Cadillac ATS 2. 5 Luxury: Engine Replacement - Part IV
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It's always a roll of the dice.
I had a car involved in a rear end low impact accident. Right after the transmission made a funny noise. I had a real hard time getting the other insurance company to pay for a bearing replacement.
Date: 2023-03-09
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Comments and reviews: 14
calholli
The fact that you don't even know what was wrong with it is pretty concerning to me personally (if it were me. I would never be able to dive into a job blind like that. I would at the very least know what they said was the problem, and take the 10 minutes confirm it myself. I mean, a dead engine can only be a few things. But then at least you know you're not screwing over an oblivious customer; not that you're screwing them, but the last shop could be completely wrong-- and you're just going along with it. I've watched several times that Ivan got situations like this dumped in his lap, even from a DEALER-- and they were totally wrong about the diagnosis, and he saved the customer a lot of money. I get that you're not going to do a diagnosis for free. But just for my own peace of mind, I would have asked and confirmed for myself. If the engine is toast, a quick compression test or bore scope would confirm it. I just don't trust other shops ability to diagnose things. lol.
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The fact that you don't even know what was wrong with it is pretty concerning to me personally (if it were me. I would never be able to dive into a job blind like that. I would at the very least know what they said was the problem, and take the 10 minutes confirm it myself. I mean, a dead engine can only be a few things. But then at least you know you're not screwing over an oblivious customer; not that you're screwing them, but the last shop could be completely wrong-- and you're just going along with it. I've watched several times that Ivan got situations like this dumped in his lap, even from a DEALER-- and they were totally wrong about the diagnosis, and he saved the customer a lot of money. I get that you're not going to do a diagnosis for free. But just for my own peace of mind, I would have asked and confirmed for myself. If the engine is toast, a quick compression test or bore scope would confirm it. I just don't trust other shops ability to diagnose things. lol.
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Hack
I'm glued to this series. I'm also in sync with your business practices. You were asked (and accepted) to do the engine swap. So that's what you're doing. The internet can 'what if? ', 'what about? ', 'how come? ', and 'why not? ' this all to death. But you're a business. And you accepted the job to replace an engine. That's what I would expect. If I'd have brought you this, yeah, I'd like to have heard some 'options' or 'alternatives' based upon your knowledge and experience. But another 'pro' shop sending you this? Yeah, do what they contracted you for: change the engine. If the engine is FUBAR, it's on them (or the customer supplied engine, as long as your install is without question.
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I'm glued to this series. I'm also in sync with your business practices. You were asked (and accepted) to do the engine swap. So that's what you're doing. The internet can 'what if? ', 'what about? ', 'how come? ', and 'why not? ' this all to death. But you're a business. And you accepted the job to replace an engine. That's what I would expect. If I'd have brought you this, yeah, I'd like to have heard some 'options' or 'alternatives' based upon your knowledge and experience. But another 'pro' shop sending you this? Yeah, do what they contracted you for: change the engine. If the engine is FUBAR, it's on them (or the customer supplied engine, as long as your install is without question.
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ToughAncientSpark
1: 50 When I had my RV and mobile home repair business, many times customers would buy awnings from Camping World because they were less expensive than my cost.
They would ask me if I would install it even though they bought it elsewhere. I never had a problem taking their money to install an awning from a wholesaler. I charged the same as if I sold the awning.
To me it was work that I got paid for and besides while installing the awning, I usually ended up with other work from the same customer and neighbors stopping by checking out the job!
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1: 50 When I had my RV and mobile home repair business, many times customers would buy awnings from Camping World because they were less expensive than my cost.
They would ask me if I would install it even though they bought it elsewhere. I never had a problem taking their money to install an awning from a wholesaler. I charged the same as if I sold the awning.
To me it was work that I got paid for and besides while installing the awning, I usually ended up with other work from the same customer and neighbors stopping by checking out the job!
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murphymb
Having a lifting table will save a lot of scampering around on your knees. I appreciate the willingness to use customer supplied parts. As a builder/remodel contractor I'm faced with this frequently, my plumber and electrician even more so. Sometimes home center stores have the same product as the supply houses, more often it just looks the same, but cheaper quality. Usually it works. With an engine, I'd be prone to trust my mechanic to supply a good one and I'd pay for the warranty. At the very least, I'd ask him who he recommends as a source.
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Having a lifting table will save a lot of scampering around on your knees. I appreciate the willingness to use customer supplied parts. As a builder/remodel contractor I'm faced with this frequently, my plumber and electrician even more so. Sometimes home center stores have the same product as the supply houses, more often it just looks the same, but cheaper quality. Usually it works. With an engine, I'd be prone to trust my mechanic to supply a good one and I'd pay for the warranty. At the very least, I'd ask him who he recommends as a source.
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Bob
you really didnt start the old engine out of curiosity? I mean my friends CRV died on the hiway, he brought it to the dealership they told him he didnt change his oil it was black and his engine was siezed he needed a new engine! sticker on window showed oil was only 2k miles. I told him to tow the car out of the dealership they are m0r0ns. his neighbor looked at it and saw the alternator was seized, replace it car of course still going 2 years later. it seems shops dont have time to diagnose and just say engine bad.
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you really didnt start the old engine out of curiosity? I mean my friends CRV died on the hiway, he brought it to the dealership they told him he didnt change his oil it was black and his engine was siezed he needed a new engine! sticker on window showed oil was only 2k miles. I told him to tow the car out of the dealership they are m0r0ns. his neighbor looked at it and saw the alternator was seized, replace it car of course still going 2 years later. it seems shops dont have time to diagnose and just say engine bad.
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Ken
OMG. A USED Engine? Uh O? Not a FAN of Junkyard Used engine's? I am just Guessing that there will be NO Preventative Extra Work Done, IE Exhaust Manifold GASKET / BOLTS, and the Like? Water Pump? (I don't even know where it is Located) On this 4 Banger. Just wondering about stuff like that. Is it worth doing while it's sitting on the Floor right in front of ya? Water Lines/Connections? Or is this guy just OFFING this Car after E. O. Is Done with it? Just wondering? It Looks Like a fairly Nice Ride. (No Rust!
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OMG. A USED Engine? Uh O? Not a FAN of Junkyard Used engine's? I am just Guessing that there will be NO Preventative Extra Work Done, IE Exhaust Manifold GASKET / BOLTS, and the Like? Water Pump? (I don't even know where it is Located) On this 4 Banger. Just wondering about stuff like that. Is it worth doing while it's sitting on the Floor right in front of ya? Water Lines/Connections? Or is this guy just OFFING this Car after E. O. Is Done with it? Just wondering? It Looks Like a fairly Nice Ride. (No Rust!
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Edman
I would never drive a Cadillac and replace the engine with a junkyard engine. When I ever used a junkyard engine I put it through test before installing. Check oil for metal - compression test - crank it over and listen for noise and even with these test it could still be a bad engine. Also I would pressurize the cooling system to check check for leaks and head gaskets and pressurize the crankcase and check for oil leaks.
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I would never drive a Cadillac and replace the engine with a junkyard engine. When I ever used a junkyard engine I put it through test before installing. Check oil for metal - compression test - crank it over and listen for noise and even with these test it could still be a bad engine. Also I would pressurize the cooling system to check check for leaks and head gaskets and pressurize the crankcase and check for oil leaks.
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watajob
Bless you! IMHO, investing a few bucks in your diagnosis might have saved this gentleman a crap ton of money. I'd watch you gapping spark plugs as long as you were chatting to us. or Mrs. O. Often, you two sound a bit like Bud and Lou. PS the handle on that table appears to fold and it weighs 180 lbs. I'm pretty sure when you're done with it, you and Josh could put it on it's side and find somewhere to tuck it away.
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Bless you! IMHO, investing a few bucks in your diagnosis might have saved this gentleman a crap ton of money. I'd watch you gapping spark plugs as long as you were chatting to us. or Mrs. O. Often, you two sound a bit like Bud and Lou. PS the handle on that table appears to fold and it weighs 180 lbs. I'm pretty sure when you're done with it, you and Josh could put it on it's side and find somewhere to tuck it away.
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Jeff
Hydraulic 1k table at harbor freight is an awesome awesome tool. Helps lots when dropping engines this way and loading and unloading heavy items from trucks and such. Bought one years ago and it was a where have you been all my life kinda thing. Even just running trash cans to dumpster is so easy with one. Eric O you need one so bad and we all heard Mrs. O give you the go ahead to buy one. SWEET
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Hydraulic 1k table at harbor freight is an awesome awesome tool. Helps lots when dropping engines this way and loading and unloading heavy items from trucks and such. Bought one years ago and it was a where have you been all my life kinda thing. Even just running trash cans to dumpster is so easy with one. Eric O you need one so bad and we all heard Mrs. O give you the go ahead to buy one. SWEET
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Poorboy
Does the customer going to take the so called bad engine back or are you now the owner of it? I notice you checking out the intake ports for any clue to what could have been wrong with it.
My curiosity would take the better of me to find out. I would trust you with my car without question if only all mechanics were as skillful and honest as you. God job Eric.
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Does the customer going to take the so called bad engine back or are you now the owner of it? I notice you checking out the intake ports for any clue to what could have been wrong with it.
My curiosity would take the better of me to find out. I would trust you with my car without question if only all mechanics were as skillful and honest as you. God job Eric.
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Chris
I remember a shop owner getting fired up when I wanted to bring him my own tires. I mean, yeah he's not getting the mark up, but I don't know. It's not like I'm bringing him a 2 dollar rear main seal off fleabay, or some other cheap part with a high book time to install.
edit: I'd gladly pay more in labor too, to make up for the lost mark up.
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I remember a shop owner getting fired up when I wanted to bring him my own tires. I mean, yeah he's not getting the mark up, but I don't know. It's not like I'm bringing him a 2 dollar rear main seal off fleabay, or some other cheap part with a high book time to install.
edit: I'd gladly pay more in labor too, to make up for the lost mark up.
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Bruce
A proper engine lift table is thousands of dollars. A flat top table from Harbor Freight is quite another thing entirely. And there will be no diagnosing the old engine; if it were to be done, Eric would already have done it while it was in the car. Frankly, I think it was a great missed opportunity, but the man has a business to run.
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A proper engine lift table is thousands of dollars. A flat top table from Harbor Freight is quite another thing entirely. And there will be no diagnosing the old engine; if it were to be done, Eric would already have done it while it was in the car. Frankly, I think it was a great missed opportunity, but the man has a business to run.
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Mike
It seems like a tremendous amount of work to install a used engine, that may not last as long as the original What has rendered the original engine to be unrepairable? Given that this car appears to be low mileage and in very good condition, a better (and more expensive) option would be to install a new long-block assembly from GM.
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It seems like a tremendous amount of work to install a used engine, that may not last as long as the original What has rendered the original engine to be unrepairable? Given that this car appears to be low mileage and in very good condition, a better (and more expensive) option would be to install a new long-block assembly from GM.
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John
No sales of used engines without the inclusion of warranty can t say I blame you. however, would you be willing to sell a used without warranty if the customer signed a contract stating something along the lines of: I, the customer, take full responsibility and understanding that if this engine fails, SMA is not responsible?
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No sales of used engines without the inclusion of warranty can t say I blame you. however, would you be willing to sell a used without warranty if the customer signed a contract stating something along the lines of: I, the customer, take full responsibility and understanding that if this engine fails, SMA is not responsible?
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