So recently I heard a rattle in my car and figured it was the timing chain and it was time for a new tensioner. I dropped it off at my mechanic and let them install it. I went to go pick it up two days later and I tried to start it up. It wouldn't turn over. So I stopped and tried again. And it started. The check engine light was on, but it was running. I told him that the light was on so he scanned it and it came up with a timing code. He cleared it saying that the code might pop up once so I he cleared it for me. He told me to drive it around and see if the light would come back on. So I took it for a drive and there was no pull to the car and it took a while to get up to speed. The super charger would whine around 2000rpm. I took it back and told him the light isn't on . He said there was nothing he could do. I got back in the car and tried to start it again. It wouldn't turn over the first time, but the second time it started and the light came on so I ran and told them it came on. He told me it probably jumped time. I told him to keep working on it and see what happen. The next day he showed me that a bolt and guide have broken off. I checked on the top of the car and it had jumped 4 teeth. I'm worried it damaged the engine internally. My mechanic said he was not going to touch it anymore because he doesn't feel safe working on it. idk what to do.

Should I sell it the way it is? if so how much?

Risk fixing it?

 

Sounds like he didn't set the tensioner upon install resulting in broken timing components. I'd stay far away from that mechanic and pursue legal action. As for the car, fix it.

 

^ agreed

 

pull the head and replace the broken parts if you want some arp main timing bolts lmk

 

X3. He shouldn't even have his shop.

 

he may not want to work on it, but he should have to pay the cost for fixing what he essentially broke. that's total bs

 

I just found out that the engine can't be used and I need to buy a new one. I was quoted $4750 for labor and a new engine. Since that'd more than half of what the car is worth I'm going to he selling the car. Any idea how much it will be worth without the engine and where I could sell it?

 

That mechanic needs to replace the engine. Not you sell the car for a loss. Get an attorney, mechanics should have insurance for things like this. The engine failure is directly his fault, any judge will agree.

 

You would be surprised.
I tried to sue a mechanic that blew one of the motors in my Saturn. Same deal, it needed a timing chain tensionor and I had no time to do it. Two days later I have a blown motor and this ******* saying there was nothing he could do because it was my fault for waiting so long to service it.

Took him to court, got a judge that knew nothing about cars, and lost the case. The judge said, "the mechanic does not have x-ray vision to determine the internal condition of the engine they are going to work on."

Total bullshit.

 

damn, and let me guess it was around the manufacturer service mileage? I guess that is why only a dealer or mechanic that specializes in my car will ever touch the timing system of my cars. (Other than myself if I have the correct tools)

 

I can't do anything about it. If I could find out of the guide was broke after her out the tensioner in then I guess he would be responsible but I'm taking it that it was already broken before the tensioner was installed

 

The car probably had 150k on the clock, the motor had about 30k. The judge didn't care about that either (seemed like he didn't grasp the concept of the new engine because he kept saying 150k miles). The motor was built by a friend and I and I used a cheap timing kit (Cloyes) instead of OEM. Tensionor started making noise and I measured slack in the chain.

Also, those two days were the time length he had the car. It never ran after he touched it.

Yes, the judge talked about him reading that timing chains need to be replaced at 100k.

You gave him a perfectly running car and he gave you a car back with bent valves and you give him the benefit?

 

Besides the rattle in the engine from the timing chain it was running just fine

 

I have a buddy in your area. Pretty sure he will give you 1500 for that car as it is.

 

I gotta at least have two. is there anyway i can prove it was him? I have a picture of the timing chain and it looks like the guide was just broken here is a picture

 

okay im gonna put the cobalt on cragislist. any idea how much I should sell it for?

 

fix it motors are cheap find a new mechanic or a local in your area to help.