Orlando, Fla,None — "It felt like it wasn't going to keep going, then it would kick in." Kathy Arasim says her car started choking and stalling right after filling the gas tank at a Kangaroo Express near Kissimmee. Later, the car would not start so she had it towed to a repair shop where the mechanic found engine damage. "He said where did you buy your gas, it's full of water."
According to Kathy, the mechanic did not find any fuel system leak that could have caused it. Her repair bill was 650 dollars plus a rental car and expenses. Convinced the station sold bad gas, Kathy filed a complaint with it's corporate office. Within a week she got a letter rejecting her claim. "I blame the corporation that denied my claim when I have testimony from a mechanic who says that's what caused it."
Like many others, this consumer made a key mistake, not contacting the state the day you suspect gas in the water.
The Division of Consumer services regulates gas stations and since 2008 it received nearly 2 thousand complaints from drivers who claim there was water in their fuel. Experts say it can happen when there's condensation inside tanks and filters fail. "With the high humidity we have in Florida it draws moisture in--that's why most stations test for it," said repair expert Jay Zembower.
The state inspected gas stations within a day of receiving the complaints and about 25 percent of the time they found contamination. Since calling us, Kathy contacted the state. Its investigator could not find a problem at that gas station but that was 5 weeks later so it could not rule out a problem the day Kathy filled her tank. "All I did was purchase gas from Kangaroo Express," said Kathy. She has filed a small claims lawsuit.
Kangaroo Express said its investigation found nothing wrong with the gas but cant comment because of the lawsuit.
WFTV
