Thread: Spun bearings after mechanic replaced head gaskets, UIM and LIM

Sorry, I forgot to mention I drained the oil before I took it to them.

And to add salt in the wound, I sold it on Thursday while it was not showing any signs of problems, got a call from the guy about 2 later, saying there was a problem with the car. I went to check it out, replaced the alternator and battery, fired it up and test drove it, engine died 30 seconds later, and wouldn't turn over again. I towed it home, gave the guy his money back and here I am trying to recoup my losses.

Originally Posted by Fivefingerdeathpunch

yes, but when taking those parts off, coolant is still covering the valley and down on to the rods and crank.

Very true. I should have thought things through a little more when they called me to get the car because it was "done," and I ended up waiting 3 hours when I got there-- and helping them-- while they actually finished it up.

I have never gone to a mechanic before, but isn't it normal for payment to be remitted once the work is complete? They kept asking for payments while they had it, and I actually made $300 in payments along the way so they "could pay their tech." Finally, I told them I'd prefer to make the final payment once the car is done.

The night I picked it up, I wasn't sure I was going to have transportation to pick it up, but they told me payment needed to be made that night, whether I pick it up or not.


Is this normal? Seemed a bit strange to me, but then again I've never used a mechanic before.

I'm afraid if I take anything apart to inspect, they'll say I voided any guarantee, or that I could have done something wrong; but I'm also afraid if I take it to them, they will cover up anything they may have done wrong.

What would you do? I'm considering disassembling their repairs, except the head gasket, and documenting what I do and find in picture and video.

I called them and they'er going to come see it on Monday. I didn't take anything apart, but I opened the hood and saw that the bolt I found in the inside of the vehicle is identical to the LIM bolts. I bet it's one of the sneaky LIM bolts that go inside the LIM, that are usually hidden by oil, and they forgot to put it in.

When I first bought the car, I knew it had a blown head gasket so I drained the oil immediately. It sat for about a month, until I finally removed the UIM and LIM, inspected the UIM and it looked to be in good condition, and probably even new. I then had the car towed to the mechanic's.

When I arrived to pick the car up upon completion, they came up to me before I even entered their property and asked me to go get some oil and a filter, at which time I informed them that I already purchased oil and filter and dropped it off prior, and described the person I left it with. They told me he recently quit, and must have misplaced the oil and filter. So they went to get oil and a filter, and proceeded to finish repairing the car, as I waited and even helped them. The tech that performed the repairs told me they already had the car running, which raised a red flag since they didn't have any oil in the enigne. They came back with the oil, put it in and off I went. It ran great for about 30 miles, until it finally spun a bearing.

I know they didn't drain the coolant contaminated oil in the crank case, since they asked me to go get oil and there was no oil in the engine when I got there; and I believe the tech running the engine with no oil was probably not a good idea. And the bolt? I'm willing to bet that it's one of the LIM bolts that is hidden, and likely contributed to coolant seeping in the oiling system.

Originally Posted by fju2

Very true. I should have thought things through a little more when they called me to get the car because it was "done," and I ended up waiting 3 hours when I got there-- and helping them-- while they actually finished it up.

I have never gone to a mechanic before, but isn't it normal for payment to be remitted once the work is complete? They kept asking for payments while they had it, and I actually made $300 in payments along the way so they "could pay their tech." Finally, I told them I'd prefer to make the final payment once the car is done.

The night I picked it up, I wasn't sure I was going to have transportation to pick it up, but they told me payment needed to be made that night, whether I pick it up or not.


Is this normal? Seemed a bit strange to me, but then again I've never used a mechanic before.

100% not normal.

In response to the above post, if they ran it without oil, its shot.

Best bet is a used motor, change the LIM gaskets and leave it at that.