Engine Exploded

[ahuang1983]

Hey guys,


My dad has an 1996 4Runner and it had 200000km on the odometer. It has never been in an accident before and he said was still running fine. A week ago he had to get some part replaced for air care, so he brought it to a BCAA certified store. A day later, the shop called him and said the engine exploded and how there was a wierd knocking sound when they started it. My dad said there was no sound when he brought it in. I was wondering is it because the car is too old? He had it since 1996. Or could the shop make a mistake and try to blame it on us.
Sorry if this is the wrong place to post.

Thanks

 

[koulee]

How did it explode? With flames everywhere or with oil everywhere? Even if the timing belt were to snap, nothing would "explode" because the engine is a non-interference engine.

 

[Pikeman]

200,000KM is not a lot on these motors. I have 222,000 Miles on mine with no issues and they will go 300-400,000 miles regularly. Try to get more details what it was in for repairs and also what the shop says is wrong with it now.

 

[Maritimer]

This is definitely a huge issue of liability for the shop.

 

[ahuang1983]

Thanks for the reply guys.
I am not sure of the exact part, but i know my dad needed it to pass air care.
The thing is, the shop said they only use the obd diagnostic port and when they try to turn on the ignition, it exploded. They said rod flew out and oil was everywhere.

 

[koulee]

Thanks for the reply guys.
I am not sure of the exact part, but i know my dad needed it to pass air care.
The thing is, the shop said they only use the obd diagnostic port and when they try to turn on the ignition, it exploded. They said rod flew out and oil was everywhere.

How has your dad been with the maintenance on the 4R? Regular oil and filter changes? Did he notice anything abnormal with the motor before taking it in? Noises? Shaking?

If you guys are up to date with the maintenance then its going to rest on which part they replaced and how they replaced it.

Might help if we knew where you are in the world. Sounds like you are trying to get it smogged?

 

[Sig220]

Thanks for the reply guys.
I am not sure of the exact part, but i know my dad needed it to pass air care.
The thing is, the shop said they only use the obd diagnostic port and when they try to turn on the ignition, it exploded. They said rod flew out and oil was everywhere.

I have never heard of any engine throwing a rod when first started. Under a load, running hard..........yep but not while first started.

The OBD diagnostic port connection is used for diagnosis.....check engine lights, never heard it being used in the process of passing emissions test.

Seems to be something lacking in the story.

 

[ahuang1983]

I am located in Vancouver, bc. He has done regular check up, in fact just a week before hand he got his regular maintenance done at another shop. I didn't left any detail out, other than what the shop is telling us. My dad said it was all fine and did not make any noise or felt different. I feel like the shop is trying to con us because he said he did have an used engine he can install if we pay the labor which was 5 grand. Like if the car is just old and we are cool with that, but it just happened so sudden. And that store is a big one too, so I don't think they would lie.

 

[ahuang1983]

Oh. I just remembered, the mechanic where he got the service did say the coolant had a leak. This is from the other shop, not the shop that exploded the car.

 

[Limited2K]

Some other guys will chime in, but 5 grand to put in a used engine is robbery. Sounds to me like you guys are getting played.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Sounds very fishy. There are a lot of details that are unknown though.

My first suspicion would be that the shop is at fault.

 

[Revosickness]

Have you been by to look at it to see for yourself what is going on? Or has it all been over the phone? This could make a lot of difference.

 

[Kurtis]

It does sound like you are getting scammed. 5k to put in a used engine does sound like highway robbery. For 5k you could buy every tool need and the engine and still have money left over to slap in a supercharger. I would def. look into it a bit more. Sig220 is right, they don't normally throw rods thru blocks when starting up. I've destroyed more engines than most people have owned.

 

[Deceptiwave]

It may be worth it to have it towed to another shop and get a second opinion, and call your insurance agent.
For 5 grand you can get another 4runner!

 

[asm]

Let's put it this way, the car was delivered to the shop working, and now it's not. That makes the shop responsible for the damages. Even if the engine simply blow up, the least they can do is to do the job for free while the customer pays for the motor. A used motor is only about $1500.

 

[LINY4Runner]

The OBD diagnostic port connection is used for diagnosis.....check engine lights, never heard it being used in the process of passing emissions test.

In NY, all cars 1996 and newer are emissions inspected by just the OBDII port.

 

[Sig220]

In NY, all cars 1996 and newer are emissions inspected by just the OBDII port.

Thanks for clearing that up for me! We don't have those type of inspections around here. Either way, that would not play into the engine throwing a rod.

 

[LINY4Runner]

Either way, that would not play into the engine throwing a rod.

Absolutely not. Something's sketchy.

 

[Kurtis]

Absolutely not. Something's sketchy.

I agree. Something doesn't sound right.

Depending on the outcome of this, 5k far too much unless that is in paseos, so I would get another shop to look at it and get a quote. Myself, I would try to have the business fix it because it seems odd that a rod would go thru the block like that.

Just my 4 cents...

Kurtis

P.S. Keep us posted! I want to know the outcome!

 

[echo4tango]

take a camera over to the shop and take as many pictures as you can. start asking them to tell you exactly the proceedures they were doing before the car "blew up" and write it all down. take 2 people with you as witnesses when you are doing all of this cause it sounds like you are gonna have to go to court for them to pay for the damages they caused.

<---life long peoples court fan!:boink: