I was forced to replace my 3L vulcan due to a dropped valve. It dropped inside the cylinder scratching the cylinder walls to ****. I had my truck towed to a repair shop the following day.

I talked to the manager of the repair shop and he set me up with a junkyard vulcan with 75,000km on it. I asked alot of "what if" questions like what if the engine burns oil? He told me its a very reputable junk yard and he knows the owner very well. He went on to say that he's been dealing with this junkyard for over 10 years. He followed up with saying if the engine isn't running "quiet as a church mouse" we'll take it out and find another one. He went on to say that the junkyard had this engine running and its a "very smooth and solid engine" and that it comes with a 90day warranty covering major stuff like starter motors, fuel pumps, ect. I "verbally" agreed, and they ordered the engine.

*Fast forward a few days*

I got a call yesterday morning that they have the new engine installed but its running really rough. They offered me a tuneup for $316 that would replace the spark plugs, fuel filter, plug wires, oil filter and new oil. I didn't have transportation to go see the engine beforehand so I just took their word on it and "verbally over the phone" gave them the go ahead to tune it up. I got a call an hour and a half later saying that we test drove it and its running great now. Its ready to be picked up.

*next day*

I got a ride over to the repair shop late in the day. I paid them the $3500! *cough* and they drove my truck out of the shop. The man gave me the keys and I fired it up as he walked back into the shop. I popped the hood and had a look around, inspecting their work and checking fluid levels and such. Satisfied I closed the hood and got in the truck. Just as I was climbing in the engine starts sputtering then stalls. I started it up again and it struggled to hold an idle. Then I noticed the "check engine" light was on. I left it running and walked into the shop to let them know. The guy at the front desk went to go ask one of the mechanics what was going on. As he walked away I saw my truck stall again. He came back saying that my O2 sensor is shot. He said we could fix it for you but your probably already sick of dumping money into this engine. I said "I'll think about it" and drove home.

***I think I'll take the time to say that my knowledge of engines is quite limited compared to a mechanic, at the time I didn't know that an o2 sensor would affect how the engine runs***

The 20min drive home was horrible. The engine stalled twice, once at a stop sign and again just randomly while I was driving down the highway. I finally got home and talked to my dad about it. He told me that their probably lying to me about the 02 sensors, as they are located in the exhaust. He said that because the old engine ran smooth there shouldn't be anything wrong with them. So there must be some other sensors affecting the engine right?

If what my dad said is true, im thinking the repair shop is trying to blame the problem on me "ie. my 02 sensors that were working great with the old engine" so they can cover their *** and avoid the responsibility of replacing them.

I called the manager of the shop and talked to him about the situation. I reminded him that he verbally promised that this engine would be running good. I also mentioned that I've already spent $3500 on a piece of crap engine that barely runs, paid $300 for a so called "tune up" that did absolutely nothing and now im suppose to take his word that once these o2 sensors get replaced it'll be running smooth. He responded with something along the lines of well we cant use magic to see into these engines. He said "maybe I can give you a small discount on the labor if you do decide to replace the sensors" I responded with: You guys did a "tune up" and told me over the phone that the engine was running smooth now. If you lied about that why would I trust you to do anything else?" He finally said "well were not obligated to pay to have the sensors replaced at our expense". The conversation ended with a few words that shouldn't be repeated.

Anyway I'm quite pissed off about this. I feel I shouldn't have to pay a cent more. My dads not a rich man but he said he's so pissed off about this that hes willing to dump alot of his money into a court case if it comes down to it. Im hesitant to take it that far though. Really its one word against another and I dont think it would solve anything.

What should I do?

to sum it all up im down $3500 and have a ****ty engine that should have been sold to a scrap metal dealer.

 

$3500??? My buddy recently bought a reman engine (basically everything is new) and had it installed all for under $2000. He had problems with the first engine that he got but the place gave him a new engine since they warranty their engines, He did end up paying for labor since the engine place didn't change the engine the first time.

 

That really sucks, thats why I love having a good relationship with the mechanics that work on my baby. I know shes always in good hands, and when something doesn't run right when they're done with it they will make good.

I wish I had more advice for you, but it seems like you got screwed over and they are trying to find something else to make money off you on...

Sean

 

do you have an advance auto near ya? If you do, go there and use their code readers.. figure out yourself what the trouble codes are...then you know what is really going on.

 

is this a privatly owned shop? go in there and raise hell, what do you have to loose?

 

that is terrible at that point i woulda bought a new truck and parted out the old one but thats me

 

Is you name really dale gribble?

 

rusty shacklford must have been taken...

are you actually from New Sarepta, Alberta, or is that as true as your name (assuming your name IS false, and you have a sense of humor).

i'm not that far from you, i'm just north of red deer.

 

You could have done a 2.3 turbo swap for a lot cheaper than that. Just might have taken a little bit longer doing it all yourself locating parts.

 

Hwhat the hell?

 

i would find out the jyard he got the engine from contact them and ask what the warr on engines are. then i would ask for a detailed invoice from the repair shop showing part numbers and such. they should atleast have a invoice they can show you for parts purchased. I work at a jyard and i sold a 3.0L with 50k on it for 650. out of a 03 ranger. so in all honesty you should have walked out of the engine swap for around 1200-1500 installed.

 

Did they give you an invoice that indicates in any way the vehicle ran fine when it left their shop?? Any sort of shop warranty?? Tell them that they told you it was fixed and it's not and they can fix it for you or you can go to BBB.... maybe have another shop do an estimate on it?? Or atleast diagnose....

 

I forgot to mention that my prices are in Canadian dollars

It was $1150 for the engine and $1720 for 17 hours labor installing it. And tax on top of that

Its a chain shop called Fountain Tire, I think they only have locations in Alberta.

Yup, I would have to, but since I lost my plumbing job when Alberta's economy took a dive my parents had to pay for everything. And since they were paying for it they didn't want to spend several thousand more to buy me a new truck. I understand it from their point of view, its just really unfortunate

No thats just me "being funny"

Damn i wish I had thought of that. And yes I am from New Sarepta, Alberta.

I thought about this (or the 4L) to but im not skilled enough to do it myself nor do I have an engine hoist nor a garage. Also I dont know if the engine mounts are in the same place as the 3L, would I need a new computer, transmission ect.

Good call. I'll try and contact the junkyard tomorrow.
They did give me an invoice:

Trans/drivetrain:
Pilot Bearing = $14.56

Fluids:
Oil change service + filter = $59.95! WTF!

Tune up: (which didn't do a damn thing) = Fuel filter, spark plugs, and plug wire set (all of which they could have got off my original engine) = $316.95!

Engine: "used engine" $1149 + labor $1720 + tax = $2869

Other Mechanical: "shop supplies" <- whatever the hell this means = $78.30


Coming to a grand total of $3511.98 (customer satisfaction not included)

 

Shop supplies is a general term to cover things like gloves, carb cleaner, recycling oil fees, and other disposable shop items that can't really be "billed" otherwise.

 

Oh ok.


I just got to thinking today how much money the average person could save over the course of a lifetime if they had enough automotive knowledge to do everything themselves.

 

Head Office
Fountain Tire HQ:

Phone:
1.800.222.6481 (Canada only)
780.464.3700

Fax:
780.464.0920

Street Address:
8801 - 24 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T6P 1L2

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 4530
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
T6E 5G4

go to the store and tell them why you are unhappy. suggest that they remedy the problem. if not, file a complaint with their HQ.

 

time to pick up a wrench and start figuring it out. we all had to start somewhere and this should be motivation enough to want to learn.

 

ty, I'll get on that tomorrow.

Totally agree. I routinely change my own oil, tranny fluid and stuff like that but that's kid stuff. I've dissembled cleaned and resembled the 4 carburetors on my motorcycle twice, a little more advanced (by my standards) but I cant say I've ever slammed my knuckles against an engine block while trying to loosen a rusty bolt, wiping the blood off on an oil stained rag and going *oh oh oh* like Tim Alen. I think it's long overdue.

I love doing mechanical stuff the only thing that stops me is not knowing how to do it.

 

follow the rules next time and i wont lock the thread.