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Bad replacement motor install - '03 Honda Pilot
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pmarc
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Jun 16, 2014, 2:17 AM
Post #1 of 7
(1606 views)
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Bad replacement motor install - '03 Honda Pilot
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This is both a procedural "next step" request as much as a diagnosis request.
I need some ideas on next steps to take with my mechanic, after he installed a used motor a month ago. The car lags upon accelerating, intermittently. Sometimes it's almost like a stall. Then you keep on the accelerator and it kicks in and you gain speed. Sometimes good all day. Next day bad again. If you have a diagnosis, then that's fine. I'm all ears. But the bigger problem is what the heck to I do next?
He's allowed 3 follow-up service calls, charged me only for one call after replacing coils and plugs. No idea what he looked at in service call #1 and #2. We could be doing this for months.
I spent $2,000 for the install and the car runs bad, and of course it's dangerous (you don't know when you're NOT going to accelerate) and I can't make a living when I'm in his shop.He's offering almost free return visits for as long as it takes him to fix it permanently.
Mechanic purchased the used motor from a local supplier.
My ideas any good? 1) demand $2,000 back and get a second motor installed by someone else and give back the first mechanic his motor, 2) keep getting free service with current mechanic and pray he finds the problem, 3) ???
In Massachusetts what are my legal rights, generally? I hold no one responsible in this forum. I'll take anything on advisement.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 16, 2014, 2:35 AM
Post #2 of 7
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Re: Bad replacement motor install - '03 Honda Pilot
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I'm from MA. If this was a total and complete used motor like I've been familiar with the source place (junkyard) will give you credit for the motor but nothing to do with labor if not good.
Most would take what was known good for the next one that matches exactly.
Locally the places selling whole engines spend a lot of effort to get only good ones as far as knowing as much as possible -- miles, compression results and print that out. They don't cover every detail on how an engine runs and accessories and items for the particular engine.
You were given (you said that) 3 comeback for whatever adjustments by the place that installed it and now run those out.
Perhaps go to another place for a diagnosis now and go from there,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 16, 2014, 3:09 AM
Post #3 of 7
(1590 views)
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Re: Bad replacement motor install - '03 Honda Pilot
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I wouldn't bee in too much of a hurry to push for another motor. Chances are that they had to transfer over a lot of your old sensors and external parts and one of them may be the issue. They might pay close attention to the MAF.
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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.
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pmarc
User
Jun 16, 2014, 8:43 AM
Post #4 of 7
(1566 views)
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Re: Bad replacement motor install - '03 Honda Pilot
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I wouldn't bee in too much of a hurry to push for another motor. Chances are that they had to transfer over a lot of your old sensors and external parts and one of them may be the issue. They might pay close attention to the MAF.
On the invoice it says they installed a new O2 sensor. They also did say it has to be external to the engine. So i guess we're in the troubleshooting stage to find the part that's bad.
Engine was replaced cause the original one blew a cylinder. Maybe another original external part broke in that process. I assumed, til now, the condition of the car at the time the cyl blew is identical to when they installed the new motor, minus the blown cyl. So new motor, no problem.
How typical is it to undergo troubleshooting post install?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 16, 2014, 11:09 AM
Post #5 of 7
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Re: Bad replacement motor install - '03 Honda Pilot
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With everything perfect it's invasive to swap out a motor any which way. Motor basics are probably fine but in YANKING it out of the donor and then your old one out and this one in a lot gets bumped, unplugged etc., so you keep the best of the two of them and plain replace certain things. Like you change the oil and so on.
They've had a few tries to make it run properly and missed it somehow but you didn't say if the person or place has said the replacement motor as a whole is NG yet and I doubt it.
Seems it just needs all things in place and operational as originally intended and isn't there yet. Many shops don't want this kind of work as it can take up too much time and space. If they took it on they owe you to find out why it isn't running properly and fix it and there would be a charge if neither old or new had some item that is no good now.
If crated new engine was used there's still tons of things to use from the old one. You don't get everything you glance at when you open the hood and look at it either way.
Diagnosis now by them or another but frankly I think the place that swapped it owes you at least the reason why it isn't right yet,
T
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pmarc
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Jun 16, 2014, 12:10 PM
Post #6 of 7
(1554 views)
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Re: Bad replacement motor install - '03 Honda Pilot
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No one has blamed the motor. They just want to get it right. $2,000 is cheap. Quotes were higher. So if they get it right with another $500 of parts I'll consider myself lucky. I am relieved to know it's not a slam dunk by replacing a motor. And also probably not an incompetence issue. They've been good in the past.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 16, 2014, 12:51 PM
Post #7 of 7
(1547 views)
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Re: Bad replacement motor install - '03 Honda Pilot
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Refresh quote from top post:
("
I need some ideas on next steps to take with my mechanic, after he installed a used motor a month ago. The car lags upon accelerating, intermittently. Sometimes it's almost like a stall. Then you keep on the accelerator and it kicks in and you gain speed. Sometimes good all day. Next day bad again. ")
1. It's been a month so there should be codes to lead to the area of this problem. In that it can run good all day intermittently suggests the engine in general if fine. If for some reason it always behaves perfectly when in their hands and no clues exist they are stuck and seemed to guess at some likely things that didn't work. Bad luck or not enough equipment remains unknown.
2. In the course of the swap lots gets disconnected and swapped from old to new and you understand that.
* Perhaps wishful thinking but they took it on and if they can't find it should send it out themselves.
YOU said you are in MA. Long done with this stuff and well noted in my area (MetroWest of Boston) is changing fast for the trades. Existing long time old shops slowly but surely get torn down as owners want out of biz or cash in on the property. None were redone into new shops! Dunkin' Donuts can make it but high end techs can't! Shocking. I know you can't spend all day even waiting but places can't waste time either as the expenses don't stop in any just worse around me anyway.
Again - they took it on and you seem to both like and trust them/him so talk it out what to do next. IDK what else to suggest?
Tom
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