should i find a new mechanic?!? --- thoughts please.

[ninetysevenI30]

hello everyone!

heres the story---

1) had my engine steamed cleaned and checked out by a mechanic and it definitely has leaks coming from valve cover gaskets.

2) i got the quote from the mechanic to get it replaced and such for $367.xx (both valve cover gasket replacement + seals and spark plug seals included)

3)this quote was given to me last week thursday (4/5/12)

4)i tried leaving the car there in hopes of them to get it fixed up ASAP (just afraid of running out of oil and damaging my engine!)

5) shop response: mechanic is sick... (understandable.. people get sick.. so ok)

6) FAST FORWARD to tuesday (4/10/12).. i called up the shop and asked if i could leave the car to have it fixed (keep in mind that i already deposited half of the cost.. and i didnt want to end up spending my money on something else other than repair) and yet again.. the MECHANIC IS STILL SICK..

i was told that i will be receiving a call on wednesday (4/11/12 today) to keep me up to date about the mechanic etc.. and i still havent got a phone call..

7) i dont know if its just me.. but i feel like im getting pushed to the side (being a new customer and all...)

8)do you think i should find a NEW MECHANIC?!.. or wait it out till the end of the week (friday) and see what happens?

9)my plan would be to wait till the end of the week and see where it goes from there.. if still no mechanic then im definitely in the market for a new one!!

10) thoughts please and thank you.

[hitbychance]

I would have already changed mechanics, but that's me i'm impatient and I like to have things fixed ASAP

[ninetysevenI30]

I would have already changed mechanics, but that's me i'm impatient and I like to have things fixed ASAP

now i dont feel so bad about finding a new one..

cant really blame me for this.. i actually gave them a week.. and STILL NO PHONE CALL for an update...

i mean.. if youre going to tell the customer that you will call and such.. then please do so..

guess im just being swept right under the rug.

thanks for sharing!

[urmotherslover]

perhaps you should learn how to work on your own s*** instead of paying someone else to F it up

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

Yeh....valve cover gaskets are super easy to change...unless it's on a ford explorer...f*** that.

[Dattebayo]

valve cover gaskets are super easy to change...unless it's on a ford explorer...f*** that.

I wouldn't say that goes for most modern engines at all, actually. But still not hard enough that you should wait a whole week and spend $400 on.

[Nrthsidelongbeach]

Don't know where you live, but what reputable shop only employs one mechanic ? Find a new mechanic and get your money back since no work has been done, right?

[ninetysevenI30]

i would do my own fix.. but i dont know SH*T about how to fix cars..

im more scared that i F**K things up and make everything worse.. (costing way more MONEY..)

not only that.. but space is an issue (as i live in the apartments and the parking is downhill with no garage)

-----------

on that note:

just got my car back from a mechanic (no.. not the same one.. and had my VC gasket replaced..finally..)

BUT.. the car is still leaking oil!!..

i was told that the upper oil pan might be the problem area and that it would cost around $500 to replace both upper and lower pan?!

WTF?!?!... does that sound right?! $500 for upper and lower pan replacement? (estimated 4.5 hrs of labor)

is there any other spot that the leak could be coming from?!
1. (oil pressure sensor was replaced)
2. (both valve cover gasket was replaced)

***NOTE***
leaks are coming just below the oil filter area

----

thoughts????!

thanks for your time reading.

[frapjap]

If your sensor and oil pressure gasket were replaced, they're likely okay and not the source of your frustrations.

Assuming you have an I-30, you should really jack up your car and crawl under it to see where the oil is caked on the most and trace to the source. Since your engine was just steam cleaned, this should be easy.
While you're down there, check to see if your oil filter is hand tight. It might just be loose.

Also, take a look at the oil pan itself. Its the bottom most part of your engine and has about a dozen or more bolts on it. If the source seems to be this pan, the gasket is going bad.

I don't know where the oil filter is on your engine, but you may also have a rear main seal leak.

As for your price- you only one ONE oil pan. Not an upper and lower. Run away from this guy is you're getting charged for something that doesn't exist. However, the price may be correct depending on the placement of the subframe. If access to the pan is blocked by the subframe, the engine will have to be lifted, causing more labor hours.

[alms24sebring]

Yeah Im not sure about an upper oil pan existing on any car. Your best bet is to see where it is coming from yourself or atleast an idea of where. It could just be a bad gasket on the oil filter, its happened to me before.

[Heavy]

Yeah Im not sure about an upper oil pan existing on any car. Your best bet is to see where it is coming from yourself or atleast an idea of where. It could just be a bad gasket on the oil filter, its happened to me before.

correct me if im wrong but to the best of my knowledge a SR20 has a 2-peice oil pan, as well as the LS400 i own.

diagram for a 95-99 Maxima/I30
http://www.courtesyparts.com/maxima-par ... _1788.html

[frapjap]

Yeah Im not sure about an upper oil pan existing on any car. Your best bet is to see where it is coming from yourself or atleast an idea of where. It could just be a bad gasket on the oil filter, its happened to me before.

correct me if im wrong but to the best of my knowledge a SR20 has a 2-peice oil pan, as well as the LS400 i own.

diagram for a 95-99 Maxima/I30
http://www.courtesyparts.com/maxima-par ... _1788.html

Well I'll be damned. I've never seen the sump seperated from the rest of the pan.
Who's idea was that? Whats the benefit?