dave1123

I'm not trying to blow my own horn, but I've rebuilt my own Chevy 350 in my garage and drove it hard for 3 years, racing it at times, and it was still running strong when I sold it. It's not that hard to rebuild a motor as long as you are careful and take your time. As the saying goes "it's not rocket science!"

Bugout4x4

Been keeping up with this and I hope you don't mind me pointing out a practice about this issue that is easily forgotten when in a hurry, myself included, check your gauges everytime you start an engine. Trust no one, even if they are supposed to know what they are doing.

dave1123

You see? Procedures work! When I worked for Valvoline, verification of oil pressure on startup was mandatory for the topside technician. Then we showed the customer the dipstick for verification that it was full and clean. If procedures are followed, there is NO WAY for a vehicle to leave the store without oil in it!

My manager pounded on us about call-outs. Every step of the change procedure was called out in a voice loud enough for the customer to hear it. He stressed that it may sound silly to us, but it builds confidence in the customer that the job was being done right. It last time I went to Valvoline, this was lacking and that breeds errors. That, and money, is the reason I started doing changes myself. Nobody likes to lay on his back in the snow if he doesn't need to. My garage is just big enough for a model T, plus it's full of "junk".

BTW, I checked on a Mopar new crate engine and your $17K is about right, HOWEVER you don't think the dealer pays that, do you? YOU can get factory remans for around $4K to $6K.

Checking gauges was bred into me by my dad. Him being a pilot and myself being a Navy powerplants mechanic, things HAVE to be right on startup or you shut it down!! Quickly!! Aircraft engines are built so light that if the mixture goes lean and it backfires, it can blow parts off it!

stimp774

Dave, If it were my 2001 4L I6 i would try to rebuild it. My dad and I repaired the head gasket on a old car and gave it a second life. But, with a hemi? not sure i would get it right. Besides its my wifes work car. she needs it up and running. as it is this will take forever. last time took them 6 weeks to get the motor in and running right. this at one of the biggest jeep,ram,dodge dealers in my area.

The first thing my brother said when I told him was thats why when he worked at penzoil they show the dipstick with oil to the customer.

They had a new guy who did not put the oil back in. the other two who were supposed to check did not. they started the vehicle and drove it out with the door left open for me to get in. this jeep does not have an oil pressure gauge just an oil idiot light.

TO ALL WHO READ: do not use jiffy lube. they have numerous lawsuits. Any other choice would be better.

dave1123

Valvoline and Jiffylube have been at war with each other for decades. You brought about a point that's interesting. Valvoline has the driver stay in his car during the oil change with the keys on the dash, not in the ignition. The driver then starts his own car and observes the oil pressure with the tech looking over his shoulder. The driver is not allowed to exit the vehicle without permission while in the store.

Jiffylube was in financial trouble in the Syracuse area so Valvoline bought all their stores. There were 8 VIOC's in the greater metropolitan area after that!

stimp774

I met with the service advisor and service manager today to discuss the plan.
The service manager admitted they made a mistake and did not purchase the extended warranty from the engine supplier as stated. he said it was an honest mistake because they have a normal supplier who included a 1 year warranty on all engines. if it had been his normal supplier things would have gone smooth. it was complicated because Acuity insurance was demanding the dealer buy the motor from their preferred vendor. He said in the shuffle we did not end up with out normal coverage. Our mistake and we owe you a motor and free labor to install.

I was somewhat shocked to hear him say he used their supplier. why? they owed me the money regardless. he should demanded the check and used his preferred supplier. I am confident had he stood up i would have got a better motor.

in any event I may even be able to get a better motor. I told him there is one on ebay remanufactured for $3k from a hemi engine shop with an extended warranty, so why did you pay so much($3900) to their supplier for a used motor with 100k miles?

He said send me info on that motor and lets look at it. I am even willing to pay out of pocket for a better motor, I know I should not have to, but at this point i just want the jeep back with a reliable motor in it for gods sake.

dave1123

That's a logical request by any way of looking at it. You'll never get reimbursed for the time it was tied up. That sucks.

Bugout4x4

This is what happens when Insurance Companies get in between the parties involved and make the decisions. Very seldom seen it turn out right. Hope you can get it all straightened out soon

sycoglitch

Insurance companies are the reason almost everything gets FUBAR.

Bugout4x4

Absolutely...

sycoglitch

I'm an electrician. All my codes and regulations derive from insurance companies trying to save money on payouts. Arc fault breakers through out a residential house. Tamper proof outlets in residential so kids can't put forks in the outlets. Etc

dave1123

When I worked for Pass&Seymour, we had 2 large expensive molds that wound up as boat anchors. We built them to plan from corporate, then submitted the molded product to UL for testing. They said the insulating dividers inside the product didn't meet their arc standards and had to be modified. After mods to meet UL standards, the metal parts wouldn't fit and had to be changed. LaGrande decided we'd spent enough on them already and they sat in the corner for many years. These were 480 volt cable plugs so you can see they were expensive to make.

stimp774

so here is he latest for all concerned. He got back and has found a motor for $1500. seems low but its his normal supplier and based on volume he is getting a good price or maybe even a favor since he has to answer for this expense.

I am waiting for info back on how many miles and if they have run any tests for quality.
On ebay i found this:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-7L-Hemi-Engine-39K-MDS-EGR-Jeep-Grand-Cherokee-Jeep-Commander-/291553989753?vxp=mtr&hash=item43e1f8d479
if i pay the difference ($1,000) they will buy this and put it in free.
Any thoughts?

stimp774

so the motor has 90,000 on it. He does not know if any testing was done but this is his normal supplier and he said he supply's us with quality product for years.

So go local with his supplier and hope for the best, get the extended warranty naturally or try to get the used one off ebay with lower miles? hmmm decisions decisons. probably better off staying local. What do you guys think?