costs me an additional $2000+ to have Harry to do the rest of the work.

My car overheated and I took it back to my original mechanic to have him work on it since he's closer to me than Harry's. When he went to do the work he informed me that 2 vital wires that are used to gauge the temperature weren't connected. As he got further into his work it was determined that the heads were cracked and the pistons went bad as a result of the car overheating. All the money I invested into the engine was a loss.

I work as an operating engineer crane apprentice. Good crane operators make $150000 a year. Since I'm an apprentice I don't even make 1/3 of that yet but I still make decent money.

When I brought my car to Harry I was just starting my job and I needed my car ASAP, so whatever money he needed to get the car fixed I gave him without question. I think that Harry tried to take advantage of me because of this.

Another reason I have this suspicion is because before the car overheated it was losing oil, which shouldn't have occurred since the engine was just rebuit. When I took it to my original mechanic he showed me where a piece that should have been connected wasn't. After he connected the piece I stopped losing oil.

I love IROC's. I've wanted one since I was 12 years old and I'm 32 now. It hurts to invest all that time and money into the car and now I have to get rid of it. It'll cost another $5000 to rebuild the engine again. I don't have time for that since my job is not based in one city. I'm fortunate to have worked in the same city for as long as I have. I have to use the car for a trade in now.

All I want back is the money I spent to have Harry do the work he did. And the money I have to use as a down payment on another car.

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[jk]

You are not due the money for a down payment. You might be due what Harry charged you, maybe not, maybe more.

You are due whatever damages Harry caused you.

Why did the car overheat? How did you know it was over heating?

Did the oil loss cause you any damage?