Coolant temp sensor blow out

SirRobyn0 said:

The only way I've seen a sensor leave the block on it's own is a 2 piece sensor where the center pops out, or it's not tightened down and unscrews on it's own.

At the shop occasionally we do non-warrantied work. Such as would be the case if the customer supplied the part. However if we did something negligent, we'd take care of it because it was our fault, because it's the right thing to do even if it cost us a motor. You can take anyone to small claims for any reason, but if you want to have any chance, you'll need to get a second professional opinion and have documentation of that with you. Even still the mechanic can claim you should have stopped driving the truck and had it towed thereby attempting to pin it back on you. It sucks that mechanic is not taking responsibility and guys like that give the industry bad marks.

Anyhow whatever you do, the best of luck to ya!

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WP29P4A said:

Just a thought, coolant has something in it that feels oily. Is it possible that the coolant sprayed onto the frame area and left behind an oily film? Maybe not oil and coolant? hopefully.

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Dm03n said:

Thank you. I drove it precisely 1 mile to the rest stop before I had it towed back to him. He sold me the motor as well.

I was hoping it was just oil spraying out of the valve cover due to the filler cap coming apart and what seemed to me to be excessive visible blow-by. Cleaned it all off twice after rednecking plugging that cap and swapped the side that cap went on. It was burning blue smoke off the exhaust. After double checking that no oil was coming through the valve cover gasket started her up for a few minutes with the same issue. Afterwards found oil/coolant mix coming off the manifold to pipe bolts. At this point I'm trying to weigh the cost of having another shop take it apart and trying to get something back or just doing it myself and praying to the car god's that the block/heads aren't trashed.

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SirRobyn0 said:

Wait, so he sells you the motor, does the work and when there is a problem he says no warranty go away..... If that's the case that's terrible, you should look at your receipt from the shop for the warranty info. You might have a much better case than I was initially thinking. Keep in mind I'm a mechanic not a lawyer, it just sounds like this dude took you money and now doesn't give a damn. Also if you have full coverage on your insurance it is possible that they would help you out.

I would never do this to a customer, the shop has insurance so if we blow an 8K motor or drop a car off a lift we can have the repairs made for the customer, using our insurance, but I have heard of incidences where a shop drops a car off a hoist, or totals it and tells the customer to talk to his or her's (the customers) insurance. They do this because the shop doesn't want to risk a insurance rate increase, instead it becomes the customer problem, which is a terrible thing to do to a customer, but I'm just saying that might be an avenue if you don't want to take the shop to court, but if this engine turns out to be toast, you could possibly recover some money though your insurance. Again only if you have full coverage.

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Dm03n said:

Didn't think of the insurance avenue thank you. I'll explore that option. Yes that's precisely what it seems like he did.

I live in the greater Seattle area and have been hit and had 5 small cars totalled... In the last 4 years. I'd be homeless if I didn't have full coverage.

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Grit dog said:

While it appears there's multiple? issues with this engine now, before crucifying the mechanic (who sold him the engine as well), we don't actually know anything about the engine.
Like was it a rustoleum rebuild of something laying behind the shop that was installed with explicit lack of warranty, or a crate or shop reman that should be "like new."

While there are plenty of ripoff mechanics, there are also plenty of customers who have no idea what they're agreeing to, or at very least, get amnesia after the fact.

On another note, good thing you're driving a 3/4 ton now, given your luck with car crashes!

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SirRobyn0 said:

You make good points. I guess I've just gotten use to fighting an up hill battle with the industry and that is one of the reasons I suggested he look at his invoice to see what the warranty is. If No warranty is printed on his invoice then there is no warranty and he doesn't have a leg to stand on. But still, if I did work, even no warranty work and something I installed fell out I wouldn't tell the dude to fly a kite. I'd at least try to work with him for a solution. Obviously none of us are there with him, but it just doesn't feel right to me.

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Grit dog said:

And you literally see the other side of the coin, as a, presumably, ethical mechanic.
I also work in an industry with alot of liability. Anymore, it's more about liability and not getting screwed by the (govt agencies) customers, than actual construction, at my position.

But succinctly, the OP left out some important details (although to be fair, we took his questions one step further than just mechanical advice and he's got no onus to tell us the details of the transaction).

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Dm03n said:

To reply, he gave the option of a used built 350 out of his El Camino or a new one. Said there was no warranty on the one he had (didn't specify it was both on labor and on parts) partially my fault for not inquiring further. My brother would verify that the engine was running good in the El Camino as it's his brother in law's.

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WZ7U said:

If insurance will take care of it, does the higher rates make it pay in the long run?

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