Head gasket vs engine, a few questions

I think you can buy the reciprocating mass for this engine ready to go for like $1,300 somewhere in there then bolt your girdle your pan your timing cover I've seen remanned heads actually in the $400 range I'm not sure if that's with cams or not your cam should suffice. Then of course that assembly is balanced and all of that business ready to go check your cam phaser and get your timing all set up and you should be good to go.

 

IF you caught it early enough, you shouldn't have a problem with the
head or rods. You can measure the piston heighth with the spark plugs removed.
When you have the head off, lay the head on a clean dry rag, then spray some wd40
into each intake and exhaust port and wait about 5 minutes. Then carefully lift the head
and check for leaking valves. If all are dry, don't mess with it. If you see the wd40 leaking through,
then you need to seat the valve in with valve grinding compound. Since you're going to
replace the valve guide seals anyway, you might want to do it anyway. And clean any
carbon off the valves also.

Clean the piston tops off while you're at it. The engine doesn't seem to be burning any oil
so the block should be in good shape.

You can clean the egr cooler with oven cleaner and a pressure washer and clean out the
ports for the intake with a .22 cal. bore brush and gunk and a drill.

I have 34,000 miles on my new head gasket.

 

You have to take the chain off anyway. Getting it back on properly if the usual problem since you can’t tension it until the cover is back on.

 

I was told that I needed a head gasket repair on my 2015 prius. I opted with a new used engine instead. Once they got it in, the hybrid system would not kick in so they car would not start. Another shop told them to disconnect the a/c compressor and then the car started and ran. It is not even close to how well it ran before. I now have it in the shop to get the compressor fixed so that my air conditioner works, and figure out why my gas mileage is terrible. I wish I would have just done the head gasket, or junked the car. I have over $9000.00 into fixing it and now they want 1200.00 more. The car was $8000.00 when I bought it about four years ago.

 

Obviously the shop doesn't know what it's doing.
And when you get a used engine, it's always a gamble. It's not a good idea.
If that engine is bad, it's not the fault of the shop. If the are the ones who got
the used engine for you, then they are responsible for it and will have to get you
another one, that hopefully works, or give you your money back.
If they didn't install it correctly, that's on them.
Did you get your original engine back? Maybe replace the head gasket, it's very
easy now that it's out of the car. And have them swop it back.
Or get the car to a place that knows how to do the job correctly.

Possible the only other course of action is to get a lawyer...

 

The first shop got the ac compressor mating connector dirty which causes a high voltage leak. Fairly common.

Where did the used engine come from? A junkyard or a JDM engine dealer? Did your shop rebuild an engine? For that money they should have. I would respectfully ask them to cover all repairs or give your money back. When that fails have a lawyer draft and send a certified Demand Letter. This is not a lawsuit. Yet.

Listing your location helps. Where in the US are you? You might get recommendations on where to go. This forum is primarily populated with diy guys who think everyone should do it themselves. But there are options like having a quality rebuilt engine shipped to a shop for installation and still save $3k-$4k.

Bottom line - in most states it is buyer beware with little legal recourse. Most regular shops are clueless on hybrids. Sometimes it is better to drive 2 hours to get quality at a value price. Some of us can give you good advice but you do better by asking first.

For better results on forums:
Start your own thread - write all the details - don't ask questions at the end of other threads with little context. Answer all questions you get promply.

 

Buying a car and expecting the manufacturers to stand behind them is becoming more and more of a crap shoot. Maybe it’s always been thus? The world needs somone like Ralph Nader on this, for:

1. thorough testing of new vehicles prior to retail production.

2, reliable, reasonably priced parts supply, with counterfeit policing.

3. Crack down on preposterous measures needed for common repairs.

4. Incentives to car makers who concentrate on sensible/practical, lower cost vehicles.

 

We live in the US where freedom for trolls and scammers has grown to anything goes for businesses. Buyer beware. I try to warn people about gen3 but too many here are apologists. Until it happens to them like Bisco.