Can he put in a warrenty claim?

Does the dealership care if engine is removed?

Anonymous wrote:Stupid Outback broke down while driving it, I was able to get it into a local mechanic shop that my family has used for years.

Mechanic is slow but honest. It sits there for a week, he tells me there is a problem tied to engine, likely $500 to 700 to fix. I ask him to order parts but call me before doing work.

I learn the problem may be covered by extended powertrain warranty. Dealership says I need to take car there to see if they will cover it. I call honest local guy, he says engine has been removed, problem worse than expected and will cost $1800 or $2k to fix, acknowledges may be under warranty. Says he doesn't want to spend 4 or 5 hours putting engine back in vehicle for me to tow to dealership.

Now what. It seems idiotic to tow car with removed engine to dealership. Do I pay first guy to reinstall engine and then tow it?

First bold, he shouldn't have done more than you agreed to, unless you gave him carte blanche to make repairs then you shouldn't pay for that extra work. What exactly is wrong with it?

Second bold, that's understandable because he likely wouldn't be paid for the labor. That's $1000 in labor.

Third bold, no it's not idiotic, have it towed. Why pay to have it reinstalled? Easier to work on now that it is out of the engine bay. Dealership will appreciate that.

What is your plan if it isn’t under warranty? Honest guy is probably going to be far cheaper than a dealership to fix the problem.

Agree that dealership isnt going to take the car sans engine. Is there a chance you voided the warranty by having your mechanic take it out? Is there any charge if it’s under warranty there is a copay? (My warranty has one which is why I ask). Is your warranty conditional on anything and did you meet the conditions. (For example, my warranty requires a 5 year service or the engine part of the warranty is voided).

If it’s going to take 4-5 hours to put the engine back plus the work already done, you’re probably looking at a minimum of $100 an hour. So you’re probably at
Like $700 or so already.

Take a look at the terms of the warranty. Sometimes you can get it repaired elsewhere and they will reimburse you. If they do allow it, make sure everything is documented as I am sure they will make it as difficult as possible in the claim process.

How old is the car? I would have told the dealership to come get it and be out shopping for a new one.

Ask him an hourly rate for work he has done and replacing the engine without fixing it. Also, forget the whole thing about mechanic knowing it might have been under warranty. It is not their responsibility to know more about your warranty than you do!
The person saying it might be a different problem not covered by warranty and what happens with the car then has a point to consider.

I think you need to eat the cost on this one. It sounds like you had over a week to figure out that it was under warranty.

Are you sure dealer will accept a car under warranty someone else “touched”??

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it can be towed to the dealer in "as is" condition, with the engine uninstalled. You'd be on the hook for the tow, but that's a lot better than paying for the full repair cost when it may be covered under warranty.

So the dealership will just reinstall the engine for free? And then fix the problem under warranty? They won’t touch that car with the engine out for someone else.

Maybe it can be towed to the dealer in "as is" condition, with the engine uninstalled. You'd be on the hook for the tow, but that's a lot better than paying for the full repair cost when it may be covered under warranty.

I don’t know, but have you thought through what you would want if you take it to the dealer and the dealer says that it’s NOT under warranty? Have you asked them at the dealership what they might need? As in: engine in, engine out, will the work already done impact the terms of the warranty?

totally agree it is on me. trying to figure out the smartest way to fix this and make things right, without paying more than double what local guy initially told me, especially when it may be covered.

This is on you. You should have looked at the warranty option before taking it to the honest guy and asking him to do anything. Why do you think he should eat up the cost?

Perpahs negotiate with him and pay him the hourly rate to put the engine back in.

Stupid Outback broke down while driving it, I was able to get it into a local mechanic shop that my family has used for years.

Mechanic is slow but honest. It sits there for a week, he tells me there is a problem tied to engine, likely $500 to 700 to fix. I ask him to order parts but call me before doing work.

I learn the problem may be covered by extended powertrain warranty. Dealership says I need to take car there to see if they will cover it. I call honest local guy, he says engine has been removed, problem worse than expected and will cost $1800 or $2k to fix, acknowledges may be under warranty. Says he doesn't want to spend 4 or 5 hours putting engine back in vehicle for me to tow to dealership.

Now what. It seems idiotic to tow car with removed engine to dealership. Do I pay first guy to reinstall engine and then tow it?