AMRAAM4

Here's the deal fellas, I'm leaving the shop name out so as to not jump the gun. But all of you Guru's input is needed and I will not come searching you down for court appearances.

Recently the coolant line went that goes from the block to the TB. The car seemed great until that in both power and sound. I tore the car down to find that it was indeed the damaged line that I thought it was, and while in there noticed the dreaded FPD puddle. So I got all new TB and turbo coolant hoses plus a new FPD. The task of getting to the FPD seemed to daunting for my time so I had to take it to a shop. They were great and got the car in ASAP and did a complete silicone vacuum hose job, changed the FPD, changed the LIM that I knew was going, and also changed the couplers on the IC piping after seeing they were cracked.

So all that was done and I got the message that I could come pick up the car. However, the shop informed me that I will probably need a new clutch soon and that one of my turbo's had some play in it.

Saturday I go get the car, and while paying get some more explanation. The shop said when removing the turbo's he looked them over and noticed there was some play in the front one, also that it was making some noise when he test drove it. I asked how long it will last and if the noise was loud. He replied "Not bad, but you can probably hear it". I finish with him and take off, girlfriend following me home.

I go easy at first to let her warm up, but then try and test the boost....I was HORRIFIED at what I heard. Bullshit the turbo going bad is "probably audible" and "not that loud". It sounded like taking a pitch fork and dragging it down a metal guardrail at 50 MPH!! I had my g/f pull up next to me and listen and she said it sounded dreadful, "like metal scraping against metal". And she doesn't know **** about turbo's. Everytime I hit primary boost it made me shudder.

So here is my question guys, and your input in this thread is greatly needed and very important to my course of action....Did this shop screw up my turbo's??? Their spool sound and BOV sound was normal before the car went in...now you can clearly hear the internals scraping. I know these can go at any time, however I find it so odd they went right at this juncture. Only thing I can think is...I have no boost leaks now after everything was changed and his first initial drive blew out the turbo??? Is that possible?? I am thinking no. On top of all this, after all that work the car doesn't even seem any more peppy!! I've ran this buy a couple people so far, but I really need to get a larger consensus because I am pondering confronting this shop, but don't want to accuse them without proper evidence.

EpitrochoidMan

How many miles do you have on your car?

First, you should take it back to the shop that did the work and have them take another look at it. Since it wasn't like that when it came it, if they say it's no fault of theirs, take it to another shop for a second opinion.

However, if it's high milage it could have just been coincidence and it was just the turbo's time. But always get a second opinion.

BicuspiD

Well, I'd hate to think it, but since the LIM gasket was replaced, the turbos had to come off. It is possible they could have swapped yours for a set of junkers.. I do not think there is any way to tell though, no markings or numbers. Does this shop work on many RX7s? Have junk parts paying about? Is it a reputed shop?

I once had an experience where a shop stole my brand new optima battery and put some piece of crap in it.. when I found out the next day, I promptly went down there with pictures, and lo and behold, they swapped out the battery to "test" it and must have "forgotten" to reinstall mine.

Your case would be tough to prove though. I don't think they could have screwed the turbos up unless they boosted on them before the oil had circulated and gotten up to pressure, but this is a basic rule most any mechanic would know. Not to mention it would have to have been boosted almost instantly after the car started the first time after the service, before warm up. No mechanic that knows RX7s would do this.

Good luck and let us know if we can help

AMRAAM4

Damn, I hate not having my sig show up automatically and having to click the box! My car and mods are in my sig, and I don't think you could call it high mileage.

Anyway, the shop is a reputable one here on the east coast that I have heard many good things about from a lot of people. Of course there are always going to be a few here and there that have their opinions.

T88NosRx7

iTrader: (1)

it is a little wierd that it happened right after they suggest you replace them.

Buzzfish

Our complex is cursed!

You know where i live if you need help.

adam c

iTrader: (2)

Take it back and tell them that it wasn't like this before you brought it in. Give them a chance to make things right before starting too much trouble

93 R1

what happened? anything?

wonder1and

I don't like the sound of that... sure they will have to pull the turbos but did they forget to do something when they put it back together and messed them up... i.e. oil line! Then acted like nothing happened and are now trying to blame it on you. Shops will do this to you. If it was not making any noise before you brought it in I think it would be their fault. Call the shop manager, explain things to him, and tell him you want it fixed. If there was no noise before hand make sure he knows that. If he says he can't do anything about it get a lawyer and get him to make a phone call to them for you.

kundo

That sucks when things like this happen. Thats the only reason I don't let people work on my car, the only time I let them do things is if I'm watching.
I used to drive an MR2 and I left the car at the mechanics so he can do my clutch 'cuse I was going out of town. My dad picked up the car and said it ran fine but as soon as I got back I had took the car and it handled like crap, it was real sloppy and it was having trouble shifting. Well I take it to another mechanic and he told me that their was only half the bolts in the transmition and he stripped the thread on one of my AC lines. I ended up selling the car a week later 'cuse I bought my RX7

turbojeff

iTrader: (30)

Hard to prove but I think they could have left a rag in the intake, started the car, turbo ate the rag and damaged the intake compressor.

I'd hope they wouldn't swap turbos, that would be pretty much impossible to prove.

They had the responsibility to tell you the turbos weren't serviceable when they were off. They don't go bad during R+R.

Oh and don't drive the car, that noisy turbo can take out your motor...

BOTTLEFED

iTrader: (1)

I really hate hearing about these situations since I am an auto tech. The problem is that neither you or the shop can prove that you did or didn't cause the damage. We run into this all the time with scratches and dents. We are supposed to note all major problems with the car when it comes in. But people still find minor things that we miss. Most people don't do this intentionally, it's just that they are extra sensitive to their cars when they pick them up from the shop. A little ding that they walked past everyday for the past 8 months all of a sudden becomes unbearably noticeable and was never there before. Guess who gets the bill. This happens most often in dealerships because we have in-house body shops.

What I'm trying to get at, is that your tubos may have been making noise for so long and began so subtly that you never really noticed. Then the shop took them apart and that finally put them over the top and now they're dead.
As you stated, turbos can go at any time. I would talk to the shop and see if you can work out a deal. Maybe you find a good set of turbos or have yours rebuilt and they install everything for free. Or just go in half-n-half on the whole thing. Just be reasonable. When you are done, you will have come out better than you went in.
Just stay calm and collected. If you get a lawyer involved, you will just make it messy and expensive for both of you and in the end both of you will feel angry; win or lose.

AMRAAM4

Whoa..this came back and I just saw it. Here is the lowdown...

I wrote emails to Rotary Performance (specifically Brad De Pedro who did the work!!) and he basically replied how I expected. He said the car was not running when it came in hence he had no reference (true, but bullshit excuse). He thought maybe it could be an exhaust leak (yeah, the sound of sharding metal is exactly an exhaust leak ). Then he said I could haul the car down there and he would look it over and replace the gaskets for free if that's what it was (with the obvious intent that if it was turbos your SOL and I'll charge you..meanwhile closing his email with a restatement that the turbos will need to be done soon). I knew this was complete bullshit and exactly what he could have had in mind as an excuse if I returned. In the meantime I bought aReX-7s used/rebuilt turbos he had from a wrecked car as a fix. I also contacted Demetrios and spoke with him (Dee is the man BTW...great guy and hopefully can continue to help me in the future). I took the car down to Dee and we went for a ride, he concurred that the primary was shot. So from there I had him swap in the one's I bought. I just picked it up last night and Dee had bad news....the secondary is going in the one's I bought There is a slight squeal but not as bad. Something that will make do till I can get some BNR rebuilds.

When Dee removed the originals he informed me that the bearings in the primary were completely gone. Now, I am no expert, but how does "a little shaft play" from Bret's perspective turn into totally shitfaced bearings when I boost the car for the first time after proper warm up leaving Bret's shop?? I emailed Bret letting him know I thought that was some curious stuff......he has ignored my message. Dee agreed I don't have much ground to stand on, and I concur...and this is why i think RP shafted me. He knew the car was not running coming in, saw it as an easy excuse, and either swapped out my good turbos or damaged mine during work and played it off.

My *** is a bit sore, but I have to take it like a new inmate in prison I guess. Dee said this is the 4th car he has had after it came from RP, too. And ya know what, this isn't even about the money, it's about that bastard owning up to giving me a logical explanation. And yes, I had all intake/exhaust openings covered MYSELF when doing work and passing it along to him.

93 R1

Glad to hear that Demetrios helped you out. Seems like a really cool guy. You coming to the BBQ this weekend?

AMRAAM4

Nope, I have to go to CT to have some work done on my other car. My schedule sucks for the near future

93 R1

You get your car worked on in CT? What is it a spaceship?

AMRAAM4

I am having the supercharger setup removed by the person who had the first limited available kit installed. I'm then selling it to another person for only $250 less than I bought it for almost 2 years ago

Money for the FD!!

93 R1

revsteve

iTrader: (6)

For all you east coast boys, especially those in MD, VA, and DC - the best rotary shop around is PF Supercars. www.pfsupercars.com . Peter Farrell is a great guy and has serviced 2 of my friends cars for years now. Since I just got my FD I have just started forming a relationship with them. Nice enough - and they guarentee their work.

Might be worth the trip.

AMRAAM4

You think we don't know this place?? Maybe you should do some research here. He is no angel so to say, from some of the stories. Also, Bret from Rotary Performance CAME from Pete Ferrell's shop.....

revsteve

iTrader: (6)

Point me in the right direction? I'd love to know what I am getting into with this guy then. I have heard nothing but good things about this shop.

No need to get snippy - just relaying my experience thus far.

AMRAAM4

search button, top of page. probably will get a lot of hits.

As for being snippy, remember, you are on a website with thousands of members and you came across like we wouldn't be familiar with that place.

93 R1

steve,

Check out the NE section. We have a meet this sunday, come on down.