Original thread: https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?p=14962537

I left for Mexico for a week april 26 - may 3 in hopes my baby would be home when I came back. It was not - we were waiting on payment from Warranty a-hole guy. Trying to keep it short, his agreement was he would pay for the labour and cost to fix the head, etc. My cost, which is the $543, includes the diagnostic, OEM coil pack, plug, head gasket, oil change, head bolts, and my option to do the timing belt. Did I get ripped off price wise? I'm not sure. All i know is I didn't have to pay the full 2200, and what I paid for makes my VTEC feel brand new. I went nearly a month without it, driving my brothers 300m, my grandpas 1500 hemi, my old 1980 buick, a 1989 sonoma, well you get the picture. I can't wait to spend an entire day in the sun making her sparkle again...

Just got home:


Invoice:

 

I would say not a ripoff if you only paid $543 on a $2200 bill (I assume the $543 is the deductible). The only thing I question is that at 102K miles, there's no water pump, TB tensioner, or drive belt (easy to replace) on the invoice. Since they were that deep in the engine and did the TB, they should have replaced the TB tensioner and water pump (although not absolutely needed, a good idea to change while they're in there). The spark plug price is a bit high, but if it included the labor, it's actually less than a dealership would charge (I guess they recommended replacing them all since they fixed the head for the blown out plug.

 

Not bad but I would have gotten the timing belt tensioner, adjuster, and water pump changed too

 

It is at 102,000 KM or 64,000 mi

The 543 included the above stated, because this warranty company does not cover the items ever. That being said, my cost didn't include the deductible, which is $150. I saved money on that, though you guys are correct there are some items I should have taken care of. I did however spend $1000 on my dog, as well as $2000 on a mexico trip (already paid before this happened) so I couldn't fork out for a bunch of different things. They did state the tensioner and pump looked in good condition, but the belt itself was looking pretty beaten up. I opted for the lesser, as money was an issue at the time. I am 1.25~ years into the 5 year finance, and I've only put a small amount of KM on it. I will most likely trade/sell it in a couple years hopefully before these items need replacement.

 

I would've done a helicoil - 50 bucks and mine was fixed. Drove it from Atlanta to Columbia, SC on 5 cylinders and did the helicoil the next day. Car runs like a champ.

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't the head need to be removed to do a proper helicoil job?

Don't quote me on this as I might have misread.

 

I guess it depends on your view. The engine had 200K+ miles on it. I did a $50 helicoil and if you put grease on the tap it will catch most of the metal. Then blow the rest of it all out and change the oil before starting it up. Worst case I'm out 50 bucks if something goes wrong.

I understand how some people will take the head off etc etc. If this were a 10K mile Type-S motor, I might do that. A 3.2 with 200K that I can get all day long for 400 bucks, eh - not so much. The cost/benefit ratio just isn't there. Besides, I'd rather do and R/R with a junkyard motor than have to buy headgaskets and what not. The engine swap might take a tad bit more time, but most junkyards give at least a 90 day warranty, and its not like its hard to do.

 

^nice, looks like we've got a real live mechanic on our hands!

 

I assume this was the front head, not the rear head?

 

Yes, the front. Cylinder 5. The rear could probably be done, but it would be a bit more difficult to do in such cramped quarters.

Sigh at Justnspace.... your winning sarcasm never ends does it? Has any of your 45,000 posts been helpful at all?

 

^that was an actual compliment.
I wouldnt have thought of the grease catching the shavings and would have taken the head off.


you will know if its sarcasm.