john@pyrnj.uucp (John Kurzman) (10/17/86)
Scenario: 1) I bought a 1980 Eagle from an individual, knowing it needed engine work. It appeared to be losing oil at valve cover and rear seal. It also needed new tires and exhaust manifold work, and leaked oil from the dipstick. 2) I took it to a shop, asked them what it would cost to 'fix it up'. They estimated a new head gasket and new tires, and that the "rear seal isn't an emergency, so you can do it later". They also forgot to check the PCV system as the cause of the blowby (out of the dipstick), told me it was ok, and to see what happens. 3) I bought the 4 new tires, had them do the head work, and paid with a credit card. On the way home, the car started smoking so I brought it back, they redid the valve cover while I waited, and I drove it home. 4) I drove it the next day successfully, and made sure the oil level was OK, since he had mentioned that I should make sure that 'I keep up with the oil, since the rear seal still had a leak'. 5) Two days later, I topped off the oil (right to 'full' on the dipstick), and started out on Route 80. 20 Miles later I hear 'thump', stall out, and find a big puddle of oil where I pull over. It turns out that a rod has now punched through the oil pan, and I need a new engine block. Issues: [auto]: Should the garage have noticed that the lower half of the engine was about shot when they put the head back on (after the valve job I had them do)? After all, it was only 40 miles/2 days away from throwing the rod. [auto]: I had told them the 'oil' light would go on if I was motionless in 'drive' or 'reverse', but that in neutral or moving it would be alright. They thought it was either the 'idle', the bearings, or the oil pump. Since I was also losing oil out of the dipstick, they were also going to estimate a ring job. Before they called me back with the price though, the engine seized. Did the engine sieze because it lost too much oil during my 20 miles, due to a mistake they might have made putting the head back on, or was the existing condition (oil out of the dipstick, a warped head (originally), leaking rear seal) all signs that the rod was about to be thrown anyway? (ie. Was the rod the shops fault, or was it going to happen anyway). [legal]: Is there any implied warrantee on the engine after such major work? [auto]: Should the garage have known the engine was shot, so that I could have avoided throwing the money into the car for the work that they had me pay them to do? [legal/auto]: Are there legal steps I should be taking due to the fact that a) they should have known this was going to happen? b) it was their fault from the work they did? or was it just inevitable anyway?