Engine Rebuild Dilemma. Whats Fair?

[LiveBait]

Ifishers,

Need some opinions on what you think is fair/reasonable. My engine last year hydro locked due to engine being filled with water. I bought engine from ebay and installed it. Engine I bought ran very rough. After running engine on trailer I had water in the engine. I sent back and got my money from it. Got money back from engine. They told me they believed water was coming into engine from exhaust manifold and had failed.

This year I had a local company rebuild me an engine for my boat. 351 Windsor Marine. The motor came with a two year warranty. Here is the problem...

I took all parts of the engine to rebuilder. They requested I do this. I explained that a previous rebuild had failed due to water in engine. I asked them to test exhaust manifolds for leeking. They said no problem lets run some water through them. I said okay. I took off the risers and had them hook it up to water. I was right there when they did this. The manifolds did fine running water through them. No Leaks. They said they are good to use. They finished the rebuild and I used the manifolds. Paid $1700 for engine and they did not charge me for maniold test. Engine ran for two hours and stopped. Had them tear apart and found engine full of water. They then said water had come in from the exhaust manifold. This time they tested manifold with pressure. Manifold leaked like crazy. Probably from corroision inside. They said they would tear down engine rebuild another. Mechanic working on engine said you came to the right place for these type of problems and we will be super fair with you. I agreed to buy a set of used manifolds from them for $300.00 to use on the boat. Engine is finished and I called to set up date for pickup. They told me today it would be another $1200.00 for the second engine rebuild. I dont have an extra $1200 at the moment and thought it would mostly if no all be under warranty. Guy working there got upset when I told him I couldnt afford to pay an extra $1200. He said he only helped me test them and didn't charge me for the test. We ended conversation with him saying he was going on vacation and will have to sort things out next week. What is a fair solution? I wasn't charged for manifold test but clearly took them there because I had no idea how to test them. The $1200 did not come up till today and I was suppose to pick up engine on Thursday. Thanks...

[ET]

What is fair? This is a tough one and I can completely understand your frustration.

If it is possible to sit down and talk rationally with them, I'd like to hear their side of the story.

Everyone agrees that the leaking manifolds were the cause of the failure, right?

So, they are saying that the test they ran on the manifolds doesn't count because they didn't charge you for it and they allowed YOU to do the test for yourself using their equipment as a courtesy.... correct?

You of course believe that they are responsible for the failure because they didn't catch the leaking manifold when THEY did the test.... right?

So the whole thing boils down to who did the test. Did THEY do it or did YOU do it? Did someone there tell you directly, "Those manifolds are good to use." If so, will they admit that?


In the end, I think you are up a creek with no paddle because YOU removed and installed the manifolds yourself. If the shop had installed the manifolds, they would be responsible. You took the job onto yourself so you're going to have to eat it.

Good luck.

[LiveBait]

I took the manifolds up there. I removed the riser attached to the manifold. They then hooked the manifold up to water. I helped carry them over. But one of their employees hooked up the hose and ran water through them. At that time they never explained to me that for a better test they should be put under pressure. They saw no signs of failure and told me they were okay to put back on engine. I reinstalled them as per there instructions myself. I have the receipt for the original engine and asked them to right the warranty on there. I believe they wrote two season warranty on the paper as I requested. Will have to have wife dig out the paper since she filed it away to see specifically what they wrote.

[loveseafood]

well thats one hell of a warranty that they offer id say they should honer it under there warranty otherwise whats the point of a warranty especially since they tested them and said they were good and useable

[BassinFever]

You will win in small claims court but you will have to take the time to go through with it!

It just boils down to them already knowing you had a water intrusion problem and you were concerned about the manifolds enough to have them tested, paid for or not!

Done deal, verdict for the plaintiff, give the man his boat!!!!

[baltz526]

Any update on this?

[LiveBait]

Waiting to talk with shop on Monday. Hopefully we can reach an understanding. Thanks everyone for their input.

[jig4herring]

if you can, go pick up your boat and have them file the paper work against payment?

or

Did they give you an estimate before the 2nd rebuild and did they get a written permission from you to do the work the 2nd time. If not they will loose in court.

[LiveBait]

I have the boat. They just have the engine. No they never gave me an estimate on the second rebuild.

[bandwcow]

If you have not already documented this you should document all phone calls from the first rebuild to today. Who you spoke with, when bills were paid, estimates given with dates, etc. If you have to go to court 6mns from now you will be speaking from a journal, not our clouded thoughts.
Documentation takes out the emotion, whether today or tomorrow some day.
Good luck.

[sarg88]

there is no written/signed estimate law in oregon like say california. Best bet is solid negotiations... I hope the shop does the right thing, tell them you'd like to pay them a few hundred in labor and let them counter offer. work it like a car deal.