Mechanic Shop Conundrum

[speeder]

Hey Fred, it was in the 2007 Chrysler minivan I mentioned a few posts up. It has the 3.3 V-6 w MPI, it also had to be from one with the same 8th letter in the VIN. Must have been 2 versions, CA. and 49 state(?)

It was a smoking deal, other junkyards wanted closer to a grand for an engine. The place I bought it from sells engines like beaver in a logging camp, I guess the other places are happy to sell one once or twice a month.

The labor was really reasonable as well. I lucked out, if it all runs great. Haven't been back there to pick it up yet. It's a job that I would have been stuck doing myself if it wasn't 2000 miles from my tools and hoist.

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by speeder

Hey Fred, it was in the 2007 Chrysler minivan I mentioned a few posts up. It has the 3.3 V-6 w MPI, it also had to be from one with the same 8th letter in the VIN. Must have been 2 versions, CA. and 49 state(?)

It was a smoking deal, other junkyards wanted closer to a grand for an engine. The place I bought it from sells engines like beaver in a logging camp, I guess the other places are happy to sell one once or twice a month.

The labor was really reasonable as well. I lucked out, if it all runs great. Haven't been back there to pick it up yet. It's a job that I would have been stuck doing myself if it wasn't 2000 miles from my tools and hoist.

That is a fairly easy motor to r@r, but you still got a smokin deal there. Take them a pizza ! Good deal

[speeder]

I agree, smoking deal. Still, the normal price would be about double which would be under $2k, not $4k.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Cdnone1

I'm not sure where the problem is. They gave you a price they wanted to replace the engine. Their shop, their price. You are free to employ them or not. When you say you are not going to fix the car they say they may be interested in purchasing it? So they might offer you money for a car you say you're not going to fix? It doesn't say you are going to get other quotes or bids just that you are not going to fix it. Which to me means you now need to get rid of it.
I'm not sure how this makes them bad guys.

Agree with you 100%. I just don't understand some people. Everyone is out to rip them off as long as they have to pay money. I don't see how that's a red flag? If he doesn't want to fix, why not sell as it is and let the shop take care of the rest? Clean and simple.

At almost 300,000 miles, he got his money out of that thing.

Personally, I see it to the shop or anyone who wants to buy it. At 300k, something else is going to go wrong like tranny and such. Its time to let it go.

[SCadaddle]

Maybe your knocking noise is just a timing belt tensioner. Here's a short video of that diagnosis on a Subaru.

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by look 171

Agree with you 100%. I just don't understand some people. Everyone is out to rip them off as long as they have to pay money. I don't see how that's a red flag? If he doesn't want to fix, why not sell as it is and let the shop take care of the rest? Clean and simple.

At almost 300,000 miles, he got his money out of that thing.

Personally, I see it to the shop or anyone who wants to buy it. At 300k, something else is going to go wrong like tranny and such. Its time to let it go.

Oh I wanted the vehicle fixed but at $4100.00, that would exceed the value of the vehicle. I didn't say they were ripping me off did I? I found a cheaper alternative so it's all good.
And yeah, I've gotten my money's worth, the vehicle was a gift and I haven't had to spend anything on the vehicle until now so... I'm good. I will definitely go and get my engine cover though.

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[look 171]

Originally Posted by HobieMarty

Oh I wanted the vehicle fixed but at $4100.00, that would exceed the value of the vehicle. I didn't say they were ripping me off did I? I found a cheaper alternative so it's all good.
And yeah, I've gotten my money's worth, the vehicle was a gift and I haven't had to spend anything on the vehicle until now so... I'm good. I will definitely go and get my engine cover though.

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i am with ya, for a couple grand, get another 40-50k miles out of it maybe the way to go.

[HobieMarty]

...and wouldn't ya know it!!!
I called the shop that looked at the Lexus about my engine cover that was left off of the engine and it was not in the car and they can't seem to find it. It has only been a few days and they can't find it???
They called me asking if it was left in the back of the car? Nope not there. They said they would look around the shop and call me back, I never got a call.
I have ordered an engine and I am going to need my cover. Geez!!!

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[masraum]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

I just looked it up . Used engines will come in right at 1500 ish, and labor is a 16 hour job.
Assuming 100 hr, you are at 3100 without any fluids, gaskets, hardware, bolts or incidentals .
I would assume most shops would try to make at least $200 on the motor . and at that age, I would plan on a few hoses, belts, and possibly motor mounts, or maybe even exhaust components . I think that 3 0 still has a timing belt, also, so add that in there while it is out .So, the first estimate seems pretty accurate from where I am sitting .

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

I dont have a huge building or employees to pay for either, but my bill would be close to 3500 at the local labor rate and cost of a used engine + parts .
I mean, if he is a weekend warrior , then I could see him doing it cheaper, . If he has a legit retail auto repair shop with rent, insurance, and all the goodies, he I don't see how that is getting done for 2 k.
There was one motor for $600 that had 341,000 miles on it , and a few with noises that were cheap .
I always figure a few extra hours on a motor replacement. .
Best of luck. I love purchasing nice cars with bad motors, but at that mileage., and age, your car would not hold much interest for me .
Always gotta make sure there is enough meat left on the bone to make it worthwhile

I was hoping you'd chime in. Good info, FF!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

I miss the good old days when we would in and out motors in the same day .

Fuel line, radiator and heater hoses, handful of electrical connections and a handful of bolts. All with plenty of space around the motor for you to get your hands at things from the top or the bottom.

My first car was a '65 Impala. I've also had a '70 skylark and a '69 Riviera. I wish I had the time, space and money to pick something of that era up as a toy now.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by HobieMarty

...and wouldn't ya know it!!!
I called the shop that looked at the Lexus about my engine cover that was left off of the engine and it was not in the car and they can't seem to find it. It has only been a few days and they can't find it???
They called me asking if it was left in the back of the car? Nope not there. They said they would look around the shop and call me back, I never got a call.
I have ordered an engine and I am going to need my cover. Geez!!!

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Tell them that you need your cover. If they threw it in their dumpster and it was picked up, they owe you one. Tell them that you expect it, soon.

OTOH, if you buy a used engine from a wrecking yard, they can probably throw in the cover.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Engine cover?!!?!?
pfffhhhtttt

If you can get a cover, great, but don't sweat it.

On every 944 I have owned, when I pulled off the engine cover (timing cover really) it was hiding a broken balance shaft belt which was rubbing away against the timing belt.

Screw that. Keep the belts exposed. The engine looks sexier. Makes maintenance easier.

I had a mechanic friend who would scoff- "you'll get a stick stuck in there". Well, perhaps, but where are the sticks breaking power steering pump belts and AC belts? Why would sticks ignore accessory belts and selectively go for the timing belts?
I'm a woke belt mf'er. Murica!

On my volvo, the cam tower covers only hide motor oil which has seeped into the ignition coil pack tunnels and shorts the pack.

Apollo 13 this b@#$!!! She's flown around the moon and back. If she works again, make her a lean mean killin' machine.

In short, she'll work for you because you believed in her. The ROI will be phenominal!

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Engine cover?!!?!?
pfffhhhtttt

If you can get a cover, great, but don't sweat it.

On every 944 I have owned, when I pulled off the engine cover (timing cover really) it was hiding a broken balance shaft belt which was rubbing away against the timing belt.

Screw that. Keep the belts exposed. The engine looks sexier. Makes maintenance easier.

I had a mechanic friend who would scoff- "you'll get a stick stuck in there". Well, perhaps, but where are the sticks breaking power steering pump belts and AC belts? Why would sticks ignore accessory belts and selectively go for the timing belts?
I'm a woke belt mf'er. Murica!

On my volvo, the cam tower covers only hide motor oil which has seeped into the ignition coil pack tunnels and shorts the pack.

Apollo 13 this b@#$!!! She's flown around the moon and back. If she works again, make her a lean mean killin' machine.

In short, she'll work for you because you believed in her. The ROI will be phenominal!

Yeah yeah yeah, we usually want to see the engine and all of it's glory, lol. I would still like to have it back though. It didn't have a scratch on it and considering the vehicle's age, it looked really nice on there. I would like to have it and maybe hang it on the wall in my little work shop.

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[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by speeder

Tell them that you need your cover. If they threw it in their dumpster and it was picked up, they owe you one. Tell them that you expect it, soon.

OTOH, if you buy a used engine from a wrecking yard, they can probably throw in the cover.

Yes, the engine I ordered has one but not as nice as the one I had.

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[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by HobieMarty

Yes, the engine I ordered has one but not as nice as the one I had.

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A little armor all and she will be good as new !

[rattlsnak]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

So, the first estimate seems pretty accurate from where I am sitting .

Originally Posted by HobieMarty

Okay well, my coworker said he could do it for about 2k cheaper so, I guess because he doesn't have a huge building and employees to pay for so...

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So you either pay the first guy $4,100 total to fix it or pay the second guy $2,100 and then he will come back with "it also needs this and that and that didn't include fluids etc" and end up at the same price or more.. Your choice..

and yes, when I worked at the dealer, techs were routinely buying cars that people didn't want to spend money on to get fixed but MOST of us did it because we kept the car for ourselves or to sell it to a family member for what we had in it etc. Very few did it to flip and make a profit on.

[Baz]

I've never heard of an engine cover.

They're covering engines up now?

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

So you either pay the first guy $4,100 total to fix it or pay the second guy $2,100 and then he will come back with "it also needs this and that and that didn't include fluids etc" and end up at the same price or more.. Your choice..



and yes, when I worked at the dealer, techs were routinely buying cars that people didn't want to spend money on to get fixed but MOST of us did it because we kept the car for ourselves or to sell it to a family member for what we had in it etc. Very few did it to flip and make a profit on.

Pay me now or pay me later!!!

Hey you wouldn't by chance play a racing game called Real Racing 3 would ya?

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[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by Baz

I've never heard of an engine cover.

They're covering engines up now?

This was the one on my vehicle's engine, the one that is currently misplaced.

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[sc_rufctr]

I generally remove any non essential covers like that and store them. They get reinstall come resale time.

What I really like about my ancient S420 W140: Extremely over engineered in every way but there's nothing on the car that doesn't serve a practical purpose. Everything is functional including the side engine bay covers. (Great when working on the car because they cover up the delicate electronics and heater vales etc.)

Your OP reminded me of the time I took in my VRC for a repair. It was a rareish Super VHS machine that recorded audio digitally. They told me they couldn't fix because the parts weren't available but if I gave them the "faulty" VCR they would wave the bill. You should have seen the look on his face when I said I'd rather pay the bill and take back my VCR. I eventually fixed it with a belt and parts kit that I bought online for about $80.