Well the new mechanic did find that 4 of the valves were bent. He does not know about the pistons yet. The current running total is about $3000.00 (which includes, labor, remove/replace left side cylinder head to inspect, cylinder head bolt and gasket, all timing chains, tensioners primary and secondary, guide rails, oil, filters) that does not include the machinist work which may be about $450.00 for grinding valves and machining heads as needed.

You made a point "test point" that I should allow the original mechanic to fix it at his cost meaning, I would pay his cost? Well he has Mickey Moused on his price....When I first asked the cost to replace timing chains and tensioners he said $1100.00 now he's claiming $2800.00 is what he charges for swapping the timing chain and tensioners. Clearly not his cost...it's the same price that the new mechanic is offering relatively.

 

My comment on $800 is based on what I perceive is the current approximate price of parts and labor for secondary tensioner replacement. Chains would be more but not $300 more. You can check the price of parts on line but I think both chains would be less than $100 and their replacement would be really minimal at the point of tensioners replacement.

I reread my earlier post and I can understand the misunderstanding of the 'at his cost' comment. I meant to convey 'at his expense'

 

Go to the web site for the office of the secretary of state (whatever state you are in) and they probably have a lookup feature where you can get the articles of incorporation or LLC documents for the business. There, it should say who the registered agent is. Sometimes there is an attorney's name, that is the person you should contact. You may only get the name of the owner of the business, but it is a good place to start.

 

Exactly, I was lucky enough to notice a rattle on start up on my 2001 XK8 back when I had it. I knew that was the pre-tens and got it fixed under warranty before it got bad.

So sorry you're going through this, but do fight this as you may need a new engine as a result of their **** up.

 

These are the solo practitioner turds who have their faces plastered on park benches and busses, claiming to handle any sort of law that comes their way. Translation: they will take whatever case helps keep the lights on. Also known as $hitlaw, this kind of practice is very common in America, nothing like the UK. No reason to think they are any more familiar with auto repair places than say, bakeries.

Seriously, if she has less than the statutory maximum of damages (probably around 5k, depending upon her state), she can take them to small claims court herself without a lawyer, demonstrate her case to a magistrate, and probably get a decision in her favor. The rules of evidence are not that bad for small claims and you really should not have to hire a lawyer for something so clearly in your favor.

If, and only if, all other negotiations with the original mechanic fail, I would take the time to go small claims yourself versus paying to get a lawyer involved. The mechanic will either show up himself and plead a poorly-constructed series of excuses, or he will blow off the date, giving you a default judgement and an easy win.

 

I think test points estimate might be a bit low for Calif where shop costs are close to $100 / hr.

 

You can also file a comlaint with the bureau of automotive affairs in Calif. they will investigate and often can get the shop to do the work at a free or reduced price. I used them once on a warranty issue on a failed rebuilt engine and they got the shop to provide a free replacement.

 

Ricardo where in California are you ? I'm in Sunnyale, CA 94087

 

I am in the Los Angeles area.

 

I haven't written in a while but I wanted to give an update on where things are with my little jag. After all your posts I did the following, moved the car to another mechanic who found that the plastic tensioners were never replaced. FUrther, with the secondary timing chain broken, only 2 of the values were bent, but the pistons were in good shape. I was able to take photos of the engine with the failed tensioners exposed. They also gave me the correct tensioner that the dufus mechanic should have installed. I then filed a complaint with the State Bureau of Automotive Repair. Funny, when I told the investigator the name of the shop, the response was, "Oh no, not again..." they performed their investigation and concluded that they were at fault. They could not force them to pay for the repairs that the other mechanic was doing, they indicated that I must sue to recover costs. They provided a report that was subpoenaed to the court when I sued their a**. The state bureau along with the new mechanic determined that the valve seal job that they swear I needed, was never done. The new mechanic stated that the seals seemed to be worn much longer than the short time that the job had allegedly been performed.

My first trip to court the mechanic never showed. While the judge asked many questions, I won. Judgment about $4700.00. The limit for small claims court in Calif is $7500.00. Dufus mechanic then filed a motion to vacate to get back into court. They appeared the second time. We will see what happens this go round.

I did want to thank all of you for all your help!!! Without your input, I would have never known what to do.

So if you wish to get on the, in my opinion, merry go round of a mechanic who may not know his way around a wrench go to Kavanagh Motors.

 

Of course they chose valve seals. Unless valves seals are really needed, you cannot tell whether the job was done or not without pulling them out. So, it was really a phantom job.

Hope you get a sympathetic judge. And, be prepared even better the second time than the first time. Don't forget, he has had a chance to see all the evidence, arguments and questions from the first time around.

You forgot the bold and underline tags.

If Los Angeles or California require mechanics or garages to be licensed, then you ought to push for license revocation as well.

 

Wait - so CA has a State Bureau entirely devoted to chasing down auto repair shops? No wonder that place is going broke! If they ask for a bailout from the rest of us without first eliminating fringes like that I've got zero sympathy for them.

 

Appreciate the update and the good news! I admire your courage, often i just take my beating when i've been wronged by a mechanic.