UpSideDownDesi

I put her in for paint in August. Drove the car there, running good. Got a Full OEM restoration job done. I went to pick it up last nite and guess what. Car idled for about 30 sec, smoke out of exhaust (which was normal after sitting for day or two) then it killed itself.

Instead of trying to crank it again i went straight to check oil, i pulled dipstick and Milkshaked thickness foamed up oil started to come out of it. I went to warmart pick up 20 quarts of oil, and proceeded to flush oil out. Since I though it had bad case of moisture built up. As i moved on, it started to idle perfectly, no hiccups. Drained oil, and it wasn't milkshaked. Coolant light came on, i added gallon of water. Within 30 secs of adding water, milkshake foam again. I was doing this from 10pm-4am in the morning at the shop parking lot since i was picking up car after hours...not fun .


I know more than likely Coolant seals are done, but car didn't idle funny at all and retained 40psi oil pressure when it idled with low coolant (i didn't drive the car 1inch or let it overheat). Car went in perfect, and now has major problem. I am not pointing fingers at shop since i don't know what happened. Car was there for 10 weeks, got turned on/off, no full warm up during the time period. I got told that few months can do this, not if car got turned on regularly. Could the car been overheated or short on and off cycles could have done this or abuse? What are my options? What could still be good or totally trashed?


I bought this car last year with 22k miles, neglected, and my goal was to full restore it as it deserves it. Motor was pulled from car month after purchase to do full service, gaskets, hoses, valves, turbo, all fluids, ast, fuel dampener, etc. I got the paint and now this just makes me . I didn't do seals then coz i got purchase inspection done from Mazcare and compression came in at high 7's. So seals were in good shape, and even took beating after...till i put it in.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

I would not move the car. I would call a lawyer. By all information thus far they received a car with a good engine and returned a car with a blown engine. Protect yourself at every step and work in writing alone.

My car sits for 10 weeks at a time and it has never had a problem like that. Nothing remotely close.

While you may be dealing with a reputable shop, even reputable shop cycle through some bad employees. I recall once getting my car back from a shop that did exhaust work on my car (not the FD) and when I picked it up I found fast food trash on the floor and it stank like cigarettes. Needless to say the owner was really pissed because only one mechanic touched my car. In my case I threw out the trash and the smell went away, but if it was my FD I'm sure it would have been worse. It happens, and what's important is that you don't take any steps that would prevent you from reclaiming what might be rightfully owed to you.

David

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

Something funny happened at the body shop. Water seals usually don't go bad just from the motor sitting around.

There's quite a good possibility that the body shop did something. For something that catastrophic to happen, someone had to do it. Either they let the car sit and run for hours, went out and beat on it, something.

Did you make note of the odometer reading when you brought it in?

Let's put this another way. I'm Joe Don't Know Anything About Cars, I take my big ol' Ford to a body shop to get painted. I go to pick it up, it runs terrible, smokes, coolant in the oil. Guess what, I'm blaming the body shop at that point.

My car had to go to the body shop once - it went with the boost controller disabled and a 3000 RPM rev limiter. I just don't trust others with my car.

Talk to the body shop as soon as possible. They're liable, they need to do something to make it right. If they can't, might be worth talking to insurance or even a lawyer.

Dale

UpSideDownDesi

I talked talked to Mazcare they said it can happen. Seals can give up in such manner, but mostly take more than 2 months for it to happen...it is possible and it is going to be very hard to prove in court unless i can prove abuse. So i am bummed it can easily be thrown out as normal since all they'll need is a statement from a shop or dealership saying these parts are known to fail. Then i am looking are counter suit. BTW car only has 29k miles on it, and all OEM not 1 aftermarket part so no way i could put it on limp mode.

I talked to the body shop owner, i told him about the situation, and there has been more than mile or two put on the car, but it's just word of mouth rite now. They failed to provide me a written estimate when i dropped the car off since their system was down. They told me that week or so back car's coolant warning came on and they added coolant, and oil was already foamed up. They didn't mess with it since they weren't working on the motor. At this point they are being very helpful, offered if car gets any damage done to the paint from working on the motor...they'll be cover it since i am being level headed about this sticky situation and knowing how bad it can get. They said they drove the car 1 mile, after putting the interior back together to check for rattles and air leaks, took care of it like any other car at the shop, but i know car has been driven more than that.

Owner has actually been cool during the whole painting process, and straight up guy. I can either go through some ****, and get some out of it and at the same time burn bridges, and get nothing out of it.

Is the motor toast and needs full re-build ie resurfacing housing, rotors, etc or torn apart and seals? Anyone had anything similar happen to them before?

RIX-7

iTrader: (2)

Gutted for you mate, Happens here alot. Someone puts a nice car in for work or servicing, And some little tosser takes it for a joy ride. Know of a lovely skyline that got wrecked whilst being serviced..

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

Have you pressure tested the coolant system yet?

UpSideDownDesi

no i haven't done that yet.