Aftermath of my coolant problem - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

91tercelowner · 03-10-2008, 04:25 PM

OK, here is what finally happened. If you recall, I got a new thermastat, and I had steam coming out my engine.

I finally found an engine shop, and they were very optimistic about my car (two other places pretty much said "it's the end"). By then, steam was coming out pretty much every orifice in the car. I shall never forget that horrible smell of coolant steam.

Took it to them, they said it was the head gasket. They had it in the shop for a week, did all sorts of stuff, and "while you are in the neighborhood" stuff, so I got a new timing belt and waterpump, valve stem seals (which have been leaking forever) and head gasket among other things.

I finally got the car back on Saturday evening. Sounded soo much better. Meanwhile, my car had been out of commission since mid-February, the month when my inspection sticker expired.

So today I took it right to the MVC inspection station. After all that engine work--I failed on emissions.

My car has NEVER failed emissions (its a 91, and I am the original owner).

I took it right back to the shop, and they said it could be that after all that work, there could still be coolant and crap floating around the exhaust system from the old problem, that has to work its way out. (I failed on HC and NO)

Does that sound true to you guys? Or could this shop have screwed something up?

The other problem is if you fail inspection in NJ, you can ONLY pass if you take it to a REF shop and have work done on the car, so it's not like I can wait for this excess crap to flow out of my car post-engine-work, and then go through the inspection again. No can do!!

I can't believe I shelled out over 4 figures, and I failed inspection!!

Any advice?

91tercelowner · 03-11-2008, 09:40 AM

OK, even more developments. I discovered that my car is now LEAKING oil.

Puddles everywhere I park.

I took it back to the guy, and his first response was to accuse me of adding oil. Trust me, after $1200, if I thought it NEEDED oil added, I would have driven it right back to him.

Then he said, well you TOLD us to keep costs down. It might need more work.

What kind of mechanic would do engine work, and then give you the car back when it is leaking oil out the bottom (it wasn't before).

He inferred I might have to pay even MORE money for him to fix this... that it might need another gasket. Shouldn't they have checked this before returning it to me just 3 days ago?

Do I have any legal recourse, here?

Help!

Daox · 03-11-2008, 09:55 AM

How much did you drive it between Saturday and the inspection?

91tercelowner · 03-11-2008, 11:15 AM

maybe 50 miles, tops.

Daox · 03-11-2008, 04:16 PM

After 50 miles theres almost no way there is any stuff left in your exhaust. What else did they do while it was in the shop?

91tercelowner · 03-12-2008, 10:35 AM

He did something to it that made it pass at a private inspection station.

I don't know if he just burned all the rest of the crud away, or if I actually need a catalytic converter for next time... but next time is two years away.

Who knows... maybe I'll be in a new Lexus by then!

Let me ask you this though:

What caused the head gasket to go in the first place? Everyone says it means you overheated the car. But I have NEVER overheated the car. It came close to the red zone (3/4s or so) two times in its entire life. The first was when my water pump went a decade ago. The second was last month, when it went 3/4 on the long trip (mentioned in an earlier thread). But never actually red.

So does this mean last year when I got my new radiator, the guy overheated it in his shop? is this provable?

Or, can a gasket go for another reason than overheating?

Daox · 03-12-2008, 12:32 PM

The gasket was pretty old and they can just go after time. However, it was probably a combination in your case. Old gasket + hotter temps for that short period probably did it in. I doubt that the mechanic did it, and even if he did you can't prove it.

91tercelowner · 03-12-2008, 01:43 PM

Believe it or not, that makes me feel better.

But why was it running hotter at all, if not because the gasket was going. Or, which came first, the chicken or the egg?

I would not be happy to think getting a new radiator ended up costing me $1200 in engine work repairs.

Good thing we are all getting $600 from the Federal government in May.

BTW, thanks for all your wisdom and your help. I truly appreciate it.