Woes, woes and more woes...

[zaeli]

Monday I slipped my timing belt, I found out today from the shop that is looking at the damage that one of the rollers basically exploded and the head needs to be taken off, cam damage. After that I was told also that my strut tower broke throught my frame and the rear shock is leaking.
On top of that a few months ago a SUV backed into my boser, add hood repair and paint to my bill...

The TB was done 20k ago and the shocks were purchased gently used.
I drive in and out of NYC are surrounding areas, I look after my car on a budget and was planning of years of enjoyment from the vehical.

Of couse I was quoted 3k for the TB/head work, add frame/strut/sus work, plus the hood repair...$$ my question, is it worth is to keep the car?
The total bill could be well over half of what the car is worth.

Or Can someone recommend the best repair shop that is reasonable??
In the NYC area? I am in Hudson county, NJ.

I think this might be the first car that I became attatched to...
-Eric

 

[jcrews]

PM franko6 for a head rebuild. By roller I take it a lifter holed/cracked? This happens when the valves crash. I think the rework will start at $1500.

Did you replace the strut bearings when you swapped the shocks?

Who did the timing belt? What failed?

 

[Lefty]

If it is one of the Rollers that came with the last timing belt. I would be asking that shop that did it why it happened. Or perhaps the last TB wasn't done right with new rollers and such. Do you have a list of the things that was done on the last TB?

 

[Franko6]

What caused the tower to fail? If it's rust, then I'd think it's time to say goodbye.

 

[NarfBLAST]

If "one of the rollers basically exploded" could that have been caused by a piece of road debris? In that case you could call your insurance company and make a claim.

A trash can blew across the highway I was travelling on a few years ago and took out my front bummper and intercooler. Insurance covered it.

 

[TornadoRed]

Of couse I was quoted 3k for the TB/head work, add frame/strut/sus work, plus the hood repair...$$ my question, is it worth is to keep the car?
The total bill could be well over half of what the car is worth.

Or Can someone recommend the best repair shop that is reasonable??
In the NYC area? I am in Hudson county, NJ.

Jason aka TDIJetta99 is in Port Jervis NY, and is probably the best TDI guy in your area. Send him a PM or do a search for his phone number.
http://forums.tdiclub.com/member.php?u=32243

Frank Irving aka Franko6 is probably the best guy to source a rebuilt head or to rebuild yours.

I'm thinking the rebuilt head and new TB kit plus labor will cost you $2200-2400, possibly less.

It sounds like your Golf is worth repairing. It's unfortunate what has happened, but the Golf still has several hundred thousand more miles of life remaining.

 

[TDIJetta99]

I would say the strut tower damage will determine if the car is worth fixing.. If it's just a mount that collapsed, then absolutely fix the car. I can repair most strut towers as well. I'm 95% certian I can source the repair parts for a rotted MK4 tower..

I'd take the head off and ship it to Frank... It'll be new, if not better, when it comes back...

PM me for my phone# if you want...

 

[zaeli]

PM sent, they misdianosed the strut tower pulling through the frame, it was just the mount....
Thank you all.

 

[richieracket]

and now you trust them to do a major repair??

 

[zaeli]

Hell no. Jason is towing the car tomorrow.

I am furious with Autosport Performance of Englewood NJ.
I wanted a dianosis of the car on weather was worth repairing, re: their statement on possible damage via TB failure and strut tower/ now blown mount... They went ahead and did the TB and gave me a new fuel pump!!
I asked if he used vag-com and he said no and lined up the marks.
The car is still a NS.

Legally speaking, am I required to pay for an unwanted TB repair?
I dont think so.

 

[TDIJetta99]

There are no marks to lign up..... You shouldn't be obligated to pay anything that you did not authorize...

Tell them to take the new pump off and keep their timing belt parts and to just leave all the old parts, pump and all, in a box in the trunk... I'll put it all back together...

 

[Lefty]

Hell no. Jason is towing the car tomorrow.

I am furious with Autosport Performance of Englewood NJ.
I wanted a dianosis of the car on weather was worth repairing, re: their statement on possible damage via TB failure and strut tower/ now blown mount... They went ahead and did the TB and gave me a new fuel pump!!
I asked if he used vag-com and he said no and lined up the marks.
The car is still a NS.

Legally speaking, am I required to pay for an unwanted TB repair?
I dont think so.

Don't drive the car far if that is how they put in the new TB. It will most likely fail. Don't pay for anything you didn't agree to or sign for. If they refuse to release your car just go to the Police station and have them escort you to get your car.

 

[TDIJetta99]

I have the car in my posession now.... UGH... I'll post a few pictures of what it looked like when I picked it up...

Short story.. Engine mount and bracket is in the trunk.. Engine was about 2mm from the ground sitting there in the lot where I picked it up.. oil pan is cracked and dripping... Power steering pump is jammed into the radiator fan because the mount is out with nothing holding the engine up.. I think the fan is ok... Paint marks on timing sprockets... I could go on...

I'll get it over to the shop this evening, and I'll evaluate the whole thing tomorrow morning...

 

[ScorpionBoy]

what a bunch of hacks. sorry about your misfortune.

 

[TornadoRed]

No wonder they let Jason tow it away and probably didn't make zaeli pay for any unrequested work. They will just be happy not to end up in court.

 

[TDICADDGUY]

I have the car in my posession now.... UGH... I'll post a few pictures of what it looked like when I picked it up...

Short story.. Engine mount and bracket is in the trunk.. Engine was about 2mm from the ground sitting there in the lot where I picked it up.. oil pan is cracked and dripping... Power steering pump is jammed into the radiator fan because the mount is out with nothing holding the engine up.. I think the fan is ok... Paint marks on timing sprockets... I could go on...

I'll get it over to the shop this evening, and I'll evaluate the whole thing tomorrow morning...

WOW...just wow. Talk about incompetent hacks.

 

[TT71]

My condolences and best of luck on getting this mess straightened out.

 

[Motor7]

Holeey sheep ****!

I have the car in my posession now.... UGH... I'll post a few pictures of what it looked like when I picked it up...

Short story.. Engine mount and bracket is in the trunk.. Engine was about 2mm from the ground sitting there in the lot where I picked it up.. oil pan is cracked and dripping... Power steering pump is jammed into the radiator fan because the mount is out with nothing holding the engine up.. I think the fan is ok... Paint marks on timing sprockets... I could go on...

I'll get it over to the shop this evening, and I'll evaluate the whole thing tomorrow morning...

 

[zaeli]

I was supposed to pick up the missing IC pipe they forgot to place in the car; swing by Jason, make the drop, talk cars and return parts and tools they left in my car to Autosport.... they are not getting back to me.

[SIZE=-1]>Dear Ty, Authur and Autosport,

>Its unfortunate that that you are choosing this route.

>A) The work preformed was not authorized.

>B) No deposit for work was made.

>C) Damage was misdiagnosed.

>D) Car was restarted with full knowledge of possible cam,
>lifter and
>valve damage (I am still waiting on the diagnosis of this).

>E) The car was verbally released with parts missing,
>unsecured and
>shop tools left in the engine bay.

>F) Due to miscommunication, mistakes and lack of
>professionalism; I
>had my car removed from Autosport Performance.


>As I stated in my previous email, I am trying to work with
>you.

>I am willing to return all parts and tools, on my own time,
>in
>exchange for the IC pipe. All I ask is to pick up the IC
>pipe on my
>way to the other mechanic so that I can expedite this
>transaction. No
>hard feelings nor complaints if this is agreed upon.

>Eric

>> Eric,
>>
>>
>>
>> If you want to talk about inconvenience, let's start
>with your taking the
>> vehicle out of our shop without paying for any work
>that was done, then
>> calling us up to tell us that another shop will be
>finishing a job we
>> started and now you don't even want to pay for the
>parts, you want to
>> replace what was used. What a waste of our time. Bring
>us the parts and
>> we'll give you the pipe.
>>
>> Arthur[/SIZE]

Its unfortunate, but look like I have to consider filing a small claims case against them.

 

[RamMan4x4]

Sorry to hear about your situation, but it's good that you got your car to a well trusted and qualified mechanic to do the repair work.

 

[ninedee_golf_tdi]

Far as I know, a work authorization must be signed if the cost is over XXX dollars. Hey, if you got a new freebie pump out of the deal, it might end in your favor. But new radiator and all the other stuff... sure hope this shop isn't on the recommended list.

 

[TDIJetta99]

There was no new fuel pump put in... No new fuel filter either... Looks like the only new parts were a timing belt kit and water pump, Which I'm probably not using...

Upon closer inspection the radiator and fans are fine.. Looks like the only additional damage was the cracked oil pan.. The valves were bent when the timing belt skipped, not after they tried starting it at autosport.. I don't think they even got it to start since the IP was so far out of time it could never have run.. It was about 1/3 of a turn off..


Oh well... The head is off now... On it's way to Franko6.. This car is going to run like new again...




One more thing.... Does anyone have an upper IC pipe and ruber elbow from a 99.5 they can sell Zaeli? It has to be the one with the MAP sensor in it..

 

[zaeli]

Yep they are in trouble....
SUBCHAPTER 26C. Automotive Repair Regularions of New Jersey

http://www.lemonlawclaims.com/new_jersey_automobile_repair_regulations.htm

Ha we are updating at the same time! Cheers! I owe you a beer.

 

[jcrews]

Was it determined why the roller bearing failed? Was it very old, or aftermarket?

 

[TDIJetta99]

The one that failed was the large roller.. It looks like it wasn't changed the last time the timing belt was done....

 

[jcrews]

Bummer!

It's almost good the other shop f'd up so badly. If they actually managed to get it running again, the valves could have blown up entirely.

 

[zaeli]

Yeah I pulled it out of there after not liking what I was hearing and the obvious miscommunication that was going on between the two at the shop.

I am also lucky the roller did not fail as I was doing 130 on the NJT late that previous Friday...

 

[TDIJetta99]

I am also lucky the roller did not fail as I was doing 130 on the NJT late that previous Friday...

Very lucky... Usually it's a catastrophic failure when the belt skips over 4000rpm... Pieces everywhere...

 

[Da~da~da]

what a bunch of hacks. sorry about your misfortune.

x1000

 

[zaeli]

Ok everything is squared away. Running strong even though I am going to need a clutch as some point...