QuestionQUESTION: Here's my situation, I have a 2000 Deville, about 2 months ago my car was overheating so I had a family member take a look and he said that my thermostat, water pump, and radiator needed to be replaced. He replaced those items but the car still overheated after a couple minutes running. I waited a couple of weeks then finally gathered the courage to tow my car to a Cadillac Dealership where I told the "Tech" the overheating problems I was having and to run a compression test to check the heads and see if that's the problem. About a week later, the "Tech" called me back and said that they ran the compression test a couple times and there was no problem with my head gaskets but suggested that my thermostat, water pump, and radiator be replaced again and a coolant system flush because the wrong coolant was present in the system. I agreed to have the work done because I thought it could've been worse, then the "Tech" called me back the next day to let me know I need my FRONT HUBS and Rear Axle replaced for the Virginia State Inspection, I agreed to get that work done while the car was already being worked on. I finally received the bill for all the work and it came up to $2,345. I gathered the money together and paid for the services. Exactly ONE week later, my car overheated again, so I immediately called the shop and had my car towed to them so they can see what the problem was. They informed me, a couple days later, that now my Head Gaskets were blown and it was possible an air pocket that caused the overheating. Once I asked them what were the tests that were perform and the results of the compression test that I initially asked for, and they replied with, "We never performed a compression test but we did perform a CO2 (sniffer test), which is there standard test for Head Gasket problems, and found 0 hydrocarbons the first time I brought the car in but now the reading is .14 from the sniffer test" , only a week later. My question is, because I'm trying to go forward with the legal processes, what are the standard test for an engine diag when the problem is overheating specifically? Is the "Sniffer Test" the ONLY Standard test for overheating problems or would a compression test and leak down test be more accurate? My gripe is I initially told the "Tech" to perform a compression test but he didn't, which gave me the misdiagnosis in which he told me my heads were bad. The Dealership never gave me the test results nor the numbers of the "Bad Heads/cylinders". Was the dealership accurate in their diagnosis and an air pocket magically sneaked into my engine only after a week of driving. Do you think the dealership is responsible for correcting the problem now because they misdiagnosed the problem in which I had to pay for services and the problem still exist? Even if that means replacing the engine? The dealership's Service manager offered to take $2,000 off of the repair cost for a NEW engine, which is $8,600. I want them to atleat replace the engine with a used one. I appreciate your help. Thanks in advance!
ANSWER: Had you asked me FIRST, I would have told you how to perform a back pressure test on the engine cylinders which would have proved blown head gaskets which is very very common on these engines.
Do NOT go for a used engine as you will wind up with the same problem that you already have.
I would DEMAND a General Motors remanufactured engine and pay HALF the cost of the FLAT RATE labor cost to install the engine.
FLAT RATE is what the manufacturer pays the service department for installing a new engine.
Do NOT pay CUSTOMER COST of replacing the engine which will be approx an additional 6 hours of labor cost.
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QUESTION: Thank you for the quick response, do you think I have a valid claim that the Dealership didn't perform enough tests to determine the head gasket problem initially even though I specifially told the "tech" to run a compression test? How would YOU handle this situation if the Dealership doesn't want to cooperate with YOU even after you let them know that you have legal presence???? Is the SNIFFER Test reliable enough to determine if a head gasket problem exist? Is that the only standard test that Cadillac performs on an overheating engine or do you think is was just a fast way to find a problem? Thaks again for your help!
Answer Usually the head gaskets are blown is several small areas that a sniffer will not detect. I like to do the back pressure test to apply air into each cylinder and see if bubbles appear in the radiator which is a true test.
I would File for an arbitration hearing with the local magestrate and get yourself a ASE certified engine technician to testify on your behalf even if you have to pay him. His opinion will be of great importance.
