OT rant, ripped off by a salvage yard

tirekicker · Jun 28, 2011

I bought a used engine from a junk yard that was supposedly a real good low mileage engine. I installed it in the car and quickly found out that it had a bad head gasket. I called them up and they said no problem, bring it back, we'll refund your money or get you another engine. When I took it back, they immediatly said that I had overheated it because there solder doodad melted out and that I was SOL. I've been a mechanic for years and did not overheat this engine, and if I made a mistake I would suck it up. So if you buy a junkyard motor, do yourself a favor and at least take a picture of this solder doodad before you install it.

Tyler Jackson · Jun 28, 2011

I would go back again and ask them why if it had a bad headgasket, would it not have overheated from the previous owner due to the bad headgasket. Then tell them to get me a different motor

tirekicker · Jun 28, 2011

I argued with them all that I could and they just had an answer for everything. They told me that since I now had two bad engines there had to be something else wrong and that they would "work with me on getting another engine, but I would have to buy a radiator also." I really wish there was some action that I could take, but they really covered there tracks well.

Tyler Jackson · Jun 28, 2011

Sounds like they've argued a time or two ha

Anonymous-0 · Jun 28, 2011

Does your local TV news have a trouble shooter that helps in cases like this? If not I'm sure this place wouldn't want to be mentioned in a neagative way in the local paper in a letter to the editor. It would still take a while to melt the solder. An engine doesn't just start up and instantly overheat. Another thing you could do is send a very simple letter from a lawyer. A lot of times that's all it takes to correct someones thinking. All you want is a decent engine with a good head gasket.

Heavyduty1 · Jun 28, 2011

If you payed with a Visa credit card, you may be able to dispute the charges with VISA.

I have gone that route a couple times in the past, when the sellar thought they had a sucker. :lol:

bison · Jun 28, 2011

I'll never buy a used engine on the presumption "good runner,low milage" again.
Got stung once in my younger years with something similar.

Salvage yard engine has to run in my presence or i pay core only,chances are i pay just core anyway.I rather rebuild right of the bat.

Old Roy · Jun 28, 2011

Do a Google search on that scrap yard. look in "Better Business Bureau" and the "Federal Trade commission". for any possible actions If non is filed file a complaint with your local Atty General.

He will give you better avenues to go.

Goose · Jun 29, 2011

Ditto.

When I was in high school, I bought a used engine once. A buddy and I spent all weekend switching engines in my car. When we were done, I hadn't driven a mile before I realized we'd pulled a better engine out of the car than we'd put in.

I haven't bought a used engine since, except to rebuild.

Bryan inIowa · Jun 29, 2011

I delt with a salvage yard few times . They had an olds wagon sitting there with a good running motor . Sold that motor several times. They'd tell customer come on out , here it run , then tell them they will pull it out and deliver it ,only pulled one from another car

Anonymous-0 · Jun 29, 2011

(quoted from post at 22:24:00 06/28/11) I bought a used engine from a junk yard that was supposedly a real good low mileage engine. I installed it in the car and quickly found out that it had a bad head gasket. I called them up and they said no problem, bring it back, we'll refund your money or get you another engine. When I took it back, they immediatly said that I had overheated it because there solder doodad melted out and that I was SOL. I've been a mechanic for years and did not overheat this engine, and if I made a mistake I would suck it up. So if you buy a junkyard motor, do yourself a favor and at least take a picture of this solder doodad before you install it.

Those soldered doodads have been common on cylinder head core plugs of rebuilt and junkyard engines for years,,,,, no offense to you but you really should know this and look for it before you take delivery of any head or engine.

C.R. · Jun 30, 2011

well,slide in after hours and dump a gallon of linseed oil in the crankcase of their payloader that ought to even things up !!

Hobo,NC · Jun 30, 2011

I have been self employed in the repair businesses 32 years,,, i have found only 3 honest salvage yards (local) ,,, if they don't have a know good unit on the yard I will not buy it from another yard,,, BTDT and been burnt to many times.. I feel your pain... I am not sure how those heat tabs would hold up in court,,, I bet they would not unless the cat ruling court knew the expert witness the salvage yard uses to dispute the claim... Then the judge (are what ever he may B) could only rule that he believed the expert and either party could argue the experts testimony if they wanted to... If the judge tells ya the expert knows his chit you will have a tuff row to hoe,,, BUT till a judge makes that call I would fight it...

OT rant, ripped off by a salvage yard

tirekicker

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Tyler Jackson

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tirekicker

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Tyler Jackson

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Anonymous-0

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Heavyduty1

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bison

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Old Roy

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Goose

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Bryan inIowa

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Anonymous-0

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C.R.

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Hobo,NC

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