Automotive help: coil pack replacement turns into a failed engine?

[cfortune]

I have a 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser that started misfiring on a cylinder back on Thursday. I took it into a shop near me on Friday and they replaced the coil pack yesterday. I also requested that they change the oil. Engine has about 213k on it. Initial symptoms were my check engine light came on after work on Thursday when I was about halfway home (I'm only 12 miles away from work). I noticed I got quite a bit of vibration when coming out of an idle state but other than that, it drove fairly normal. I stopped at Autozone on my way home and had them read the codes. Came back a misfire on cylinder 8. Then I drove it about 3 miles to the mechanic.

Well, they called me yesterday stating that the engine was having major problems after the coil replacement. I stopped by and the the engine is knocking like crazy. The engine is obviously ruined. I called a few Toyota dealerships and everyone I spoke with thought it was crazy to blame a total engine failure on putting a few miles (less that 10) on an engine that has a single cylinder misfiring. Most of them thought the oil change sounded more suspect than the misfire. The owner of the shop keeps putting it on "I don't know the condition of the vehicle when you brought it in" and is basically refusing to be of any help.

I just went in and got squared away with them and am having the vehicle towed to an actual Toyota dealership. Hopefully they can find the cause of the failure.

Do I have any recourse here? What would some of you have done in this situation? Is there any liability on the mechanic for a failure that happens when they're driving it (the in and out mileage log after picking it up was a whole 2 mile difference)? Anything else I should try and find out?

[TFOGGER]

2 miles without oil would be a problem...

[cfortune]

2 miles without oil would be a problem...

My thoughts exactly. If these guys tried to cover their ass and finished off the oil change, would another tech be able to tell that was the cause of the engine malfunction? My first thought was they might have started on the oil change on Friday then neglected to finish it come Monday when they got the coil pack in. I brought that up to the owner this morning and he said "I guess that is a possibility" then later on the phone, after getting a little heated and at a loss for words, just repeated "Impossible".

[TFOGGER]

If they pull the pan and inspect the rod bearings, that will tell the tale. If it shows damage to more than 1 or 2 rod bearings, then it lost oil pressure. On a 200K engine, that is a possibility, but the coincidence that it happened right after an oil change would be hard to accept.

[00tec]

I drove Will's car to my house from his with a misfire. No problem. Google says that's 23 miles.
Turns out, one of those bunnies you haven't murdered chewed on the coil wires.

Someone forgot the oil

[MarkCO]

BEFORE anyone tears into it, file an insurance claim with the shop's carrier, or, at least, your insurance if you have the coverage.

Once it is opened, you might have an issue.

I do failure analysis, lots of engines, for a living and most mechanics are not aware of what needs to be preserved, nor the rights of the potential defendant to examine and witness the inspection.

[Hound]

Sounds like you need to call Mark.

BEFORE anyone tears into it, file an insurance claim with the shop's carrier, or, at least, your insurance if you have the coverage.

Once it is opened, you might have an issue.

I do failure analysis, lots of engines, for a living and most mechanics are not aware of what needs to be preserved, nor the rights of the potential defendant to examine and witness the inspection.

[zteknik]

"I don't know the condition of the vehicle when you brought it in."
That right there says a lot.
Now I don't know about other techs, but when I get a vehicle in wit an issue I make damn sure I know the condition of the vehicle so it will make sure that I don't do a faulty diagnoses..
Lots of guys will call a coil pack without even testing it,let alone test the compression or fuel system( other causes of a misfire condition
To me it sounds like the guy doesn't know his diagnostics and has some schleps working for him.

Take it to a reputable dealer ( save your tow receipts, rental receipts and so on ) and do like Mark said . Get pictures and documentation on everything.
If it proves out the shop toasted your engine sue him for the damages and let the dealer do the work.

[cfortune]

Some good advice here. Thanks guys.

[CHA-LEE]

And this is why I always change my own oil.

The vast majority of the time the "Mechanics" that get put on Oil Changing duty are the guys that suck at being Mechanics.