Problems after oil change - Please help! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

joey.bai · 05-15-2010, 11:49 AM

So yesterday I took my Camry to Speedee to get an oil change. I've been driving it without problems for as long I had it and it was no different that morning. The following afternoon, I took it to Speedee for an oil change. 20 minutes later, they bring me outside and I notice a loud knocking sound. They told me the sound was caused by a bad timing belt. They also said that I should change the water pump while I'm at it. I asked how much it would cost and they told me $700. I don't have that kind of money on me so I decided to wait it off. They also added that if the car starts to overheat, I should turn the car off and call a tow truck. Pretty strange warning for a timing belt... I drive 2 blocks down the street to fill up gas and meet up with a friend that was across the street from Speedee. He said it sounded pretty nasty and we start to leave. I drive over a speed bump in the parking lot and the engine dies. I get out to push the car and I notice that something is leaking under the car. I manage to push it to a parking spot away from cars. 5 minutes later, there is a huge puddle. I look under and see that something is leaking from the front passenger side. I go back to Speedee and told them something leaked out. A guy comes with me with oil and I open up the hood - turns out it wasn't even oil... It was coolant. My coolant was leaked dry. But, I don't think the engine overheated because the temperature gauge did not spike up.
Anyways, here's the question: Did the mechanics at Speedee rig my car? I mean, I've been driving it all morning with no problems - no knocking, but right after I get an oil change, there's magically a knocking sound and 20 minutes later, my car's dead.
Any input or insight would be welcome.
Thanks!

*I drive a 2000 Camry. 94300 miles.

chronoti · 05-15-2010, 11:58 AM

they screwed you hard, find where the water is leaking from and see if they cut a hose or anything and it shouldnt be out of coolant anyway unless they didnt refill it (most oil change shops do that with a change)

joey.bai · 05-15-2010, 12:01 PM

Yeah... it's too damn big of a coincidence...But, I'm pretty sure it was coolant that leaked. I accidentally stepped on some while I was pushing the car and it was pretty damn slippery. I don't think its oil because the drain plug and oil filter was on there pretty good.

71Corolla · 05-15-2010, 12:03 PM

Is there oil in the engine?

joey.bai · 05-15-2010, 12:05 PM

Yeah, there is. I checked the dipstick and it read full.

Rattlin_Steele · 05-15-2010, 12:20 PM

"Loud Knocking" sounds really bad. Makes me think they forgot to put in oil, then started your car and after the knocking started (due to damage to the engine) tried to cover their @ss. Bad timing belts don't cause loud knocking.

joey.bai · 05-15-2010, 12:23 PM

Thanks for the input guys. Yeah like I said, I was driving it fine the entire morning, but right after the oil change, things go bad.
I don't understand why an oil change would even create problems unless they forgot to put oil in or used something with crazy viscosity.
I mean, one would think that an oil change would make things smoother...

Rattlin_Steele · 05-15-2010, 12:51 PM

When you say "loud knocking", did it sound something like the sound in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nyaSMbAx3I

joey.bai · 05-15-2010, 12:57 PM

Yes! That''s what it sounded like. But... As I drove, it got quieter. And when I had my friend look at the car. I rev'd it to about 2k and it got significantly quieter.

Rattlin_Steele · 05-15-2010, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joey.bai

Yes! That''s what it sounded like. But... As I drove, it got quieter. And when I had my friend look at the car. I rev'd it to about 2k and it got significantly quieter.

I don't know... I'll let someone with more expertise chime in on why the knock may have gotten better or if there's more serious damage. I just know a knock sound like that is really bad. I've had it before and it didn't go away or get better, only worse and it's because the engine was run with little oil.

joey.bai · 05-15-2010, 02:21 PM

Hmm... I was talking to a few friends about it and we came up with a theory that revolves around the timing belt being busted. The knocking sound may be due to a piston hitting a valve since the timing is off. Either way, this whole thing does not make sense. Why would the timing belt snap after driving 10 feet?

Rattlin_Steele · 05-15-2010, 02:36 PM

What engine do you have? Regardless, it's a non-interference engine unlike a Honda, etc, so pistons don't hit valves. Timing belt should have nothing to do with that knock. If the timing belt broke, the car won't start. If the timing belt is worn or slipped notches, the car wont' run very well or won't start. Them warning you about the car possibly overheating is also very suspicious! That would have little to do with the timing belt or timing being off. If you could drive it down the road, the timing probably wasn't the problem. If you drove it far enough with that knock, the car might overheat because the engine might begin to seize! Plus the fact that it conveniently began to loose coolant is suspicious too.

If that happened to me, knowing what I've been through before in a similar situation, I wouldn't have touched my car. I'd have called a certified mechanic with Toyota experience who would support me in lawsuit and paid them to come down and inspect it on the spot.

73sport · 05-15-2010, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rattlin_Steele

When you say "loud knocking", did it sound something like the sound in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nyaSMbAx3I

That's great!!!!!!!! Poll? What is the sound?

LIFTER / TAPPET NOISE! IT IS NOT A BAD ROD! Its CAM speed, not crank speed. be interesting to look in the valve cover and see what let go. . .

As for your car, not good. Like he Rattlin said, a belt might make noise but ANY other disfunctions would lead to not running and you couldn't drive away.

As for the temp not rising, when coolant is too low, the sensor won't detect an over heating engine even while its burning hot. It would likely be smoking under the hood and have burning smells. It doesn't seem like any of that stuff happened to yours unless they let water out while working on it? Sure seems to point to those who touched it last but we need more information like WHERE did it leak from and why!

I vote you look for tampering as mentioned above.

joey.bai · 05-15-2010, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rattlin_Steele

If that happened to me, knowing what I've been through before in a similar situation, I wouldn't have touched my car. I'd have called a certified mechanic with Toyota experience who would support me in lawsuit and paid them to come down and inspect it on the spot.

Yeah... I should have done that... But hopefully, the shop will own up to what they did. If not, I would definitely go through with a lawsuit. I'm no mechanic, but I worried that they'll just say its "normal wear and tear". Does anyone know if there is a visual difference between "normal wear and tear" and induced damages?

***fenixus*** · 05-15-2010, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joey.bai

Yeah... I should have done that... But hopefully, the shop will own up to what they did. If not, I would definitely go through with a lawsuit. I'm no mechanic, but I worried that they'll just say its "normal wear and tear". Does anyone know if there is a visual difference between "normal wear and tear" and induced damages?

you need to determine where the coolant is leaking/pouring out from. if it's the water pump then you have your answer (not shop's fault likely), but if that's a hose, take a closer look, if you can see anything that looks like sharp edge cut then you can sue the shop.

don't know why engine got louder after oil change! seems they really started it up with no oil in it or something ... may be hard to prove.

good luck!