Where does he stand with this engine?

bajangal

Some advice would be gratefully appreciated.
My son bought a recon engine 15 November last year from a breaker.
On 29 December he phoned them up to say engine losing power, water and oil.
He was advised to get sump checked.
He took the car to his mechanic.
Problem continued, breaker recommended something else, my son got it checked. Each "check" warranted him paying the mechanic.
Mechanic emailed breaker to say what he thought problem was (gasket, pistons), but wouldn't know for sure until he stripped the engine. More money.
My son would like another engine, because this one has obviously come with a problem or developed the problem within the guarantee period.
The breakers'
don't have another engine of this type - only an upgraded model - and don't know when they will get one in. They refuse to give him the upgraded model.
Questions are:
i) has my son any rights here, as it is a recon engine.
ii) would he be able to recoup the cost of the engine (as he can't get an immediate replacement) PLUS the labour charges that he has already incurred.
Any advise would be welcomed.

Gloomendoom

The best advice I can give is that breakers don't generally sell reconditioned engines. They sell engines removed from scrapped cars.

If the engine is not fit for purpose and it is still under warranty (or was when the problem first occurred) he should ask for his money back and go elsewhere.

Unfortunately, he is unlikely to be able to recoup any labour charges.

bajangal

Gloomendoom wrote: »

The best advice I can give is that breakers don't generally sell reconditioned engines. They sell engines removed from scrapped cars.

If the engine is not fit for purpose and it is still under warranty (or was when the problem first occurred) he should ask for his money back and go elsewhere.

Unfortunately, he is unlikely to be able to recoup any labour charges.

Thank you. That is what I feared.
The breakers have offered
a) to refund half the cost of the engine and he can keep it or
b) the full cost of the engine if he removes it himself and they will collect it. Obviously, he would have to pay the mechanic to remove it and still find another one.

CaptainKidd

a)If they refund half then would this be enough to fix the current engine? if so then might be worth it to save any hassle.

b)not a bad offer either but aslong as they would genuinly pay out and not change their mind when they get the engine back saying it was him that caused the problem, and then you are left with and engineless car.


How old is the car and how much was the engine, personaly if i was guarented the money back and return engine then i would go for this but it depends on how much the mechanic wants paying.

bajangal

CaptainKidd wrote: »

a)If they refund half then would this be enough to fix the current engine? if so then might be worth it to save any hassle.

b)not a bad offer either but aslong as they would genuinly pay out and not change their mind when they get the engine back saying it was him that caused the problem, and then you are left with and engineless car.


How old is the car and how much was the engine, personaly if i was guarented the money back and return engine then i would go for this but it depends on how much the mechanic wants paying.

Thank you.
The engine is fitted in a modified honda civic (1995).
He bought it for 258 pounds (I seem to have lost my pound sign). Fitting was 245 + VAT. He has been quoted 170 + VAT to remove it.
Weighing everything up, I think he would be best to go for the half-refund and keep the engine. At least he'll be able to get around to source another one.
Once again, thank you.

bigjl

A breaker will not sell a reconditioned engine, he will sella second hand engine that has been steam cleaned, normally with the original cambelt and oil from before it was removed from the donor car.

You couldn't recondition much if anything on a Honda Civic engine then sell it on for under three hundred quid, it is a used engine froma scrapper. A very common ploy at some "engine centres" near heathrow, we used to have people come in after getting engines fitted and the cambelt was on its last legs and the cam cover gaskets where leaking.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

has the cars ecu been upgraded by anychance? ""The engine is fitted in a modified honda civic "".

if it has then i think it maybe due fo setting up to run that engine correctly. there may have been extra sensors on that brakers engine that arent in your sons car, or vice versa. some sensors are designed to work in conjuction with others, if one is missing or one extra then the engine will act up or conflict with the ecu.

C_Mababejive

Scrap the lot and get the bus. Far less hassle.

bajangal

Update.
The company has agreed to a full refund. They have also agreed to wait until my son has found another engine and then they will collect the old one. Under the circumstances, I think this is a very fair option.

atrixblue.-MFR-: I will point that issue out to my son.

Once again, thanks to all who contributed positive advice.

My son's case is now closed.

cyclonebri1

bajangal wrote: »

Update.
The company has agreed to a full refund. They have also agreed to wait until my son has found another engine and then they will collect the old one. Under the circumstances, I think this is a very fair option.

atrixblue.-MFR-: I will point that issue out to my son.

Once again, thanks to all who contributed positive advice.

My son's case is now closed.

I think that's a result and just about the best you could hope for.

If they did actually describe the engine as reconditioned, which for £250 it couldn't be, they would know they were on to a hiding to nothing if you pursued it. :T