My troubles started about 5 weeks ago when my A4 with 110k timing belt jumped a couple of teeth. Took to dealer, had them pull head to inspect $600 got quoted 4800, took to shop quoted me 2500 first day (worst case scenario). After a week I got a written estimate from them for over 3800. Now. 4 weeks later, they finally have my car back together and I hear from them today that the bottom end of my motor is screwed and needs to be rebuilt, says no compression in #2 cylinder. How in the hell can they do this? I guess my question is there anyway he could of known that the bottom was gonna be screwed. The first question I asked 4 weeks ago was "will it be cheaper for me to pick up a longblack?" they told me oh no your engine will most likely be fine, even though there were marks on the pistons.


I really do not know what to do now. I feel I was already getting taken for a ride to begin with $3800 to rebuild head, install head, install timing belt kit. I feel they should have been able to tell something with the bottom end. My first inclination is to go there and tell them to take off all the parts and give me my car back, I have already paid them 1800 for the rebuilt head, gaskit kit, and labor for quote on quote inspecting the head which was already removed by the dealer, but Im not sure what I am legally responsible for. What should I do? Any help will be greatly apprecieted.

I made the mistake of telling them the oil pressure light had come on a couple times during the summer (of course I shut it off immediatley, but I have a feeling they can use this against me)

Thanks, JP

 

man I hate the stealership....they are super shady. I think you may be stuck at their mercy....but I really hope not.

I had a similiar experience with a Iroc-z that I owned. I was getting a brand new 305 dropped in it and I drove the car into the dealership. I was to pay for gaskets and the new motor plus labor and that was it. Well, 4 months later they were pullingall the same type off stuff as you.
What got me is what the service advisor said - "you cant just replace an engine and expect the car to be running". He didn't have much to say when I told him that I drove the car into the shop.

 

first, sorry for your troubles...it sucks. being that i work at a shop, i can tell you that the work done to your car is intense, it is a load of work. the 3800 is a bit steep (based on prices here in CT) but only off by a few hundred bux. second, depending on what the deal was when you jumped teeth, (idle or at 5K) will depend on damage to the lower end. rule of thumb is the deepest indent from the valves hitting the piston is no more than 1mm to the edge of the piston.(that is considered 'safe' damage) i have seen one hit the piston so hard, it cracked the compression rings (no way to tell unless you remove the piston) and only one other time i have seen the top half of the piston break off, the lower was still attached and made NO noise when running, causing a skip. the last oddity i saw was the valves hit the piston so hard, it put flat spots in the rod bearings. the car ran good, just had a rap in the lower end that snoop dog would have liked.you should be legally obligated for the 'teardown estimate' which should be at the bottom of any repair order. stuff isn't cheap, time, labor, materials, electricity, phone calls, running a head to a machine shop, it all adds up. to be honest with you, even a good tech wouldnt be able to tell if you would have a compression issue after the repair. the only thing that may have happened is a collaped lifter in that cylinder....its a long shot, but possible

 

wow that makes me feel alot better about having to spend "only" $800 today to have my t-belt done and a rear wheel bearing replaced