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Brown Mazda

Combine Your Auto & Home Insurance and Save! -- Adv.

Glenn of Herndon, VA, writes:

I have a 1997 Mazda 626, a car which I purchased used with 16K on the odometer. I have owned the car now for approximately 8 months - the car is still under factory warranty for another two weeks.

Last week the car underwent a transmission replacement that the dealer authorized after substantiating my suspicion that it was slipping. The car was delivered to me about a week later "repaired".

From the moment I got the car back it behaved oddly, culminating with my "check engine" light staying lit. The dealership advised that I bring the car in immediately which I did.

Monday, January 29 2000 I spent about 6 hours at the dealership waiting on them to diagnose the problem (the engine was surging and the idle was haphazard). Finally I test drove it, and it "seemed" fine.

Yesterday, February 1, 2000 the transmission started to slip out of gear about two miles from my home. Long story short, thick acrid smoke plumed from undeneath my car as I lost the transmission completely. Again.

The car was towed at dealer's expense and is with them now pending repair. I think this car is a lemon, or at least the transmission is. What can I do? Do I qualify for any of the reimbursements?

Since the car is used, it may not qualify under Lemon Law guidelines. Glenn needs to contact an expert in Virginia's Lemon Law.

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