HELP! Blown Motor
01-11-2011, 07:22 AM
#11
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Palm Beach to South Carolina
Posts: 1,567
Thanks for getting back to me - I was told that the left cam and timing chain are where the issue has started. They did say that I could have it completely taken down and replace left and right timing chains and cams and "flush out" everything else. They said that they had only done this twice and the first one lasted 3 months and the second lasted for 9. Their answer is a new motor for $7K or a bone yard for $5K. So far, she runs fine when on a highway, but if she idles below 500 she loses power. I have been able to restart and rev the engine in neutral until the light changes ,l but I do not know how long this can last. I decided to post on this board because I was afraid they were jerking me around because I am a female and I love my pony and do not want to part with her!!!
What mods do you have? Do you have a tuner? If so, try setting the idle at 750 or 800 rpms.
Edit: I see that she has an automatic, so I don't know what auto's normally idle at.
01-11-2011, 08:25 AM
#12
6th Gear Member
2nd-opinion-time from a different shop, IMO. Sorry to hear your pain.
Whereabouts in IL? I just moved out of the Lake Zurich area last year. There are a few forum members in the Chicago burbs that may have some shop recommendations.
Whereabouts in IL? I just moved out of the Lake Zurich area last year. There are a few forum members in the Chicago burbs that may have some shop recommendations.
01-11-2011, 11:59 AM
#14
6th Gear Member
This is a rather vague description but I see where Siggy is going here; this could be a simple clogged fuel filter, clogged air filter, dirty Throttle Body, dirty Mass Air Flow Sensor, fouled plug(s) or something else benign and inexpensive.
01-11-2011, 04:56 PM
#16
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Oregon
Posts: 2,645
Thats what I am getting at to an extent. When a motor blows, it generally will not run, or if it does, run pretty terribly. It being drivable and running fine other than idle dropping too low to maintain itself, doesn't sound anything like a blown motor to me.
For what its worth, when my motor blew, there was a loud bang, and no amount of wishful thinking would have gotten it to run again.
For what its worth, when my motor blew, there was a loud bang, and no amount of wishful thinking would have gotten it to run again.
01-11-2011, 05:53 PM
#17
The Paranoid One
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 5,320
I smell a shop trying to make a buck off an innocent girl who does not know much about cars.
Get your car the HELL out of there and go somewhere else.
When you go to the next shop DONT tell them the story of this shop so they can agree and try to rob you as well by charging you a little less than the other place.
Just tell them you would like the car looked it because it is not running quite right.
Also... what were you doing when the car started to act this way?
Were you hot rodding it alot at high RPMS?, driving normal?
Was the change gradual or just happened? Any smoke, or weird sounds?
Did you buy the car new or used?
If you bought it used that car could have aftermarket cams in there and the tune may be set
for it to run at a LOW RPM idle. Just saying that is a chance.
Otherwise you could have some clogged things as stated.
There are many different things that could be going on here.
But your description so far just does not sound like the way a blown motor usually acts.
By the way... have you kept up with all the scheduled matenience jobs since you bought the car?
Have you changed the fluids and oil on time and treated the car properly?
Be honest or else we have no way to help you.
As far as THAT SHOP.
Take it somewhere else girl BEFORE you make up your mind.
If another shop tells you the SAME thing then so be it.
But DO NOT tell them what the first shop said was wrong with the car.
That gives them a free ticket to try to make you get a motor from them for a little cheaper even
if you DONT need one.
Get your car the HELL out of there and go somewhere else.
When you go to the next shop DONT tell them the story of this shop so they can agree and try to rob you as well by charging you a little less than the other place.
Just tell them you would like the car looked it because it is not running quite right.
Also... what were you doing when the car started to act this way?
Were you hot rodding it alot at high RPMS?, driving normal?
Was the change gradual or just happened? Any smoke, or weird sounds?
Did you buy the car new or used?
If you bought it used that car could have aftermarket cams in there and the tune may be set
for it to run at a LOW RPM idle. Just saying that is a chance.
Otherwise you could have some clogged things as stated.
There are many different things that could be going on here.
But your description so far just does not sound like the way a blown motor usually acts.
By the way... have you kept up with all the scheduled matenience jobs since you bought the car?
Have you changed the fluids and oil on time and treated the car properly?
Be honest or else we have no way to help you.
As far as THAT SHOP.
Take it somewhere else girl BEFORE you make up your mind.
If another shop tells you the SAME thing then so be it.
But DO NOT tell them what the first shop said was wrong with the car.
That gives them a free ticket to try to make you get a motor from them for a little cheaper even
if you DONT need one.
Last edited by Blacksmoke; 01-11-2011 at 06:00 PM.
01-13-2011, 01:09 AM
#20
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: California
Posts: 35
1st, take Blacksmoke's advice. Run (don't walk) to a reputable shop for a second opinion. Also, get specific information about what exactly is broken and post it up here for us to see.
If your motor is toast, you should be able to do significantly better than $5k for a used engine swap.
I just replaced my '05 GT engine with 23k miles for $1,900, but I did the labor myself.
My local Ford modular mechanic offered to do the swap for $1,000, so I could have had it done turnkey for $3,000 including new seals.
While your mileage may vary, $5k sounds way high.
If your motor is toast, you should be able to do significantly better than $5k for a used engine swap.
I just replaced my '05 GT engine with 23k miles for $1,900, but I did the labor myself.
My local Ford modular mechanic offered to do the swap for $1,000, so I could have had it done turnkey for $3,000 including new seals.
While your mileage may vary, $5k sounds way high.