Friday, November 09, 2007 - 11:05 pm, by: Christian Zimmer(Zimmi)
I had my engine swapped over at BIP Toyota in Deer Park this week...
I went to pick it up today....he tells me I cant drive it because my radiator is stuffed. In 12 months my radiator never leaked a drop of coolant...and when I go to pick it up, there is a big crack accross the top of my radiator top tank...coolant pissing out everywhere.
What does he say....."oh, it was already like that". And what can I do about it?? I had to pay him to get my car back off him, otherwise I would have been stranded. He tries the whole..."you can take it...but I cant give you warranty on the engine because the radiator is stuffed"
I AM FURIOUS AT THAT F#CKING LITTLE SMART ASS!! (Excuse my language)
I drove it around the corner to Alen Sadicovic's place (p.s. Thankyou SOOOO much for helping me out), and now I need to get another bloody top tank for the radiator.
I wrekon he's taken my perfect radiator so he can sell it, and he's fitted a sh!t one he had.
Saturday, November 10, 2007 - 03:27 pm, by: Peter Nitschke(Pen)
Cracks in the top tank is a pretty common problem with the age of these cars. You don't get any warning either, it just decides that today is a good day to split and so it does.
Leave the radiator cap on first stop and drive carefully. That way pressure build up will escape out the top rather then squirting your coolant out so much. I drove my V8 like that for a week in 40 degree heat when the top tank split - no drama's, but the V8 radiator is a bit bigger too.
So he might not be as dodgy as you think. (or he might be).
Saturday, November 10, 2007 - 03:56 pm, by: Matthew Sharpe(Madmatt)
More likely he has cracked it while replacing the engine - either way it was probably ready to go. I think when you start to think someone with a legitimate business is pinching second hand radiators to on-sell, you may be starting to get a bit paranoid. When expensive aftermarket parts go missing its time to be thinking criminal.
Doesn't help you from feeling ripped off though, and don't take that warranty lying down either - if something goes wrong with the work he's done and it has nothing to do with the cooling system, take it back and insist he make it right.
Saturday, November 10, 2007 - 05:08 pm, by: Christian Zimmer(Zimmi)
I understand that it is quite a common thing to happen...but the fact that it never dripped a drop of coolant, then there is a big long crack and its pissing out coolant when I pick it up....
Obviously something he did....and if he didnt accidently hit it, then the only other reason I can think of is that he took my good radiator to sell.
Either way...it should be his responsibility as it happened in his care, but he is not budging.
It really sucks, I gave it to him because the engine was faulty, and it comes back with something else stuffed. Not how it should work, they are supposed to be professionals
Saturday, November 10, 2007 - 05:53 pm, by: Peter Nitschke(Pen)
One option might be to be thankful that it happened now instead of when you were out on the highway somewhere a long way from home.
Possibly just the stress of hooking the radiator hoses on was enough to trigger a fault that was about to bite you.
If you are happy with the other stuff he has done, I would be giving him the benefit of doubt and getting on with it.
Keep in mind, they just sit there happily for years and still split, so it would be quite possible that a bit of twisting etc in fitting the hoses back on was enough to do the job.
The reason I drove mine for a week like that, is because it was booked in for the belts and water pump in a weeks time anyway. If it hadn't split the week earlier (or if I hadn't noticed it - which was purely by chance), I might be in the same position as you, but mindful of the chances of it happening, I wouldn't be blaming my mechanic at all. Mind you, it helps that i trust him.
As I was heading out to the country right after the service, I can imagine how wrong it could have all gone if it didn't split when it did.
Saturday, November 10, 2007 - 06:16 pm, by: Mark Tierney(Mark_t)
Hey Christian, I know it will be a little different in Vic to NSW, but if you do want to pursue the issue, call the Dept of Consumer Affairs Vic. Heres the link to the motor vehicles section. http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/CA256EB5000644CE/page/Motor+Cars-Repairs+%26+Maintenance?OpenDocument &1=90-Motor+Cars~&2=60-Repairs+%26+Maintenance~&3=~ Have a chat with them as to your recourse. In NSW, they will contact the dealer/repairer direct if you have lodged an official complaint. State that the car came back in a different condition than when you dropped it off. Keeping in mind that after a complaint, they probably wont want to deal with you regarding your warranty on the engine fit. Legally they have to, but personal relations count in future service/repairs even in warranty cases. As a side note, my radiator did the same thing overnight. I was actually driving home from Byron when the temp started to rise. I knew all was ok when I left as I checked all the levels prior to starting the trip. Maybe its a blessing in disguise. At least you know your donk will be protected from cooking with a new one. Good luck with it mate.
Saturday, November 10, 2007 - 10:09 pm, by: Daniel Clarke(Dieseltrain)
ONly problem is, The fact you took it with the top tank busted, Now you dont got no warranty on the Donk... Maybe they did it on purpose so they dont have to issue warranty on an unkown donk?
Either way, best to find out now and not when you halfway in the dessert somewhere mate Things happen for a reason.
Sunday, November 11, 2007 - 11:14 am, by: Alen Sadikovic(Alen87)
he cracked it him self, i am certain about that, the shop looked shifty, his workers looked shifty, he looked shifty.
i have been there before, needed parts for my celica, and from my experience his a rip off, as soon as he seen your young, he'll try to rip you off.
whats done is done, it wasnt fair but its a bit inconvenient to now argue with him whether he did it or not, when chris lives on the other side of the town and needs the car badly.
he could argue the age, common problem, anything really, they know what they are doing.
d.w chris, i work on monday till 2pm, i;ll take it to my mechanic and see what i can do.
Sunday, November 11, 2007 - 11:34 am, by: Christian Zimmer(Zimmi)
Thanks Alen, I would have been screwed without your help.
I'm not gonna take this any further with them....I gave him a call yesterday but he wasnt budging. I will just get it fixed up.
The engine they supplied seems quite good...however now I am getting a light on the dash coming up (an error light of some sought) Its on the RHS of the screen, and its yellow.
Ah well, things happen ey? It just makes it so much worse that the car is stuck 2 hours away and I'm in the middle of my exam period...supposed to be studying, but now I'm trying to sought my car out. lol.
Sunday, November 11, 2007 - 11:46 am, by: Rob Andreacchio(Reepa)
I can see BIP from my bedroom window... Been there a few times and bought only out of sheer desperation.. They are expensive ($1100 for a set of 2nd hand CT12A's!!), and do look shifty..
Sunday, November 11, 2007 - 12:39 pm, by: Christian Molenda(Christof)
my top tank looed perfect and all of a sudden on day it split right open. i would just say it was a coincidence and the extra stress on the top tank removing / refitting the hoses would have set it off
Monday, November 12, 2007 - 02:58 pm, by: Alen Sadikovic(Alen87)
Ryan Rankovic wrote on Sunday, November 11, 2007 - 10:00 pm:
t that the check engine light?
yeh thats what it is
Cihan Aday wrote on Sunday, November 11, 2007 - 11:20 pm:
Should have got Barry to do the engine swap
i have heard of this barry guy, he anygood? what nato is he? i heard his somewhere from the balkens, i dont trust those bastards, since i am one of them lol
Monday, November 12, 2007 - 07:04 pm, by: Mark Tierney(Mark_t)
Barry did my Greddy camgears & for a song. When I went to pickup the car, he spent another half hour with me just chatting Toyotas, showing me his chaser, talking suspension, engines (and a few a secrets on Cihan's rebuild ). I came away with a great feeling & the work has been solid to date. He's a real Toyota boffin. Put it this way, if I had major work to be done, I'd travel from Sydney to see him. I still might. Apart from that he outlined all the reasons why 1J's & 2j's are superior to the RB26. Now that's the kinda guy you want working on your Soarer.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 12:26 pm, by: Josh Coleman(Rampnt_lexxtc)
could be an ecu problem or something not connected properly, but also it could be any number of things. they should of double checked everything when they fitted the engine. if they know the engine you think they'd know the car.... as for the radiator, its just am import thing. Radiators and cooling systems especially made in japan arent made to australian manufacturing guidelines with reference to heat or humidity, driving conditions etc etc. I had a 4runner, (surf import) which had a very similar radiator problem in the top tank. I checked it all out about the week before and then one day on the way to uni there was steam everywhere. i opened the bonnet and there was a 5inch long crack along the front of the tank and there was no warning it just blew up. Best thing to do is not have your radiator repaired, but have it replaced. repaired radiators always carry the burden of being corroded to a certain extent and its just like owning an old car.. once its buggered, chances are even after you keep fixing it, its just going to keep braking
Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 08:07 pm, by: Brian Timms(Turbo_brian)
When you kill your car as much as me Rob
With regards to the warranty, if they have receipted and warranted the job, and you can prove it wasn't a problem with the radiator that caused the issue, then they have no comeback but to honour the workmanship.