Dealership Ruined My Engine

Dude, shit happens...
They didnt f up the sparkplug for no reason....
Sparkplugs are known to get seized in the head, come apart trying to extract them, etc...
Even if they did mess-up & theyre "the tech" is covering up the situation & some other foreign chunk of something fell in the hole during the tune which will eventually happen if you been a tech long enough,
THEYRE TAKING CARE OF IT!!!
Suggesting to go with a used engine cuz youre afraid they're going to screw-up again is REALLY bad advice.....

Technically theres over a dozen ways to screw-up & also damage a used engine during install............

 

I’d rock with the used engine and leverage yourself a free extended warranty, especially if they’re putting it together. I don’t think I would have gone back to the same dealership that messed up the coolant exchange, but it’s water under the bridge now.

 

Did they at least put you in a rental truck free of charge?

 

I wound not want a used engine. Previous maintenance/condition is unknown. The new shortblock is only way to go.

 

Wow, that sucks. Keep us posted @LiveFast

 

yes, they took care of that.

 

If this had happened as a DIY project at home, what would your repair action have been?

 

How long have you had this tacoma, livefast

Name and location of this dealership?

 

All honesty, probably would have ordered a used engine.

 

6 years

 

I think the bad apple is still working there today. Keep that in mind next time you need service either do something like find another dealer to do the work, or do some work yourself.

Good advice has been given, I would be inquiring if same technician who did plugs is now fixing engine. That answer might either give me more worry or peace of mind. Be respectful but firm and be heard. Get answers like previously stated, and get warranty in writing. I would ask them, will timing belt be new? Put a new water pump on it while engine out. ALSO, replace coolant crossover pipe while engine out.

Either way you go, used engine or new short block, seems adequate and shows that the dealer is working with you.

There could be other parts TW guys might recommend being replaced while engine out.

 

Why would a dealer offer up a new short block and "good" (used) head for a vehicle that they damaged the head and cylinder on? I would think a complete new motor would be in order.
Good job op being cool about it, I would be pissed!

 

New short block and head would be my choice especially if they had offered this option. Although it is unfortunate, Id be heated ,at least they have given a rental. It may be another month before things are settled.
It is a seller's market if you were even considering an upgrade.
This is another example why I refuse dealer service.

 

I am surprised at how many are comfortable with a used 100k mi engine. to me this is a total gamble, not knowing how that engine was treated or maintained. If you took good care of your engine, then odds are unacceptable to me, that the used engine you get was treated nearly as well. If you go the used engine route, an extended warranty is necessary (as others suggests), or I would accept the used engine, but immediately put the truck up for sale; not willing to be the one that finds out how good this motor is.

I also NEVER let a dealer get deep into any repairs on my vehicles, except where warranty is such a great $ savings that it is worth the risk. I have had enough stupid mistakes from dealers shops, that I do not even let them change the oil. There certainly is a workmanship quality concern with having someone rebuild the engine, PLUS the factory head gasket is sealed to the head and block in a manner that cannot be repeated in the field. The latter is not a problem, but it is a difference. The short block option reduces what the mechanic is responsible for, but it is still a big responsibility. Heck, just pulling and re-installing the engine is more than I want any dealer to be doing to my vehicle.

I make mistakes too, but I then own them, and when realized, it is my judgement weather to backtrack and make it right, or if the risk is acceptable to keep moving forward. A flat rate mechanic has self interest that is opposing my best interest; and more will be let slide. That shop mechanic is also not reviewing his actions with your vehicle when he goes home or while sleeping, either.

If I were you, I thing you have several decisions to make. first, explore decide if one option is more satisfying than the other. If undecided, or near the fence on that; then how important is Time? You may want to explore if both options are still available, and simply ask what the dealer suggests, and which would get you back in your truck the soonest? After getting the truck back, you then need to decide if you want to be part of the experiment, or put it to the used car market; those buyers are always in the risk of unknown, so it changes nothing in their 'Buyer beware' evaluation. Wishing you the best of luck (because unfortunately, Luck is a factor in all available options.)

 

If any of that debris went through during the valves opening cycle when cranking, who knows what the condition of the cylinder head could be.

 

This has been an interesting read, from the perspective of how dealers "deal" with their F-ups. I'd have opted for a used engine with no more miles on it than your old one, plus a one-year, 25K warranty on the entire thing. By that time, if the used engine had been a lemon, it would have shown it. I don't want any professional mechanic who can't remove a spark plug without breaking it to deep-dive into my engine like these guys want to do. UNLESS they give you a decent warranty on the repaired engine, such as two-years/50K or better.

I've been a Toyota owner since 1976 and as good as the vehicles are, I don't trust dealerships. Profit is their primary focus and they will cheap out any way they can to preserve that. You're at the point where I'd be thinking about a lawyer, I hope you have video or some paper to back up your issue.

 

I think in here somewhere a new short block was put on the table/offered? Take the new short block and insist on a full warranty. of "X" miles. If it was my truck, I'd insist on 100,000 miles. Make sure the head goes to a reputable machine shop for re-conditioning and has a guarantee at least as good as the new short block.

A used plug-and-play low mileage engine with low miles and a guarantee from a reputable national vendor like CoPart would be acceptable with me as well.

 

Fool me once shame on you ... Fool me twice shame on me.

 

Rotate engine close to TDC for that cylinder and shoot air into the spark plug hole hope some of the ceramic flys out with the air pressure. Scope the cylinder and check for debris, rinse and repeat.