unix

Hi,
Today I have taken my Acura 3.2 TL for a regular oil change and the folks told me that I need to replace the oil pan.
They says the guy at where I changed the oil last time did not do the proper job and the threads in the oil pan casing have been damaged due to cross fixing the oil drain bolt. They told me that it will cost me $410 to change this oil pan and say I have no way but to replace this oil pan .
I have two questions now.
1. Is there any fix for this to avoid spending $410 that I don't have?
2. Can I take any action against the folks who did this bad job?

Any help appreciated.

Best regards

grip

that is why you should do as much work as you can to your own car's.

it is highly unlikely that you can accuse anyone for this, it seems you take your car to many different places for work, and how can you pinpoint when the damage was done?

totaledTL

'Cross fixing'- cross threaded the drain bolt? You could try removing the pan & installing a heli coil, or drilling then tapping new threads for a larger bolt. Did you try any salvage yards?

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

you could try what totaled tl said. or if u dont have the money for it now, u could get an over sized drain plug. it works good as a temp. solution.

fsttyms1

I would drain the oil out. Get a slightly larger tap stick it in grease and slowly re tap it. Then i would use the cheapest oil i could find (or if your careful and dont really contaminate the oil you drain out) and use it to flush any shavings that got into the pan out. Then use a slightly larger (oversized) oil plug, add new fresh oil and call it a day.

acutee

Use this add-on oil drain valve to fix your problem. I am sure the cross thread is not completely stripped. Use high temperature sealant and put that fumoto on, and you are done.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ghlight=fumoto

LoveMyTL-S

Here's where to order the Fumoto:

http://www.qwikvalve.com/search.php?...=1&modelid=212

02type-s

I had that happen to me once. I made the place that did it pay for it.

bibledriver

Honestly, Honda's (acura) are known for their drain plug threads stripping over time.
Happened to me on 2 of 4 of my hondas that were bought used. One happened gradually, but once the process starts and the threads start to get "stretched," if you will, there is not much you can do short of applying minimal torque that is still going to hold the plug securely. My 2g came with an oversize plug, which torqued me (no pun intended). I changed the oil pan.
Part of the problem is that the aluminum washers that are often used dont give much leeway if overtorqued where as composite types (nylon, fiber etc.) will not overtorque as quickly if put on in a hurry; e.g. jiffy lube style slam the car out type routine or novice changers.

So, I don't know that you can really point the blame on one shop . . . long story short. Hondas are notorious for this.

wilp99

my money is on them stripping it and saying someone else did it. if they got it out then the threads shouldnt have been that bad.

Luke7

Take your car back to the garage that did the strip job. They should pay for it.

acutee

You know how any auto repair shop works, including dealerships, and I am sure if you own a shop, you would do the same - always deny damages. Any shop will do every trick to make more money. They are not there to admit problems and pay you. You can take a shot and try it, but don't sweat it. Just pay 35 bucks for the valve and move on without headache. Mechanic will never admit wrong doing and owner has to hear from the mechanic.

bibledriver

My point exactly. There is no way to prove that one shop did it. How do you know that the guys who said "the last guys stripped it out" didn't do it and then blame the other?

Again, these cars are notorious for this, it is a fluke that it ended up on one mechanic. Happens to many of them over time.