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

[Mike]

At 08:35 AM 8/20/06, you wrote:
>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.

har har, heres a thought, cancel the credit card transaction but send him a cheque
for the original quoted amount with a note on the back of the cheque that it
is amount quoted for "professional repair service" etc yada yada. Then get the
car checked out by a GM qualified mechanic pronto etc. So after the cheque
is banked by the bodgey mechanic and you have a report from your
good GM mechanic then cancel the cheque on the basis it wasnt
done as a "professional repair and service". He cant contest the
c/c cancelation because he accepted the cheque and cant contest the
cheque cancellation because he accepted it on basis it was for
a "professional repair and service". I might add that I would have no qualms
doing the above if there was any sense the guy was incompetent if however,
he did the best job and still came up short then he should accept a large
discount at the very least...

good luck,





>Bill
>
>David Allen wrote:
>> Oh, and I hope you did NOT pay that bill!
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Bill - Comcast" <b.shaw+AEA-comcast.net>
>> To: <diy+AF8-efi+AEA-diy-efi.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, August 19, 2006 6:52 PM
>> Subject: [Diy+AF8-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,  +ACQ-450 to +ACQ-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 +ACY- 
>>> 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 +ACQ-1050.  The 
>>> bill lists a tow (+ACQ-27),  parts (+ACQ-180) and the remainder labor:  replaced 
>>> the timing chain +ACY- gears,  clean debris from the oil pan, and R+ACY-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 (+ACY- 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 +ACM-1, 90 in +ACM-3,  and about 120 in the others.  
>>> Squirted oil in +ACM-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 +ACM-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 
>>> (+ACY- 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 +ACM-1 or the cam timing is 
>>> off.  Any thoughts would be appreciated,  my apologies again for the off 
>>> topic post.
>>>
>>> Best,
>>>
>>> Bill
>>>
>>>
>>>     
>>   
>
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Regards from


Mike
Perth, Western Australia
VL Commodore Fuse Rail that wont warp or melt !
Twin tyres for most sedans, trikes and motorcycle sidecars
http://niche.iinet.net.au