95 SC Chain Busted...Ripoff Mechanic?

My stepdad was driving the car, timing chain busted...towed to
garage...

First they quoted $450 for timing chain and labor, then they
immediately offered to buy it for $300.

We declined the offer and wanted the car fixed.

The next call was to say that they did the work, THEN found the valves
bent and engine is toast. They said it needs a new engine. They
offered again to buy it, this time for $200. And they want $150 for
labor on the timing chain, meaning I walk with 50 bucks and no car...

Question is...Isn't it a given that the valves were most likely
damaged? and is it negligent of them to assume they weren't and do the
work on the timing chain?

Sounds like they wanted the car from the beginning and this is how they
went about it. What do you guys think I should do???? The car is
still at the shop.

Thanks

 

I believe the Saturn is an interference design. (Many timing chain driven
engines are interference design due to fact that chains are generally more
reliable and last longer if properly maintained than belts.) This means
that if the timing chain breaks that it is quite possible (highly probable)
that the pistons and valves could collide causing the type of damage you
have seen in your vehicle. Have they taken off the head and looked at the
valves yet? Did they also check the pistons too? (I'd hate to think they
will hit you up for a cracked piston after they get the head off, but this
too is possible.)

As to whether they could have know for certain that a valve had been bent in
advance, the answer is in my opinion is "no", although they should have
certainly communicated this was highly likely due to the design of the
engine.

As to their offer of less now, I guess they are simply telling you that the
property is worth less now that they know the situation. Seems they offered
more before and assumed that risk. Without knowing more on the real
condition, mileage, etc. it is hard to judge if they are trying to take
advantage of you or not. If you think the vehicle is worth more than the
repair estimate, then you should get it fixed. If not, then walk away. You
also can always have the car towed to another shop, but now that one shop
has already begun the work with the timing chain, you will not likely find
one that would take the work for less and still guarantee the work/outcome.

This is pretty much just a bad situation al around. Only you know if they
are trying to take advantage of you here. If you suspect that is the case,
call around, find out if they should have known the valves were bent and
get some estimates.

Good luck!

Bob

 

It is an interference design. Something that you must remember about
1.9L engines is the oil must never be allowed to sludge up.

Two Reasons
-The timing chain tensioner works like a ratchet and moves to tighten
the chain over time with oil pressure. If it it gets stuck the chain
will get loose.
-A small hole oils the chain. This hole can get clogged up and the chain
will starve for oil and wear out.

Depending on how you drive and what kind of oil you use you shouldn't go
more than 4000 miles between changes.

As to what the value of your car is we dont know. This thing could be a
high mileage rust bucket. As for the valves, sometimes they oddly manage
to survive and sometimes the engine flat out grenades. I dont understand
though why you are saying you were quoted $450 for timing chain work
then they said it needed a new engine then $150 for a timing chain work
again. Are they offering to work on a blown up engine for 150 bucks now
that wont do you any good? If the engine is good then 150 bucks to get
it going again is a deal. Sounds like they did want the car though.

 

blah blah wrote:
I dont understand

The $150 they said that I owed was for the parts, and they would eat
the labor ($300) if I sold them the car.

The Saturn dealership told me that anyone who calls themself a mechanic
would never go ahead with timing chain repair on an interference motor
without informing the customer of the likelyhood of severe engine
damage.

They didn't say anything of the sort, it was either because they are
ignorant, or were trying to rip me off, knowing that since I declined
to sell it to them, once they did the chain they could hit me with the
"blown motor" bit and get the car anyway. I snuck into the lot on
sunday and popped the hood to see if they even did the work on the
chain, and they did have the head off. I just can't believe that they
would do that work without first assuming that greater damage was
likely to have happened.

 

They probably didnt have a clue. They may qualify as mechanics but they
certainly do not qualify as technicians.

I take it they didnt even bother to tape off the exposed internal parts
when they parked it in that dusty lot? The work is priced fairly cheap
as far as I know but there are reasons why. Usually people are good at
working on certain makes and models or certain jobs from experiance and
dont have a clue when something else comes along. I'm probably most
knowledgeable with GM's 3800's. However stick a Honda 6 banger infront
of me and I'm likely to take a sledge hammer to the cluster fucked SOB.