Engine Replacement

[rpallas]

Hi,

Details of the car:
Toyota Corolla
1400cc Petrol
5 Gear Manual Transmission
2001 Model
and Its Blue

First off, cars are not really my area of expertise (understatement!). I was on the motorway on friday night and it started making a clicking sound. I thought it was the clutch cause i've just done 60,000 miles and it was starting to slip (Hell, for all i know clutches might click when they are not feeling well ).

Anyway, the clicking got progressively louder until i was no longer able to raise the volume level of my stereo to drown out this very irritating sound (It was already on max). I figured i would get the clutch replaced the following day and try and reach my destination in the mean time. Anyway, shortly after reaching maximum volume setting on the stereo, there was a loud bang, and something quite significant sounding fell out from the underside of the car. I glanced in the rear view mirror to see debris causing the guy behind me a few minor issues before pulling over into the hard shoulder. The car started to bleed (Oil and water) and there was no response from the ignition.....just a faint murmer.

When the AA (roadside cover) guy got there he said "Err... there is a big fu**ing hole in your engine! I've never seen anything like it" - So, at this point i realised it wasn't the clutch. Oh dear!

I got a tow to my destination, and am currently driving a nice Dawoo Matiz (very shakey little thing it is) which i hired from a nice couple who own a bed and breakfast and big dog just outside Leeds Very nice!

So, with there being a hole in my engine block, i'm guessing that i need a new engine. This is what people at the garage are suggesting anyway. What i'm not so sure about is what they are quoting me for fixing it. He said that he couldn't find a reconditioned engine, but found a second hand one with 30,000 on the clock for £1050 (cost price with no guarantee) - he then quoted me 10 hours labour at £40 per hour and then add VAT on top of all of that, so something like £1700 all inclusive.

Now i'm no expert asi'm sure you can tell, but i think i might be justified in assuming that this guy is trying to rip me off. Especially given that he serviced the car 7 days before this all happened at a cost of £337 (including MOT and an £80 repair job).

Can anyone offer me any advise about what this should REALLy be costing me, and where i might be able to get this done for a reasonable price. I've been told by friends that engines should cost about £500 reconditioned and that labour should only be about £200. Is this more or less accurate?

Thank you for your help
Robbie

[ghost_ryder35]

if your taking your car to joe blow then it would 500 for the engine and 200 for labor. However not a reconditioned engine, a used one just like the mechanic is offering you. If you take it to a shop this guy is quoting you the right place. If you take it to a friend of a friend who can swap engines the 700 price is right. Just depends if you want a mechanic to do it, or if you want joe blow to do it.

[Flashmn]

^Prices in UK and USA would vary a lot, so you cant say 700bucks and expect it to be the same in UK.

[ghost_ryder35]

Originally Posted by Flashmn

^Prices in UK and USA would vary a lot, so you cant say 700bucks and expect it to be the same in UK.

well if it was USA prices, the prices you mentioned would be right. I guess the euro is kicking the dollars ass now a days though

[rpallas]

We don't use Euro's in the UK, but i see your point.

So, are you saying that if i take it to a 'Professional' it will cost me £1700, and if i get a friend to do it it will cost me £700?

And if that is what your saying then i guess you're implying that the friends job is likely to be substandard compared to the 'Professionals'.

Basically, my friend was saying that this is how much a Professional 'should' do it for....not a friend of a friend. I was wanting to confirm that here.

Does anyone have any idea of how much this should cost if a professional was doing the Job in the UK in pounds sterling? Basically, i just don't want to get ripped off, and i don't trust the guy at the garage. He wears very funny glasses and talks like a snake always rolling the letter 's'.

[ghost_ryder35]

Originally Posted by rpallas

We don't use Euro's in the UK, but i see your point.

So, are you saying that if i take it to a 'Professional' it will cost me £1700, and if i get a friend to do it it will cost me £700?

And if that is what your saying then i guess you're implying that the friends job is likely to be substandard compared to the 'Professionals'.

Basically, my friend was saying that this is how much a Professional 'should' do it for....not a friend of a friend. I was wanting to confirm that here.

Does anyone have any idea of how much this should cost if a professional was doing the Job in the UK in pounds sterling? Basically, i just don't want to get ripped off, and i don't trust the guy at the garage. He wears very funny glasses and talks like a snake always rolling the letter 's'.

call around to a few other garages and ask. I dont know what the pound is worth so I would say that is your best bet, to get a few phone estimates.

[rpallas]

Yeah, i'm in the process of doing that, but i thought i would come on here and get an independant view on the cost as there are a lot of cowboys around these parts. I have a very nice telephone mannor that leaves me wide open to being taken advantage of by some big greasy garage hog who thinks he see's a quick buck!