Is this a fair quote??

[jezz736]

Hey guys,

I've just ran into a major problem with my car. I've only had it nearly four months now and since then i've gradually felt the car getting more sluggish and the idle getting rougher. so I've taken it in to holden to get checked over. When they did the compression test he said that cylinder 6 is running on 75psi where as all the others are at around 150-160psi.

So he's had my car for 2 weeks now to diagnose the problem and i only just got off the phone to him, Here's what he said

- 3 cracked valves (all of which are worn so need replacing)
- a leaking water pump (which was apparently replaced at 100,000km
- A stretched timing chain and guides
- Has to skim the head
- and something to do with replacing the k liner??

All up ............... $6100

I asked him why or how this could of happened. he said he checked the oil and it has some "muggy" shit inside it or something and it hasnt been serviced regularly (ive got a full log book service history btw) which causes poor lubrication to these components and thats where it would have started.

Whats the deal here guys is that a rip off or what??

[EDGE3]

Sounds like the car was neglected by the previous owner or the mechanic is bullshitting big time and yes thats alot of money for what needs to be done to it so go to another mechanic not Holden.

[04VYSS]

Sorry to say mate your first mistake was taking it to a Holden dealership... and 2 weeks to diagnose your problem is a bit of a stretch too.

I would go and get a few quotes (from other mechanics of course) and go from there - having "muggy" shite in your oil is not a good start though..

[heyitsEnricoPallazzo]

Sounds fishy.

Get a second opinion. Or get a secondhand engine.

K-liner?

[richardpalinkas]

sounds like the prostate valve just on the inside of the exhaust pipe hahaha

[mattsv6]

Mate to be honest you are going to get rolled at Holden by at least 25% when it comes to pricing for almost anything.

I would take the motor to another workshop.

Or you could pickup a second hand alloytec motor for about 2-2.5k and have that installed, or get a new crate motor.

[jezz736]

Thanks for the info guys, I knew that sounded a bit steep! I've told him to hold off on doing n e thing till I decide what I wanna do. I'm definitely getting another quote elsewhere. Cant believe a new engine is cheaper than what he wants to charge just to fix it, although by the time u add in labor it'll probly end up the same.

[EDGE3]

A honest mechanic should charge you $800 to fit the motor unless they go by their labour quota which states that it takes x amount of hours so it will cost x amount of dollars.

[jezz736]

So for the same price i could get a new engine fitted which is obviously the better option. Although I'm still not keen on spending 6 grand on this car. :S

[nemesis_adrasteia]

A honest mechanic should charge you $800 to fit the motor unless they go by their labour quota which states that it takes x amount of hours so it will cost x amount of dollars.

an honest mechanic would charge you labour based on the quoted time to do the job. there is no universal price to remove and refit an engine. its based on the time quoted by manufacturer

[heyitsEnricoPallazzo]

You would think some of the work quoted could only be diagnosed if the engine was dismantled. Was it?

[jezz736]

You would think some of the work quoted could only be diagnosed if the engine was dismantled. Was it?

Yeah they had to send the head away to work out if that was the problem, along with the above mentioned. Talked to him again today to tell him I plan on taking the car off him to get other quotes. He said I can't cos the valves are cracked so if I wanna take it I have to tow it out of there which doesn't make sense to me cos I was able to drive it there, I should be able to drive It out id imagine and by the time I get it towed it won't be worth the savings I'd make from getting it fixed elsewhere. So think ive decided to just put a new engine in it and sell it so I can afford to pay off the god damn MasterCard. Which sucks since this is the first car I've modded and I've only had it 4 months. Sorry to vent on you guys just bummed out. Need a violin :/

[acarmody]

They had to send the heads away to tell you the valves were cracked....................O......K? Are they blind?

[jezz736]

No dude they Sent the head away to see if that was cracked

[sircruisealotVS]

Yeah they had to send the head away to work out if that was the problem, along with the above mentioned. Talked to him again today to tell him I plan on taking the car off him to get other quotes. He said I can't cos the valves are cracked so if I wanna take it I have to tow it out of there which doesn't make sense to me cos I was able to drive it there, I should be able to drive It out id imagine and by the time I get it towed it won't be worth the savings I'd make from getting it fixed elsewhere. So think ive decided to just put a new engine in it and sell it so I can afford to pay off the god damn MasterCard. Which sucks since this is the first car I've modded and I've only had it 4 months. Sorry to vent on you guys just bummed out. Need a violin :/

You can't take the car anywhere because he has stripped the top end back to get the heads off to see that these valves are broken. That's why you can't just drive it away to get a quote somewhere else. Plus he can't just put it back together without at least milling the heads true and getting gasket kits etc... (costing a fair amount just there)
Also when you mentioned the "k-liner" before which you didn't understand what he meant - he was most likely talking about needing new k-line valve guides, that would be my assumption from what you said.
My advice would be to tow it to a good mechanic (ask friends and family for someone they might use or whatever) which won't cost all that much. Have them take a look and if it really is as bad as holden say, buy a second hand replacement engine without ancillaries as you can just take these off your current engine.
Don't use holden, they will charge you rediculous amounts for mediocre work.

[NAVZCALAIS]

If you valves are cracked its not the oil that caused it. Valves usually crack due to overheating which i think is where your water pump failure may come into it. Also did they say where exactly your valves have cracked?
A full head reco (this is for both heads) shouldn't cost anymore than 4k because thats the price i got mine done at and thats with performance parts. A streched timing chain thats something i haven't come across and its sounds sus to me. I know you can strech belts but a chain? Unless its managed to eat the teeth of the gears and is creating excessive backlash between the chain and gears. Just remember with the alloytecs they need good oil and make sure its changed regulary they have tendency to wear things like big end bearing and other tolerance fits rather fast if they are neglected. Btw don't go to holden they charge ridiculous hourly rates and it always seem like they can't do the job right. No offence any holden mechanic thats just what us other mechanics think

[heyitsEnricoPallazzo]

Just put in a second hand engine. Much cheaper.

More than likely if this engine is repaired something else may go wrong given the condition and suspect history.

[jezz736]

Cheers for the info guys really helping me make sense of all this so thanks. Na he didn't say where the valves where cracked just that they were and as for the timing chain I've never known them to stretch either unless high temperatures were the cause. That's the only way I see a chain stretching. I wouldn't know where to look for a second hand engine and due to work I haven't had much chance to have a look yet. Knowing my luck ill probly end up buying a dodgy one. Not sure how much they charge to tow either but im gunna have to send it to Newcastle which is around 85km (1:15) from singleton. So I can't imagine it being too cheap so I guess I have to find out and weigh up whether it'll be worth it or not.

[selga86]

personally i think i would take my chances on a low km secondhand engine, especially if you plan on selling it

[jezz736]

No worries. well i ended up buying a second hand engine 89000km on the clock with a 12 month warranty for $2400 from performanceonline.com.au. Mine's done 150000km so yeah, there's a plus.

[NAVZCALAIS]

Well i just looked up the info on the timing chain, apparently they newer engines in the VZ's and VE's have a thinner chain and it can stretch. In my few years as a mechanic i have never ever heard of a timing chain stretching. So here's the link for the website just check your new engine number with the one's in there and hopefully you won't have any more timing chain issues http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1674154

[Reaper]

Sounds like your car hasn't been serviced properly as mentioned. Did you buy it from a dealer or privately. I'd ask for a written report from the mechanic and then present it to whoever sold you the car. If it's a dealership/LMCT I'd look into your legal options to get some money back. You will have a more difficult time with a private seller.

As for what to do with your current car?? I'd find a replacement engine such as: VZ ALLOYTEC (SERII) LEO 170 KW CRATE MOTOR (SERIES II) (may not exactly suit your car - you will need to find the exact one). R/R a crate motor will give you piece of mind and change from $6k I would think.

Reaper

[jezz736]

Hey thanks again guys havent been on in a while been flat out. So i baught that engine i previously mentioned and its been four weeks now and he still hasnt delivered after he said it'll be here in a week. got it from performanceonline.com.au n e one dealt with these guys? i havent been able to get a hold of him in over a week now and he's not answering. getting pretty anxious at this point, hoping he's not ripping me off

[azazeldeath]

Mate I havent heard of them and cant even load their website. How did you pay for the engine?

[Zeussy]

How does this happen? Seriously, why get screwed over twice? There's been some good advice put forward and yet you decide not to listen to it.

$6000 would see a crate motor installed in your car, easily. A days work to install, even less if they have a go.

And how does spending $200 (or less) in towing fee's make it "not worthwhile" to save a couple of thousand dollars? It could have been fixed for way less.