[Diy_efi] Re: +AFs-Diy+AF8-efi+AF0- Reality check - no efi content - long winded

[Bill - Comcast]

Had to pay up to get my car out of hock.  I almost told him to keep the
car,  probably should have in retrospect.  At least I used a CC so I can
contest the payment.

Bill

David Allen wrote:
> Oh, and I hope you did NOT pay that bill!
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bill - Comcast" <b.shaw at comcast.net>
> To: <diy_efi at diy-efi.org>
> Sent: Saturday, August 19, 2006 6:52 PM
> Subject: [Diy_efi] Reality check - no efi content - long winded
>
>
>   
>> Sorry for the off topic post but I know there's a lot of mechanical 
>> knowledge here and thought I'd solicit some opinions on this situation. 
>>
>> We just returned from the vacation-from-hell.  Amy's wagon ate the 
>> timing chain in upstate NY.  We got towed into a garage where they 
>> quoted 4-5 hours labor,  $450 to $500 to fix it.  They stumbled and 
>> bumbled around with it for 3 days (each time I asked they were almost 
>> done,  only a couple more hours) while we waited and finally at about 
>> 5:30 on the third day they started it,  but it ran like garbage and was 
>> leaking antifreeze from around the water pump and had a major oil leak 
>> from the valve cover.  They fiddled with the plug wires for 2 more hours 
>> before they finally gave up and pushed it out of the bay and into the 
>> yard.  They went home to supper and left me, Amy,  and the 2 kids (7 & 
>> 4) sitting in the car for 5 hours waiting for my car hauler to be 
>> brought up from CT. 
>>
>> Oh yes,  before they went home they handed me a bill for $1050.  The 
>> bill lists a tow ($27),  parts ($180) and the remainder labor:  replaced 
>> the timing chain & gears,  clean debris from the oil pan, and R&R valve 
>> covers for the compression test.  The owner feels perfectly justified in 
>> the 2X bill,  didn't know he had to clean the oil pan when he gave the 
>> estimate,  didn't include the compression test (& valve covers) in the 
>> estimate.
>>
>> Some questions for the gang:
>>
>> 1) Is the 1988 Buick 3.8L V6 an interference engine?  What are the 
>> chances we bent a valve?
>>
>> 2) They did a compression check before doing the work and said all 6 
>> holes were 120 to 140.  They had to pull the valve covers and loosened 
>> the rockers since the cam wasn't turning.  I can't imagine how this is a 
>> valid test since the valves didn't open on the suck cycle.  Is there any 
>> way this could have been a valid compression test?
>>
>> 3)  I did a compression test this afternoon (cam's turning now :-) ),  
>> I've got 30 psi in hole #1, 90 in #3,  and about 120 in the others.  
>> Squirted oil in #1 and retested... still 30.  I pulled the valve cover 
>> to try to fix the oil leak and while it was off I removed the 2 rockers 
>> on #1 and retested... still 30 psi.
>>
>> 4)  They spent 3.5 to 4 hours trying to remove the oil pan to clean the 
>> debris out of it (billed me for 4.3 hours).  Is this reasonable for a 
>> Buick Century wagon?  Seems to me there should have been another way 
>> other than removing all the stuff they did.
>>
>> 5) Is there any way to check cam timing without  taking the timing cover 
>> (& water pump) off? 
>>
>> I did some other checks too - all injectors are firing,  I have spark in 
>> all 6.  I'm thinking either a valve is bent in #1 or the cam timing is 
>> off.  Any thoughts would be appreciated,  my apologies again for the off 
>> topic post.
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Bill
>>
>>
>>     
>