Need to vent: found out dealer lied

[N83]

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…

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[NachoRuby]

I'm not sure it would bother me one bit that my vehicle has a newer engine in it. I've had two replaced under warranty (one Subaru, one Jeep compass). I'm not sure it's a lie either. They don't normally disclose repairs. If you're lucky (and you care), It might show up on carfax as yours did, but many times, it won't and you'll never know. It's only a lie if they told you it never has had a new engine, and at best, they still won't know for sure unless they compare serial numbers.

Where was the oil leaking from?

 

[N83]

I'm not sure it would bother me one bit that my vehicle has a newer engine in it. I've had two replaced under warranty (one Subaru, one Jeep compass). I'm not sure it's a lie either. They don't normally disclose repairs. If you're lucky (and you care), It might show up on carfax as yours did, but many times, it won't and you'll never know. It's only a lie if they told you it never has had a new engine, and at best, they still won't know for sure unless they compare serial numbers.

Where was the oil leaking from?

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.

 

[Riccochet]

Is your current dealer going to go through it and make sure everything is right? If so, I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[johnparjr]

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

 

[Mr._Bill]

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.

 

[Lunentucker]

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

 

[Chuck]

Believe the timing cover leak was a common issue. Get the dealer to look it over as stated and fix everything now

 

[BigDKY]

Sorry that happened to you I bought mine used too and made sure I specifically asked if it had ever been wrecked and looked at the carfax before I gave them any money. However, carfax isn’t always accurate. If it’s a newer engine might be nothing to worry about I replaced one in my JL before and it always seemed to work better with the new engine.

 

[BigG]

Seems if a dealer installed the new motor under warranty, it’s still under warranty. Get everything fixed and keep it forever.

 

[Randonexplosion]

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

 

[India-ThreeZeroThree]

How did you know the old motor blew? With the 3.6 it's so common and inexpensive to replace that certain engine work would take up more shop hours that they would replace motors. Also dealerships are trying to rake in as much as possible doing warranty work to charge for unnecessary work. I've seen a RV dealership pull this stunt a year ago.

 

[Riccochet]

My guess is the previous owner didn't "blow it up" but the motor itself was just not destined for a long life from the get go. It happens. Had a new 5.7 dropped in my old '13 Ram at 5800 miles. Wrist pin failure and rod played peek-a-boo out the side of the block. They slapped a new long block in and I drove the heck out of that truck for another 140k miles.

But, yeah, as long as they go through the harness and retorque everything it should be good to go. New motor is better than used motor with unknown history.

 

[BLK HOLE]

Then get rid of the Jeep and get a new one, simple.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

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.

I wouldn’t necessarily take this as gospel…. Why and how did the other dealer do a terrible job? This should be explained in good detail by the current dealer, and depending on their response would dictate my return. (Personally)…

It is easy to bash someone else or some place else for next to anything…. But is it valid??? Show me how they did a bad job? Wires chaffing? Bolts loose? What?
If they are claiming the timing cover- well… someone better explain something quick! Because when a motor is replaced it’s a crate motor drop in…… if the pervious dealer did a breakdown rebuild- that’s a whole different basket of crap…..

I wouldn’t be worried about a crate motor replacement. I would worry a lot if the dealer did an in house rebuild.

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