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trppinnXcal
Novice
Jan 16, 2020, 12:27 PM
Post #1 of 14
(2153 views)
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engine swap
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To whom it may concern,
2015 Dodge journey 3.6L v6 197,629 miles
Took it into a shop for a head gasket. The vehicle has overheating issues, takes about a half hour of normal driving in the summer to start to get hot. Gauge goes to 3/4 and eventually the warning light dings. All this after a thermostat replacement in early September. I ok'd the thermostat fix(IDKY). Still overheats, took it back to the shop, they flushed it five times and about a month later I was told it's got a bad head gasket(which is what I said when I brought it in). It is now November. Since it's got such high miles I opted for an engine swap. It had a bad tick also. The shop put in a 2017 used engine(with a one year warranty). I have been checking up with the shop in about a weekly basis. Had the job price quoted and I ok'd it. The cost is not in dispute. A shop I trust. This shop told me they ordered the wrong crankshaft seal, 2015 not a 2017 so they had to order the correct part(www.rockauto.com has the EXACT same part for both year models it's also the same engine). So I have reason to believe this shop lied to me. So the second to last time I spoke to the shop was about a week before Christmas, when he told me about the crankshaft oil seal. The last time I spoke to the shop they told me they need to drive it for a bit and when they are comfortable with it I will be contacted. "When it's ready I will get in contact with you". So I laid off checking up on them every week. I happen to drive by them every so often and I can see the vehicle just sitting in the back alley with a car or two parked in front of it. Looks to me like it's just sitting there, not being driven.
So my question is, is this shop screwing me over? Are they eating up the warranty? Can I demand my car back? Or does this story sound like auto repair shop protocol?
I've been growing impatient. And I don't want to get mad at them. Any thoughts?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 16, 2020, 1:00 PM
Post #2 of 14
(2142 views)
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Re: engine swap
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? Are you saying this entire thing is hung up on just a part? Also meaning it's in or on a crate waiting but sounds like it's driving just not ready to release to you?
This is too long IMO if they do this then they choose the source for used engines that are 100% ready or easy swaps already a history on engine this new miles, VIN of the donor and it ran (hopefully) for checks was "junked" for another reason.
If it just isn't right that's on them get another you haven't had it back yet to find a problem seems they did. Get another now the salvage folks would swap it for another known to be right.
Sounds like this isn't really for them doing this at all and finding that out. In that case it's up to them to send it out (with permission) for a shop that can this shouldn't take that long IMO.
What to do is up to you but you should want it back or a date at this point enough bull for this can only be IMO,
T
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trppinnXcal
Novice
Jan 16, 2020, 1:13 PM
Post #3 of 14
(2136 views)
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Re: engine swap
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No. Waiting on the job as a whole.....engine swap.
According to the shop, it's in. The whole engine, the oil seal, it runs, doesn't overheat and they also told me it needed an alignment. Didn't want the story to drag on too long so I only mentioned the jist of it. I agree with you, I think they just do small jobs. I asked them way back in September if they wanted to do this and they insisted. My main concern, besides this taking waaaaay toooooooo long, is getting the VIN off the 2017 block. The VIN should be different than the one on the dash.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 16, 2020, 1:46 PM
Post #4 of 14
(2128 views)
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Re: engine swap
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Engines do not have VIN numbers on them. They may have a casting number on the block but that is more like a part number.
This whole job should have taken no more than 2 weeks. It sounds like they were treating it as a "spare time" job and not assigning anyone to it.
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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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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 16, 2020, 1:51 PM
Post #6 of 14
(2122 views)
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Re: engine swap
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Still ? + !
Back to top "they" flushed old engine out 5 times to fix a problem they should have found at least by the second shot at that?
They seem just over their heads with this car and the job at hand doing this WHOLE used engine swap wouldn't be for every shop but probably would be associated with one that does then send you there or handle it that way.
The VIN of donor car has been cancelled on purpose to mark it as "salvage" but should know what is is/was. A responsible salvage yard also has their inventory available to others connected to a network.
IMO this car is too new to be short parts for any length of time like this something went wrong - must have. I can't know but it's time to discuss this with them whatever problems they might have up to employee(s) that left or some unforeseen problem just say it.
Never a need to be nasty it doesn't work but just find out the real scoop why this isn't working out. If you want a guess they ran out of bucks for the quote and too messed up at their end.
That you could find out set up a time and discuss this snag it's been too long IDK how you are getting by without a car you apparently drove a ton a miles on quickly did it ever cool down - not a funny remark but that's fast for that many miles,
T
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trppinnXcal
Novice
Jan 16, 2020, 4:56 PM
Post #7 of 14
(2096 views)
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Re: engine swap
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A discussion is present at every visit, every phone call, albiet brief at times. Seems like excuse after excuse, what is it next time I talk to them? No I'm not angry at all just flustered. I just don't understand why any shop or anybody would do this. Make someone, a customer, wait as long as I have. Am I being too anxious?
Driven to California and back
(This post was edited by trppinnXcal on Jan 16, 2020, 5:03 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 16, 2020, 5:49 PM
Post #8 of 14
(2085 views)
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Re: engine swap
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HT (Hammer Time) above said it's being treated like a "spare time" job. Who's time? Yours I guess now. Bid a lower price use this as work when it's slow. IDK, to me more of a body shop's game work comes and goes but the shop costs stay so keep tech busy.
Somewhere in that is the problem perhaps how techs are paid either hourly or "flat rate" your time for pay is already set by a listed time book on how long things take AVERAGES can be beat if well equipped and experienced both you can beat the clock.
So YOU are not as profitable is the guess and it's just sitting it's not parts there's a shop biz practice in some snag is stuck not just first ones in, first ones out if a lot of work.
I'm not sure what you should do but might try next shot to see if you can find out what cost is at right now but first know of another place to haul it out of there? To even suggest that on my part is a rock and hard place. YOU are writing them off IMO if you did but probably get your car finished in a few days.
You also said California? I plead IDK again. I'm in MA the other ocean with unique car standards almost as bad as a California car once stood out with it's own specs I didn't think that was a total snag for an engine anymore but could be wrong - this new of a car it was if this was older certain engines not available or altered just for that state or area of one!
With that if you have the wrong engine retrofitting the thing to work may be a snag this shop doesn't know now how to dig out of at a loss swap it back out for another that's exact nothing but expected stuff as it is invasive pulling out a heavy part or usually down and out still not for every shop.
Already said if this place is behind on their own costs floating parts bills and other expenses no routine supplies are coming without being paid right away and most repair work is done first then YOU pay for it?
Where do you stand? $$ up front already that might have been spent so they can't now seem like work for free on yours? That would do it.
It's possible this shop is in trouble with bucks to run and behind the 8 ball IDK how you'd know but maybe start thinking of bailing out when first you find another that just might take this on now if you went and got it out.
It's been too long! Why remains unknown to you and to me/us but those some reasons,
Tom
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trppinnXcal
Novice
Jan 16, 2020, 6:14 PM
Post #9 of 14
(2081 views)
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Re: engine swap
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I guess I'm going to have to offer more money. I had the job quoted way back when this all started. Maybe more USD will motivate......
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 16, 2020, 7:45 PM
Post #10 of 14
(2064 views)
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Re: engine swap
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No, no, no.....................
If they aren't demanding more money, don't offer it.
Just let them know you are not accepting the excuses any more and you don't want your car put on the back burner any more.
You have to understand how these shops work
Engine changes are time consuming and don't have a high profit margin but the make great filler when the shop is slow so these guys spend all day doing the bread and butter work with high profit margins and only work on your car when things are slow.
They need to put a tech on it and leave him on it until it is finished.
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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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trppinnXcal
Novice
Jan 23, 2020, 3:34 PM
Post #11 of 14
(1978 views)
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Re: engine swap
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So I call him up, offer more money and say that I can take care of whatever it is that it still needs. I was told he left already. Just as I hung up He calls me and tells me the reason it's been taking so long is bc it's got a check engine light (p)1401. And that he didn't want to give it back to me with a check engine light on. I said I will take care of it. Then he says he needs to load a tune and drive it and "will get you out of here today for sure", his words. Have not heard from him since. The business day is now closed.
I don't get it.
(This post was edited by trppinnXcal on Jan 23, 2020, 3:37 PM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 23, 2020, 3:58 PM
Post #12 of 14
(1970 views)
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Re: engine swap
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You don't get it?
You are being run in circles with pure bullSh!t.
EGR problems can be fixed in one day. He is hiding something and until you get more upset, he is going to continue with these stupid excuses.
I advised not to offer him more money and you did it anyway. I'm surprised he didn't take the money and still continue with the lies.
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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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trppinnXcal
Novice
Jan 23, 2020, 4:10 PM
Post #13 of 14
(1964 views)
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Re: engine swap
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He said he didn't want more money. Never called today after saying he would "keep me informed".What can I do? Confront him on all these excuses? That's about it. Getting angry won't help. Calling a lawyer won't help(I have not paid for it).
I am polite, nice, every time I talk to him. What else can I do?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 23, 2020, 4:21 PM
Post #14 of 14
(1958 views)
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Re: engine swap
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Just go in there and demand your vehicle, finished or not and then you will find out what he has been hiding.
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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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