needing help

[Basher_12]

About two weeks ago, due to a coolant leak in my heater hose, my car overheated and started smoking. It is a 98 3.8 camaro. I brought it into a mechanic and he proceeded to replace the heater hose. I then got a call that i had blown a head gasket. I went ahead and had him replace the gasket, with the understanding that he would make sure i hadn't done any more damage. He sent my heads off to a machine shop to have them checked, they came back fine. A couple days later he said he had replaced my spark plugs and wires, done the heater hose, and replaced the head gaskets. When i drove off in my car, i noticed it was smoking from the tail pipe and felt like it had no power. I called the mechanic and he explained that it was just water in the exhaust pipe and i should just drive it more. I drove it a couple hundred miles, about 200. The smoking stopped but it still wasn't running right, check engine light was on and when the car was warmed up and at idle i would loose oil pressure. He kept it over night, said he did a compression check and cylinder 3 was showing low compression, about 95. Also he said the fuel injector wasn't firing on cylinder 3. When asked how i could get this fixed he replied sternly that he would fix it for 1400 dollars. So my question is this... What would cause the misfire and should he of caught that problem when he had the heads off. Then what would cause my car when cold to have good oil pressure but after it gets warmed up and is at idle will loose all oil pressure? I

[bigbrian442]

Re: needing help

Did he change the oil before he gave it back to you?

[ssms5411]

Re: needing help

I think he is trying to get as much money from you as he can before you go to another mechanic. I hate scamming mechanics. Take it somewhere else. Before he blows your engine and says I can put a rebuilt engine in it for $3000.

[LETZRIDE]

Re: needing help

take it to another mechanic asap...while on your way over there have them scan the code and see what the code says... check the sparkplug wires are in the correct firing order... Then check your fluids...check your oil make sure its not milky, make sure you have enough...check your coolant, make sure its the right orange colour and doesnt look like someone sh*t in it...make sure you have enough...

Checking your fluids wont fix your problem, it will give you a bit of a piece of mind though if they check out...and will ensure that you can most likely drive it to the next mechanic. I'm willing to bet you have a couple of problems, and I am also willing to bet they are due to improper installation of the previous mentioned.

Now I got a question for you...How much did your car overheat? did you go into the red, because you may have damaged the engine itself...if not, then Im willing to bet he probably tryed to use the original intake manifold gasket, or doesnt have the **** seated right and now your going to have some fluids mixing with each other and causing more damage...let me know how your fluids look and what that code is. I would reccommend not driving the car very much if any for now...

[Basher_12]

Re: needing help

Yes, i'm taking it to another mechanic. Atleast to get a full diagnostic on what the issues are now. Depending on what the diagnostic says now, i may demand for him to refund of fix the problems. Although i doubt that will get me anywhere, i may have to pursue it in small claims court.

The temp guage didn't read extreme heat, right before it redlined. Car was pulled over when smoke was noticed coming from exhaust and from engine bay. I checked the fluids that first day i got the car back. Everything checked out fine, although i did change the oil again. Just to be on the safe side that he didn't put a crappy oil in it. Don't remeber the exact code, but i do remeber it sayin misfire cylinder 3.

My thoughts on the whole situation is that

1. I don't believe he did a full diagnostic, just wanted to nickle and dime me the whole time

2. for 1200 dollars i expected to pick up my car in good running condition. Not pick up with more problems ie: oil pressure problems

3. My age and experience played a large role in this. I'm only 22 years old and have a basic understanding of mechanics. So my age and experienced combined allowed the right questions not to be asked and procedures not to be followed.

[cam98aro]

Re: needing help

sounds like the mechanic messed something up when he replaced the head gaskets

go to another mechanic and get a second opinion, also make sure he actually did replace the head gaskets

[LETZRIDE]

Re: needing help

sounds like the mechanic messed something up when he replaced the head gaskets

go to another mechanic and get a second opinion, also make sure he actually did replace the head gaskets

exactly...and keep checking the fluids...especially for discolouration...would be an instant giveaway that your gaskets are toast and he didnt do it right...double check those plug wires are all hooked up to the right cylinders...I'd get my full money back if you learn it was not fixed properly...If the issue is not related thats one thing...but if its a result of what he did...get that money.

[ne0hisda0ne]

Re: needing help

prolly have water in cylinder #3 still...he also might not of torqued the head properly, if I remember it needs to be done in a certain order x 3. Also have the heads looked at again, take them "yourself" to a machine shop and just have them polished anyways it won't hurt, but atleast you'll have the confidence that they are "good". Running around trying to figure out a problem when it was simply a slightly warped head will be the last thing you want to hear. Good luck!

[T-Mill]

Re: needing help

Don't mean to thread hi-jack, but about how much on average does it cost to have your engine machined? Block deck, heads machined, and valve job?

Basher, I hope you get it all figured out, and if that mechanic screwed you, which all signs point to... Def pressure him to get your money back, and even if you don't feel like going through the hassle of small claims court at the very least threaten it bc that might change his mind a little...

[cam98aro]

Re: needing help

Don't mean to thread hi-jack, but about how much on average does it cost to have your engine machined? Block deck, heads machined, and valve job?

Basher, I hope you get it all figured out, and if that mechanic screwed you, which all signs point to... Def pressure him to get your money back, and even if you don't feel like going through the hassle of small claims court at the very least threaten it bc that might change his mind a little...

that around $500-$800 i would say