1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
For the archives: Got the car back today - five weeks! I paid about $1200 out of a $3800 bill. Replaced an alternator that was close to failure and wrapped a climate control fix in those warranty numbers, too. Here's what I think I've learned.
Warranty company objections disappeared with a bit of pushing on my part over a week and half, through the dealer service rep who was acting as go-between. Significant warranty hurdles cleared included not being responsible for the former owner's service (shouldn't have sold a policy to me that had no possible value should I ever actually need it) and that one interval of more than 5000 miles between PROVEN oil change (had a credit reciept but nothing tieing the work to this car) was not evidence of neglect.
One of my balance shaft gears was obliterated. Outside of some grit in the pan, the rest of the engine looked clean as a whistle to both my eyes and the mechanic who was showing me around and who had performed the disassembly. No sign of sludge. The remaining balance shaft and timing chain parts were replaced at my expense, and I also paid to have the head machined and for a good number of fasteners, gaskets, and the like.
To answer my own question about the state of the engine after the repair (and anyone please correct me if this incorrect), the oil makes a trip through the filter before making the trip to the rest of the engine so the damage should have been contained to the balance/timing chain area. Having replaced every critical part in this area and done some related work, what I have is '96 2.3l with 75000 miles that is running very smoothly and quietly, and that should not suffer another problem in this system in its usable life. No more, no less.
posted by 69.3.21...
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