QuestionHope you can help with this issue, I recently had my Blazer in the shop for a
failed distributor and rotor. ( approx ) 1 month ago). Well, 3 days ago my
temp guage shot straight to the top while coming home from work, then it
dropped to zero, this occured several times as iI looked to pull over. I also
ni=oticed my valves clattering just as pulled over and shut off the engine. No
bursted hose just a bit of coolant were I stopped. Oil was maybe a quart low. I
had it towed to my local dealership and after a day they called and told me I
needed a new radiator, hoses, and I should also change the water pump and
the lower intake gasket also needed to be replaced. Seems that the Dexcool
inthe system had turned to gel inside and fouled up the system. Here is my
real question, I was called back 2 days later and the shop told me that when
they went to test the vehicle after the repair they noticed the the engine was
missing, when they tested the engine they found a cylinder was miss firing
anf then scoped the cylinder. They told me that there was a hole in the top of
the piston and that the plug was also damaged. They said this was caused by
the overheat, and that I now needed a new engine. The engine was perfect
before this incident, I have never had any major maintenance, and the car was
running maybe for a minute before I shut it down when the overheat occured.
What may have caused the damage to the piston and was it caused by the
overheat. My cocern is that they may have dropped something into the intake
manifold when working on the lower seal for the intake manifold and possible
fouled the piston when they started the engine back up after replacing the
radiator , water pump and the lower seal. They quoted me about $4800 for a
used engine replacment and approx. a grand more for a new engine. What do
you think about the cause of the engine damage and the estimate for the
repair, I am currently $1500 into the ar for the radiator, water pump, and seal
work.
AnswerHi Mike, First if the engine run bad like skipping...before you gave it to them, they should have noticed this prior to any repairs. If the piston had a hole in it, it had to run very bad...skipping!! These engines can take a lot as far as overheating goes. They might blow a head gasket but a hole in the piston...NOT!
I would not pay for any repair done at this point. I would also ask why they didn't tell you that the engine was damaged before selling you this repair. You can run a engine without coolant for a few minutes without a problem.
4800 for a used engine is way too much!!! The might cost about 1200 for the engine and installation should not be that much .
I would talk to the service manager and be ready for we didn't do it attitude.
Good Luck
Mark
