My all-in-one all engine problems thread

[gsdreams]

I’m going to start from the beginning and use this is a full compilation thread of the problems, what’s been fixed, what has occurred, etc….
To start with a purchased a car that “supposedly” had a broken timing belt. I don’t know if it did or not as the timing belt was not present when I purchased the car.

My intentions were to tear it all the way down and replace the head gaskets, inspect the heads, and reassemble replacing parts (such as the heads) as necessary all the way up.

Unfortunately, due to a mistake I made, my weekends were no longer free. This didn’t change what I wanted done, it just changed that I need to have a mechanic finish what I had started.

I used a referral from a friend whom I showed a broken stud that needed tap and died to and spoke to him to make sure he understood (at least I thought he understood) that I as more than happy to supply all parts to get the job done right and that I wanted the heads off, inspected, and the put back on if ok.

To make a long story short, he didn’t do anything correctly that I can find, and used all the old gaskets. Along with that the heads never came off the car as I had requested.

So my plan to do everything right never changed, I just ended up with a bad mechanic who I am now pursuing legal action against.

That out of the way we will move forward to what is going on now.
I’ve been dealing with idle issues for a while. My neighbor things one of my motor mounts is going bad (retired ASE Certified mechanic and didn’t know him before), which could explain it until what happened yesterday.
The short story it was running so rough that the whole car was shaking and even from a stop moving forward it would shake until you put your foot on the accelerator.

The car got hot (only high hot) about 4 times (I usually got it at about ¾ and got off the road). I put in over 1 ½ gallons of coolant yesterday. Total travel distance was about 30 miles, both interstate and stop and go in town driving.

There was never any extra in the coolant reservoir nor was the coolant reservoir boiling at any of these hot periods.

After getting home I topped it off completely as much as I could. I then took a 50 mile drive (mostly highway but some stop and go in towns, etc…) and had no issues, idle fine etc…

This morning the coolant has remained full. As well as that it is idling fine this morning.

The only major change was I replaced the thermostat last Friday (car wasn’t driven over the weekend) and the radiator cap, both with OEM.

I’m not leaving any puddles or other signs that I’m leaking coolant and I wasn’t blowing “tons” of white smoke or water out of the exhaust yesterday.
I already intend to tear it down to the heads, but before I do this I would like to try and trace this problem down. I believe it would be kind of pointless tearing the upper end apart for the problem to be elsewhere.
I also don’t have water in my oil.

This is going to be a single thread about all engine issues and drivetrain issues I go through so it will probably get large. Please read all the way through if you are trying to help.

[bravo659]

Originally Posted by gsdreams

I’m going to start from the beginning and use this is a full compilation thread of the problems, what’s been fixed, what has occurred, etc….
To start with a purchased a car that “supposedly” had a broken timing belt. I don’t know if it did or not as the timing belt was not present when I purchased the car.

My intentions were to tear it all the way down and replace the head gaskets, inspect the heads, and reassemble replacing parts (such as the heads) as necessary all the way up.

Unfortunately, due to a mistake I made, my weekends were no longer free. This didn’t change what I wanted done, it just changed that I need to have a mechanic finish what I had started.

I used a referral from a friend whom I showed a broken stud that needed tap and died to and spoke to him to make sure he understood (at least I thought he understood) that I as more than happy to supply all parts to get the job done right and that I wanted the heads off, inspected, and the put back on if ok.

To make a long story short, he didn’t do anything correctly that I can find, and used all the old gaskets. Along with that the heads never came off the car as I had requested.

So my plan to do everything right never changed, I just ended up with a bad mechanic who I am now pursuing legal action against.

That out of the way we will move forward to what is going on now.
I’ve been dealing with idle issues for a while. My neighbor things one of my motor mounts is going bad (retired ASE Certified mechanic and didn’t know him before), which could explain it until what happened yesterday.
The short story it was running so rough that the whole car was shaking and even from a stop moving forward it would shake until you put your foot on the accelerator.

The car got hot (only high hot) about 4 times (I usually got it at about ¾ and got off the road). I put in over 1 ½ gallons of coolant yesterday. Total travel distance was about 30 miles, both interstate and stop and go in town driving.

There was never any extra in the coolant reservoir nor was the coolant reservoir boiling at any of these hot periods.

After getting home I topped it off completely as much as I could. I then took a 50 mile drive (mostly highway but some stop and go in towns, etc…) and had no issues, idle fine etc…

This morning the coolant has remained full. As well as that it is idling fine this morning.

The only major change was I replaced the thermostat last Friday (car wasn’t driven over the weekend) and the radiator cap, both with OEM.

I’m not leaving any puddles or other signs that I’m leaking coolant and I wasn’t blowing “tons” of white smoke or water out of the exhaust yesterday.
I already intend to tear it down to the heads, but before I do this I would like to try and trace this problem down. I believe it would be kind of pointless tearing the upper end apart for the problem to be elsewhere.
I also don’t have water in my oil.

This is going to be a single thread about all engine issues and drivetrain issues I go through so it will probably get large. Please read all the way through if you are trying to help.

I really don't know what answers you're looking for. Its inevitable.
Like Bigboy stated on your other threads do a pressure test.

You could start here:

either one will suffice your peace of mind.

Pressure Test : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GXJz0JjaUU
Combustion Test : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA7KV...eature=related
LeakDown Test : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofSiTGeLXvc
Compression Test : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_tbksFYhl4


Each will tell you what you have and what you need to do.

[gsdreams]

Originally Posted by bravo659

I really don't know what answers you're looking for. Its inevitable.
Like Bigboy stated on your other threads do a pressure test.

You could start here:

either one will suffice your peace of mind.

Pressure Test : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GXJz0JjaUU
Combustion Test : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA7KV...eature=related
LeakDown Test : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofSiTGeLXvc
Compression Test : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_tbksFYhl4


Each will tell you what you have and what you need to do.

The car will be parked as of Monday. I don't know for how long but I just found out I was also massively over charged. It gets worse and worse as this goes on.

Labor Guide says it is a 10.8 hour job to completely change the head gaskets on both banks.

That means what he did couldn't have been rated at more than 4 hours of work.

Cost $450.00 with used coolant, used gaskets, and "maybe" new o-rings.

Which means I was charged roughly $100/hr.

[Outlaw92]

Originally Posted by gsdreams

The car will be parked as of Monday. I don't know for how long but I just found out I was also massively over charged. It gets worse and worse as this goes on.

Labor Guide says it is a 10.8 hour job to completely change the head gaskets on both banks.

That means what he did couldn't have been rated at more than 4 hours of work.

Cost $450.00 with used coolant, used gaskets, and "maybe" new o-rings.

Which means I was charged roughly $100/hr.

Be careful who you have do your work. Did you trust the place? Truthfully, if you look through my build thread, you will see that I have been through the same thing. possibly a bit worse. Are you mechanically inclined at all? Reason being is it might be cheaper for you to do most of the work yourself like I did.

[bravo659]

Originally Posted by gsdreams

The car will be parked as of Monday. I don't know for how long but I just found out I was also massively over charged. It gets worse and worse as this goes on.

Labor Guide says it is a 10.8 hour job to completely change the head gaskets on both banks.

That means what he did couldn't have been rated at more than 4 hours of work.

Cost $450.00 with used coolant, used gaskets, and "maybe" new o-rings.

Which means I was charged roughly $100/hr.

Yeah be careful. I visited Acura at Valley Stream NYS, they told me it will take more than 20 hours and will cost ranging from 2200 - 3000.00 also that the heads have to be shipped to their machine shop which i have a feeling its the acura shop in Utah. That means storage charges are applicable so the entire job with the gaskets, oil and coolant.

I went to the neighborhood mechanic they charge 95/hr and quoted me $1500 i found that too cheap. Then dont know what type or kind of gaskets they'll be using.

So i decided to do the job myself. I got the combustion test kit for 56.00 at amazon.com and tested myself hoping it was nothing. Well color changed. Took me a year to decide this.

[Aking]

Yea, when I tore my engine down, I found all kinds of stuff wrong from the previous owner. He said he had his uncle do his head gasket job and they didnt bother cleaning the old gasket material off the heads before installing the new, and it looked like they used some cheap ebay gaskets. There was all kinds of crap wedged between the gasket and the head creating all kind of potential leaks. SMH.

This is why I trust no one with my car.

[bravo659]

Originally Posted by Outlaw92

Be careful who you have do your work. Did you trust the place? Truthfully, if you look through my build thread, you will see that I have been through the same thing. possibly a bit worse. Are you mechanically inclined at all? Reason being is it might be cheaper for you to do most of the work yourself like I did.

Thats true who can we really trust if its not us and this community.

Originally Posted by AKING

Yea, when I tore my engine down, I found all kinds of stuff wrong from the previous owner. He said he had his uncle do his head gasket job and they didnt bother cleaning the old gasket material off the heads before installing the new, and it looked like they used some cheap ebay gaskets. There was all kinds of crap wedged between the gasket and the head creating all kind of potential leaks. SMH.

This is why I trust no one with my car.

[Aking]

Some people try to take short cuts to save time and money, but it will ultimately just lead to having to spend even more time and money trying to fix what you didnt do right. :dunno:

I dont know about you, but if I'm gonna spend 8-10 hours working on a car, you better believe its gonna be done right. I'm not about to spend another 8-10 later.

DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME is my moto!

[gsdreams]

Originally Posted by Outlaw92

Be careful who you have do your work. Did you trust the place? Truthfully, if you look through my build thread, you will see that I have been through the same thing. possibly a bit worse. Are you mechanically inclined at all? Reason being is it might be cheaper for you to do most of the work yourself like I did.

Yes, I trusted the place because I trusted a friend whom I shouldn't have. So far between the friend and this mechanic I have been taken for $900.

And yes I am mechanically inclined, I grew up doing mechanic work with my father. It wasn't a question of being able to do the work it was a question of a landlord breathing down my neck along with not having my weekends available to work on it.

[gsdreams]

Originally Posted by Aking

Some people try to take short cuts to save time and money, but it will ultimately just lead to having to spend even more time and money trying to fix what you didnt do right. :dunno:

I dont know about you, but if I'm gonna spend 8-10 hours working on a car, you better believe its gonna be done right. I'm not about to spend another 8-10 later.

DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME is my moto!

In 4 hours the job could have been done right. There was no reason to take shortcuts.