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New(used) Motor install


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JJBoogs
New User

Dec 29, 2016, 6:31 AM

Post #1 of 9 (2123 views)
post icon New(used) Motor install Sign In

I just paid a mechanic for an engine installed in my 2003 Toyota Highlander. The engine and installation cost me $2500. When I began driving it, I turned on the radio and the heat and the radio just went out and I smelled electric burning behind the heater radio part of the dash. I called the mechanic and he didn't know what it was. It then died and wouldn't restart at first, it then restarted and immediately died. I took it back to him and he found a secondary ignition fuse had burned out and he replaced it but had no idea about my radio and insisted it had nothing to do with the replacement of the motor. Since I got it back, I noticed a serious jerking when I drove it. I had a loss of power and I was afraid it would die again. He told me he has no idea what it could be. I ended up taking it to another shop and they immediately found the bad ground causing the electrical problems. They replaced the ground. The jerking, however, was the big issue. They found that all 6 coils were cracked and the oil had been leaking into them and causing misfires of all 6 plugs. They also said the engine was 2 quarts low. there was about a quart's worth of oil leaked into the coils so that left another full quart they didn't put into the engine when they installed it. My question is should I have an expectation on a replaced motor to have all my coils in working condition?


kev2
Veteran
kev2 profile image

Dec 29, 2016, 7:30 AM

Post #2 of 9 (2107 views)
Re: New(used) Motor install Sign In

As old as time- caveat emptor.
A used engine ? What was your expectation -
Used parts are an euphemism


JJBoogs
New User

Dec 29, 2016, 7:42 AM

Post #3 of 9 (2102 views)
Re: New(used) Motor install Sign In

My expectation was a motor with working parts. I mean MAYBE a coil could be cracked, but all 6? He didn't bother to check? I would think that would be something he would be responsible for.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Dec 29, 2016, 7:44 AM

Post #4 of 9 (2100 views)
Re: New(used) Motor install Sign In

This is the difference between a reputable shop doing that job for $3500 or a fly by night shop doing it for $2500.

The reputable shop would have first shopped carefully for a good, low mileage engine that didn't have issues, probably pay a little more for it. He then would have repaired/replaced any and all external components that could fail any time in the foreseeable future such as any oil leaks, water pump, spark plugs, filters, belts and hoses so when he was finished you would have no problems with that engine for at least a year.

He also would have road tested the vehicle thoroughly to make sure there were no issues.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



JJBoogs
New User

Dec 29, 2016, 8:00 AM

Post #5 of 9 (2096 views)
Re: New(used) Motor install Sign In

I would agree with that. I would have gladly paid $3000 for this to be done correctly. I had no real base for comparison as I have never had an engine replaced on a vehicle before. I was also at a disadvantage because I took the vehicle to a "friend of the family" my gf had known since she was a kid who had always done very good work and she trusted. That was especially important as I just moved to this area and didn't have any mechanics I knew or trusted more than the next. I guess what I am saying is that I don't need to be told what I did wrong as far as who I took it to or how much a reputable mechanic would have charged me. I just want to know if YOU bought an engine and had it installed would YOU expect the coils to be all in working order?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Dec 29, 2016, 8:19 AM

Post #6 of 9 (2085 views)
Re: New(used) Motor install Sign In

I just totally answered that question. You get what you pay for and you didn't pay for new coils.

There are a hundred different ways to sell an engine job and this was the unprofessional way with a good price.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Dec 29, 2016, 8:29 AM

Post #7 of 9 (2083 views)
Re: New(used) Motor install Sign In

This is tough as it's used and not said yet who checked out the used motor?


IDK - Hope none are needed in whole as something must have gone all wrong to need one to begin with. So be it. I want a reputable salvage yard to either have one still in a smashed vehicle that may run with info right in front of me OR locally places totally record miles, vehicle it came from and results of a compression check with more on that engine if already pulled and crated.


Nobody wins for a bad one. All should be done with new oil, filter, hoses as needed and any tune up items plus if needed computer acquaint the new with the vehicle it goes into.


OK: Local to me the seller guarantees the engine is good for so long and so many miles. Installer usually charges the labor and parts for the swap and most will NOT cover a bad engine for labor of another if all messed up.


If in the course of handling it messed some things up you swap what you can and is reasonable from the old one.


I still can't see the installer handing you back the thing with a single flaw as it should have been tested and driven before you got it back at all. I don't know from here what the heck got butchered but somehow doesn't seem like enough attention was given to this major job,


T



JJBoogs
New User

Dec 29, 2016, 1:53 PM

Post #8 of 9 (2059 views)
Re: New(used) Motor install Sign In

I don't know why the mechanic didn't test it himself. It appears as if he is an absentee owner and just delegates jobs to his "best guys." He trusted them, I trusted him. It all just kind of went south.
On a side note, While I had my vehicle parked in his enclosed lot, "someone" broke into my car and stole all my tools out of it. Granted, I should have taken them home when i dropped the car off, but I had it towed directly there from the place it broke down on my way to work. 2 weeks later when I went to pick it up the first time, it was devoid of about $3000 worth of sockets, tool bags, jumper cables and my stereo. He said he looked at the video and it's so dark you can't tell who it is. Small claims court I think for the whole thing.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Dec 29, 2016, 2:28 PM

Post #9 of 9 (2053 views)
Re: New(used) Motor install Sign In

Dang - Bummer on top of a bummer! Do they still have your original engine to swap what was good from?


Said before, nobody wins with a failed used motor swap out. It may be fine just bumped around too much and nobody checked it all out?


"Absentee" owner by just good grace should help make this good for you - perhaps not free but a break if another whole one is required.


IDK - sorry about the theft on top and check on any insurance of yours or theirs that might help with that and see if you can just get this finished off right or yet again another but if that poorly checked from where it came from I'm disappointed.


Never had the place or overhead area or hoist just for this so had an agreement and procured engines myself for customers and spend all the time I could choosing the right one and go see the vehicle it came out of tells a lot tool Nice wreck from the rear or something not engine involved and was running when salvaged.


Sorry for the hassle - it sure is and lots to check AFTER install that it's all OK or what. Apparently not,


T







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