Arguement with Holden service - advice please!
Submitted: Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 16:47
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Zapper
Hi all, looking for some mechanical and dealing with Holden advice. This prob is not with my 4wd but with my commodore
sedan. It’s a 2003 VY v6 on factory dual fuel.
At about 45,000km it developed a rattle that was diagnosed as worn valve guides caused by the gas (according to Holden), they agreed at 52,000km to pull of the heads and fixed the problem under warranty. In the next 6000km I noticed it used a bit of oil and water, at 58,000km I checked the coolant level under the radiator cap rather than just in the overflow bottle – milky white oil under radiator cap – uh oh I thought head gasket. Back to Holden they tested it and say no leaks coolant must have been contaminated with oil when they pulled off the heads, so they flushed the radiator and replaced coolant and told me to monitor to next service.
In for 60k service today it has dropped the coolant below the add level again and there is evidence of oil in water again (all be it a fair bit less than before), Holden still say they cant get pressure tests to show the head gasket is leaking and want to do oil and water consumption reports and monitor it over the next 5000km. They think oil is residual from flush
All very disappointing since my last v6 did 240,000km when I sold it with only an alternator and water pump the whole time.....anyway
So my questions are this
1. How long do Holden have to warrant their work for (as vehicle is now out of warranty) and I do 600km per week
2. I was taught years ago if you pull heads off you should also drop the pistons hone the bores and re-ring or else you will always run into oil usage problems, do other people agree with this
3. If Holden agree to pull off heads again should I instead insist on a new long motor rather than be left with a motor in another 20,000 that is using oil and no chance of warranty? (My 4wd mechanic reckons I should)
4. What are my rights (I am in WA) as I can feel Holden slowly but surely shafting me
Thanks for your help
Reply By: phantom - Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 17:33
Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 17:33
Hi Zapper,
Can I ask if your gas is original Holden or Aftermarket. It will affect the way Holden will respond to your dilemma.
1. If the work was done by a Holden dealer, the parts used would be covered for 2 years/ 50,000kms by Holden. The Dealer would cover his 'workmanship' for 6 months/5,000kms.
2. It depends on why the heads are removed in the first instance. In your case the valve guides, so the answer would most likely be no.
3. I am sure here you wont be able to 'insist' on anything as they may not agree to anything. I f the car is out of warranty, the process reverts to 'goodwill'. If you get pushy goodwill goes out the window.
4. The same rules apply all over Australia.
AnswerID:
174490
Follow Up By: geocacher (djcache) - Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 23:43
Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 23:43
He says in his original post "factory dual fuel"
Dave
FollowupID:
430667
Reply By: cokeaddict - Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 18:51
Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 18:51
Zapper,
Cant answer Q #1, not sure of warranty but Phantom's reply sounds about right.
Answer Q#2.... NO...heads can be removed without having to do anything In your circumstance being valve guides. ...
BUT....did they get the heads machined ? or did they just replace guides and gaskets and whack heads back on. If they did the latter.....they didnt do the job correctly as it was supposed to be done. This to me sounds like the cause to your problem. Warped heads will casue the symptoms you are having.
answer to Q #3 ...NO, you cannot insist on anything, they (supposedly) are the experts so they should do whats right...(dont hold your breath though)...I said "should".
Answer to Q #4... Dont panic just yet, its easy to start thinking you are being shafted, its human nature. As long as this is all documented in writing and you both have copies of work carried out then you would be
well within your rights to take things further if need be, but you should do some homework and make some calls to the authorities and find out where you stand incase things go south for you. BE prepared.
The critical point here is this....do you know for a fact that the heads were machined before they went back on...? i do believe this is the cause of your problem IF they were not machined. Otherwise, one of the gaskets may be faulty of damaged when it was fitted. Has to be gasket related mate, its the only way water and oil will mix (unless a head has a crack)
Hope you sort it out mate
Ange
AnswerID:
174518
Reply By: Exploder - Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 19:09
Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 19:09
Is any water getting into the Sump?
If it is don’t wait or you will cause engine damage.
2. Umm never heard of that my self.
Did they do a wet and a dry compression
test or just a cooling system pressure
test?
They still think it is Oil from the head change, How sloppy are these mechanics, How do you get that much oil in the water jackets that even after a flush it’s still in there.
What I am reading
1.Within 2000k it’s dropped what about 500ml to 1 litre of coolant and has oil in the water agene
2. It’s using oil and water with no visual sines of leaks or oil burning.
3. Holden are telling you it’s holding cooling system pressure but haven’t done a compression
test.
4. It’s out of warranty not good.
Get a compression
test done; If 2 adjacent Cylinders have low Compression then it could be the head gasket.
AnswerID:
174522