Who's on the hook

[LomileWE-2]

Recently purchased a 3VZE long block assembly from a shop in CO for my daughters 4 runner . Had a super competent independent do the install. Upon completion of install, the rear main started leaking immediately resulting in an additional 11 hours of labor to remove the trans and replace provided seal with a Fel Pro. As the installer was putting in the new seal, they noticed that the orifice where it sits was not perfectly round, citing possibly faulty machining. Motherfucker still leaks after thousands spent on this. I contacted the vendor and related all of this. They said they would speak to the installer if he wishes to call them, but they don't see how a "machining error" is possible. Even if I were to get all the money back on the long block, I'm still pissed that it leaks and probably will for the rest of the time its on the road.
Who do you think is the at fault party? Engine came from CO, install done in Mokena.
Regards,
Chuck

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[bikrboy128]

Sounds like this is between you and the vendor. The installer isn't going to stand behind an engine brought in by the customer

 

[Turtle]

The installer’s job was to install the engine, that’s where it ends. This specific situation seems pretty clean cut. I’ve heard of others where bolts were never fully tighten and MAYBE the installer should have double checked. But this is not the case.

It’s the between you and the vendor at this point.

That’s like bring your own parts to a shop. No warranty on anything.

 

[daturbosix]

what they said ^

customer supplied parts are never the mechanics' problem. thats kind of why i love them so much.

id do a charge back on the engine if they cant resolve it for you. afterall, you did not get what you agreed to purchase.

 

[LomileWE-2]

Hey thanks everyone for giving input. The vendor is trying to say that the shop that did the install may have botched the rear main install. I think not. I will give them a chance to remedy it. If not, I guess I'll have to pursue a charge back, which is such bitch shit if I have to go that route.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I mean we’re talking two rear main seals, one of which wouldn’t of been touched by the installer.

 

[LomileWE-2]

A 2 piece I think?

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I’m saying the first one installed by the vendor wouldn’t of been messed with at all by your installer, only the second one that the installer put in.

 

[daturbosix]

I’m saying the first one installed by the vendor wouldn’t of been messed with at all by your installer, only the second one that the installer put in.

exactly.

 

[LomileWE-2]

Installer did the initial rear main install. It wasn't assembled by the vendor (rear main). Shop is claiming bad tolerances on the machining end.

 

[LomileWE-2]

So the shop did them both.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

This is why I do my own work what a shit show

 

[daturbosix]

welll then. ask installer what the tolerances that they measured were to come to the conclusion that rear plate is bad or whatever.

if they dont have that, for the engine place to verify... id be going after the installer.

 

[daturbosix]

is it possible that the installer used the wrong seal due to a mid year production change or an updated part?

 

[LomileWE-2]

They used the seal that came in the kit provided by the vendor. The shop was complaining that you could see something was off visually by the naked eye- didn't look right

 

[dun4791]

They used the seal that came in the kit provided by the vendor. The shop was complaining that you could see something was off visually by the naked eye- didn't look right

then why would they put it together without questioning and verifying. So basically they admit they knew something was wrong and installed it that way anyway

 

[Z28Camaro]

Machining errors happen frequently. Get the installer to put what they found (facts and data, preferably with photos) in writing and go after the engine vendor. Give them a chance to make it right and if they don’t, dispute the charge if you bought it with a credit card. If you can’t dispute the charge with a credit card company, call a lawyer. The right lawyer can make you whole on this, credit card company will not recover the costs you incurred for the attempted repair for the leak. Good luck.

 

[IZZy]

This is why I do my own work what a shit show

This^

this is the biggest reason I stopped modding cars, the tuner blames the mechanic and the mechanic blames the tuner, no one ever makes a mistake.

 

[dun4791]

This^

this is the biggest reason I stopped modding cars, the tuner blames the mechanic and the mechanic blames the tuner, no one ever makes a mistake.

Agreed, but if you want to mod imo the best course of action is to take your car to a reputable shop (like RPM or Katech is for corvettes) and let them do everything. It won’t make your car worth more, but it also won’t make your car worth thousands less like a owner modified car will. Whether or not the owner did the work correctly isn’t the issue....people want a receipt from a verified reputable shop.