2001 Pontiac Grand Am vehicle repairs before the engine thr

KMS5509

MEMBER
2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM

Engine Mechanical problem
2001 Pontiac Grand Am 4 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic

Recently, I drove my daughters car to the repair shop and told them the car was making a terrible thumping noise. Two days later, the repair shop called and told me they needed me to come to the shop immediately. When I got there, they were apologizing profusely and telling me after they did almost $700.00 worth of repars (spark plugs, sepentine belt, oil change, replaced rear wheel cylindars, clean and adjust the rear brakes. Windshield wipers), the engine threw a rod. They explained that it would be approximately $4500.00 for a new engine. I am now in a quarrel with the shop owner, they feel I should pay for the nearly $700 in repairs. I believe they either should have been able to detect there was a problem with the engine, or it was their incompetance that resulted in the car being inoperable. Obviously, I do not know much regarding vehicle maintenance, but would like some opinions/comments on this situation. V/R KMS

1 Reply

MMPRINCE4000

MECHANIC
8,549 POSTS

I agree with you, they should certainly be able to diagnosis a rod knock from a tuneup and rear brakes.

I think they misdiagnosed the problem and won't admit it.

I would insist they replace the engine (I would have them source a good used one, rather than a remanufatured one) and apply the $700 toward the install.