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Facing Thrown-Rod After Major Repair
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Oct 7, 2008, 3:44 PM
Post #1 of 4
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Facing Thrown-Rod After Major Repair
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I own a 2003 Kia Rio that I absent-mindedly forgot to have the timing belt replaced before the 70,000 miles arrived as the warranty required. The timing belt snapped and I then had an engine that was ruined (with a voided warranty to boot). I don't know precisely the damage, but it involved a fractured piston, damaged head, among other things.
The car was paid off and so I had just recently used it to consolidate some debt and used the car as the lien, so I felt stuck into paying to have the motor replaced.
The garage I took the car to told me that Kia Rio motors were in short supply, but that he could repair the damage of the motor I had. He had a replacement piston machined and tore it all apart to fix the darn thing. $2,600 and a week later, I got the car back with a one year warranty for the work, and everything seemed fine - it ran and sounded like a charm.
But not two weeks later, I was driving a surface street at about 40 mi an hour when she threw a rod. The mechanic now tells me that it was a different rod than on the piston he repaired. He says he feels some responsibility, but that there was no way for him to know that the stress on the other rod was over-maxed. He states that he feels bad for the money I already forked out, and that he'll meet me half-way and put a replacement motor in for only $1,700.
Obviously I've made some mistakes here, but I'm hoping for some advice that will limit any more financial catastrophe for me.
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DanD
Veteran
/ Moderator
Oct 8, 2008, 3:27 AM
Post #2 of 4
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Re: Facing Thrown-Rod After Major Repair
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Being on the sideline here it would be easy for anyone to say, he should repair this with no cost to you; but hindsight is 20/20.
I myself would not have just repaired the one cylinder/piston; with out you knowing the possible different outcomes.
There is no way of knowing if other cylinders were not hurt without a complete disassembly. Once the engine is completely disassembled for inspection; it doesn’t go back together without a lot more cost. As in a complete set of bearings, rings and machine work, to all components.
This is where I think he made his mistake by not giving you the choice of a complete rebuild or what he did, in an attempt to save some of these costs.
It should have been your choice to throw the dice; whether to take the gamble of coming up snake eyes?
With him willing to do the seconded repair at the cost you mentioned; you are not likely going to be all that much more out of pocket; as in if the complete rebuild were done in the first place.
I know it’s hard to put a price tag on the aggravation but at least he seems ready to work with you?
Dan.
Canadian "EH"
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Oct 8, 2008, 12:49 PM
Post #3 of 4
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Re: Facing Thrown-Rod After Major Repair
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What I don't get is that the money I've already spent was equivalent to replacing the engine altogether, yet all I got for it was the same motor and more aggravation, and out more money.
I think what he is offering at this point is replace the motor with another one, probably from a junkyard? Is this going to just hand me another whole set of problems? How trustworthy will this fix be?
Would it make sense for me to try to negotiate a lower price than the $1700 on this situation?
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DanD
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/ Moderator
Oct 9, 2008, 3:26 AM
Post #4 of 4
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Re: Facing Thrown-Rod After Major Repair
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Yes possibly more money and aggravation; aggravation that you can’t turn into anger. Keep a cool head while talking with this person and yes I would try and negotiate something better then a used engine.
Like I said and strongly believe; you should have been given the choice, of patch repairing this hurt engine or a complete rebuild of.
By what you’re telling us; he said he would fix this engine; he made his choice/attempt and it didn’t work out, the way it was hoped too. Not your fault but in his defense; he may have been trying to save you some money by going that route? No one is going to win in this deal and money is going too have to be spent.
What I would suggest, is that you would pay betterment on a reconditioned short block. A short block is a complete lower portion of the engine; less the cylinder head. In other words the bottom half of an engine.
The cylinder head the way I understand from your first post was repaired/reconditioned and was working fine before the connecting rod went?
If so; have the original head installed, on the reconditioned short block making this damn near a complete rebuild?
Why I say betterment, is that you didn’t bring him a freshly reconditioned engine, which had a broken timing belt. You brought him a 03 Rio with 70,000 miles on it; that no doubt had some form of wear on it.
Now for argument sake, lets say your original engine was 60% worn out; that’s what you would pay, towards the reconditioned short block?
He supplies all labour and then; you two hash out all the incidentals; ie: gaskets, fluids whatever goes along with this kind of repair?
I think this is about the fairest way of getting the car fixed and back on the road.
Just remind this person that you’re willing to step up with some extra money and he didn’t do the first repair without making a profit; so he needs to throw a few coins into the kitty as well; not just his time.
Dan.
Canadian "EH"
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