LKQ Industries Purchased a rebuilt engine, after only 8049 miles have a rod knocking, not drivable. Has been less than 3 yrs since installed Houston Texas
On January 3, 2006 a rebuilt engine (Chevrolet 454) was ordered from LKQ Industries in Houston Texas, to be delivered to J's Service Center, Iraan, Texas. The engine was delivered on January 12, 2006. Being in no rush I advised J's that there was no hurry in installing engine. I went to Hitchcock Texas to stay until engine was installed. The motorhome was accepted by me on March 28, 2006. The motorhome had been driven 8,049 miles when in April 2007 I parked in the RV park I am now in, without having the motorhome on the road since then. I had the oil and filter changed on March 12, 2009 with plans to leave this area on March 14.
Upon starting engine after oil change a rod started knocking almost immediately. I have some of the oil and the filter. The oil has medal shavings in it, which tells me the engine was bad from LKQ Industries. LKQ refuses to do anything because they claim the 3 year warranty started the day the engine was delivered to be installed rather than the time I took delevery of the vehicle.
Any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated. I am 81 years old, living on my social security as my sole income and cannot afford to be out approximately $5,000 to purchase and install another engine.
Glenn
Huachuca City, Arizona
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
zephyrus
Rosemount,Minnesota,
How to not do this again
#3Consumer Suggestion
Sat, August 02, 2014
The problem here is not that the engine had a problem, but that the engine has been underutilized.
In all likelihood, the engine was not driven enough and deposits in the engine hardened and stuck to internal engine parts. Now with the cleansers in the new oil attacking these deposits - they break away and float throughout the system. The place the oil passageways tend to end is the hydraulic lifters. They collect lots of loose junk from the engine.
When these lifters get clogged, they stick partially compressed which creates a gap between the lifter and the pushrod. Under use, this gap sounds like a metal to metal knocking as the engine turns over. This is likely the noise the owner is hearing.
If it were a "rod knock" there would have been some indication prior to this, it doesn't just happen, and that problem is typically from neglect, abuse, or other lack of preventive maintenance. This doesn't seem to be the case here as th engine is fairly new.
I agree that the company should not be liable for this. For the consumer, letting the engine run at idle for a while to heat up th oil and allow it to enter the clogged passageways and refill the lifters, and exchanging the oil and filter usually will clear this up. In the future, running your engine weekly should prevent this embarrassing situation from happening again.
FWIW: I was a diesel and gasoline technician for over 15 years.
Fatgripaloot
San Antonio,Texas,
U.S.A.
warranty
#3Consumer Comment
Fri, May 08, 2009
You purchased something with a 3 yr warranty. Its apparent that the warranty is now over and you still want help? With the current state of the economy, do you think companies are going to stick their necks out any further than they have to?
This may sound harsh, but looks like they fullfilled the warranty, and you asking for even more?