Need to vent: found out dealer lied

[RIDERED67]

How would one do a "terrible job" at installing a new long block? Wiring harness routed incorrectly? Fasteners torqued incorrectly?

Ohhhh I can only imagine.....Hoses routed incorrectly, hose clamps, zip ties, missing bolts, missing plastic and rubber pieces and on and on

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[N83]

Not to be that guy, but if planning to 'keep it forever' then buying used is not the best plan. Your experience is a testament to that.

I've bought my fair share of used vehicles (and I can fix most things on my own, at least outside of a warranty period) and I've never had a problem like this. And used or not, it only had 14K miles- practically new.

For those asking why the local dealer is saying it was a bad install, they told me that the gaskets/seals look sloppy and that there are wire looms out of place and/or not attached to anything. Also, the other dealer said "long block" to my local dealer. Doesn't sound like a factory crate motor...

 

[BLK HOLE]

I've bought my fair share of used vehicles (and I can fix most things on my own, at least outside of a warranty period) and I've never had a problem like this. And used or not, it only had 14K miles- practically new.

For those asking why the local dealer is saying it was a bad install, they told me that the gaskets/seals look sloppy and that there are wire looms out of place and/or not attached to anything. Also, the other dealer said "long block" to my local dealer. Doesn't sound like a factory crate motor...

I'd never buy a used vehicle myself. Too many people don't treat them right. But I'd ESPECIALLY never buy a Jeep used.

 

[Randonexplosion]

I've bought my fair share of used vehicles (and I can fix most things on my own, at least outside of a warranty period) and I've never had a problem like this. And used or not, it only had 14K miles- practically new.

For those asking why the local dealer is saying it was a bad install, they told me that the gaskets/seals look sloppy and that there are wire looms out of place and/or not attached to anything. Also, the other dealer said "long block" to my local dealer. Doesn't sound like a factory crate motor...

A crate motor comes with stuff that the dealer doesnt need or want to replace like intake manifold, oil pan etc. From what I know, it's pretty standard to just do a long block.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

How does a driver "blow up" a modern engine that's Nannied infinitely by computers and sensors?

Right. And what you read in crapfax really should be checked against other sources. There are others, some even better.
Shops do NOT have to report things - no rule says they must report work.
On the flip side - I've done some research and found laughable some of the ways mechanics write stuff in that they've done.
A report may imply the vehicle was trashed when in fact it was the owner backed into the wall of his own garage, or it may be reported as minor when there was substantial damage.
Consumer experts suggest being very careful - use CF carefully.
stuff is usually missing, other times the reports read totally wrong.
In this case even the OP says the prior owner blew the engine. Really? That wording implies abuse! It could be simple cam damage and Jeep opted for a long block as a repair.
There's a lot of ways things could have broken, with no abuse.

One state did an investigation of crapfax reports and found they were often way off base.
If you see something in CF - investigate it using other tools.
Words can make things appear like they aren't in reality.
Don't believe me -look at the news of this past week, financials, and economy.

Fair points. I think I wouldn’t have been as upset if my local dealer didn’t say how terrible of a job the other dealer did with the work.

The oil leak is at the timing cover.

And the current mechanic is perfect and is a good judge of quality work? Can they define the problems, give very specific examples?
I've had people say I did a terrible job - but then when it came down to it, it was they who messed up - I turned it over to them in perfect working order. Another guy said I messed up as his alternator wouldn't turn when he got it. I told him to send it back and I'd fix it. He had DROPPED it on a concrete floor! He busted the frame and really messed it up. But rather than admit he broke it, he blamed me. I fixed it for him on my dime but won't ever work on his stuff again.
Point is - WHO did a crappy job - and the devil is in the details. Maybe they mean it's just not how THEY would do it.

Also, the other dealer said "long block" to my local dealer. Doesn't sound like a factory crate motor...

LOL - they don't use crate engines! They will use a short block or long block, may be reman.
That's how things work. You don't get crate engines on repairs. You can't be serious expecting a full turn-key crate engine.

14K with a Jeep isn't without risk. Especially a TRUCK, and these are TRUCKS besides being Jeeps.
The fault could have been NO fault of the driver. Take a look around you - all of the messages talking about "I got a new engine" or other things being replaced. Shxx happens - doesn't mean abuse or hard labor.

I'm OCD but sloppy gasket - that sounds petty as long as the gasket was in place and sealed properly. I like things neat, no excess sealer showing, that sort of thing, but that's not how things work in the field and I've worked in the field a lot of years. A production shop relies in things being turned around. If it's warranty work and the warranty reimbursement from Jeep on something is 2 hours labor you had damned well better not take 2.5 or 3 hours.

 

[Spcbl1]

How does a driver "blow up" a modern engine that's Nannied infinitely by computers and sensors?

Cant speak for OP, but mine had a bad bearing on Cylinder 5, apparently the oil channel wasn't milled out properly so after 19k it finally gave out. None of the sensors or computers picked anything up until it had already went poof.

 

[LostWoods]

Dealerships are like any other professional... no matter how good the work is, it's always sub-par and you can do better. Ever have a plumber or drywall guy do something at your house? They talk just as much shit.

If they did a long block I'd feel pretty good about it. There's a reason the industry has moved to assembly replacement instead of rebuilding engines, transmissions, and axles... there's far better quality control when it's done in a single location instead of trusting thousands of techs with varying degrees of skill.

 

[LordEnzo]

How does a driver "blow up" a modern engine that's Nannied infinitely by computers and sensors?

Not always driver fault.
Example 1 - my 2020 chevey express cutaway had a new motor replaced under warranty due to internal failure at 12k miles.
Example 2 - go offroading at 13k, come out with an oil leak due to leaking rear main, yet somehow end up with "a ton" of sand in the motor and transmission. Had to get insurance to cover even though they had no way of proving where the sand came in from. 7 months later due to dealer incompetence and both were replaced, also covered half my deductible. 13k miles.
Long blocks used in both cases.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Cant speak for OP, but mine had a bad bearing on Cylinder 5, apparently the oil channel wasn't milled out properly so after 19k it finally gave out. None of the sensors or computers picked anything up until it had already went poof.

I don't know the detail - how bad the one in your case was, but back in the 1980s, a small, struggling auto maker with no cash in the bank had this incredible ability to catch things similar to that without even firing up the engine.
Their computers knew every detail of the oiling system - when the crankshaft holes lines up with the holes in the bearings, how many degrees of rotation apart the hole were, and more.
They had sensors screwed into the block at various points in the oil galleries.
They spun the engine over (by machine) and watched every little fluctuation in oil pressure in every part of that engine. They knew for a given point in time exactly what should be seen at each point and could tell if a bearing was leaking too much oil, if an oil gallery wasn't clear or wasn't fully opened up, and more. They knew that at xx degrees after tdc #3 that this hole lined up with that hole and they should see a certain change in pressure and supply in that area.

So if a company that had been raped financially by the French could do that..........

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Not always driver fault.
Example 1 - my 2020 chevey express cutaway had a new motor replaced under warranty due to internal failure at 12k miles.
Example 2 - go offroading at 13k, come out with an oil leak due to leaking rear main, yet somehow end up with "a ton" of sand in the motor and transmission. Had to get insurance to cover even though they had no way of proving where the sand came in from. 7 months later due to dealer incompetence and both were replaced, also covered half my deductible. 13k miles.
Long blocks used in both cases.

Right - crate engines aren't dealer replacement parts and aren't used for warranty purposes.
These days, and frankly even when I was still active working for another shop, we used short blocks or long blocks - depending on the circumstances.

 

[Terry]

Long story short, my Jeep is at my local dealer getting an oil leak fixed under warranty. Before starting with they realized the engine had “a lot of work done.” They checked their database and there were no records of it. I told them I remember seeing something on the Carfax when I bought it (used with 14k mikes). They called the dealer I bought it from today and found out that the original owner blew the engine and the dealer put in a new long block. I had no idea.

So now I’m super frustrated. Not only was I lied to but not I feel like the engine swap was such a terrible job (current dealer said so) that I don’t have much confidence the sheep will last as long as I want it to (I wanted to keep it forever).

What a day…

I stay away from used car dealers they are crooks.. I use CarFax in my business and they are a real source for information on any used vehicle.

 

[Spcbl1]

I don't know the detail - how bad the one in your case was, but back in the 1980s, a small, struggling auto maker with no cash in the bank had this incredible ability to catch things similar to that without even firing up the engine.
Their computers knew every detail of the oiling system - when the crankshaft holes lines up with the holes in the bearings, how many degrees of rotation apart the hole were, and more.
They had sensors screwed into the block at various points in the oil galleries.
They spun the engine over (by machine) and watched every little fluctuation in oil pressure in every part of that engine. They knew for a given point in time exactly what should be seen at each point and could tell if a bearing was leaking too much oil, if an oil gallery wasn't clear or wasn't fully opened up, and more. They knew that at xx degrees after tdc #3 that this hole lined up with that hole and they should see a certain change in pressure and supply in that area.

So if a company that had been raped financially by the French could do that..........

Someone should let Fiat know about them then..... Because none of the computers in my Fiat motor caught it until one rod was punching its way out of the bottom of the block and pistons 5 and 6 had completely shattered. Im not lying when I say that the ol' let her shine check engine light never came on until the engine had completely died. I drove easily 2-4 miles @ 65mph on 4 cylinders with no warning lights in sight before I pulled over too.

 

[Lunentucker]

Not always driver fault.
Example 1 - my 2020 chevey express cutaway had a new motor replaced under warranty due to internal failure at 12k miles.
Example 2 - go offroading at 13k, come out with an oil leak due to leaking rear main, yet somehow end up with "a ton" of sand in the motor and transmission. Had to get insurance to cover even though they had no way of proving where the sand came in from. 7 months later due to dealer incompetence and both were replaced, also covered half my deductible. 13k miles.
Long blocks used in both cases.

That was kind of my point.
I'm guessing it was just chosen wording but OP said the previous owner blew it.

 

[Mojave2021]

I stay away from used car dealers they are crooks.. I use CarFax in my business and they are a real source for information on any used vehicle.

As mentioned earlier Carfax is not the gospel. I’ve bought a couple used cars over the years that had pristine Carfax records but then uncovered damage/repairs that were not called out. I would have an independent 3rd party go over the vehicle before buying used now (if you don’t have the mechanical knowledge to handle it yourself).

 

[ecidiego]

Buyer beware when buying used. Hope your current dealer gets everything back to normal

Buyer beware when buying new as well. Lol

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