My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: Kentucky

Last Monday, the check engine light in my car came on so I set up an appointment with a local mechanic to check the code. On my way to the mechanic's shop, my car nearly broke down completely. The mechanic told me that my some seals on my engine had busted and that it would be $300-$400 to fix it.

He believed that it was because the last mechanic to change my oil (done only 11 days prior to this) had overfilled it. He called that mechanic shop to have them come take a look at it so that they might cover some of the charges.

I had already explained to him that I could not afford $300-$400 until after I get paid again on the 15th. He told me that he would be willing to work with me and that he would give me 3 weeks to pay him.

In order to start the service, however, he would need a deposit of half down. He wrote out a receipt showing that the estimate was $400 and that I paid him $200.

The mechanic called me on Tuesday to tell me that the damage was not caused by my oil being overfilled rather that it was because my oil pump was "full of sludge" and that it would also need to be replaced. He stated that a new oil pump would cost between $60 and $100 and requested that I pay him $150 up front for the oil pump.

He assured me that he would work with me on the rest of the payment, would only charge me $45/hour for the labor, and would give me 2-3 weeks to finish paying.

This mechanic has told me on 4 different occasions on 4 different days that he would have my car back to me by the end of the day. After the fourth time, I've become quite understandably frustrated. I've called to check on my car the day after he's told me I would have it by the end of the day every time.

Now the mechanic is stating that I will have to pay him all of the money up front before I can get my car back. He has refused to even give me an estimate on how much more I will have to pay him with this additional work he has had to do.

So, essentially, this is what I do and do not have:

* I have one receipt showing a $400 estimate to replace the seals and showing that I have paid him $200 so far.
* I have one receipt showing that I have paid him $160 (I only had $20's and he had no change as he came to my apartment to pick up the money) for the oil pump.
* I do not have an actual estimate for the additional work.
* I do not have anything in writing stating that he will charge me only $45/hour or that he will allow me to pay him within 3 weeks.


What are my legal rights in this matter?
I know there's a law which allows him to charge me only so much over an estimate. So what is the procedure when he has literally refused to give me an estimate for the additional work?
What would he be able to do if I just stopped by, grabbed my car, and told him to send me the bill per our original verbal agreement?