Tranny sabotaged need mechanic referral

[daddysgirl]

Back in Nov we replaced the motor on my hubs Mazda 626. The same day we got it back the tranny blew out and stripped it. So its been sitting dormant til this week when we were getting the tranny rebuilt by a different mechanic. He said someone had crammed and clamped a freeze plug into the circulating hose and that's what blew our tranny. It had to be the motor changing mech because where the plug was crammed would blow the tranny in mins not months. So motor mech has my dads 69. Im freaking out and terrified to let him switch out my engine. He said motor block was cracked but how do i know he's telling the truth? I already have the engine to replace the truck, its an 80s model 302 from a Lincoln march vii. So it just needs to be pulled out and put in with a little tweaking. Anyone here know a trustworthy mechanic in southeast tn? Also the motor mech only wanted like 500 to transfer engines but tranny mech said 1200. What's an average price to just have them switched out? I cant afford to get screwed again and now were dealing with the truck not a run of the mill Mazda. Id cut a man over my truck. <3 my bump

[Ranchero50]

This is a hard one. I don't know what your current financial status is or your ability to work on your own stuff. I would show up at the shop with a tow truck and remove your truck with the parts in the bed. I would take that section of the cooler line hose with the plug in it along. Personally I'd probably end up in jail, but I figure that tranny dieing at the wrong time could be deadly to me. I would also call the states attorney and ask about what options you would have (criminal vs. civil). Sadly there is no trail of evidence so you can't 'prove' that the engine shop put the plug in the line.

My first priority would be getting the truck away from that shop, then spread the word with facebook or twitter. The better business buerau isn't very good but you can drop them a line about a decent shop.

I think the most important thing to take away from this is either work on it your self or get a warrenty / guarentee for the work.
Jamie

[daddysgirl]

Well thank god the truck is still untouched at this point. It was our dd Mazda that got sabotaged. Im trying as we speak to find someone with a hauler to get the truck back home. With gas like it is Im looking at a $200 tow bill. But if i have to then so be it.

[Ranchero50]

Yes, it's hard times like these that make slimeballs just so much more lothesome. Get it home, read up on the troubleshooting and diagnostics. Spend your mechanic money on some basic tools and start working through the problems with the truck. You'll learn so much just by simply by asking questions on the forums and you won't be dependant on slimeballs...

Jamie

[daddysgirl]

But pulling an engine is beyond my capabilities. I can do tires brakes fluids batteries basics you know. But the truck won't even turn over. So.... Idk

[Ranchero50]

See, this is where a thread in the engine subforum will net you a lot of simple troubleshooting info. Just remember that the more info you give the more accurate the tips and the better the results will be.

What exactly is wrong with it, what engine, tranny combo. What carb and ignition. What's the background on how you go to this point (won't turn over). List that and I'll move this over to the 'engine' subforum and we go from there.

Jamie

[daddysgirl]

Ive posted the problems before in the engine thread. Im useless as a mechanic. I was really hoping there would be someone on here from my area who could refer a mechanic.

[sargentrs]

Unfortunately, I'm a couple of hours away. I know a good, honest guy in Dawsonville, GA. Got a wrecker service too but it's 97 miles one way from you. He's reasonable but the tow might be too expensive. Swapping an engine's actually pretty simple. If you've got the place to do it, I'm sure we can get you through it.

[1972hiboy]

If the mech took the radiator out of the car and plugged the tranny lines to keep fluid from spewing out and making a mess...maybe he just forgot to hook them back up to the radiator? Its possible it could be a honest mistake. Something a thorough mechanic should not have let happen in the first place but you never know. id confront him not in a angry matter so he doesnt get defensive right away.....maybe he would fess up? I dont know just throwing that out there.....

[fordman]

If the mech took the radiator out of the car and plugged the tranny lines to keep fluid from spewing out and making a mess...maybe he just forgot to hook them back up to the radiator? Its possible it could be a honest mistake. Something a thorough mechanic should not have let happen in the first place but you never know. id confront him not in a angry matter so he doesnt get defensive right away.....maybe he would fess up? I dont know just throwing that out there.....

thats kind of what i think. he may have just forgot. but he should have double checked his work.

no on to the deal with gettign the truck fixed. if the truck has a cracked block. fill it with water and drive it to another mechanic. leave the radiator cap loose. if the truck has been disassembled. rent a tow dolly from u haul and tow the truck yourself. or have a friend with a truck do it.

[bindernut]

Have you called the tow co and got a quote? a little piece of advice, a tow company usually has someone sitting around doing nothing, if you don't have an emergency and they think you may go somewhere else, they'll flat rate. Here, Joe Blow wants to get to Vegas right now, he's looking at about $400, if he has time to call around and my dispatch thinks they'll lose the Biz.... wow, now it's $250.... and remember that guy sitting around? He gets you there right now anyway. it doesn't allways work that way but $150 is worth posing the question.

Furthermore, if you do get a tow, tip the driver and THEN ask who he'd take his car to.