TheVoices

iTrader: (5)

Only mapped to run in so no more power than standard at the moment !

rookymatt

iTrader: (15)

How much do the likes of zen etc charge for a forged rebuild??!! These guys are bloody cowboys, i'd take the car to a subaru dealership, have the faults diagnosed and estimated and present the estimate to the offending garage!!! worth the spend out i'd say.

TheVoices

iTrader: (5)

Not a bad idea but I doubt that they would be inclined to pay !

I am learning all sorts about the car fixing the bits that I can do myself.

Just wish that I had sourced a forged bottom end and got the guys at work to fit it one weekend (Jaguar main dealer so I'd like to think our tecs are pretty good !)

jasonius

iTrader: (1)

If the garage that fitted it are legit (ie a registered business) then take them to the small claims court, won't cost you anything and in all probability won't even contest your claim as it'll cost them more to defend their position.

Worth a try imho, even if you only get the cost of the cam covers back..!

TheVoices

iTrader: (5)

I have been through the process before and recovered my money, I really can't be bothered to do it again. A lot of it would be my word against theirs.

andyr

Sounds like whilst the boss is in Egpyt you should draft up a letter threatening legal action if you engine suffers any major problems - give details of all the problems you have sufferered to him when he returns.
At least get him to foot the bill for the cam wheels and maybe an idea for him to go over the work his monkeys did with a fine-toothed comb. An idea of you could sit in on what he does for your peace of mind.

TheVoices

iTrader: (5)

He was back the week after they fitted it, he was the one who said that they had not fitted the turbo coolant hose that blew !

Complete waste of time and effort, I will be getting it up on the ramp at work this weekend and having a good look from all angles. I will take action if I discover anything completely dreadful but will sort small stuff my self, can't trust them now !

dunx

iTrader: (3)

Claim for the pulleys at least, any muppet will see that they are broken, even a judge...

TheVoices

iTrader: (5)

Really down in the dumps !

My weekend off, so went in to work today to use the ramp to do a few bits on the car, radiator top hose blew off on the way in !

Looks like they didn't push the hose onto the radiator far enough so when they tightened the hose clip it has cracked the radiator outlet (inlet ?) pipe.

Refitted it and refilled the sytem, all seemed ok, now overheating, filling the expansion tank attached to the radiator and bottom rad hose stone cold !

Guess what I am doing Sunday ?

That's right viewers ! Flushing the cooling system, fitting a new thermostat and really, really crossing my fingers that it isn't anything more serious.

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

I really feel for you. :-(

I, myself, would be 'suicidal' - I couldn't hack these seemingly 'no end in sight' problems.

jasonius

iTrader: (1)

I hope it is just an airlock and not a fcu'd head gasket pressurizing the colling system..!

You've at least got to claim the £360(?) for the cam covers, what do you have to loose trying..?

TheVoices

iTrader: (5)

Now suicidal !

Spent all day in the workshop, drained the system completely, fitted new thermostat, flushed the radiator and refilled the system (through the turbo coolant pipe to prevent airlocks and the correct 7.7litres as per the manual).

Left it running for 25 minutes at tickover and once warmed up constant 2000-3000rpm, temperature never went above half, fans cut in when they should, hot air from heater, result !

Locked up and set off, 500 yards up the road temperature guage shoots up, pulled over straight away and the plastic expansion tank is full again and overflowing !

Sounds like the head gasket(s ?) I'm afraid ?

Only thing I didn't change is the pressure cap on the header tank, only ones I could get today were 0.9 bar and manual says 1.1 bar. I doubt that the pressure cap could have anything to do with the problem but is it worth trying before I have the engine out again ?

I am really getting stressed now with all the problems, this presents me with a real headache (no pun intended !)

Do I try to get this sorted by the people who supplied the engine with the heads already fitted or is it more likely that the head gasket failed when the turbo coolant pipe split and dumped all the water ?

If this is the cause, I'm in for a proper stand up row with the people that fitted the engine and the 'garden hose' turbo pipe, they will obviously claim that the engine is at fault, not problems caused by their fitting methods.

I have enough stress at the moment at work, let alone the s**tstorm I've flown into with the replacement engine !

jasonius

iTrader: (1)

IIRC Halfords will (dip) test the coolant for you (outside the store) to see if it has any exhaust gasses in it- this will confirm whether a head gasket's gone or not. And yes, having no coolant and overheating, depending on how hot/long can result in a blown head gasket..!

Is the garage that fitted the engine a proper garage (ie with a name, premises) and did you get a headed/vat invoice for the work they did..?

If so, IMHO you need to go and see the owner/manager and make it clear, in no uncertain terms, that you're not happy and you want compensation, starting with the cost of the cam covers..!

If you don't get some recompense then you have to take this to court and get a professional (subaru specialist or maybe even main dealer) opinion and stop trying to sort it yourself..! If their work is as bad as you say it is it should be obvious that they failed to carry out the work in a satisfactory manner.

Don't get me wrong, but I'm starting to wonder if this isn't a wind up after all, as you seem to have the patients of a saint..!

TheVoices

iTrader: (5)

I wish it was a wind up !

They are (allegedly !) a proper garage with premises and MOT testing status, I did get a receipt for the work done (£780 to fit the engine)

If you look at my post earlier in the thread, the turbo coolant pipe split just after I had parked on the drive, the engine had been turned off so wasn't run without coolant.

I just lifted the bonnet, saw huge amounts of steam and water and walked away till it cooled down. Replaced the pipe and refilled the system the following day, seemed to run okay since.

I am wondering if the heat build-up did the damage even though the engine wasn't running ?

It had just done a 35 mile trip with some motorway work, temperature gauge had read normal all the way, the engine would still be hot and take time to dissipate heat after the hose split.

PS. I'm only a part time saint !

dlatch

The voices

i feel for you i really do but this thread should be stickied as a example of what not to do to fix a engine problem.
as a salesman in the car trade could you not have borrowed one from work for the missus to use while the wrx got fixed propperly?

i really hope you get this fixed but i suspect it will take months if not years you got to be mad to use any of the "rebuilt" engines off ebay

Beardy

you can't tell when that pipe split, the HG could of gone when the turbo pipe went. And yes coolent in the overflow does signal HG.

I think you can deffo point blame at the garage with the amount og stuff gone wrong.

I would do the HG for ya, but i live on the isle of wight, would charage alot less than a garage.

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

The Voices, Andy Williams of WMS only charges £700 all in for HG replacement - that's got to be one of the cheapest prices from a PROPER Subaru specialist! - and is well recommended on here by others that have used his services.

It still could be an airlock of course - who knows for sure?!... Book it in with him, as he may be able to troubleshoot the problem as NOT being HG's, but soemething else instead.

If it is HG, then it's left in good hands...

TheVoices

iTrader: (5)

Thanks for the input guys, you can't make me feel any more of a pr**k than I do already !

Not easy to borrow a car for the wife, I work for largest motor group in the UK so miles of red tape for anything to go off site.

I did consider buying something dirt cheap with MOT so that the pressure was off but seemed as though I could get it back on the road quickly..........LOL

Spoken to the garage that fitted the engine today, the guy that I thought was the owner turns out not to be, had a good chat with the owner.

He agrees mistakes have been made, with the main mechanic being away the two young lads were left to do some of the work.

He is speaking to the company that supplied the engine to find out what components were used, how much skimmed off heads etc. He is convinced that the engine is just a used unit with a coat of paint ! He also seems keen to get things sorted one way or another, hopefully a good sign.

Watch this space for the the next thrilling installment of ' Short, fat salesman who should know better f**ks up engine replacement !'

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.........................think I'm going to need a snappier title to capture the US market ?

TrIcKsTeR

This thread is worrying to read And hi btw

TheVoices

iTrader: (5)

Not as worrying as it is to live through !

Hi right back attcha !

TheVoices

iTrader: (5)

Great news for knackered head gasket lovers everywhere !

It's either head gasket or cracked head, trying to organise refund for 'recon' engine rather than a replacement from them !

So, back to square one but a big chunk of money lighter.

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

This is what I said way back at post 74. Seems like you need to talk to TS I am sure they will be very interested.

I did think that we had spoken about your engine at some time recently. Never mind, lets hope that what you have now hangs together.

Have you tried asking about whoever you bought from at Trading Standards??

I would certainly start some talk going in light of the fact that what you got, bears no resemblance to what you THINK you bought.

Good Luck - you know where I am if you need me David

Good luck again David

TheVoices

iTrader: (5)

Thanks David, please feel free to say 'I told you so !'

I spoke to the engine supplier yesterday and told them I wanted a refund not an exchange engine, they called me back today and said 'we sent you a letter last week saying you could keep your old engine but sacrifice the warranty on ours' (basically tough s**t it has broken)

I explained that their letter states that I must agree to their terms in writing to conclude matters, obviously I have not replied agreeing to any such conditions (and obviously would not agree to sign away the warranty).

Their reply ? See you in court !

My plan is now to get the car back on the road, probably using my old engine with new crank and bearings and pursue the engine supplier through the courts.

Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war !

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

Mate, clearly the engine was a bag of poo from the beginning, BUT.

You need to make this thread go away as the fitting job was sufficiently bad enough for any supplier [ ANY; even APi ] to say that all the problems have been caused by poor fitting.

Which you have thoroughly documented here.

I doubt the fitting garage are going to stand up and take it on the chin 'cos they'll say the engine was probably no good in the first place and whilst they have complicated the situation with poor fitting, the fundamental engine was not up to the job.

You need to have an engineer to take the engine to bits and prove it was not " fit for purpose" then you have something to go to court with. As soon as you find that it is a 'silver paint ' recon rather than any proper parts or reconditioning having been done, you have a cast iron case and will get a win in court and you should be able to get costs plus through the court.

You need to tell the engine supplier that is going to happen and you need to give them the chance to be there at the strip and inspection, or you will have breached their legal rights and again you have no case.

First thing, talk to the mods and get this ' evidence ' pulled.
Good Luck - you're gonna need some soon.

PS I wouldn't be so rude as to say I told you so..... no point kicking someone when they are down. Everyone is entitled to spend their money the way they think best and you were caught with advertising blurb that is sufficiently vague as to be believable.

Ripe Banana Man

Good point, well made..

TheVoices

iTrader: (5)

I take your point David, I doubt that the engine supplier can read !

They certainly can't write a business letter that's for sure !

I have opened a Paypal dispute and speaking to trading standards tomorrow hopefully.

I would feel like a cheat if I got the thread deleted, I will take my chances with the legal system.

I am planning to remove their engine from the car and get it back on the road, I will then arrange an independent inspection if necessary.

TheVoices

iTrader: (5)

Ordered a complete gasket kit yesterday and new head bolts, crank and bearings next !

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

Good good. Get it done PROPERLY.

TheVoices

iTrader: (5)

Got the original engine on the bench at work, taking half day off tomorrow to start dismantling it to remove the crank.

Should be entertaining !

TheVoices

iTrader: (5)

What a day, removed both cylinder heads and the oil pump.

Todays bonus fault ?

Right hand side exhaust camshaft is cracked (probably at the same time as the cam pulleys were broken at a guess ?)

So if anyone has a suitable replacement to sell or donate please let me know !

Still agonising over what to do, new V9 crank and bearings runs at about £570, this seems like overkill if I am going to re-use my pistons and rods.

Can buy a new 2.5 STi short motor for about £1500 and fit that ?

Decisions, decisions !!!!!