Paying a garage to fix a problem and having the problem come back

-Ad- · 13 May 2012 at 07:17

Muffin` said:
He said I could buy some JDM beans off him too but I need to consult Ad first.

1993 was fine vintage, but the 1994-1995 harvest was terrible

Sounds like the communication was lacking and along with the errors have quite rightly left a sour taste. Definitely stand your ground on the issue of the stereo and maybe he should offer a FOC inspection of the works done (not inside the engine), just to make sure everything is hunky dory, done up, with no leaks or missing bolts/parts.

The Edge · 13 May 2012 at 08:33

The trouble with these owners club places is that some quite amateurish, don't make a whole heap of money and charge very good labour rates. They rely to a point on the owner knowing exactly what is wrong with the car and have a bit of a circle of customers who go nowhere else keeping them ticking over comfortably. Nice way to spend the last few working years of your life!

I've encountered two places with my porsche, one guy - very highly recommended on TIPEC, ex porsche mechanic etc etc - whose favourite phrase was "call me tomorrow" (Came to the conclusion after three weeks that he just didn't want to do it), the other was open that he didn't have time to look at it, spent 15 minutes on the phone with me, diagnosed a faulty ecu and supplied a good used one.

Guess where i'll be going back to.

Matt82 · 13 May 2012 at 09:33

You are so amazingly patient. Thats the level of patience I think an engine rebuild would require

Locky · 13 May 2012 at 09:43

So muffin, are you going to chase up the missing radio?

Muffin` · 14 May 2012 at 08:05

Locky said:
So muffin, are you going to chase up the missing radio?

Poll?

'Should Muffin MTFU'

Yes
No

Dogbreath · 14 May 2012 at 08:46

-Ad- said:
Not an amateur outfit at all.

Because all good garages leave cars unattended and unlocked so the head unit can be stolen.

All good garages leave important earthing cables loose causing people to break down on motorways.

As for "Looks like the ring has not taken on #3", I'd love to hear a little more about this, It sounds like they either installed it incorrectly or broke it during installation. Rings don't just randomly not "take" (whatever that's supposed to mean).

In their favour they seem to have performed the rectification work without giving the OP too much hassle, but it's should have been needed in the first place and now he is missing a HU.

Muffin` · 14 May 2012 at 10:10

Dogbreath said:
Because all good garages leave cars unattended and unlocked so the head unit can be stolen.

All good garages leave important earthing cables loose causing people to break down on motorways.

As for "Looks like the ring has not taken on #3", I'd love to hear a little more about this, It sounds like they either installed it incorrectly or broke it during installation. Rings don't just randomly not "take" (whatever that's supposed to mean).

In their favour they seem to have performed the rectification work without giving the OP too much hassle, but it's should have been needed in the first place and now he is missing a HU.

The ring(s) hadn't bedded properly (on just #3) and causes it to glaze over and caused the oil bypass. That's what I was told, I have no reason not to take his word on it

Waiting for a call back from the other bloke about the stereo

TaKeN · 14 May 2012 at 10:35

Give it a harder break in this time muffin. Lots of engine loads, but not too many,

Stick it in a higher gear every now and then and properly load it up to make it 'work', and chase that stereo!

fonzee · 14 May 2012 at 10:35

jeez talk about bad luck!

havn't read it all but id be quite surprised he didnt sort you out a replacement or help you towards one?

time and time again i've read about issues on B series engine rebuilds. just not worth the risk.

-Ad- · 14 May 2012 at 10:43

fonzee said:
jeez talk about bad luck!

havn't read it all but id be quite surprised he didnt sort you out a replacement or help you towards one?

time and time again i've read about issues on B series engine rebuilds. just not worth the risk.

Even the supposed experts get it wrong. A number of stories started emerging about another reputable engine rebuilder further up North.

There's only one place I'd take mine too, but I would never want to waste that much money on a B18 or Integra. It's still only a cheap old Teg and not worth it unless Racing/HillClimbing.

Muffin` · 14 May 2012 at 10:44

Just spoken to the place, he's agreed straight away to a replacement unit

TaKeN said:
Give it a harder break in this time muffin. Lots of engine loads, but not too many,

Stick it in a higher gear every now and then and properly load it up to make it 'work', and chase that stereo!

So give it a bit of Jekyll and Hyde?

fonzee said:
jeez talk about bad luck!

havn't read it all but id be quite surprised he didnt sort you out a replacement or help you towards one?

time and time again i've read about issues on B series engine rebuilds. just not worth the risk.

Only when people do it on the cheap, only seen one issue when someone spent the full amount and had the oil burning stay and the garage (somewhere up north) just bought a new block for him. Few guys on the forum said oil usage is now non-existent even after a day on track, the engine certainly feels fantastic and I'd like to get someone with 80+k on to try mine and see if they concur.

Muffin` · 14 May 2012 at 10:45

-Ad- said:
Even the supposed experts get it wrong. A number of stories started emerging about another reputable engine rebuilder further up North.

There's only one place I'd take mine too, but I would never want to waste that much money on a B18 or Integra. It's still only a cheap old Teg and not worth it unless Racing/HillClimbing.

Well when the cost of fixing it is the cost of a replacement then you're in a grey area, better the devil you know. Getting a used engine for £1200 may leave you in the same boat 10k miles later.

Berger · 14 May 2012 at 11:53

Can you not get a brand new crate engine?

People kept churning up old crate MGR engines for years, not the same I know as they went bump, but I would expect some to be in a garage somewhere since they are no longer made.

Muffin` · 14 May 2012 at 12:22

You can still buy all the parts for a full engine straight from Honda, prices are of course pre-loaded with Jap Tax which makes the rebuild a cheaper option. The oversized parts are OEM Honda too

TaKeN · 14 May 2012 at 14:25

Did your garage man advise you to give it a bit more occasional thrape this time muffin?

Tis important not to abuse a rebuilt engine too much, but you need to bed those rings in! Which requires load to create the heat

Firestar_3x · 14 May 2012 at 14:43

Berger said:
Can you not get a brand new crate engine?

Overnight parts from Japan?

If the engines don't show up in time for Race Wars you could always pump the shop owner full of 40 weight.

-Ad- · 14 May 2012 at 14:52

Muffin` said:
Well when the cost of fixing it is the cost of a replacement then you're in a grey area, better the devil you know. Getting a used engine for £1200 may leave you in the same boat 10k miles later.

Buy another £1200 engine and still have change for JDM tow hook!

Sell the broken old one for a few hundred.

I'd probably get my engine rebuilt properly, then mapped up with sn S300, living happily ever after with 220hp+ whp

Firestar_3x said:
Overnight parts from Japan?

If the engines don't show up in time for Race Wars you could always pump the shop owner full of 40 weight.

Lopéz · 14 May 2012 at 18:33

Firestar_3x said:
Overnight parts from Japan?

If the engines don't show up in time for Race Wars you could always pump the shop owner full of 40 weight.

TFATF provided soooo much material for sarcastic car modders

Muffin` · 31 May 2012 at 11:43

Smokes back

-Ad- · 31 May 2012 at 12:15

Muffin` said:
Smokes back

I can't offer much else other than the above sad faces. You've really got a problem engine with your car. Let us know what happens and what's going on with the fault finding!