When good engines go bad.. Is there anyone to turn to?

[citydreams]

Hi,

I have a bit of a problem. A year ago I purchased a new engine for my air cooled. I decided upon a modified engine which I was told would increase the BHP up to around 110 plus increased torque. Engine cost me £2,500. Taking my old engine out and putting new one in came to £1,500.

I managed around 100 miles before the engine siezed. It turned out that the crown of a piston had exploded inside the engine so the van was returned to the vendor, and he rebuilt it at his own expense. However, he blamed my new ignition module (which he fitted) as a likely cause, saying that it might have sent too high a spark to the engine, so we removed the performance ignition and replaced it with a condenser unit.

4,000 miles (and less than a year) later I broke down on the motorway with oil gushing through the breather pipe. I got a tow home and asked my local mechanic to have a look. He hasn't stripped the engine yet, but from the sound of the engine it appears that a gudgen pin has come loose.

I'm now wondering whether my vendor has any liability, as he "stands by his engines if anything goes wrong", but get the feeling that he'd rather not see the insides of my van again.

One suggestion I have receieved is to take the engine for an independent evaluation. Is this something that anyone else has had experience with?

Unfortunately I didn't ask which piston was originally faulty, nor did I ask whether he had replaced all the pistons before sending me back out on the road.

Many thanks

[ermie571]

First off, I would speak to the vendor. If the local chappie starts on it, the vendor is unlikely to want to know!

Give them a chance.....then fight your corner if they don't come good>

Em
x

[citydreams]

Aye, I spoke with the vendor at the weekend and he is happy for my local mechanic to open her up.

Just trying to get all my options in order for when I have to phone him back. I'm not the most assertive person when it comes to mechanics.

[ermie571]

I see....

Good luck then.

Em
x

[ghost123uk]

Engine cost me £2,500.

and

Taking my old engine out and putting new one in came to £1,500.

They've had a lot of money off you !! - esp re swapping the engines over at £1,500 flippy flip flip !!!!!

I do hope you get it sorted without too much fuss

[Red Westie]

You may find that the warranty period is less with a performance engine like this. Getting 110bhp out of an air cooled VW engine takes components up to or beyond their original design limits. You don't get anything for nothing with engine performance.
If the failure can be proven to be negligence ie: gudgeon circlip adrift, then it is possible he may consider a warranty repair.
It it turns out to be component failure then it is questional as to who's at fault (they may say the engine was over reved or wasn't serviced properly)
Martin

[citydreams]

If the failure can be proven to be negligence ie: gudgeon circlip adrift, then it is possible he may consider a warranty repair.

Thanks Martin.. I was assured that the components I was paying for would be suitable to handle the extra power of the engine. I've certainly not been over-revving as I set the accelerator cable to less than full throttle.

If it is the pistons that are faulty the vendor is going to say it isn't his fault. And I'm guessing that as he's already done one rebuild he's not going to volunteer a second.

Do I have a right to a rebuild if it's the vendor's supplier that is selling faulty stock?

[A KIRK]

Biggest problem is the time scale most only give 12 months max warranty on engines, so anything he offers will be a good will gesture.

Make sure you have it in writing that he has given the go ahead for your local guy to strip it down to look at. If it was all to turn nasty he will just say warranty void as someone else has touched the engine.

The original vendor must always be given the chance to rectify and faults first, if they refuse then try to get an independant report done on the engine.

[Willoughby]

If you get stuck try http://lauriepettit.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He is on this forum every now and again, Drop him a pm.

He does a good line in Autopsy Reports for litigation/mediation.

He will let up know whats up.

K